Re: anxiety and anti anxiety meds

[Guest guest]

Would like to just insert a caution here. One of my specialty areas

is addictions. Xanax is a very bad choice of anti anxiety agents for

a number of reasons. If you need some short term anxiety relief, not

just a " rescue " for a few minutes, then a longer acting benzo is a

better choice. If you are going to take it for less than a week,

then any old benzo will probably do the trick and won't be a problem.

Clonazepan (Klonopin) is long acting, lacks the immediate reaction

that is often part of the addictive picture, and can be tapered off

much easier than Xanax or any number of the other benzos.

Many of the anti depressants are now prescribed just for anxiety. And

for ongoing anxiety, cognitive therapies are very effective.

This is something that the addictions psychiatrists and other

practitioners try to get through to genral psychiatrists, surgeons,

PCPs and other prescribers without a lot of success. Until they have

to refer to us of course.

Oddly enough I had no pre op anxiety or fear. I had a strong sense of

hope and " knowing " that I would be just fine. I have never lost that

faith and am celebrating 8+ months of success and much improved life.

in Seattle

> Theresa,

>

> I sure know the feeling of having anxiety attacks before surgery.

I was

> using Xanax and that helped me survive those days.

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to clarify why I was using Xanax. Last March my company went

through a major layoff. I work for a very large company and it was all over

the local news. Almost every day for months prior to the layoff there was

something on the news about it. About 3 weeks before d-day I saw my

psychiatrist for a regular med-check appointment. I take prozac and

wellbutrin for depression. When I explained the situation to him, he

suggested I try Xanax. I did voice my concern about addiction because I was

always hearing about celebrities being treated for Xanax addiction. He said

that I wasn't the type to abuse meds (which is very true), and he was

confident that once the layoff was over I wouldn't need it anymore. I didn't

use it every day nor did I use it more than once a day. When things calmed

down, I stopped using them. When the whole surgery process started up again

in June, I started having panic attacks again. With approval of my doctor, I

used the Xanax as needed. I haven't taken a single pill since surgery weeks

ago.

I wouldn't recommend Xanax for everyone, but it did help me out a lot. All

it did for me was take a panic attack to a level that I could manage. It

worked very fast and didn't make me feel weird or drugged. Maybe I am not

the norm with these kinds of pills, but I never take more than recommended

and usually take as little as I can.

Kathy M.

DS 7/19/01

213 pre-op

166 today

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/22/01 3:46:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time, andem4@...

writes:

> I wouldn't recommend Xanax for everyone, but it did help me out a lot. All

> it did for me was take a panic attack to a level that I could manage. It

> worked very fast and didn't make me feel weird or drugged. Maybe I am not

> the norm with these kinds of pills, but I never take more than recommended

> and usually take as little as I can.

>

>

them puppies knock me out! I used them for the plane ride to and from

Spain....but I can't imagine using them for panic attacks!!! I'd never get

out of bed...LOL

~~* AJ *~~

Age 37 5'8''

Post op 7/24/01 Open BPD/DS

self pay - Dr Baltasar -Alcoy Spain

07/24/01 BMI 64 415.1

08/06/01 BMI 59 390.2 -24.9 lbs! -10.75 inches

08/16/01 BMI 58 387.0 -28.1 lbs! -11.25 inches

08/24/01 BMI 58 386.5 -28.6 lbs! -15.5 inches

08/30/01 BMI 58 378.3 -36.8 lbs! -21.25 inches

09/10/01 BMI 57 373.0 -42.1 lbs!

09/24/01

My personal website: www.WLS4AJ.homestead.com

Check out the Bellingham Support Group at WWW.WLSBellingham.homestead.com

[Guest guest]

Kathy, I'm so sorry about your panic. I have panic

attacks too and understand why you want to avoid

having them. There's not much worse than having your

body and mind go " off " and you can't control it!

If your doc says xanax is best for short-term anxiety,

then I understand your taking it. Personally, I'd

take ANYTHING to avoid panic.

However, a good friend of mine is on xanax and has

been for several years. She has MS and needed xanax

for the shakes. She ended up taking 12-14 a DAY. Her

doc finally made her take less and she's now at 5 a

day. She is struggling really hard to get to 4 but

just can't do it yet.

Another xanax story - In 1988 when I first started

with panic/anxiety, my psychiatrist had me on valium.

He then switched me to xanax because xanax wasn't

addictive unlike valium!! I didn't like it and it

didn't work on me so after a few weeks, I just stopped

taking it. When I told my doc, I thought he was going

to flip out. He said, " You just don't stop taking it,

you need to pare down " ... I told him since it wasn't

addictive I didn't know about it. I'm really glad it

didn't work for me since we all now know that xanax is

very addicting.

Anyway, good luck and take care.

dee

--- andem4@... wrote:

> I just wanted to clarify why I was using Xanax.

> Last March my company went

> through a major layoff. I work for a very large

> company and it was all over

> the local news. Almost every day for months prior

> to the layoff there was

> something on the news about it. About 3 weeks

> before d-day I saw my

> psychiatrist for a regular med-check appointment. I

> take prozac and

> wellbutrin for depression. When I explained the

> situation to him, he

> suggested I try Xanax. I did voice my concern about

> addiction because I was

> always hearing about celebrities being treated for

> Xanax addiction. He said

> that I wasn't the type to abuse meds (which is very

> true), and he was

> confident that once the layoff was over I wouldn't

> need it anymore. I didn't

> use it every day nor did I use it more than once a

> day. When things calmed

> down, I stopped using them. When the whole surgery

> process started up again

> in June, I started having panic attacks again. With

> approval of my doctor, I

> used the Xanax as needed. I haven't taken a single

> pill since surgery weeks

> ago.

>

> I wouldn't recommend Xanax for everyone, but it did

> help me out a lot. All

> it did for me was take a panic attack to a level

> that I could manage. It

> worked very fast and didn't make me feel weird or

> drugged. Maybe I am not

> the norm with these kinds of pills, but I never take

> more than recommended

> and usually take as little as I can.

>

> Kathy M.

> DS 7/19/01

> 213 pre-op

> 166 today

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy M.

I take Klonopin 1mg at hs and 40 mg of prozac and it helps paic attacks.Ive

taken Klonopin since 95.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Kathy if only we could clone you and your attitude and use of a

benzo. For folks without a problem, who don't abuse it or use it

frequently or for a long time, it is incredibly effective.

Unfortunately, many people seemto have your viewpoint and self

awareness and end up abusing or becoming dependent on the benzo.

You are the poster child for the right pt to take Xanax. I still

think Clonazepam is generally better because it lasts a whole lot

longer in your body and doesn't give the " whoosh " feeling that is

often sought with benzo abuse.

Unfortunately there is no " type " that will " abuse " meds. We never

know who has the genetic makeup that combined with environmental

factors will result in addiction. However, I am always impressed when

a patient expresses a reluctance to take an addicting medication

because of that possibility. I prefer that my patients worry about

their wellbeing *more* than I do. Alcohol and benzos are a major

problem in my practice.

in Seattle

....edited for space reasons......

I just wanted to clarify why I was using Xanax.

When I explained the situation to him, he suggested I try Xanax. I

did voice my concern about addiction because I was always hearing

about celebrities being treated for Xanax addiction. He said that I

wasn't the type to abuse meds (which is very true), and he was

confident that once the layoff was over I wouldn't need it anymore.

I didn't use it every day nor did I use it more than once a day.

When things calmed down, I stopped using them. When the whole

surgery process started up again in June, I started having panic

attacks again. With approval of my doctor, I used the Xanax as

needed. I haven't taken a single pill since surgery weeks ago.

I wouldn't recommend Xanax for everyone, but it did help me out a

lot. All it did for me was take a panic attack to a level that I

could manage. It worked very fast and didn't make me feel weird or

drugged. Maybe I am not the norm with these kinds of pills, but I

never take more than recommended and usually take as little as I

can.

Kathy M.

DS 7/19/01

213 pre-op

166 today

[Guest guest]

This may seem like a broken record, but xanax for ongoing anxiety is

really a questionable choice. Clonazepam can be given 2 (or 3)times

a day and will cover the symmptoms without the constant ups and downs

of the blood serum levels and the constant benzo withdrawal

discomfort that is part of the reason people get dependent.

Most prescribers who are addiction specialists move folk over to a

long acting benzo and then the taper is much easier on the patient.

in Seattle

> However, a good friend of mine is on xanax and has

> been for several years. She has MS and needed xanax

> for the shakes. She ended up taking 12-14 a DAY. Her

> doc finally made her take less and she's now at 5 a

> day. She is struggling really hard to get to 4 but

> just can't do it yet.

>

> Another xanax story - In 1988 when I first started

> with panic/anxiety, my psychiatrist had me on valium.

> He then switched me to xanax because xanax wasn't

> addictive unlike valium!! I didn't like it and it

> didn't work on me so after a few weeks, I just stopped

> taking it. When I told my doc, I thought he was going

> to flip out. He said, " You just don't stop taking it,

> you need to pare down " ... I told him since it wasn't

> addictive I didn't know about it. I'm really glad it

> didn't work for me since we all now know that xanax is

> very addicting.

>

> Anyway, good luck and take care.

>

> dee

>