Am i asking too much?

[rutlame]

I am a recent college graduate and about to start my new job. I have suffered with anxiety/panic attacks for about a year. I am currently on Trazodone for sleep, and Citalopram for anxiety and depression. My doctor gives me enough Xanax to take .25mg once per day, which is not a lot. When I asked if it was okay for me to take .25mg of Xanax twice a day, she refused. Why do I keep hearing this? I know plenty of people who are prescribed 2 mg of Xanax a day and I can't even be legally allowed to take .5 mg a day. I just don't understand. It is so very frustrating, and I know from buying from my friends (not proud of it) that .5 mg per day and all my muscle tension and anxiety is cured.

[lifeconfusion6179]

I wish all drs were like that. she is doing that for your own good rut. you have know idea how addictive xanax can be if you take more then she is prescribing. .5 can easily turn to more. The fact that your buying it from friends is already a sign of what might happen to you while taking a benzo. I think you should take into consideration what the dr. is saying. You might not need the dosages that other people are receiving that is why she has you at a low dose. If you dont believe do a little google search on people who take high doses of a benzos like xanax and you will see. Also, xanax is the worst because of its short half life. just becareful and let your dr. help you not your friends. good luck.

[rutlame]

Thanks for the response. It's more of a placebo thing. Just knowing that I have enough Xanax to take .5 mg keeps my anxiety under control. Not even physically taking .5 mg, just knowing in the back of my head that I have it, if worse came to worse. I know she does not want me to become addicted to a benzo, and I have never taken more than .5 in any single day, but my god. Can some dr.'s not understand that people like us go through certain weeks/days where we might actually need a little xanax?

[rutlame]

Ok but what is someone that is struggling dailey with panic/anxiety supposed to do in the meantime? Until my pshycologist and doctors and I figure it out. Is that not an appropriate time period to use medication?

[rutlame]

Double posted? What does that mean? I've been on the trazodone and citalopram for about 3 weeks now. I took Lexapro about a year ago, but my anxiety dissapeared when I got away from the situation I was in. I have taken Xanax at .5mg/day dosage off and on for about a year. I have never taken more than .5mg in a single day. Also, when I am working during the summers and busy, I rarely ever even needed to take a Xanax. My mind was on other things like working, instead of anxiety. Right now is just an extremely stressfull time for about the next month and I could use the help of Xanax. I have begun working out more often, and practice breathing. I have recently moved home from college and while I have found a psychiatrist, I am still looking for a psychologist. The main anxiety symptom that is out of control are my muscles. Cramping and twitching. All day. Man it is miserable. My hands become useless sometimes because it gets so bad.

[rutlame]

Oh and my anxiety is ten times worse after nights that I go out and drink with my friends, something I have heard from other people with anxiety as well.

[rutlame]

As for the benzos . Like i said i have no problem with them but they have to be used right and not everyday as they are very addictive . Maybe you could try another doctor . But again you need a plan on how you will learn to handle stress long term because you don't want to go on drugs every time you a bet stressed .

I completely agree. I would love to snap my fingers and not be on a single medication like I was a year ago. It's just wild how strong the brain is, and how anxiety can manifest itself in such physical ways. It is just scary sometimes. As far as tests go, I have never had any done, which I think causes me some anxiety. I have never had a psychologist or Dr. look me in the eye and say "Listen, kid. You have anxiety, and for good reasons. Nothing is wrong with your body, and you are not dying."

[mlh1026]

Rut,

It sounds like you have situational anxiety to me. I'm not an expert, but I have a somewhat similar problem myself. I think that's not abnormal. Not sure why you'd have more stress after partying/drinking w/ your friends unless it has something to do w/ alcohol mixing w/ your meds... no clue on that one.

I, personally, have been dealing w/ anxiety/stress since I was probably 10 years old only then I just thought something was really wrong w/ me. Ok, I've always just kinda thought there was something really wrong w/me; why can't I do this or that w/o freaking out like other people do?! Why can't I focus and remember stuff? Why am I always worrying about irrational crap?! My therapist says that it's all well and good to learn relaxation techniques...etc., to deal w/ the anxieties, but if you can't figure out what's causing them you're only treating the symptoms or putting a bandaid on. Turns out my issues stem from various forms of childhood abuse that I've never actually dealt w/. Now I have to figure out how to "feel" what I feel instead of feeling anger and trying to be perfect all the time. I am almost paralyzed by my anxieties due to this, and I can almost do nothing but watch tv. I'm too afraid of doing anything else for fear of having an anxiety attack. I only take Zoloft as I also have some depression issues related to the anxiety, which I'm told is quite common as well

Anyway, Long story short...I don't understand why you need to take so many damn meds. Do some research on anxieties and learn what makes you tick so you can play a role in your diagnosis. If you can't do that or some sort of introspection, it will be very hard to get off any meds. Ask your therapist or maybe one of the nice folks on this forum to recommend some good books on anxieties.

Hope you get the support you need here as that is immensely helpful in decreasing your anxieties. :-)

[lifeconfusion6179]

Well if its worse only sometimes then try to get more but the fact that your buying from friends is kind of disturbing you know? I mean it looks like you have a handle on things. I suggest you find other ways to cope for those little moments when your anxiety gets really bad.

[just1]

I honestly think that medication is over rated. Many people have been able to get out of there depression and anxiety simply by praying. One celebrity is is Anne Hathaway. Go and read her wikipedia. She went through anxiety and didn't take any medication!

[rutlame]

I honestly think that medication is over rated. Many people have been able to get out of there depression and anxiety simply by praying. One celebrity is is Anne Hathaway. Go and read her wikipedia. She went through anxiety and didn't take any medication!

You want me to rid myself of depression and anxiety by praying? Sorry let me re-introduce myself. I am an open minded, non-nieve liberal who doesn't really believe in organized religion. But I'll say a prayer tonight and I'll see if my symptoms are gone when I wake up in the morning.