is anyone on xanax?

i am on wellbutrin xl (300 mg, once per day) for depression and was very recently put on xanax for anxiety (1 mg, 3 times per day).

my doctor fails to warn me about side effects, but i looked them up and things and wasn't too concerned. i want some personal experiences. i know my body is still getting used to it, but i find myself feeling a little loopy and weak a couple hours after taking it. i don't like that, because trazadone did that to me and i seriously had no energy for the horrible month i took it. the first effect is very calming though, and i have noticed i've been able to sleep much more peacefully, but at the same time i think i'm more tired. i don't like that either. i have things to do!

the main thing i'm worried about is appetite. i don't want a big appetite, but i don't want a non-existent one like wellbutrin gave me when i first took it either. i understand a lot of recovering anorexics are given this drug to help ease their anxiety about food, so it helps them gain weight. but is it just the lessened ANXIETY that helps them gain, or does this drug do something else that makes gaining easier?

i am 17 btw, i don't know if that really makes a difference. i would like any personal experiences, good and bad, about this drug, even if it doesn't have to do with appetite.

I am not on this med but am on a lot of meds. Anyhow from what I found everyone is different in what they experience. I have heard horror stories on some of my meds but I have not experienced it. So try to stay in the day. Some side effects may be very short term as well

Hm. I've had xanax since I was about 12 y/o(I'm almost 19 now), but I've never been prescribed it as take x amount x times a day. It's always been a "take as needed" thing. Which some days was 5 or so times a day, and sometimes I didn't take any. But yeah, I was prescribed it a few years ago during one of my recoveries to help me eat. I just take it now for panic disorder/anxiety attacks.

I have anorexia, depression, anxiety, etc.  I'm 16.  No anti-depressants (typical or atypical) worked for me, so I recieved electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) which is more of a last resort.  It was the most effective treatment I've recieved, but I'm def. not recovered.

I'm on xanax as well, and I used to be on wellbutrin.   The side effects listed online are usually quite uncommon.  The makers of these drugs are required by law to list ANY side effects reported in drug trials.  In these trials, many report side effects, even those on placebo's.  This is mostly psychological.  If you think you'll experience a side effect, you'll imagine you are experiencing it.  Many drs. have told me that when weight gain is listed as a side effect, if you are conscious of what you eat (like those with EDs) it is extremely unlikely that if you aren't trying to gain weight that you will.

Xanax makes me very sleepy, and I take it as needed.  It is known to be very addictive, so if you have an addictive personality you have to be very careful.  Sorry, I'm rambling, but good luck!  I would also try natural remedies, like accupuncture or yoga, which really help anxiety.  Deep breathing or whatever relaxes you can really help, and they don't have any side effects =)

Hi there, I'm 21 and this past year I was prescribed effexor (an anti-depressant as well as anti-anxiety drug) and also xanax (on an as needed basis) for my anxiety/panic disorder.  I was sleeping very, very little immediately before I started the medication so initially I adored the fact that xanax completely knocked me out before bed. I was just so glad to be able to sleep well for once. 

However, taking the effexor and xanax together on a regular basis made me feel extremely"over-medicated" and spacey (although my anxiety was significantly lessened, which was great), and I got awful headaches as well.  Personally, I was so spacey that I often forgot to eat because my appetite was very minimal.  My doctor suggested that I slowly wean myself off the xanax and instead increase my dosage of effexor, because she did not want me to develop a dependency on the drug. And of course, the fact that I was anxious made me worry about side effects and addiction and imagine every little thing was related to the medication.  My doctor told me to seriously stop stressing about the possible effects, that I was being counterproductive by freaking out about every little thing, which was funny after I realized that was what I was doing. lol

Honestly, it takes about a full month at the least for your body to become accustomed to the new medication and feel the full effects (or side effects as well).  If you have been on either of the new medications for less than this amount of time, then you cannot make a complete assessment of its effects on your body.  And of course, remember that everyone is different, once your body becomes adjusted you may experience little to no side effects at all.  I say give it time, and make sure you feel comfortable discussing your concerns with your doctor (no matter how small) because the ultimate goal of your treatment is for you to be at a healthy place. Your doctor can't read your mind, after all.

I hope everything works out well for you. Dealing with anxiety and depression is tough, but you are definitely doing the right thing by acknowledging your issues and your need for outside help.  That is a difficult step for many people to take. Good for you! =)

thanks for the replies. i'm hearing a lot of people take xanax on an as-needed basis. i don't know why he prescribed it differently, maybe so i don't take too many or something due to the dependency issue. i probably sounded a lot more anxious than i was, i was just curious about the success/stories other people have had.

swimfan93 you realllyyy annoyed me. i am not an idiot, and you are not a medical professional. i know about side-effects and their unlikeliness and why they have to be listed...maybe i sounded more reliant on the website i was looking at that i am, but i really was just CURIOUS, not STRESSED about it. and i know how physical manifestations can work due to mental obsessions. it takes a lot more than just "thinking" you're gonna have it to have it. once again, i'm not an idiot.

anyway. i appreciate the posts (except swimfan93's). i haven't gotten a TOO spacey effect, it's there a little but it's more relaxing than upsetting. i think i'll just wait to get used to it and see how it goes. i have been on wellbutrin close to 6 months, and that took a long time to kick in, but xanax is a lot quicker in the sense that i feel it. i know my body isn't used to it though. i am not really comfortable discussing problems with my doctor because when i felt really awful from side effects of trazadone he said i just needed to lose weight, which made no sense. i'm getting a new doctor. maybe that's why i was more worried (but not obsessing as i may have sounded) about the side effects, just because i'm so afraid of him calling me fat!

I have had a lot of bad but also good doctors. Like right now my psych is very good but let me tell you the stories I could tell about past ones. I had one though that was good but I was not progressing and needed a new approach so why I changed. My current one really is open to my thoughts and feelings. She is also taking into account all my conditions and looking outside of the box.I know starting a new doctor is hard but hopefully this one will be the one who can help you. It just  takes a different approach or eye to make a difference. I just encourage you to be open and honest with your fears and concerns. The doctor should never make you feel weird about being open. Hang in there and hold to hope

Original Post by abbi333:

I have had a lot of bad but also good doctors. Like right now my psych is very good but let me tell you the stories I could tell about past ones. I had one though that was good but I was not progressing and needed a new approach so why I changed. My current one really is open to my thoughts and feelings. She is also taking into account all my conditions and looking outside of the box.I know starting a new doctor is hard but hopefully this one will be the one who can help you. It just  takes a different approach or eye to make a difference. I just encourage you to be open and honest with your fears and concerns. The doctor should never make you feel weird about being open. Hang in there and hold to hope

thank you, that was great advice and that's how i feel! after a long time of staying silent i finally want to just let it all out, but not being comfortable is inhibiting the effort. i have a wonderful therapist, but though my psychiatrist knows what he's doing, he's not very empathetic. that's the one i was complaining about. i feel lucky to have found a good therapist after so many failed attempts though, so i know there has to be a good psychiatrist out there for me too. i hope i find one like you did.

I think the key is to not give up in the search. Trust me after so many I wanted to but I did not. I'm so thankful because though I am still anxious/depressed the difference for the better is a lot that even people make comments in how much better my outlook is. I know for me it is a slow process and I have to remind myself through the hard times that at least it is progress. Possibly if this new psych does not work have you asked the therapist you like for a referal? I do feel the best referals are from patients who have seen the person so if you know someone who has a great psych. Keep us updated and if you need any support you can email me

I don't think swimfan was saying you are an idiot. He/She was just trying to help you out.  Some people may not know the information that swimfan was saying, how are they supposed to know that you aren't one of those people?

Play nice!

thank you very much, abbi. that's a great idea (asking my therapist for a referral), i didn't think of that one because i had the psychiatrist before i had the therapist, but i will try that!

you're right, chewkitty, i overreacted. sorry about that swimfan. but you still do get on my nerves pretty heavily.

I take a small dose of xanax 2mg. to 5mg. to sleep if I need it. It knocks me out. I took wellburtin years ago and didn't work for me. I have anxiety or and sometimes panic attacks. I'm taking Lexapro 10mg. low dose and for about 3 yrs. it's for anxiety and depression, less side effects. Maybe talk to doctor about changing what depression/anxiety med and only take the one. Good luck.

Original Post by gypsierose:

I take a small dose of xanax 2mg. to 5mg. to sleep if I need it. It knocks me out. I took wellburtin years ago and didn't work for me. I have anxiety or and sometimes panic attacks. I'm taking Lexapro 10mg. low dose and for about 3 yrs. it's for anxiety and depression, less side effects. Maybe talk to doctor about changing what depression/anxiety med and only take the one. Good luck.

2mg to 5mg is not a small dose? no wonder it knocks you out. my dad's on lexapro and it works great for him, but i'm really afraid to get off the wellbutrin and try something else. this isn't like a case of the blues, i can't just get off it and start over and be totally fine, since most medications take a month to start working. that would be dangerous and i doubt my doctor would allow it. and i have no side effects on wellbutrin. i don't want to start over. especially because a lot of the other medications i tried i was allergic to. thanks for the advice though.

If you feel wellbutrin is working I say why change it? I am on a combo of meds and am still having issues with sleep etc but I have made progress so I don't want to change my current meds. So we have been trying others to add. It was not ideal for me to be on so many meds but my conditions are not ideal and right now it is giving me a better quality of life so I am just trying to focus on that. I am on seperate meds for depression,anxiety,sleep,and to level mood. I have tried a few anxiety meds. Some are more as needed I think but the one I am on is every day. Some of the anxiety meds to help one relax and feel sleep so taking them just at night can assist and some stay in the system for awhile so it may carry over the calm feeling but not so sleepy. Of course I am not a doctor so ask and address your concerns with yours. If this current psych does not work asking your therapist may be good. I had tried in the past to get a team approach with my care. It did not work cause I have many conditions besides my recovery from ed and mentally but in an ideal world I think it is good.

Original Post by abbi333:

If you feel wellbutrin is working I say why change it? I am on a combo of meds and am still having issues with sleep etc but I have made progress so I don't want to change my current meds. So we have been trying others to add. It was not ideal for me to be on so many meds but my conditions are not ideal and right now it is giving me a better quality of life so I am just trying to focus on that. I am on seperate meds for depression,anxiety,sleep,and to level mood. I have tried a few anxiety meds. Some are more as needed I think but the one I am on is every day. Some of the anxiety meds to help one relax and feel sleep so taking them just at night can assist and some stay in the system for awhile so it may carry over the calm feeling but not so sleepy. Of course I am not a doctor so ask and address your concerns with yours. If this current psych does not work asking your therapist may be good. I had tried in the past to get a team approach with my care. It did not work cause I have many conditions besides my recovery from ed and mentally but in an ideal world I think it is good.

hey i think it's great that you have made progress! and it's great that you are willing to try so hard. i have all of the problems you have besides the eating disorder and it makes me feel better that you feel as i do. i would like to be on a mood stabilizer but all that i have tried i've been allergic to. but overall i don't LIKE being on medication and i'm sure you don't either, but i think it's worth it, even if i have to take a lot (right now i'm only on 2 so i'm not complaining). if what i'm on is working for the most part, but i still have symptoms, other things can be added and i have no issue with that. i welcome that now. and then once things even out it may be possible to start slowly weaning off certain medications to get to the lowest amount taken possible (some you may always have to take, of course) and then manage with therapeutic techniques in place of some of the medications if possible.

but anyway, i like what you said. being on a lot of them is not ideal, but if they are working, what is the point of stopping?! continuing to live and function is what's important, and trying to take yourself off certain medications "just because it's too many" is incredibly risky. i think a lot of people do that and obviously have ill effects (i did that and suffered the consequences). a lot of psychiatrists mistakenly stop all medications because the patient is "doing better" too. it's like, duh! of course they are doing better, their medication is working!

are you on zoloft? i was wondering why my psychiatrist didn't prescribe me a medication like that. it's almost like xanax is serving as an everyday anxiety medication rather than as needed since he said take it three times a day. but whatever, it is helping a lot so far. that is what's important.

Well now I know why I sleep so good. the doctor gave me the 5mg. and I 1/2 it myself. Maybe it goes by your weight for dosage. I'm 190 lbs. Well anyways off to la la land. Good luck to you.

i was given one prescription of xanax a while ago because i was getting very bad anxiety attacks.. it made me so loopy and soo hungry for some reason, i swear i could eat a house on those.. everyone is different though. its better to just take it before bed i assume...

lipouctioned--  I started wonder about the dosage when you said I was taking a high dosage, so I went and looked- dummy me.  it's .5mg and I half to .2mg.  that point . can make a huge difference, I  wondered if I  was a druggy  but okay,the  .2mg still knocks me out - had a good nights sleep. Thanks for begining that to my attention .  take care.

I'm glad I am making you feel less alone. You can email me anytime too. I have been on zoloft in the past and tried it again a few months ago. For me it was used more for depression. I did not find it helpful for myself but that does not mean it would not for you. I would ask and see what feedback from the doctor you get. I think for myself as before I went back on meds I was a complete mess that I had to do something. Now that I se the benefits though slow progress I try to focus on that. It does not mean it will be forever on all of these meds and if it is and gives me a better quality of life I have to accept it. Right now I am just trying to focus on each day and I encourage others to as well. Are you still taking the xanax and has the side effects you described gotten better? I know for me even changing the time I take meds or if I take it with food helps. Of course talk to your doctor first to make sure. When is your apt with your new doc? By the way it is amazing at 17 how you have researched and are taking control of your health and life. Very mature and you should be proud.

I have been on xanax for about 10 years.....I have acute anxiety disorder and PTSS...at the beginning it helped. I am on 1mg. 4 times a day...Way before my inability to hold weight....

After all this time, I rarely take it, maybe if I am VERY anxious I'll take 1/2 during the day...I take 2 mg. to sleep, with Sonata.. I do know, it is VERY ADDICTING...in fact I have also been given klonopin 1 mg. 4 times a day..for anxiety, but without the high and crash of xanax...I'd be extremely cafeful... I do not kid myself that I am dependent on this drug.I have had it in my system for so long....I am concerned it is given to someone your age..so fabulous job on researching it...Feel free to email me, to ask me anything...I know this medication very well...Good luck! In every area of you journey.

I feel you are way too young to be on that medication. That's my dose..and it's very strong. Most people start out on .25 mg 3 x a day...That's a quarter of what you are taking. I have a sixteen year old and a 20 year old...i would NEVER allow them on that medication.....it's just too addicting. You need to find another Shrink...That is just BAZZARRE...way too high a dosage for you....In my opinion....and from my heart..I'll be home on Sunday....we can talk more then...If you have still been taking it...cut the dosage, since it's the weekend already. You are in my thoughts and prayers...DON'T DRINK...deadly combo!   Speak to you soon...(hugs)