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From: ~*LiveLoveLaugh*~ on 10 Aug 2008 10:54
"John" <nospam(a)no.where> wrote in message
news:58ffb$489df356$24388(a)news.teranews.com...
>>>> Several years. I increased from 0.5 mg/day in the beginning then
>>>> gradually to 4 mg/day for several years, and in the last months to 10
>>>> mg/day.
>>>
>>> Then of course I could not continue (no doctor would prescribe so much),
>>> so as I wrote before I was hospitalized, and the dose was tapered from
>>> 10 mg/day to 1.5 mg/day very rapidly. I had hallucinations and several
>>> epileptic seizures, which were caused by too fast Xanax tapering.
>>> Luckyly enough I have no permanent injuries (both EEG and tomography of
>>> the brain were done).
>>>
>>> I have also tried 1 mg/day and I can't say I notice any difference.
>>>
>>> S.
>>
>> I went from taking 3 mgs. a day for 24 years to 6 mgs. in the last few
>> months before going into rehab (alcohol and pain pills... and Xanax).
>> The first week of detox was absolute horror. But, one year later
>> (actually today is my one year sober/clean date), I have not needed Xanax
>> at all. I take lithium (bipolar), Seroquel (which I'm tapering off
>> from), Lexapro (20 mgs/day) and Trazedone (200 mgs. a day).
>>
>> All is well!!! :)
>
> Laurie & Sebastian, now when looking back, how do you feel about the time
> you were on Xanax? I get a feeling that you still found it helpful
> although you had a hard time discontinuing it, is that right?
>
> Also, since both of you seem to do fine on antidepressants (which also are
> used to treat anxiety) such as Lexapro now, how come you didn't try such
> medications first? From what I understand that is considered to be the
> first treatment choice for anxiety (i.e. before trying benzos)?
>
> Finally, in my case I have tried more than 5 different antidepressants
> which also are supposed to have anti anxiety properties, but they have not
> worked for me. I'm now considering trying benzodiazepines long term. Based
> on your experiences and my situation, do you think I should do it or not?


I was such a mess when Xanax was offered to me. I had not beed diagnosed as
bipolar, so they were still trying other meds. When I went on the Xanax...
things got better by far, so I stuck w/the med. I wasn't actually treated
as bipolar until my mid 30's (I'm 45 now). But, being an alcoholic, the
lithium was never working. When I went into rehab last August, I was
completely addicted to the Xanax, as well as the booze and pain killers (I
was taking Vicodin up to 100 pills a day). Needless to say, I was a mess!!
(I also lost my mom in Jan '07 and went through a very horrific divorce
during the same time). Fast forward to present: I know I cannot take Xanax
so I have to rely on antidepressants. The Lexapro has been wonderful. I
started on 10 mgs. and went up another 10 about a month ago. My mind is
clear, and the anxiety is minimal. I do have tough times, but nothing I
can't handle.

John, in my opinion, I would try every other option before starting a benzo.
Granted, Xanax is great stuff for those who don't have an addictive
personality... but still, Xanax can creep up on you and get ahold of you so
tight. Getting off of it is very hard!! Just keep this in mind before
going forward!!

I wish you the best!

--

�.��� �)) -:�:-
�.�� .����))
Laurie
((��.�� ..��
-:�:- ((�� �.�

*~*LiveLoveLaugh*~*

All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
~Abraham Lincoln



>
> ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

From: Sebastian on 10 Aug 2008 15:04
Scribo "John" (2008-08-09 21:43):

> Laurie & Sebastian, now when looking back, how do you feel about the
> time you were on Xanax? I get a feeling that you still found it helpful
> although you had a hard time discontinuing it, is that right?

Yes, it helped mild to moderate anxiety, but not for severe anxiety. The
first four weeks (in the hospital) the withdrawal symptoms were horrible
(I thought I was going to die), but I made it. Now I am very glad not to
be depending on Xanax any more, well almost any way. I plan to quit
eventually.

> Also, since both of you seem to do fine on antidepressants (which also
> are used to treat anxiety) such as Lexapro now, how come you didn't try
> such medications first? From what I understand that is considered to be
> the first treatment choice for anxiety (i.e. before trying benzos)?

My doctors gave me Xanax, probaly because I insisted on it, beleiveing
that it was the only thing that worked. I was wrong, it did not work
this time. I have now gone from 1.5 mg/day to 1 mg/day, without noticing
any difference

> Finally, in my case I have tried more than 5 different antidepressants
> which also are supposed to have anti anxiety properties, but they have
> not worked for me. I'm now considering trying benzodiazepines long term.
> Based on your experiences and my situation, do you think I should do it
> or not?

No, do not do that, eventually you will have to taper down. But that is
my personal opinion, I am not a doctor. Maybe it will work for you.

S.
From: John on 10 Aug 2008 15:38
>> Is there anybody who successfully is using benzodiazepines long term that
>> can describe how they found the correct dose? Also, in that case, how
>> long
>> did it take for you to reach a stable dose?
>
> Well, I started at 15mg/day of Valium and escalated over about 3 months to
> 30mg/day; it is normal to develop a form of tolerance during the initial
> stages as your body learns how to metabolize the drug more efficiently. I
> increased it to 45mg on my own and felt much better, but got read the
> compliance riot act by my doctor so I dropped back to 30 and went on the
> anti-depressant merry-go-round to try to find supplemental relief - didn't
> work. After a while my doctor gave me latitude to increase to 40 or 45
> mg/day for short periods as needed. (Personally, I still think that
> escalating to 40-45mg as part of the initial start-up regiment would have
> saved me a great deal of grief, but that's H2O over the dam.)
>
> My "correct dose" varies over time. Right now I'm running lower than my
> previous levels, but that could certainly change.
>
> All I can say about finding your right level is to start at your doctor's
> recommended level, give it at least a month, evaluate your response and
> increase as necessary until you feel stable.
>
> Fig

So how long has your current dose (or actually dosage range, since you said
it varied over time) remained stable? Haven't you found any need to keep
raising the dose (even over very long time, e.g. years) as the other posters
in this thread describe?

** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
From: ~*LiveLoveLaugh*~ on 10 Aug 2008 18:13

"Sebastian" <none(a)none.com> wrote in message
news:cZGnk.1650$U5.932(a)newsb.telia.net...
> Scribo "John" (2008-08-09 21:43):
>
>> Laurie & Sebastian, now when looking back, how do you feel about the time
>> you were on Xanax? I get a feeling that you still found it helpful
>> although you had a hard time discontinuing it, is that right?
>
> Yes, it helped mild to moderate anxiety, but not for severe anxiety. The
> first four weeks (in the hospital) the withdrawal symptoms were horrible
> (I thought I was going to die), but I made it. Now I am very glad not to
> be depending on Xanax any more, well almost any way. I plan to quit
> eventually.

I still cannot figure out why they kept you on ANY Xanax. What the hell is
the point??

--

�.��� �)) -:�:-
�.�� .����))
Laurie
((��.�� ..��
-:�:- ((�� �.�

*~*LiveLoveLaugh*~*

All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
~Abraham Lincoln

>
>> Also, since both of you seem to do fine on antidepressants (which also
>> are used to treat anxiety) such as Lexapro now, how come you didn't try
>> such medications first? From what I understand that is considered to be
>> the first treatment choice for anxiety (i.e. before trying benzos)?
>
> My doctors gave me Xanax, probaly because I insisted on it, beleiveing
> that it was the only thing that worked. I was wrong, it did not work this
> time. I have now gone from 1.5 mg/day to 1 mg/day, without noticing any
> difference
>
>> Finally, in my case I have tried more than 5 different antidepressants
>> which also are supposed to have anti anxiety properties, but they have
>> not worked for me. I'm now considering trying benzodiazepines long term.
>> Based on your experiences and my situation, do you think I should do it
>> or not?
>
> No, do not do that, eventually you will have to taper down. But that is my
> personal opinion, I am not a doctor. Maybe it will work for you.
>
> S.

From: Figaro on 17 Aug 2008 06:59
On Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:38:58 +0200, John wrote:

>>> Is there anybody who successfully is using benzodiazepines long term that
>>> can describe how they found the correct dose? Also, in that case, how
>>> long
>>> did it take for you to reach a stable dose?
>>
>> Well, I started at 15mg/day of Valium and escalated over about 3 months to
>> 30mg/day; it is normal to develop a form of tolerance during the initial
>> stages as your body learns how to metabolize the drug more efficiently. I
>> increased it to 45mg on my own and felt much better, but got read the
>> compliance riot act by my doctor so I dropped back to 30 and went on the
>> anti-depressant merry-go-round to try to find supplemental relief - didn't
>> work. After a while my doctor gave me latitude to increase to 40 or 45
>> mg/day for short periods as needed. (Personally, I still think that
>> escalating to 40-45mg as part of the initial start-up regiment would have
>> saved me a great deal of grief, but that's H2O over the dam.)
>>
>> My "correct dose" varies over time. Right now I'm running lower than my
>> previous levels, but that could certainly change.
>>
>> All I can say about finding your right level is to start at your doctor's
>> recommended level, give it at least a month, evaluate your response and
>> increase as necessary until you feel stable.
>>
>> Fig
>
> So how long has your current dose (or actually dosage range, since you said
> it varied over time) remained stable?

About 6 years.

> Haven't you found any need to keep
> raising the dose (even over very long time, e.g. years) as the other posters
> in this thread describe?

No, never, at least not since I found the range parameters that work for
me. If anything, I've reduced my dosage more often than increaseing it.


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