New to panic attacks; question about Xanax

[FredL]

I'm a 51 year old male, and had my first panic attack recently. I've been feeling a little depressed lately, and a lot stressed, but woke up one morning with my heart racing and unable to catch my breath. I went to the ER, they said I was having heart palpitations and a panic attack. My primary care doctor prescribed 50 mg. of Zoloft and 0.25 mg. of Xanax twice a day (until I can see a psychiatrist). I had a few days off work, so I took one in the morning and one in the evening. I felt kind of out of it for most of the day, so I'm taking both pills at bedtime. My question is this: if I'm taking it to relieve anxiety, is it doing me any good to take it at night? Would it be better to go back to my original schedule, hoping the daytime wooziness will wear off?

This is the first time I've ever taken an anti-anxiety medication, so your opinions would be most sincerely appreciated. Thanks!

[Lunabell]

Well,I have been prescribed Xanax XR in the generic form Alprazolam. I stopped taking it because I was scared of it. I heard you could become addicted and I didn't think it was doing me any good. That was a few years ago. Well recently my Dentist prescribed me Xanax again in generic form.
Just with these experiences I am going to say that you should take it as prescribed to you. If you are taking the extended release form aka the XR it will last throughout the entire day for up to 12hrs. The non-extended release one,I am not sure how long it lasts for. If you are worried about the wooziness you should discuss it with your doctor when you go to him or her.

[foxyboy]

take the AD in the morning an the xanax when you need it. You will feel wozzy your brain is being slowed to stop the panick attacks, The sertraline will cover anxierty when you reach 100 to 150mg an you drop the xanax

[FredL]

Thank you kindly for your replies. My primary care doctor prescribed those meds, and when I posted my original question I had no idea how long it would take for me to get an appointment with a psychiatrist, which is why I was anxious (no pun intended) you’re your feedback about those meds. Thankfully, I was able to get an appointment within a week of my panic attack. He initially prescribed me 25 mg. of Paxil CR once a day and 0.5mg of Klonopin twice per day. At a follow-up appointment two weeks later I advised him that my depression seemed to be getting worse, while my anxiety had improved 99%. He increased my Paxil CR to 75 mg. once a day, while keeping the Klonopin at 0.5 mg twice a day. I’ve suffered from major depressive disorder for most of my adult life, and from what I think has been undiagnosed social anxiety disorder for pretty much the same amount of time, except it has gotten worse the older I get. Does it sound like I’m on the right track? I thought that jumping from 25 mg. to 75 mg. of Paxil CR seemed like a large increase, but I wasn’t going to argue with him!