Anxiety Support Group

I take klonopin which is like xanax but lasts over time. I have been on it for years. I have been on a few different meds where the doc gave me xanax to take as needed it helped me down alot. It would make me so calm though that i would fall asleep and usually wake up panicky again. I never really had any side effects and i think the drowsiness was becasuse i was so exhausted from having panic attacks one after another and it just calmed me so much. Just take as it is prescribed and if it says take as needed I would only take it when you think you arent going to be able to control it with breathing,thinking positive, talking to someone,telling yourself your ok,ect.

Xanax has worked wonders for me, especially until the Paxil started taking effect. I was on it for 8 years before, and took myself off with no side effects. I take it 3x a day still, until I feel the Paxil is fully working.

It will stop that constant anxiousness, that's for sure.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon, just be patient and be positive and get an Anxiety Workbook from your library or bookstore, those help out also. AND, bu all means, start exercising every day for at least 30 minutes.

Hugs !

Thanks :)

Scorpio~I see you said you were on Xanax for 8 years and went off of it with no side effects.
I'd think that was GREAT!
But, you say you take it 3 times a day so I'm confused.
I stopped Klonopin after being on it for 7 years cold turkey (which was Hell!) but I never took it again.
If I were to have still taken it 3 times a day would mean I was still on it and not having any side effects of coming off of it.

Not being mean at all, I'm just curious how you believe you had no side effects if you're still on it.
I've heard HORROR storys of people coming off of Xanax after taking it for only a couple months and had to switch to a longer acting Benzo (Valium) in order to not have MANY months of withdrawals.

From what I learned, meds like xanax don't fix and prevent anxiety. They simply reduce the symptoms of anxiety to make you feel better. I also use xanax (.5mg) on an as-needed basis. I take one when the pain on my upper chest or back feels really sore, or I feel really bad, uncomfortable and on the edge. Many times it seems to kick in within 30-60min. Sometimes it doesn't seem to help much, like when I couldn't fall asleep last night, I took one and it didn't do any trick. The aweful feelings (physical and mental) of anxiety tend to be persistent and constant for me. When they are not too bad, I'll suck them up, and try not to take any meds. I often feel proud of myself if I can go by a day without taking a xanax. I try to remind myself that it's just anxiety, not to fear, just accept the feelings; find ways to distract myself. I know it's so hard. But I have to do that, if I want to get well.

I am taking xanax as needed and the only thing that I do not like about it .. is that it makes me sleepy..but anything that says it could cause drowsiness will knock me out..other then that it helpes a great deal.. and I only take it in very low doses and only if I need it.. most of the time when it is just a lite anxiety I try to stay busy and redirect my thoughts to something positive it took some learning but it helps... a lot..

thanks again:) I have another question. If I only take a small dose @ night to sleep for about 2 weeks do you all think I will have w/ drawls after I stop taking? I have taken trazadone at night before and didn't have any w/ drawls, maybe 2 different types of meds though?

Hi Tasha,

Sorry, I just reread what I had typed and I can see the confusion.

2 1/2 years ago, I took myself off of the Xanax after being on them for 8 years(as needed) At that time, I had no side affects when I quit them cold turkey, none at all.

A few months ago, I had something trigger my anxiety symptoms again, so now I'm back on them, 3 x a day.

Sorry for the confusion there.

Two weeks is nothing. I have had bout of anxiety /shakiness with my MS , and i have been on them as long as a year one time.Ativan, I was able to ween ok. You should be just fine. Sometimesit take 4-6 weeks for an antidepressant to work,so take xanax as needed until it works Good luck, I am in the same boat waiting for zoloft to work, God bless

Scorpio~Thanks for the explanation and I'm so happy to hear of a great success story!!!!!