Has anyone been on Xanax XR for an extended period of time? I have been struggling with panic disorder for about 2 yrs now and have been through all the SSRIs, SNRIs etc and nothing seems to work. They either make me feel like an emotionless zombie or actually aggravate my symptoms. My doctor recently put me on Xanax and Effexor and it truly seems to have done the trick. However I recently switched to the XR version of xanax so im not popping pills all day. Anyhow I am concerned about all the negative things I hear about benzos and especially long term benzo treatment. My doctor has told me that he has a few patients where typical SSRI treatment just does not work and I'm one of them. I just wonder if anyone out there can share their experience with me regarding long-term use of Xanax XR and is it really such a bad thing?
Anyone been on Xanax for a long time - is it really such a bad thing?
Question posted by Rascal01 on 28 July 2010
Last updated on 27 April 2023
6 Answers
I’ve been on Xanax off and on for 20 years. I have reactions to other meds, and sometimes when I get a new doctor they want to put me on Paxil, which would not solve my problem and the withdrawal is hell. I can’t handle a lot of other meds. I’m very happy with the Xanax (2 mg) 3x a day. It helps me focus and I can feel it calming me down (I have PTSD and GAD). There’s been days where I didn’t need it and never had withdrawal symptoms. Some of the generics are useless, I always ask for the real thing. It’s gotten me through some rough times and I don’t know how I’d get by without it.
I've been taking Xanax for many years. I switched to the Generic Green Stone Alprazolam 2mg ER several years ago during a bout with Cancer. In my opinion this medication works very well. Contrary to what I read they are very smooth and long lasting. I've had no issues with them, taken in the AM once daily even high anxiety is controlled very well, also panic disorder has not been a problem. The once daily dosing VS the one tablet 3 or 4 a day of the Xanax IR has been a blessing. Downside is they're not covered by my Medicare. At this time Oct 8 22 I'm having a hard time finding them at my pharmacy for whatever reason? The question of long-term use at 71 years old I've been taking Xanax prescribed to me for 50 years with no change for the worse. I hope this helps, Good Luck
First off you are taking something that an educated Dr. Prescribed to you for a reason. I personally have been taking alprazolam for about 2 years 3 times a day. I tried antidepressants as well with just really bad side effects. My Dr suggested for night to try cannabis as well. Cannabis is legal here with a Dr recommendation. My Dr, said to take 2 mg every 8 hours (3x a day) I have never taken the full amount during the day. I do take the full 2 mg at bed though.
Education doesn't mean that that are smart or looking at your best interest I've seen a few people die from their proscribed drugs it's a business for them not health care LoL
some say that benzos are bad , personally i have bin on xanax,Valium diazepam,lorazepam,klonapins etc..(spelling may be incorrect) anyways i am currently on 2mg Xanax(bars) twice a day ,i used to get 4x a day and i did this for about 10yrs straight i would eat all of them then buy off the street somedays i would take from 10-20 benzos a day... personally the only bad thing i have to say about benzos is that yes its hard to ween down but people take it a little to far if you look at most the seizure situation its because people where mixing uppers and downers or not eating etc..if you take as prescribed you should be fine,as for xanax xr i wouldnt go there these new drugs there putting on the market aren`t what they appear to be,stick with the ole school benzos 3xtimes a day no more and if a dr ever threatens you off a benzo you tell him he must ween you off or you`ll sue his ass for malpractice because there the ones that got you addicted most likely in the first place!
I was on regular Xanax for seven years and Clonazepam on and off for three years. They both caused me some blackouts but not the type of blackouts that alcoholics get where they do something that they would not normally do. I have had two seizures over this time period and several withdrawls. The withdrawls are miserable but they won't kill you. The seizures happened both in unusual situations that added to the stress of the withdrawl. In some situations, there are creeps out there that take advantage of the fact that these medications can act as date rape drugs. Unless you don't fall asleep at strange places where you don't know anybody that you can trust or don't mix alcohol with them, this can definately be avoided. You should be able to stay on them for a long time if you are like me in the sense that they are the only medication that seems to make life livable.
I currently take 3mg of Klonopin. A very very long acting benzo. Xanax XR only lasts 12hr, so either you'll be dosing twice a day, or you'll be using it during the day time as needed. Regardless, Xanax XR will eventually lead to dependence, and NO, it's not such a bad thing. Benzo dependence is just fine if it is something that really helps you. For me personally, it was a large contributing factor as what saved my marriage. It was the only thing that knocked out my irritability, and the majority of my anxiety, so that I can now function properly. For me, it is simply something that I currently need. The old argument that I stand by is why is there no stigma attached to diabetics and their meds? They too need their meds, however, no one raises an eyebrow.
It really is unfortunate that there's such a stigma associated with mental disorders, and also a misunderstanding that goes along with it as well (the wrong thinking that it is something that you can just control, and is your fault). Besides the inappropriate cultural scare of Benzo's during the 1970's, they happen to be one of the few drugs currently on the market used for anxiety that have been studied for a very very long time (my grandma who was on Valium for well over 30 years, and was a card shark right up till the very end - she passed away at 98 years old). They say that long term use of benzos can make you slightly forgetful, but honestly, is that the drug, or the aging process. (When my grandmother turned 97, she stopped winning games on a continuous basis, and we knew at the time, that there was something seriously wrong, and it wasn't the Valium).
Honestly, I'd be much more skeptical of the SSRI, a much much newer drug, one that only came out in the late 1980's (if I'm not mistaken), vs. Benzos, on the market since the 1950's. Honestly, if it does turn out that you really do need to get off of the Xanax, your doctor will taper you very very slowly so that you don't notice a thing, except for the returning of original symptoms, assuming that they're still there.
I sincerely hope that this helps out a bit, regardless that I'm on Klonopin vs. Xanax, they both really are the same basic drug (with very very subtle different effects, and very different half lives)! Good luck - and hope that all goes well with you!!
thank you so much for your response - your perspective makes a lot of sense and actually aligns with what my doc said... basically he feels a lot of people respond to SSRIs and SNRIs but some don't have as much luck. He tells me essentially if it helps and you feel more like yourself prior to all the panic attacks then why worry about it? If taking it makes your life more managable and you are not abusing the med then don't worry about it.
Thanks again for your response
i too take zanax and avanza and dont beat myself up about it. i also got a bit worried after reading so many negative things about xanax and spoke to my doctor about it, at the end of the day im living a productive life, one I wouldnt be without xanax. you yourself know what works. i say go for it. best of luck
I have been on xanax for 5 years, started at .25mg a day now at 4mgs a day. I am able to do everything fine, working out 5'8 225 bf 11.5%, able to retain anything I lean, and also received my pilots license. I am now on ONAX 2mgs a day. Everyone thinks this new bar is fake while I know they are legit.
I stopped taking Xanax after about 7 years of "prolonged use". I was taking 2Mg. 3 times a day, but here's the problem: Xanax has a very short "half life" as compared to Klonopin, which I am currently taking Instead. The "calming effect" of Xanax was wearing off too fast, so I would reach for an "extra dose", and was constantly coming up short near refill time. This is VERY DANGEROUS! The withdrawl from prolonged Xanax use can cause very "hard" symptoms, Including Seizures which I have had 2 already. The Klonopin has a "MUCH LONGER" half life and stays in your system for 40-60 hours as compared to Xanax (12-18 hours on average). Klonopin is also much more "STABLE". I do not take Klonopin with any SSRI's like Efexor, Paxil, Prozac, Zyprexa, etc. I suffer from PTSD, Anxiety disorder with Agorophobia, and Bi-Polar disorder (Bi-Polar Axix 1).
IF benzo's are needed (and In my case they are), I would highly recommend switching from Xanax to Klonopin. I feel much "safer" on the Klonopin as I did with the Xanax. It was actually "THE FEAR OF RUNNING OUT OF XANAX" that was triggering the panic and anxiety attacks. I ended up in the Hospital twice because of Xanax "withdrawl", and/ or the fear of running out. I am much more "FUNCTIONAL" on the Klonopin, as compared to Xanax. I also agree with You that the Social Stigma of Xanax has a "bad rap". You make a very good point comparing the control of Anxiety to Diabetes! Those folks are just taking their meds. to control a disease, and so are we that have to take "benzo's" to control OURS!!! I went from Xanax 2Mg. 3 times a day to Klonopin 2Mg. twice a day, and I "FEEL FINE". Good Luck to All with this!
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xanax, xanax xr, anxiety, panic disorder
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