Panic Attacks Support Group
A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...
I've been on xanax .25mg for the past 3 weeks for sleep. Didn't know how addictive it is, I used it. I am trying to get quit using it. I stopped using it Thu and hoping to stretch it to 2 days but I couldn't. My nerves woke me up at 2 am and haven't gone back to sleep. Is this a withdrawal process? Need some advice....Please
at your low dose for that short time you couldnt be addicted or dependant
its best to take xanax as needed and not every night
The dose you are on is very small and should not be a problem for you to take long term if you need to do that. All medications are addictive in one way or another--if you take a baby aspirin every day for heart problems and then just "quit" taking it, you increase your risk for heart attacks, as your body has become used to the blood thinning effects of the medication--people don't consider THAT as addiction, but it is...your body develops a NEED for the aspirin.
The same thing happens with xanax. It is a physical addiction. It is NOT the same thing as a drug addict that will rob old ladies to get money for heroin...so you don't need to fear taking a medication if you NEED to take a medication. Many people are on xanax for many years, and never have a problem with it. They understand that there are risks associated with ANY medication, and decide that the trade off is worth it.
If you think you can cure yourself with herbs and vitamins, then tell that to your doctor and see what he says. But don't stop your medication until you let him know what you plan to do next. He might have another medication for you to try, or at least give you advice about what to do about your insomnia.
Some people with panic can sleep fine, others not so much, so it is best to seek the help of a psychiatrist who can determine what is going on with your personal situation and treat it. That may mean an SSRI or some other drugs as well. Your doctor knows that this is a complicated issue, so that is why he has referred you to another doctor with more specialization.
Make sure though, that your doctor has given you a thorough exam with blood testing, just to make certain that there are no medical issues that might be causing some of your symptoms. Once you have a clean bill of health, then proceed to the psychiatrist to see what medication he can offer you. Discuss with him your reservations on taking medication---shrinks run into this all the time, and they are the best people to answer your questions and make you less fearful about taking drugs. The main thing to keep in mind, is that it takes some time for the drugs to work, and it may take some time to find the right combination of drugs and therapy to make your symptoms better. If you don't feel better after 6 weeks, then its time to try another drug.
It is also helpful to work with a therapist to make certain you are on the right track. Taking a pill alone may not solve your issues, you may also need therapy to help point you in the right direction. Everyone is different, so the best treatment involves as many professionals as possible looking at every aspect of your condition so you can get on the right track.
I think you have a psychological and not a real addiction to xanax, you only ever took a very small dose