Xanax

They do work quick and I understand what you are saying about the public anxiety but xanax will not last. The problem with it, and many other drugs like it, is that your body will build a resistance very fast. It will stop working. Then you will take more and more. Then you build an addiction and it is very hard to get off of it. I have taken it only about 3 times in my life and each time i made a 30 pill 30 day supply last for 6 months. Try to only take it when its needed. Try to skip a day or 2 between taking it and reserve it for the actual panic attacks or when you know you will be in a crowded place. Otherwise it wont work for long and you start a very bad cycle.

I don't want to take it everyday. I know about building a tolerance to it. My mom has been taking 2 .25 mg Xanax pills everyday for 4 years now. She said she hasn't gotten to where she needs a higher dose of it

I am like my mother when it comes to pills we have had the same reactions to the same meds so I hope I will be like her with the Xanax but without taking it everyday. I know my dad takes about 2mg of Xanax a day and my grandma takes about the same as my dad.

I fell asleep early yesterday lol and that never happens. I have been staying up to 4am every night when taking the lexapro but not with the Xanax. I really have problems sleeping but not with the Xanax..

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Originally Posted by Aleria

I have been on no less than 40 different anti-anxiety/anti-depressants for my panic attacks in the last 5 years alone, and have been having panic attacks for the past 10 years. I didn't find any medication that did even a little bit of good other than valium, but doctors don't like prescribing that particular medication, and I haven't found one that will prescribe it again since I've moved.
And you will find, that for some reason, the majority of doctors out there that are just general practitioners and not psychiatrist/psychologists will way under prescribe most anti-anxiety/anti-depressants. The reason for this is because the majority of the meds are considered "addictive", and even if you've proven that you don't become immune to the meds and need to have it increased constantly over a full year they still won't want to give you the correct dosage and will likely want to pull you off the drug and put you on something entirely different.
I finally gave up medication altogether because in the end it was only making things worse, and at this point I'm close to being at my lowest point because I spent so many years on the medication, save for the fact that I can pull myself out of bed to get to work every day, but sadly that's about the only thing I can manage to get out of bed for. I was in therapy for about 6 months until it got to be too expensive, but it had the best results thus far.
I know overall medication is cheaper for the most part, but I would really recommend finding a good therapist that deals with anxiety. There is almost always a root cause that ISN'T a chemical imbalance. And finding that cause and dealing with it is really the only way to truly fix this problem and not just cover it up with medication. It's just easier for regular doctors to point at something that can be fixed with pills.

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Well put well put. :clap:

Another thing you might want to look into are adaptogens.
I also had panic attacks and went through and intense period of stress. These helped me. Also diet is something you have to look at if you cut out caffiene you will see your panic attacks drop.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptogen
http://www.naturalelixir.com/stresscontrol.html
I take holy basil
I am also a chemist that works in a pharmaceutical company. I dont have much faith in the drugs put on the market. There is a healthier and better way.

I don't understand why I keep getting these panic attacks in the morning. I mean as soon as I wake up I get it. I have had one every morning now for about two weeks. I am gonna go talk to a psych today or tomorrow and try to figure this out.

I only took one Xanax yesterday compared to two during the day. I took one at night like normal and of course it knocked me out lol. I just don't want to get to where I need to take 4 mg or more a day. As long as I stay under 2 mg a day I will be ok. But of course the lower the better.

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

Ive taken it recreationally and I can not believe they prescribe such a terrible medication to people. I understand that anxiety and panic attacks may be difficult to live with, but to walk around in a haze like that, day in and day out...that,to me, is a hell of a lot worse.

I encourage you to find an alternative, and I wish you all the best.

As for sleep, natural sleep aids such as melatonin are sold OTC at any drugstore. Srsly, avoid the prescription stuff if you can.

Hope this helps.

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Oh for Pete's sake how radical can you get?. I have been on the antidepressant Zoloft for almost 2 years now. It has literally turned my life around. You had a "haze" because the chemicals in your brain were normal. People whose aren't it does not do that to.

People who take this stuff without needing it experience it totally different. That's why I said it's hard to talk to people about it when they have never experienced it.

I know if the Xanax continues to help me and really fix my life I will continue to take it. I try to stay on small dosage so it doesn't get out of hand. I know when I take two .5 mg pills I'm not in a haze at all. It makes me feel normal.

I think people take this kind if stuff to get messed up not because they need it. Sure some people take herbal remedies and whatever but I don't have the time to try to find stuff that works. I need the Xanax and it allows me to get out of bed and go to work.

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Originally Posted by 4theSNAKElady

I would REALLY research any prescribed drug. most of those anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs are bad news. And take a close look at all the many side effects....some may veven shock you...:O There are so many other alternatives out there for anxiety and depression that are all natural.

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Unless you are a licensed physician/nurse practitioner/etc, please don't give out medical advice regarding prescription drugs.

All prescription drugs have side effects. I hope everyone who takes them knows and understands the intended AND side effects, and understands dosage and potential risks.

"All Natural" is a myth. The word "nature" itself is contorted and meaningless, and is often used to imply that human existence itself is "unnatural".

There are many methods to combat anxiety and depression. As I'm sure anyone who has been prescribed anti-anxiety drugs knows, there is no magical happy pill that fixes all problems in life. Believe me when I say that doctors and their various counterparts that help people deal with depression and anxiety don't just toss patients out the door with a bottle of pills and call it a good day's work. No discussion about treating either problem is complete without covering exercise, diet, and sleep, and I'm sure that the OP's doctor did cover those topics.

However, to blatantly call all drugs, even all anti anxiety/depression drugs, "bad news" is misinformed.

To anyone who is dealing with depression, don't listen to anyone on the internet (including me). I can't and won't diagnose or give you treatment options. Listen to your doctor, your therapist, and your family and loved ones.

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Originally Posted by Aleria

I was in therapy for about 6 months until it got to be too expensive, but it had the best results thus far.
I know overall medication is cheaper for the most part, but I would really recommend finding a good therapist that deals with anxiety. There is almost always a root cause that ISN'T a chemical imbalance. And finding that cause and dealing with it is really the only way to truly fix this problem and not just cover it up with medication. It's just easier for regular doctors to point at something that can be fixed with pills.

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Despite my belief that no one should take medical advice off the internet, I do believe this is good advice.

Therapy is productive even if the root cause IS a chemical imbalance.