Xanax causing depression?

[Ms BW]

I think my low dose Xanax 0.25 mg is causing me to have depression.  Is this possible?  Has anyone else experienced this?

[AnxiousNoMore]

Anxiety and depression go together feeding off each other. You can even be so depressed that you don't realize you have an anxiety issue too, because it is not something you can meter, so it is easy to make a mistake. It is natural to be depressed if you are anxious a lot because of the strain of fighting off the anxiety. and the more depressed you get the more difficult it is to deal with the anxiety.
If you can reduce your anxiety the depression might go away.

[Rkane]

I have always struggled with one addiction or another, which has led to some pretty severe drug induced anxiety. but of course uncle sam pills were there to save the day and i started taking xanax a few years back. some of the things ive noticed are things that are heavily talked about here. i obsess over them, if i have enough to last, if my emotions are because of the pills, but worst of all my depression while taking xanax is through the roof. its a cycle of depressing harsh reality that only people who have taken it and have felt these effects can understand.. i dont have a reason for writing this, just feels nice to feel justified and not alone.
on a side note, ive noticed that marijuana has had so many benificial effects for me, and if i would just stick to MaryJane id be alright. i know some feel the same. we are in it together.
thanks for reading

[ny2cali]

ABSOLUTELY!!!!

[DYSLEXIC]

What do you call bad side effects to AD,S  I  once was on a 13week start up of Prozac were I lost  42lb in weight was vomiting none stop and diarrhea  like a hose pipe , no strength  to walk , but stuck it out and 1 day just woke up and it was all gone. the sun was out colours were bright the hole works  20MG OF PROZAC  and hole lot of will did that .if I had given in  at 8 weeks  that would not have happened.

[DYSLEXIC]

  If you want to take a benzo regular , then you need to be on an AD  has well  . Benzos can cause depression so an antidepressant ADDED is a no brainer .

[Max1717]

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed 80% of doctors are unaware of seratonin syndrome as a clinical diagnosis. Taking SSRIs with OTC cold and cough medicines causes seratonin syndrome.

[deedoe60]

YES!!!  I was put on .25 mg of Xanax 3 times a day in 2012 and it was 2 1/2 years of hell my family and I went thru.  I was put on Xanax for anxiety and it caused Depression, anger and suicidal actions.  It was absolutely horrible.  I was admitted to a behavioral health hospital 2 times in 2012 and finally last year after trying to commit suicide in March 2014 I was committed to another hospital and I weaned off the medication and did a complete 180 starting to feel like my old self again wanting to do hobbies, laughing, enjoying life.  I have never been an angry type of person at all but this last time I busted up a bunch of pictures in our house and left in our car and downed a bunch of pills to end my life.  My husband called 911 and I ended up in CCU and then sent to the hospital  I did get criminal damages for the pictures I busted up in our house and the only thing in my whole life at age 55 that had anything to do with cops was I had a speeding ticket.  It was pure hell what my family and I went thru..absolute devastating what all took place in those 2 1/2 years.  I'd tell the psychiatrist that something is wrong, I didn't want to live but I didn't want to die.  I am one that has the bad side effects to antidepressants so I could not be on any of that and now I'm wondering why my doctor did not catch this.  I had used the Xanax for quite a few years for sleep as I worked the night shift but it was only one pill for sleep when needed.  I went thru a very stressful time and that was when I saw the psychiatrist and he upped my medication to 3 times a day and that is when the hell broke loose but my doctor never caught it.  thankfully I weaned off and I am back to my old self again.  I'm glad to hear when medication helps but there are a few of us out there that have such horrible side effects and one must be aware of this.  Good luck

[hopefulhealing908]

I am sorry to hear of your struggles.  It is great that you are getting out and walking.  Sunshine and fresh air can be a great help to ease depression.  I recently went through a traumatic divorce and was taking Xanax.  It is extremely addictive and the withdrawal is not easy at all.  If fact it can be quite dangerous.  I would advise you to talk to a therapist and seek advice from an addictionologist.  Support is very important.  Be careful.  Read some of the blogs out there.  I had no idea Xanax was so physically addictive...many people are not aware.  Be kind to yourself and try to do something you used to enjoy but have not indulged in for a long time.  Mine was horseback riding.  It is a Godsend.  Good luck and please....be good to yourself.  Some people never recover from Xanax.  It is a very serious drug.

[sha106]

im having the same problem, what to do?

[Bittia]

So glad all you folks posted here.  I've been taking Xanex for years off and on to sleep.  Lately, I started taking every night .5 and after two weeks of that am so depressed I can't stand it.  I am sure it is the Xanex.  I was on Prozac for 10 years and finally got off that.  The doctor kept prescribing others but they were horrible; especially Zoloft.  I have tried everything and it seems that the natural products help the most.  Especially, moringa oliefera and Brigham Tea.  The Zija product is exceptional but too expensive for me but the others are quite reasonable.  All the good things help but it is a battle every day.  I have a blessed life and have no real reason to be this depressed.  Good luck to everyone.  Meditation, Hypnosis, Yoga, Prayer ( pray constantly anyhow), outdoor exercise and lots of good sunshine help.  Also, acupuncture helps, massage and the most important is a loving friend to talk to.  I have a life coach who is great and I think she helps keep me on track.  

[Carlos4840]

I started having anxiety here and there so my dr prescribed me .25 alprazolam xaxax I took 1 at nighttime to sleep then my anxiety got worse day by day so I started taking more 3x a day as dr prescribed after 6 days I was engulfed in panic I left my job uncontrollably crying I went home I stayed in my bed I thought I was going crazy I wanted to kill myself I thought I was gonna be stuck like that for the rest of my life.minutes seemed like hours I had no love for my kids no anger no fight I seen the dr.He thought I should double up the dose.I thought otherwise.2 days of being bedridden and scared of everything I quit cold turkey.I had been taking them for 7 days I seen a phsyciatrist He only offered to prescribe me more meds.I didn't take them.I don't usually take pills maybe a tylenal or benadryle.I seen a natural dr/hypnotist which tought me breathing techniqes and how my brain and neurological system works.which helped alot.After7 days of taking the Xanax I quit then came the depression I am usually very sociable and out going I couldn't see or talk to anyone I didn't want to go to the grocery store my kids ballet I had no interest in anything fun I went from 3 to 1 meals a day lost 12 pounds.I normally watched shows on tv like dexter the news walking dead I couldn't watch them anymore it scared me.I had to take sleeping pills to sleep at night.Which didn't work half the time..I had a couple of good nights in the last week I actually felt myself again.only to wake up to the same despair the next day.It has been 12 days since I quit.And I feel my depression starting to phase away.I am a very happy person I love my family,my job,my Life there was no real reason to be depressed.Seeing your stories here and support from my family and dr really helped my get through this.I hope my story can help someone can help someone else out there.Maybe these meds work for some people but not me.If I can give anyone any advice don't give up keep fighting It will all get better.
                                                                                                                                      

[nursegirl6572]

Hello.

Actually, bpchris hasn't posted on MH since 2011.  You'll get a much better response if you start a new thread.  You can do that by clicking on the orange "post a question" button on the top right.

[newmamma424]

I take klonopin (2mgs at night to sleep). I have been on various benzos for 7 months now. Lately I feel like it is contributing to my depression. They are switching me from Zoloft to Effexor to help with the depression but refuse the idea of me tapering off of the klonopin. I would really like to taper off safely. How are you doing it?

[Smarter2ndTimeAround]

So...If it feels good, do it?  As a society, we've been there, done that...in the 70s and look where that got us!  I would hope we've learned better.  Do a little research, Mantra.  It wasn't pretty.

[lola879]

i got into a bad cycle taking xanax for anxiety. it made me more depressed. you are probably depressed it sounds like you might want to make some major changes in your lifestlye,diet, schedule, etc. and gradually stop with the xanax.

[lola879]

my experience is the anti anxiety drugs are a bad cycle to get into. they make you feel great when you are on them but when they leave your system the depression comes back twice as bad and so does the anxiety. i've tried a long list of antidepressants and anti anxiety drugs. the only thing that has really helped me is making life changes, diet changes, being more active socially with positive people, spending time outdoors in the daylight and going to therapy. finding a good therapist is key, one who specializes in anxiety disorders. good luck!

[motherx1]

I KNOW THIS POST IS OLD, HOWEVER , PLEASE SEE A DOCTOR ASAP !!  GO TO YOUR NEAREST MENTAL HEALTH CENTER AND TALK TO SOMEONE.     I DO HOPE YOU ARE NOW WELL AND FEELING MUCH BETTER.  GOD BLESS.....

[JustSayNada]

I have been on Xanax for @ one year. I only take it at night to sleep for anxiety. Went from .25 to .5 to now .5 and 1 XR at night. My wife and my mom have asked my why I am so depressed. I did not realize it until family members told me. It has been tough year for me professionally and I had to sell one of my biggest assets, but I should not be this depressed as I am fine financially now and still have these thoughts of just like people describe. Like I am in a helpless hole and the world around me means nothing and this is very odd for me as typically I am a happy person with two beautiful daughters. I will now be weaning myself off of this. I stopped drinking almost 1 yr. ago and feel so good because of that, but the states of depression can come in massive waves and take me down for entire days with wanting to just stay in bed and not do anyhing. VERY unusual for me. Xanax does cause depression and I am going to slowly wane off and do the meditation. Thanks for your stories. God bless and don't lean on medicine...good advice about meditation...we live in a fast world where we are on the computer always fast fast fast and have to step back and slow down.

[bruniman]

I checked this site to see if my Xanax can be causing depression. It was helpful in that most people's responses are different but there's a common thread that runs through. It seems that, like me, Xanax Definitely puts our 'earthly pain' aside and lets us rest. Some have compared it to marijuana, some to alchohol. I would compare it more closely to Valium.
  Everything fades to alright when on a strong dose of either. I use Xanax to sleep. If I take them in the day, I'm somwhat dulled and incapacitated, so I leave them for AT HOME. I've been experimenting with not taking them regularly (which is what my Dr. thinks I'm doing anyway) and after an initila depression...I slowly come back to 'myself' (which is unfortunantely a somewhat depressed person anyway)
   The difference, for me, is that the sedation of Xanax is so strong as to be 'unreal' A half a valium in the day or a whole at night keeps the ME there. Do I really want to be knocked out completely for such large portions of my life? (good question)
    For a depressive person like myself, the temptation to 'not be there at all' is too tempting. I suggest, to myself and others, to take heed of how much we are taking. we know ourselves. Not even a Dr. can know us better.
    In closing - like food- Try to take as much as you need to get by (don't 'eat' when you're not hungry) and realize Perfect Happiness is no one's normal state 24/7. We just need to take the edge off without letting 'the whole parade go by' without us".

[wendydee]

I came on this site to find out a solution to my problem, only to remind myself that I already know. I had thyroid cancer, so I am kept hyperthyroid which leads to anxiety. I started taking .25 mg of xanax to sleep. I am up to 2 mg to sleep and I am so anxious during the day I can't stand it. I think it might be because I take the xanax at night and my body wants it during the day too.

My solution to everyone is God, or some higher power, whoever or whatever you want to believe in. Meditation is an excellent way to relax. The problem is it takes time. People don't want to take time, they want a quick fix - me included. It's so much easier to pop a pill, then to sit and pray or meditate for a 1/2 hour or an hour. Let me tell you, it is difficult work, but much safer than xanax. Also, once you start doing it, it gets easier. You learn to clear your head of all of your thoughts (this can take up to three months of practice or more). I'm glad I read all these posts. I am going to begin my meditation and stretching yoga again. I was so much happier and peaceful when I did this. I am just being lazy. My excuse: I don't have any time. We all know that is just an excuse. There's time for whatever we want to make time.

I hope any of you reading this will try meditation. Retrain your brain. You can do it! Replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. We all have blessings that we forget we have because we are so focused on the negative. When you get a negative thought oppose it, think the opposite. For instance, if you think I'm so sad, I have nothing to live for, immediately replace that with the blessings you have (and we all have them). Go volunteer somewhere. Get your mind off yourself. Volunteering not only helps someone, but reminds you how blessed you are.

Good luck to all of you...I'm going to begin my meditation and wean myself off of xanax. This is a good website that gives you dosages to get off xanax: http://www.non-benzodiazepines.org.uk/alprazolam.html

[mmiamor]

Hi:
I took Xanax for three consecutive days & I felt relax & less hungry.  I was calm  it was great until I decided to stop because it is supposed to be taken supposedly only as needed.
Now, I feel extremely depressed & super tired. So, in my opinion, Xanax makes depression worst.
Thanks.

[Karmube]

Try acupuncture treatment for relaxation. It has worked for me in the past, along with herbal medicine (chinese medicine).

[netg]

mantra999, I really loved your response.

The only reason I got on xanax (I'm also on prozac and melarill) was because cannabis is illegal and my job randomly tests.  In my state medicinal cannabis is also illegal.  My prozac was supposed to be for treating my depression but it really only helps with my anger (which comes from being depressed), the melarill seems to be helping but I worry it's just placebo (only been on it a few days).

I am seriously considering moving to another state (though cannabis isn't approved for depression yet) because when I use cannabis I can use JUST enough (not to get high even) and I'm happy, I'm motivated...none of these other drugs works.

I just wanted to say I loved your reply and I wish we were "allowed" to use "medicines" that are not only MORE effective than ANYTHING but...natural too!  Thanks again for your reply!
NetG

[JGF25]

You have most certainly not diminished your intellectual function and your ability to experience joy!   This is my take on it.   A hightened anxiety state for any length of time really can lead to depression.  Sometimes it is OCD that leads to the anxiety and to depression.  What you have to do is treat the problem.  If the primary cause is OCD then you treat the OCD and the rest will follow.  If it is generalized anxiety, then you treat that and the rest will follow.  What I don't see here is you treating the anxiety or depression with a medication that is made specifically to do that such as the SSRIs, SNRIs, or medications that work on other neurotransmitters in the brain.  In my mind the Xanax is a bandaid until the other medications are built up in your system and working well.  

Here is my story in brief.  My OCD flared up in May.  I went on Wellbutrin and one of the side effects is anxiety.  So I struggled with feeling jittery, etc. for about 4 weeks.  During that time I took klonopin in varying doses as needed during the day.  Once the wellbutrin started working, I no longer needed the klonopin.  The wellbutrin is what is controlling my OCD/anxiety/depression.  

So my advice to you is to discuss with your doctor, GP, psychologist, or whatever about getting on a long-term medication that will help with your anxiety.  You can supplement with the xanax as needed or switch to klonopin.  Whatever your doctor thinks is best.

BTW, I feel great and OCD/anxiety/depression no longer rule my life.  It can be this way for you too.  

[wisernow11]

This is precisely how I feel.  Two years ago I had a very difficult period in my life that involved a loved one that I had no control over and I was unable to sleep and the Xanax definitely took care of that problem and helped me focus at work and with other areas of my life and keep the worry out of my mind.  But it gradually caused me to feel depressed, although I was no longer anxious or full of worry.  Prior to any use of Xanax I had felt a zest for life which I can no longer seem to find and feel full of doom and gloom which is not like me as I had previously always dealt well with life's ups and downs and always felt that "tomorrow was a new day" and was always able to enjoy and embrace the dawn.  But now I have been experiencing dark thoughts and a sense that there is no hope and no purpose.  So even though I have only taken a very low dose 0.25mg and sometimes even broke the pill in half to take at bedtime I think it has built up in my system although I have only took it continually for one year and intermittently for the last 6 months.   I think I must stop completely, and hope that this will enable my brain chemistry to return to normal; with healthy thoughts and the lucidity I use to enjoy.  I am afraid I may have permanently diminished my intellectual function and my ability to experience joy.