Xanax and Memory Loss: What Users Say

• dav...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 11, 2015

For Anxiety "It's been 3 months now off Xanax (was taking up to 4 mg a day for 2 years after my brother killed himself) and I'm just now starting to feel like myself again. Coming off the Xanax was the hardest thing I've ever done. I had to force myself to work and keep my job. I had good days and bad days (more bad than good). My symptoms were crazy. No sleep, headaches, shakes, twitching, pain everywhere, memory problems. If I knew how hard it is to come off benzos, I never would have touched it. Short-term use = okay. Stressful event = okay. If this helps one person, then yay. Please be careful! Don't end up detoxing off of a benzo and going through hell for weeks or months. Research this med. Not fun!"

• Nic...
• September 27, 2015

For Panic Disorder "I've been taking this medication for a long time. 10 yrs.! I wasn't warned about the memory problems, or any way of becoming addicted. I can happily say it has helped me, I even went into agoraphobia stage. Also, from my own personal experience, be very careful in taking this medication. I actually saw for myself how bad the memory problems can be. When I experienced that, I went to my Dr and said I wanted to wean myself off, but slowly, not stupid either. I've been addicted to this medication, but you have to realize our brain, our mind is more powerful than we give it credit for. I was using 0.5 mg 6-8 times a day. I'm now down to 3 and a half times per day, I'm getting better again."

• Kri...
• July 30, 2015

For Panic Disorder "Since 9/11, I have developed an intense fear of flying. I stopped flying for 7 years altogether. In 2010, I had a strong desire to start traveling again, so I asked my doctor if there was something he could prescribe me so I could sleep and not feel anxious on flights, and he prescribed Xanax. My fear is so intense that I have to take 3-4 mg of Xanax on a three-hour flight in order not to be anxious, but it works perfectly. I'm able to be on the plane, and I sleep for a good portion of the flight with no anxiety. I do have some memory lapses, I often do not remember leaving the airport or much of what I do for a few hours afterward, but I am able to sleep it off."

• cen...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 30, 2017

For Anxiety "While I found this medication to be effective for anxiety, the concentration and memory loss were terrible and almost cost me my job. I didn't really notice anything was wrong until I started my new job. Training was a nightmare. I couldn't focus long enough to learn anything new! I was reading a short list of keywords, and by the time I got to #3, I couldn't remember #1. I couldn't pay attention long enough to read a book, or even a short article. I couldn't remember people's names. I had to write everything down. I couldn't focus on anything anyone was telling me, I would just pretend like I understood. Luckily, I noticed something was wrong and stopped taking it about 2 months ago. My memory and ability to focus have improved."

• daa...
• August 20, 2015

For Anxiety "Out there reading this. I started taking Xanax for anxiety (a 2mg bar at night for sleep to turn my brain off at night). Worked my way up to 2 2mg bars a night for sleep/anxiety. BRAIN FOG set in. MEMORY LOSS like I was going crazy. BE CAREFUL this med (and all benzos) is for short-term use ONLY!!! Tried to taper myself off and couldn't. I went to a detox facility (hospital) and detoxed properly. Was a horrible experience. I was stuck in a hospital with heroin/alcoholics for a week. If you're reading this, BE CAREFUL. This med is for short-term use."

• Tra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 25, 2015

For Anxiety "This pill works miracles for me. It is completely effective against all of my anxiety. It also makes me feel less OCD. I no longer obsess over thoughts or worry while I am on this. Xanax unleashes my creativity. I play guitar, write music, and draw a lot. I used to do all these things but have thought I lost interest because I had no inspiration. I have no side effects except some memory loss and tiredness. I wish my doctor would up my prescription, I am on 2 mg a day, and for the past nine months, I have always finished my prescription in 1 - 2 weeks. But this does well for keeping tolerance low and avoiding addiction and dependence. I am on it for 2 weeks and then off until my refill."

• Mat...
• April 21, 2015

For Anxiety "This is a qualified positive review for Xanax. I was suffering from mild depression and anxiety last winter, and my doctor put me on Wellbutrin. That stuff takes 4-8 weeks to work, and in the interim, it can really up your anxiety level. A week later, I started 1 mg Xanax 1-2X/day, and it took care of the anxiety immediately. I continued using Xanax for more restful sleep, but after about 3 months, I realized that short and long-term memory was WAY down. I stopped Xanax and replaced it with GABA, and this seems to be a far better solution. The Wellbutrin worked great, I felt more energy the first week, but it did take 6-8 weeks to fully kick in. I will now ONLY take the Xanax for rare, severe stress. Also check the connection to Alzheimer's."

• fea...
• September 8, 2009

For Anxiety "Xanax works well for me with my fear of flying. I have to take it on an empty stomach, otherwise, it does not work. It makes me sleep on the flight to get to where I need to go. The one problem that I am having is memory loss. I cannot remember the events that happened the day that I take it. It makes me very passive."

• Bra...
• December 13, 2016

For Anxiety "I have been on Xanax since 2007 when I was watching my mother slowly suffer. I started on 0.25 mg, and eventually, the dose was not enough. Now ordered 1 mg in the morning and 2 mg at night. It works, however, I have cognitive impairment, and all I want to do is sleep, and my memory is pretty shot. I weaned myself down very, very slowly and got down to 1 mg daily at night, but then some negative events happened, and I was going into a panic attack. I know this medication works, but I would not take it unless it is a must."

• Bra...
• December 13, 2016

For Anxiety "I have been on Xanax since 2007 when I was watching my mother slowly suffer. I started on 0.25 mg, and eventually, the dose was not enough. Now ordered 1 mg in the morning and 2 mg at night. It works, however, I have cognitive impairment, and all I want to do is sleep, and my memory is pretty shot. I weaned myself down very, very slowly and got down to 1 mg daily at night, but then some negative events happened, and I was going into a panic attack. I know this medication works, but I would not take it unless it is a must."

• Ted...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 10, 2022

For Anxiety "In 2022, I am 24 years of age, and I have been taking Xanax every day for four years now. My dosage has gone up and down over the years. I have a myriad of mental health issues, one of them being GAD. I currently am taking about 1.75-2 mg daily. I always take at least one extended-release 0.5 mg pill. I have a sort of unique situation in that my panic attacks manifest in extreme depression, something that took me years to realize. I’ve had, at this point, countless episodes of extreme suicidal ideation, during which Xanax was the only thing to get me off the ledge. It has saved my life multiple times throughout the years. Unfortunately, I do believe long-term use of this medication has resulted in some cognitive impairment. I have a really bad memory. The past four years of my life feel like a dream. It’s really difficult for me to remember. I speak three languages, but it’s hard for me to recall words in my weaker languages, where it was not so difficult before. I’m glad Xanax exists."

• Ted...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 10, 2022

For Anxiety "In 2022, I am 24 years of age, and I have been taking Xanax every day for four years now. My dosage has gone up and down over the years. I have a myriad of mental health issues, one of them being GAD. I currently am taking about 1.75-2 mg daily. I always take at least one extended-release 0.5 mg pill. I have a sort of unique situation in that my panic attacks manifest in extreme depression, something that took me years to realize. I’ve had, at this point, countless episodes of extreme suicidal ideation, during which Xanax was the only thing to get me off the ledge. It has saved my life multiple times throughout the years. Unfortunately, I do believe long-term use of this medication has resulted in some cognitive impairment. I have a really bad memory. The past four years of my life feel like a dream. It’s really difficult for me to remember. I speak three languages, but it’s hard for me to recall words in my weaker languages, where it was not so difficult before. I’m glad Xanax exists."

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 11, 2017

For Anxiety "Xanax is like putting a Band-Aid over a wound that needs stitches. This med helped take the edge off my anxiety, and I am thankful for it. It will NOT treat GAD properly because you'll be dependent with too many doses, but it is a godsend for panic disorders. I still struggle with anxiety (anger, headaches, worrying, crazy thoughts). It helped me be able to sleep, socialize, not have panic attacks at work, great sex drive, and I feel calm. I was prescribed 0.5 mg twice a day, usually took less, otherwise, I'd be sleeping all day. I could only go about a day without it, then I need it again for anxiety. The biggest downside is that it makes me REALLY tired, lazy, and poor memory sometimes. When mixed with alcohol, I get very angry. I will be looking into SSRIs."

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 23, 2021

For Anxiety "2 years, 4 mg a day. This was the worst two years of my life I don't remember, arrested twice. Constantly had the urge to steal things or make trouble. I had to take this garbage 4 times a day, vs. lorazepam's once or twice a day. People who praise this drug must get a different effect than me, it lasts 1/2 as long as Ativan and makes me insanely forgetful and stupid. I think it's garbage in the long run. Took me 3 months to taper off of too, absolute trash."

• Bun...
• December 2, 2015

For Anxiety "Xanax simply stops working when taken too long on a daily basis. At that point, one reaches 'tolerance,' and the medication is simply no longer effective at that dose. Many psychiatrists tend to keep prescribing Xanax and other benzodiazepines at this point (strong, addictive tranquilizers that lead to dementia and Alzheimer's) as maintenance meds. It is then up to you to realize how bad they are and wean yourself off them, going through years and years of dangerous withdrawal. The best solution is don't even start! XANAX: NOT EVEN ONE!"

• GJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 13, 2018

For Anxiety "Careful with this one. Very addictive. It was prescribed for anxiety, but after a while, I found myself habitually taking it and getting desperately anxious when I didn’t. Addiction to barbiturates in my mid-forties was not part of the plan, so I stopped. Withdrawals were terrible. I also experienced short-term memory issues. I achieved safer results with antidepressants, although they take a week or more to ‘work,’ they are not addictive. Lifestyle changes also helped: no drinking, took up jogging, gym, and watching what I eat and being more mindful of the spiritual aspects of life. Pretty obvious stuff, really..."

• Nui...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 21, 2017

For Anxiety "Please try a different benzo before this drug. It's a life ruiner. The effects are so strong and leave the body quickly, it makes you crave more. Tolerance builds like crazy with this drug too. I suggest Klonopin. It works great and lasts a lot longer. Withdrawal is horrible from Xanax. You can die from it. It also comes with severe memory loss while taking it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 27, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I'm 63 and started Xanax at 19. Had panic disorder. Now I suffer trying to hold a job as I can’t remember things while trying to be trained. I’ve lost the last 2 jobs due to it. My balance is suffering, been tired for years and now see it causes Alzheimer's. I’m scared of what’s ahead in my future now, but after 40 years, the damage is already done. It was very effective for helping me live, but now I wish they’d have tried something different."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2019

For Panic Disorder "Be careful on this drug! I have a slight case of PTSD. Some things trigger my depression into manic episodes of aggressive crying. Xanax does make it go away, however, I can only take a small dose. The dose perceived to me was so strong I don't remember a whole night with my husband. Eventually passed out with my cat on the couch, and I don't remember a thing before that. So that scares me that it drugs me and takes my memory away..."

• VDC...
• April 4, 2017

For Anxiety "I was prescribed these for an onset of panic attacks that would spike my BP to 175 over 130. Taking these 0.5 mg pills did nothing but make me lose my short-term memory. I still felt panicked, and my BP would only drop slightly until I rode out the attack."