How Much Xanax Is Too Much Xanax?

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I have about 17 Bottles of 90 2 mg bars or pills. My Doctor wanted me to have extras due to a withdrawal incident. The Doctor no longer is practicing, my new Doctor wrote for the same amount but now he is gone too. I'm not worried about running out for the next couple years, but what does concern me is possessing a giant amount of controlled medicine. How do I explain this quantity? Some of it was from 2010, most from 2011, technically expired, along with some newer scripts from the last 8 months. Usually you are not supposed to obtain a refill until we run out. They are all in my name, spaced about a month apart. I do not sell yet how would I explain why I have so much?

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1

Hi Eddy,

Just to clarify, who exactly are you talking to about the Xanax you have? A doctor or pharmacist? I can't find any information saying it's illegal to posses a certain amount. If that is what you're worried about, I would just make sure to keep all your medical records on hand so that whoever asks can see proof that you were legally prescribed the medication by your doctor. I imagine that if you ever have any altercations with the law because of this, your doctor would be held responsible.

Also, you may want to toss your expired Xanax because in many cases it is unsafe and unnecessary to take expired medication since it very likely has spoiled or lost its potency.

I hope this insight helps!

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2

This question would be of a concern if speaking with Law Enforcement, not that it is going to happen. I really don't want to throw away anything at this point, after going through a serious Xaxax withdrawal that was almost fatal. I can't find anything that specifically states it is illegal to obtain a large quantity of a controlled substance although although a 2 to 3 year supply is not what we would call normal. Thanks for your reply!

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3

Don't do anything, it was legally prescribed and that doesn't expire, I personally would be taking the oldest ones and working my way towards the newer ones, unless you feel reduced potency or less help from it, I wouldn't tell a new dr. About it personally for many reasons, but to give you the most out of it, take the oldest when you need it and that way you're oldest bottle wont be sitting there getting older without use and being a waste, I personally have taken drugs of this class that were many years old, the only risk is reduced potency, only with time released meds of this yep would I be worried about exp. date, because the time release mechanism could potentially have gone bad or failed.

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4

Thanks WhoDat! Yes I of course will do what you say. I had these stashed away, hard to get to. I am also taking less of the medicine so I have seen my supply grow. While many of us know about the addictive properties with this type of medicine, not everyone is hip to the potentially deadly withdrawal side affects. For that reason alone I wont be tossing out any of the Alprazolam as it doesn't make sense to do so. Spent a Week in the Hospital due to running out!

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5

Ive been taking Xanax for a number of years. For me it is mostly a psychological addiction. I take very low quantities and mostly for sleep. I was wondering Eddy, you said you ended up in the hospital when you ran out. Why did you abruptly stop and may I ask, what is your daily dose? Were you never warned that you cannot go off cold turkey and that you have slowly taper off of the drug? Why were you hospitlized for one week?

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6

I am a certified drug and alcohol counselor (28 yr. old heroin addict) who got off methadone and stop using in 1999 (14 years ago). I was prescribed to 10 mg valium and 750es vicodin. My ex-husband is prescribed to 3 2mg Xanax and 150mg of methadone. Presently I had to move to Riverside County and get a new doctor, he wants to wean me from ALL MEDICATIONS (County clinic) and put me on steroids and cortizone for 8 weeks. I told him he IS NOT going to due anything except if he wants to continue my valium (for my seizures) and put me on 3 a day 10/325 Norcos that would be fine. I have detoxed before off of benzos and immediately (7-10 days) going slow had back to back gran-mal seizures. NO DOCTOR WILL EVER AGAIN TELL ME what is best for me, I have had two years of pharmacology and EVERYONES BODY is effected differently, depending on length of time you have been on this and your age....

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7

Hi Christine! We call it a psychological addiction but honestly this medicine changes our brain chemistry even at relatively low amounts. I too would use Xanax just for sleep, however when I started Blood Pressure medicine about 5 years ago I stated needing more Xanax, 3 one mg doses daily, not a lot. I have since cut back to two after smashing my head, a first. You asked me a great question and it might seem strange but when Michael Jackson died I read Elizabeth Taylor's drug of choice was Lorazepam. Xanax seemed to become less effective over years so I asked my M.D for a change. I didn't like the Lorazepam as they are supposedly stronger than Xanax but work differently. So I used my small supply of Xanax, the M.D. moved away, and I was stuck with a year of Ativan that I didn't want to take. Sure part of this is psychological but I felt Ativan was horrible so I just stopped. Did anybody ever warn me what Cold Turkey could be, well the bottle did, but I could have written a book as each day was different as I'm sure most serious withdrawals are? I live in a very small town and finally after about 10 days drove to our tiny Hospital where I failed every test, including Blood Work, Urine EKG... I did not bring up the Alprazolam with the E.R. Doctor who did an incredible job. I heard him on the phone with the Doctor who was needed to admit me. The E.R. Doctor was amazed I even made it to the E.R. Unfortunatly I needed to be restored to health, not like it was a withdrawal program. The Attending Doctor became my personal doctor and he is the one that doubled my dose so I would have extras, certainly not to take twice as much medicine. Hey thanks for asking!

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8

Eddy... first of all I would like to advise you (with all due respect) TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!!! I'm going to take a wild guess and say the reason your two physicians are "no longer practicing" is because they may have lost their licenses for over-prescribing? I'd be interested in knowing where you're from. Not EXACTLY, for privacy sake, but in the U.S. or not would help? I did a little math and deduced that if you have 17 bottles of qty. 90, 2mgs. of Xanax/ Alprazolam, you're holding onto 1,530 pills!!! Hypothetically, if you take one tab X 3 per day, they will last you for 510 days! Mind blowing to say the least! Try not to even tell a friend because I believe on the 'street' they would be worth a lot of money in the wrong hands. This is for your own safety. Drug addicts have killed for less. Do NOT want to scare you tho, and I commend you for 'stashing' them somewhere. Nobody knows exactly what I take or how much of it I take in a day (Methadone, Percocet, Valium). I was having a conversation with an acquaintance who worked at the grocery store I sometimes go to. We once were discussing our bad backs (I've had 4 back surgeries, failed back syndrome, two herniated discs in my neck, excrutiating frozen shoulder (left), disc degeneration disease, arthritis in too many places to count, erosive gastritis getting worse going on almost two years, and a few other things. Anyway, this fellow friend of mine became very spooky as he was telling me about how much pain he was in and his Dr. wouldn't give him anything for pain. He texted me and flat out asked me if I could give him "something" (of mine!) "to hold him over for a day or two". I told him he wasn't worth going to jail for because I'd be committing a felony if I gave him ANYTHING of mine (like Methadone), and I didn't want him to kill himself, especially if he's never taken it before. He said he has but I didn't believe him. So now I keep my mouth shut if he texts me and change the subject if he even hints at meds. So be careful!

I agree 100% with what 'whodat' says. Keep all your meds in their original container which has your name, name of medication, how many to take and who prescribed it. Jenna is right about the prescribing Dr's. are ultimately responsible. I'd like to know how much (or how little) you are taking to have been able to accumulate over 1,500+ tabs.

Do as 'whodat' said and don't throw any away. The reasons pharmacies have stamped expiration dates of usually a year after first fill is because Big Pharma has engineered this so that they can make more money off you if you toss your old stuff sooner and get a new one quicker. Also, as 'whodat' says, take the oldest first. All the best of luck to you and I'll check back to see how you're doing.

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9

MsTweetie, I agree with what you say, and your math is immaculate although between me and you, I only take 1 mg doses so your estimated doses need to be adjusted upwards. I am very aware of the potential danger involved as I live in the most dangerous County in the U.S. I will say one Doctor moved away and one retired (the one who treated me) so no, they did not leave the profession for nefarious reasons, although one had quite a spotted history with his license and pain medication. He was the only admitting Doctor so what are you going to do?

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10

Ive been on xanax for 26 years now so I hav some real life experience. I am prescribed 2mg twice per day but I still attempt to take as little as possible. This wil often be a quarter of a bar to no more than half a bar in one dose. The least possible amount to feel it. Although now it is just maintenance for me. At higher doses it can cause anxiety upon withdrawl from your levels. I know of no one that is perscribed more than my allotment. The mild euphoria is no more nor would I chase it. 2mh 2x per day is the most one should ever need or u are taking too much and should wean off or use valium at bedtime in conjunction.

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11

I misunderstood your question. In the US the bars are easily ID'd by law enforcement. Carry something with u that has your name and dose on in, otherwise u will have to prove your innocence in court one day. Most states have prescription monitoring programs since 2010. Pre wont show but post will to any new dr. Cool dry place and theyll last up to 5 years. Do not get caught with more than your script indicates.

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12

May I ask what you take Xanax for? After 26 years, do you wish that you never started the xanax. I know that I do! It is too damn hard to stop. Oh, I have stopped it a few times then start missing that totally relaxed feeling I get from it where your mind and body just shut down and you go to sleep. I have a very active mind and like to slow it down. I know that Xanax is bad news but have not completely stopped in 12 years of useage. I don't need it for anxiety most of the time and just take it coz life is hard and it helps me to cope. Cop out right? The downside is that it shuts my brain down and I can't remember anything! They should rename them, STUPID PILLS!

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13

Eddy,

Does Xanax permanently alter brain chemistry and does anybody know HOW it alters it? I only had one panic attack back in 1988 when my boyfriend moved away. I came from an abusive background and at times had anxiety attacks but back then before I discovered Xanax,, I just lived with them. I think that I was better off then because it is NEVER good to have a monkey on your back and as one woman I know said, she would never want to "need" a drug because if something happened where you could not get it, you would be in big trouble!

I initially started on Ativan. They are different but I can't tell you how. All I know is that I think that I became allergic to the Ativan because I broke out in a rash all over my chest which went away when I stopped taking the stuff. Two weeks later though I started on 'X' and have been using it ever since.

Does anyone know? Are we on this s*** forever or can we ever get off of it if we want to? It is bad s*** and I think that it is destroying my appearance, making me look old and fat. It can cause weight gain. Has anyone experienced this and has anyone experience increased appetite?

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14

Let's admit it, Xanax is bad s***! Is there ever any getting off of this crap, or are we going to have these freaking monkeys on our backs forever???

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15

Generalized Anxiety is why I started taking it, It just takes you over after a period of time. I am convinced that the stuff is poison, and not necessarily on the way in. I have been told that Benzodiazepine withdrawals are stronger than any other substance which I wasn't aware of. However I would never tell you to stop taking Xanax unless you find something else that works just as well. Its tough stuff!

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16

Was having major random panic attacks. I used to smoke weed which would make me a different sort of anxious which it would calm. Therefore I used to need them more until I figured this out. I do not regret anything but cigarettes. I can taper without going through withdrawl, vicodin helps (yes I have chronic pain also). I prefer to take xanax in all social settings as a safety net. I dont drink nor do I recommend any combi of alcohol and benzos. I educate on and respect the meds. I dont seek to 'get high' just manage the pain of multi hernated degenerative discs. I am content and responsible with my meds. Peace be with you.

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17

It is better to find get to the source of your anxiety. Did you have it all of the time? Psycho therapy could help but a good biochemical work up with a 'natural doctor' I repeat, natural doctor, who can address biochemical insufficiencies, etc., and put you an a good nutritional program. There are many things that can cause generalized anxiety. Do you have unresolved trauma?

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18

Listen, I have been on benzo's continually for at least 10 years, didn't think any big deal, I needed them. But found out from a friend trying to wean off that it is a VERY complicated process, and that long term benzo use causes STUCTURAL CHANGES in your BRAIN ARCHITECTURE that can sometimes take YEARS to recover from. I strongly urge anyone on benzo's to check out the Forum 'Benzo Buddies' and also google your benzo and find out what this s*** is actually doing to you and your brain, I am freaking out! Because it could be that cognitive issues I attributed to my depression could be caused by brain damage from the Klonopin 3mg. I am on for like, 6 years daily! Used to be I could easily taper down, but no more! I am not easily upset but PEOPLE! You HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT!

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19

No Trauma aside from some head trauma last year which just caused pain. The real problem with Alprazolam is it both controls anxiety and causes it changing brain chemistry. Rebound anxiety from use of the medicine keeps you hooked as we know. I thought this was a miracle pill when I first tried one. I certainly have changed my opinion over the last 20 years or so. I would love to seek some addition therapy or enter a program, although I live in a small area with limited services. I feel those who binge or stop Cold Turkey are in imminent danger. I know better and as I mentioned cut back by 1/3rd, so aside from the foggy feeling I should be ok. I have one refill left, need a new Doctor, and most certainly do not need additional medicine at this point!

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20

This forum is a little hard to read/reply/follow but what great and knowledgeable posts from everyone here! Thanks again. I'm going to visit Benzo Buddies soon, although the last thing I want to do is make a Benzo buddy, These posts and stories can be hard enough to read!

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Get a hold of me we can talk n. Get to kno each other I'm a kool person I do nothing bout to go back to skool but neways get a hold of me pls

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I can't get them anywhere in Britain anymore, which is no good as they were the best med I have ever been on for panic attacks etc related to ptsd.

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