I am prescribed .25mg (very low dose) of xanax (alprozolam) for anxiety. From many of the posts I have read, it has been said that xanax is a terrible long term drug. I only take .25mg of the drug maybe twice a week at the most sometimes going for months without it because i only take it as needed. at this rate will my body build a tolerance to the drug? I really want to continue to use the drug as needed in the long term (years), considering how little I take xanax is this okay to use for many years to come or should I look into switching medications?
Is it ok to take .25mg of xanax for long term use?
Question posted by Anonymous on 28 Nov 2009
Last updated on 15 February 2019
4 Answers
Kimmmyoo
12 Aug 2016
I know this is an old post but it's handy info I was on Xanax 0.25 X 3 times a day for 18 years for panic disorder weened off them over 6 mths and I'm fine. All the best
JONNY_005
12 Oct 2016
I need some advice concerning this 2 yrs ago I was diagnosed with pulmonary HP Iwas put om losartan/hct 100/25 1 x a day I was also diagnosed with Dysthymia Disorder. I at 1st was prescribed Wellbutrin 150mil 2x a day about a yr later I was prescribed Xanax 0.25 mil as needed it was later boosted to 2x day I felt a lot better mood/anger depression ect basically gone you are all going to have a few bad day its life.Sometime during Aug of this yr I noticed a changed lil more bummed out and mood swing Irritated anger went back to the doctor in Sept she changed the Xanax to 0.5mil 2x a day it works for the most part but I am still sort of bummed out any idea why? I been on the wellbutrin for 2yrs now at 300 mil a day
Inactive
22 Aug 2012
I have panic attacks. I have been on .5 mg for about 7 years and a VA doctor just told me I won't get any more, that I was "addicted". I took 1mg mg to sleep every night and 0 to 1mg per day for anxiety and it was fine. Now I take Ambien to sleep, so don't need as much Xanax, but need some during the day for anxiety in order to live a full life. I know when I am addicted. I am not. It works and that is why it was developed. The doctors are CYA rather arbitrarily. M.D.'s or not, they are wrong on this one. I am sick and tired of doctors paranoid over controlled drugs because some people abuse them. I don't. Doctors need to treat people like we have some intelligence but they too often take the route of medication with more side effects, etc., because it is safer for them, but ineffective or worse for the patient.
Ustlach
15 Feb 2019
I couldn't agree more with you about some doctors and their CYA attitudes, especially the one I recently encountered at my local VA clinic. I think they must all have got that way because they are constantly being sued and abused. My son is a surgeon and I do have some sympathy and understanding regarding their struggle to satisfy unreasonable patients and still help them. The PA at my VA clinic categorically refused to prescribe .5 mg alprazolam, and would only give me a limited amount of 5mg zolpidem. My problem is insomnia and other doctors have been prescribing .5 mg of alprazolam and 10 mg of zolpidem. I then cut those pills in half, and I have been doing this almost 20 years now. I recently moved and have a new doctor. I could go to the VA, but since they won't prescribe these things for me, I had to get a Medicare Advantage plan. My new doctor is OK about prescribing these sleep meds for me. But he warned me about dependency.
My thinking is that it is fine to be dependent on them, the way I am dependent on food and oxygen. But I did decide to try to research the topic and that is how I ended up here. Last night I did not take my alprazolam or zolpidem and had one of those horrible, sleepless nights that I remember from 20 years ago. I am 74 yrs old and in excellent health, very active, no depression or anxiety. I think I am just going to get dependent or remain dependent on these sleep meds and not suffer these horrendous sleepless nights anymore and not fret about the dependency. As long as my doctor will keep on prescribing them and they remain affordable through insurance, or on my own nickel, if necessary.
Psychmajor
28 Nov 2009
if your only using it that often i dont think it should build up a tolerance since xan clears your system (but if you start taking more often this is one of the most addictive benzos) within the day but in my opinion valium is overall better for most people. it lasts 100+ hours in the system before termination and since you dont need to take them very often less chance to build a tolerance. this also makes it easier to taper off of if you do start building anything. i havnt been on any benzo prescrips but i have been on them and i would have to say the xan are much more addictive.
oktoday
28 Nov 2009
Hi
i have been off and on xanax for twenty years I never got above 10mg a day and that when i choose to abuse it. I take it for panic attacks and i take 1mg to 4mg a day and i am ok with that because i dealt with alot of trauma and i can go outside and live. I think the dose your on is fine and at that level and in frequency it sounds like you have a good handle on it. Xanax is a tough drug because it does work so well for anxiety and panic attacks. You are one of the only person I have ever heard of at that dose. Dont sweat it you are doing well. I set a guldeline for my self I dont go above 4mg a day and I only get weekly prescriptions and I see a dr and therapist weekly. We are looking into alternatives but at 42 i am ok if i have to take a couple of pills to make the panic go away and i live a productive life, I dont buy them off the street, i dont run out of them, i dont sell them. So you are doing very well. If you notice you are going up talk to someone and see what is going on in your life. Good luck and you are fine.
Related topics
xanax, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder
Further information
- Xanax uses and safety info
- Xanax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Xanax (detailed)
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