Long Term High Dose Xanax Effects (Page 3)
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I began taking Xanax in 1982. I have been abusing it more and more over the years. I can now take 14 mg and not even tell it. I can stop taking it with no withdrawals. It's like I am immune to it. For the past two years I have been experiencing a lack of cognition, forgetfullness, and general fatigue. It does not matter if I stop the Xanax for a couple of months, I feel like the deficit is permanent. Can Xanax lead to permanent brain damage?

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Are you serious? Stop taking any and all drugs. Theres a lot more to the world than sysyphus rolling a boulder up a mointain for an eternity. You're 60 years old, stop acting 15.

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Im detoxing off methodone will be off completely in two more days after twenty years on it so i know how you feel. Just have to do what gets you through. Try be active a walk anything it does help an try keep mind focused on positive things and people.

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Please stop taking xanex, please listen, I have Fibromyalgia, cronic pain syndrom, and I was prescribed, cymbolta, elivil, norco and then to lessen the liver effects of norco, he kept me on that for breakthrough pain and recommend methadone. I was up to three at three times a day, I know that is way less compared to some , my sister took 15 at three times a day, but my point, you are just switching out a problem for a problem. I know how difficult it is to ween of methodone, I took it for six years and I just felt since I was unemployed I didnt need all that, so I decided to clean up I immediately stopped everything except cymbolta, which I weened off and its been a year and im down to a 1/2 of methodone a week. Yes it was hell at the beginning. Achy, sore, restlessness, restless legs, body, cold sweats, chills, hot flashes, even times I had vertigo, dizziness, and that lead to vomiting. But I slowly weened off that was way better, . See methadone can stay in your body up tp 72 hours full strength, because it gets in your bones, it can also deteriorate your teeth, bones and so on, but read up on complications or side effects of xanex, yes rare but more thaj few, my sister in-law was on xanex for 7 years, xane was originally not intended for long term. It was to get you through help phase. But doctors kept giving it. She started with delusion, passing out, more pill popping, anything, then, passing out, to full blown seizures, so bad all her teeth broke out, she then had a stroke, and coded in hospital, she was so confused the admitted her to a mental ward. Upon detox, and addiction program, she had more strokes, and can no longer speak. At all. Its so sad. So please . There is help. They have medication to take so you can get off methadone. Its expensive. I couldnt afford it,. But I have pain everyday, I swell. Ache, feel tired, from my Fibromyalgia. But its mind over matter. I take maybe 1 norco, and a 1/2 off methodone with ibu, around my menstruation. For flare ups but that is once a month. Otherwise absolutely no narcotics, I am herbal, for me I love it im so amazed on all the stuff that grows on this earth that 7s even better than an prescribed medication, I see a doctor if needed, if I needed a drug for life, id take it, or if so sick nothing herbal worked, but so far, I even rid my husbands kidney, and gallstones with no surgeries, or heavy duty narcotics.

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You can die from Xanax overdose. Taking too much of any drug can kill you. It's just a matter of how much you take. My boyfriend took so many he lost track. He doesn't remember anything after. He was in the ICU for two weeks. His liver is shot and a vein in his abdomin collapsed. It's been about mine months and his memory is damaged. It takes him awhile to remember things like his age or his birthday. He struggles to remember words. He spent about a month just relearning how to talk. I have no idea what else to expect regarding long term effects.

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Yes Jerri, Xanax like pot makes us less energetic so If we didn't take it we would naturally be more active. Yet anxiety can overtake you, and we are dependent to the Drug & 2 mg dose. Whatever you decide, don't just stop them!!

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I have been using Xanax for about 7 years, I'm up to 2mg a day for last 5 years and I take the whole bar before I go to sleep. when my son was a teenager, I hadn't slept in 3 years, so this helped. now I take one every night before bed and if I don't, I can tell. I tried to get off of it one week, but I felt like I was walking out of my own body. I could not sleep and I was very edgy. then I got my refill. I would love to lose some weight and I think the reason I can't is because of this drug. I work out, eat right, yet I lost it when I was off it. could this be keeping me from being a thin woman again?

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My cousin recently died from a Xanax overdose, he vomited in his sleep and choked on the vomit, so you can die from benzo od

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i have your same anxiety try listening to binaural beats on youtube weird stuff but actually works its just sound frequencies...i have your type of anger anxiety issues same stuff happens to me...keep on plucking away and pray to God he helped me find the binaural beats and they help me take little medicine now for my anxiety

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I am no Doctor, but as someone who does work in the field of Mental Health (Psychotherapist), I would say that there is a very good chance that that combination will kill you. Instead of playing Russian Roulette, May I recommend that you seek out an In-Patient/Detox program.Substance abuse cannot be treated in a vacuum. There are other issues which are leading you to use meds in this way. Any local hospital would have a Detox/Rehab unit where you can start anew and then start to work through the real issues behind the drug use.

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My husband is addicted(going on 4 years now) to Xanax. He also uses suboxine. He has changed so much and doesn't even see it, he says I've changed, not him. He is prescribed 90 'bars'per month but often runs out early. He is forgetful, paranoid, highly emotional, agitated. We live in the same house but different rooms. I'm tired of the addiction but he tells me its mean of me to not be supportive...supportive of his addiction? I'm so fed up. He's a different person And life is too stressful with him. He talks about rehab but never does it. I gave him an altimatum eithee get help or we cant be togethee, he thinks that's mean and wrong... anyone been though this? Any advice?

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Really, I don't know why anyone who does not have mental health issues should be taking xanax on an every day basis. If you need it temporarily to get through a crisis I can see that. This medication is addictive if you are taking it for anxiety. It actually will start making you have short term withdrawels between doses, which will cause anxiety making you think you need the medication. I know from experience, that I started it for a crisis and the doctor continued to supply it forever. Yes it does calm you and make you able to concentrate better and perhaps do a lot of things you think you could not do without out but after going through severe withdrawels in a hospital by choice I am not nearly as anxious a person as I had began to beleive. It is a great feeling to be free of this medication and no longer counting pills. I highly recommend doing whatever you have to to get off this medication. It is also a depressant, For however long at first you really do feel great and relaxed and confident etc, but eventually when you know your confidence is coming from a pill, depression will set in. I was on this medication for 20 years and thought it was a life saver too.

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Dude, Xanax as you know, is a widely abused medication! I know cause I did use to take it when I really did not need it at that particular moment, maybe just wanted to feel a buzz, sorta speak! Now here is the moral of the story, i have been on this medication for about ten years now, an since I've been taking the medication as prescribed(now realizing that when used properly, does exactly what it is meant for), along with my other medication, with being under supervision of just "one" physician, things have been changing in my life for the better! So my recommendation, would be to stay with one Doctor, who knows you, and be as honest about everything that is going on in your life surrounding your medicine, as long as your not abusing meds, and taking as prescribed, I think you will find that you do not need a "handful" of medications in order for the medication to do what it was meant for originally! Although if your just out to get "high", or abuse the medication, life will pretty much stay the same trying to get that next Buzz! So start taking your meds as prescribed, an I personally think you'll find life will be much more on an even keel in the brain! You'll notice a change in the way of thinking. Cause taking this medication recreationally can be very dangerous! I mean to take 14mg of xanax one day and whatever you can find every other day will end up giving you medical problems(seizures), that you want no part of! So bottom line for anyone reading this, my advice(coming from a long time user), would be take medications as directed, an you'll find you will be a lot more productive in what ever it is that you do! Other than "pill shopping", which is not a life I would wish on anyone! Take meds as directed an you will not be having a lot of the problems I see most People are having! I mean I have People come ask me crazy questions like would I sell them my medicine (which I know goes on), an I am totally wondering why someone would want to take my medication, then it dawned on me that People are abusing medication like it is going out of style! Although do not ask for mine cause I am on the straight and narrow with my physicians! Good luck to those who really need their medication, without abusing it!

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has anyone experienced during the waining off period the feeling your brain is shaking and slight tremors in your hands?

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Yes it can. You still should wean off slowly and under Dr. Supervision. .5 is a low dose but anything can happen?

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I've been taking Xanax for about for five years now though only a half a milligram a day, now I'm stopping it and I actually think I'm going through withdrawal. Does anyone think this is possible given the limited amount of Xanax I have taken? Thanks in advance

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I have been very responsible although I can't say the same for my provider? Just go with the program and take four for now from the new doc. As we age Alprazolam can have a stronger effect. I passed out last year, twice in two weeks and decided to make an easy transition from 3 mg to 2 mg a day. While Xanax wasn't the reason why, my head hurt pretty bad, kind of putting my anxiety on the back burner. Besides I have many spares if needed. Most people don't, and Xanax plays with your mind.

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I have been taking 5 mg of Aprazalam for over 30 years for treatment of severe panic attacks and agoraphobia. Over the 30 years I have occasionally have a social glass of wine. I have not suffered any problems as described in warnings. I have just turned 65 and my former psychiatrist has retired. My new psychiatrist and I have discussed reducing the dosage to 4.5 mg over 2-4 weeks and then to 4 mg after I am comfortable with 4.5 mg. As described in the book "The Anxiety Disease" by Dr. Sheehan, the dose for stopping panic attacks is 4-6 mg of Aprazalam aka Xanax.

Has anyone else out there been responsible on the medication for many years? If so, what has been your experience?

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Are you a Dr?

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I would not encourage anyone to take xanax..

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Donna, I definitely am not a professional but your present doctor is not doing you any good as you are maybe realizing. I assume you are in Canada because you mention the not being able to get another doctor. Have you heard of an organization that I think is called doctor find,sorry I cannot recall their name but if you call your local hospital they will know. I used it and they were very fast about giving me a list of doctors taking new patients..Also if you get yourself on the waiting list for therapy through the canadian mental health association. I know people who have PTSD and the therapy definitely helps. Also if you get into therapy you can inquire about new doctors or others that are also taking new patients. I was on xanax also for 15+ years and thought I had such terrible anxiety and depression that I didn,t think I could survive without this medication yet was so dependent on it that my life revolved around pill counting since I had built up a tolerance and would take more than prescribed and then run low before the next refill so would use alcohal to stretch them out. It was a miserable way to live and I was also suicidal. I checked myself into the hospital and underwent a six week weaning schedule there. It was hell, I will tell you the truth and I wouldn't recommend such a schedule for someone on as much as you. But if you were to do this, just to cut back , it will be easier in the hospital than at home because they will monitor you and do the tapering for you. If you just say you are suicidal, which isn't really a lie if you are so depressed and they will have to take you. This way you will also have access to nurses and psychiatrists and doctors and support groups. I also learned that most of my anxiety and depression was a result of the medication itself , I went through a lot but it was all worth it because I am so happy now and feel so free,no longer counting pills and going through panic attacks and constant short-term withdrawels, the medication also fogs your brain so would explain memory loss etc.Just some suggestions from someone who has been there. Just know that you can get your life back no matter what you are feeling now, the xanax make you depressed, really. I wish you all the best and hope you get some help.

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