I have had a severe Panic Disorder since I was a child. At age 27, I started taking Xanax, and I have taken it for 30 years - and it has worked 99% of the time. I have never taken more than prescribed, and started out at .25 3x a day, the most was .5 3x a day, and now back to .25 3x a day. Why are the doctors all of a sudden not wanting to prescribe this med any longer when it is working? It is very frustrating! My general physicians has required me to now go to a psychiatrist to prescribe this med, and he is trying to ween me off, and keeps trying other things that I have terrible side effects from. His first excuse was that it causes Alzheimer's, and then at a later appointment, he said that had never been proven. So, does anyone know the real scoop on this? Thanks! StarGlitter
Xanax has worked for my Panic Disorder for 30 years, why all of a sudden do dr's want to stop presc?
Question posted by StarGlitter on 27 Jan 2016
Last updated on 30 July 2022
8 Answers
Because second only to the opiate crisis... which has been blamed on doctors and the manufacturers... benzodiazepines are the most abused class of drugs. Who would want to be blamed for this too?
Besides, do some research on the short- and long-term side effects of benzodiazepine use.
Maybe because you have to constantly increase the dose, unlike other benzos, e.g. clonazepam;
Yes,I know the answer an the answers is all medicines have side effects an u been taking it for thirty years you know ur body better than anyone an if its helped u that long the proof is in the pudding, so people got to pick an choose what medicines they can deal with on side effects because its going in to your body so u should definately have that right,if your responsabile,
don't use illegal drugs,an do good things then good for u,the truth is there just giving u the run around because its a narcotic that's just plain truth with no beating around the bush,but also the truth is sometimes people are gonna have to take a pill that consist of taking a narcotic an some of them are very good an can help u it just depends on how the person uses it ,anything can be bad no matter what it is even if it ain't a narcotic its all on the persons mentality so for example if xanax was the same medicine an not labled as a narcotic an had no category we wouldn't even be talking about this or me answering this questions that's that but hope it helps an if u believe that an or makes u better then happy for u.God Bless
Yet another moron!! Xanax is not a NARCOTIC!
I just joined this forum and I don't believe my question has been posted yet, but our situations are similar except I started 30+ years ago on 1 mg and over time have increased to 2 mgs a day. They are extremely site-specific and work very well for me and now I am in a tough situation with only 3 weeks worth left and no doctor. I have all kinds of insurance ... well, Medicare, Medicaid and Aetna but I am a stranger here in a new big city living alone in a small apt for the first time in my life and on a fixed low income. I'm not only anxious but somewhat scared. Now the clinic I have found refuses to write a script for me even though I have brought my past medical records with me to prove what drugs I take and dosage, etc.. I suppose my only options (to stay out of a hospital) are to start weaning off tonight or pounding the pavement until I find an empathetic doctor who will understand my plight.
I'm not looking for a pill-pusher, just someone who understands that they actually work for me. Dementia? bring it on. I'm 66 and pretty mentally clear considering what I have been through ... Good luck to both of us, eh?
Steve, And Star And everyone else my kind of hot post at the end is by no means directed at anyone it's the system. After working in Pharmacy for over 45years give or take I would not do it again with the way they do stuff now. And I am not right by any means when I answer questions to the chemo has really taken a toll on me.And the last thing I want to do is get any more people here mad at me.You all know I have a hard time reading the post and get chemo brain at times and I so appreciate the people that have kindly corrected an error I might come up with at times but I have been doing pretty good I know This has saved me by keeping my mind busy so I answer a lot more than maybe some would like me to But it's therapy for me and thanks for putting up with me at times. I HAVE A BAD HABIT I SEE SOMETHING WRONG I SAY IT LIKE IT IS. no beating around the bush with me.But never am I directing any type of anger at anyone.
And hope I do more good here than bad.It's hard because I can't send messages in private due to a problem with my computer or drug.com so thumbs up do not work, And I can't add friends I have many in a file here that when it decides to work I friend them.But if I try and answer some question private it changes it to a post Hope you all have a fantastic Monday I well quit rambling now all my best to my friends here Chuck1957 aka Chuck.
Seriously Chuck, you are one of the most inoffensive people here and one of the most helpful. If I make a mistake I welcome being corrected. None of my ego is tied up with having to be right. If I'm wrong and get corrected correctly then I've learned something. After 6.5 years of tertiary education and 3 years teaching; I've had to accept how little I actually know. Don't spend a second thinking 'I know that's wrong' but I don't want to offend e.g. 'Steve'. One thing I find unusual is that people with unpleasant illnesses find it in their hearts to be altruistic by taking hours a day to help complete strangers. Steve.
Steve, very well said!
Thanks, all just working at keeping the ball rolling and not insult anyone else now, Hope all are doing okay today.
Sorry STAR; YOUR having to go through all of this, Stop the research you won't find it and it's crazy but part of this is the pressure the doctors get from the medical board And some of the doctors are just jerks when it comes to prescribing these medications stick with the guns and keep complaining about how these new medications are messing you up you were doing so well when you were on just the lower dose of Xanax and did not have all these side effects.we are being put between a rock and a hard spot when it comes to these medication because of the abuse by others and all that are making it to the streets. best of luck.
Thank you Chuck!!! Your response is much appreciated!!! And that's exactly what I thought - due to those who are abusing it. I plan to stick to my guns and hope that I can still be prescribed the medication that has worked for me for 30 years! I gave you a ThumbsUp Dude! StarGlitter
Thanks Star I feel so bad when people like us which this is a life saver for us. And we have to put up with this crap from the doctors and the system and in 30 to 40 years I have never taken more than the doctor has told me to but we have to feel like and be treated like this. Like we don't already have enough to think about. hang in there it well work out.
There are good reasons to stop in medical literature that links the long term use of clonazepam and Alprazolam to developing dementia. After 20 years your odds of developing dementia are around 90%.
Stephen,
When I questioned the physician about this at my 2nd appointment, he said that if it had caused any dimentia, it could be reversed, and it would not be permanent. I have researched Alprazolam, and I cannot find any proof that it causes dimentia. StarGlitter
Thank you for your input above that made me re-think my answer. One of the problems of clinical trials is that the studies are short term at around 8 to 12 weeks with a handpicked study group. Follow ups after one year rarely happen. So in this study it's quite possible that they picked one group from an old age home (high dementia rate) and the others just a random group of people who fulfilled the study requirements (low dementia rate). (Sadly I am not allowed to link to external sites and outright plagiarism doesn't sit well with me.)
Another example of rigged statistics/clinical trials was Prozac which after attempts at replicating the manufacturers clinical trials results failed. These people discovered that it was only ~ 9% more effective than a placebo and another trial came up with Prozac being ~6% less effective than the placebo.
Thank you again, Steve
My family physician actually hollered at me for taking Xanax that was prescribed by my neurologist. I have been seeking both for about 20+years. He tried all the ssri's and each made me sicker than the previous one. This family dr just didn't get it. I raised my voice back at him and told him he doesn't know what this feels like. So... Back to the neurologist for a visit and explained what happened. He wrote out the prescription for 'brand name' only ... long story ... and I have my Xanax. Ask around for s good, compassionate dr. One of your friends must know of one. Keep trying. No matter what anyone says, there is no reason to wean off this drug. If it works, stay with it. I tried many things during this last bad panic attack and ended up in the hospital twice and I'm not a big baby who whines. I meditate and practice mindfulness. It helps some. Please look for someone new to help you.
Thanks Connie for your response! I wanted to hear it from "one of my own", not from the money-hungry doctors who want you to keep trying new drugs and making monthly appointments - and we the patients who have legitimate illnesses like us and do not take advantage of the medication are the ones who suffer. I gave you a thumbs up! StarGlitter
Thank you, SG!!!
I have seen the studies and there is no proof of Dementia with the use of benzo's and altzimers as far as the test they did and the one that came close people they gave the mouse 60 percent more Xanax than a human would ever take and then wonder why it just wanted to sleep. some of these test I have reported and they are crazy.I have seen drugs taken off the market because they caused the mice to get different deadly disease but they don't mention to the general person or doctor that they gave the mouse or mice 100% more of the drug the a person would ever have. CRAP I HAVE CANCER AND ONGOING PAIN FROM MY CRUSHED LEGS I well be damned if the doctor is going to give me this line of crap Chuck wise medically retired Pharmacy Technician Cpht. SORRY NOT A GOOD DAY TODAY.
RIGHT ON CHUCK! And don't feel bad. It's not your bad day... it's just the honest truth! You're a smart guy - and my thoughts are with you. I love reading your posts! Go get 'em! StarGlitter
Related topics
xanax, anxiety, panic disorder, prescription
Further information
- Xanax uses and safety info
- Xanax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Xanax (detailed)
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