Xanax is dangerous?

[DavisSeidel]

Hello

I feel very depressed since several months, I do nothing all day, I no longer has any motivation to seek work since my dismissal...

I have a friend that takes xanax for about one month, she feels great and happy but I have read many bad thing about this kind of medication like : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/01/31/popping-xanax-is-more-harmful-than-think/ and it seems that this anxiolytic is the most addictive http://www.wealthformyhealth.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-xanax-addiction/

I really do not know what to do..

Do you have experience with xanax or other lighter and less addictive or dangerous medication ? any advices ?

Thanks a lot!

[DavisSeidel]

Thanks so much to all of you for all these detailed answers!

[persephonedemeter]

Well, it is generally not a good idea to compare what you are going through and how ypu are dealing with things with other people in the same boat, because you are not the same as the other person. "Several months" is a long time to be depressed, do nothing, and be unmotivated after a dismissal. I have no idea what the circumstances were, but part of lessening the effects of depression is to set a goal or 2 everyday that is reasonable to accomplish to set a stepping stone to get out of depression.

You don't know everything of what is going on with your friend, only what she tells you, and sometimes, when people meet adversities, they put on a brave face to be encouraging to themselves and to others. Also, most people do not share explicitly what they say to their doctor (psychiatrist or pcp) or therapist, and, personally, I wouldn't be antagonistic and call another person's doctor a quack if she answers that her doctor is treating her for depression, and throw a wrench in that relationship; especially, if it is working for her, and you aren't able to manage your life without any other conflicts that could evolve from other people lives as a result from what you say to others. Keep it simple, and don't rock the boat you are in. Chancing on quarrels with friends is the last thing you need. You want to keep your options open, your support and links intact. When you sense she is losing it, just advise her to see another doctor, before resorting to name calling, allegations  and accusations.

Personally, I would talk to someone, besides a friend and family, and get some decent counseling and direction on how to deal with things. It is always a good idea to have a fresh and "uninvolved" perspective on what you are going through.

When it comes to taking something like Xanax, I would look at the reason why you would consider taking a drug, because if it is just to make you feel better, that is all it does, just like having the wine, beer, bong or whatever. Back in the day, (before my time), people use to call it "added courage," when all it is, is really a pillow to soften the hard ground, and, eventually, when you lie in it long, it doesn't and didn't do anything more for you in sleeping better.

When I take klonopin, which I take as needed these days, I only take it when I am being compromised in extreme anxiety and agitation, and I am taking it under active supervision and treatment agreement with a doctor who I am completely transparent with in how I take medication. We had an agreed point of view on what my "tipping point" was. While I was on it, I was working on problem solving, steadying my good coping skills and reason, and acting on things for positive results and changes. I knew that was all that the klonopin did for me. I only take klonopin because other anti-anxiety meds don't touch me, and I needed something long acting, because my anxieties and irritabilities would be long acting, because that is the way it was for me. I don't have a set schedule for klonopin because there are long stretches when I don't need to take it.

I am on a single, very strong antipsychotic psych med that i have to take everyday, and It is the only med that works for me after many, many years of trying put different meds and combos that didn't work out for me. I am not a medical zombie. I had been a few times, but I wasn't abandoned or written off by my doctor to just be that way, even when I didn't care if I was that way, which was when I was very depressed and actively suicidal.

If I could get by without any medication, I would, since I make the most out of life. I am hopeful for that. I also don't reach or consider for drugs like it was manna from heaven unless it is the most likely and beneficial option with the best long lasting result, or it is the only and better gamble to take. I'm not perfect, either. I personally wouldn't want to be perfect, because it is high maintenance and hard to live up to. I also believe in prevention as being the best policy, strengthening and gathering resources. I also will take the occasional risky gamble, and there have been times I take really risky odds where most of everything is stacked against me. When I do that,  I have to consider risks and consequences to others in my community.

I also don't believe in being ruled by fear unless it is founded, and I know, that can be difficult, because emotions can be very strong, but usually, they can be directed.

I've seen a lot of advances and better treatment in my lifetime happen and historically, and I keep in touch with visions for future treatment. Just like everything else, psychiatry and medicine in general, doesn't stay the same, and previous thoughts and attitudes change. Even the world of medicine does not stay 99.9 percent flat and flat. 99.9 percent is a very steep statistic, even for reasonably biased opinion. I don't think that is humanly possible to make that kind of statistic on human thoughts and attitudes. Just like other populations of  people, because they are people, there are different variations in the medical community, and it would be very strange to have a community of people immune to the nature of humanity. Unless, of course, they are not of this world:) I am well aware of people who suffer from MDiety, but it is not an epidemic.

[anxiety860]

I can relate. I take klonopin as needed. I have never felt addicted or had withdrawals and there was one month where I took it nearly everybody. But as you say everybody is different. I have no addiction or withdrawals but that doesn't mean another person won't. I enjoyed your post

[RubyWitch]

I have a somewhat different opinion about benzo's and anti-depressants than many people on this forum and about 99.99% of doctors.

First let me say that I agree with Paxiled. Before allowing your PCP to shove a bagful of his/her free samples from the drug reps at you for either depression or anxiety/panic, spend some DRUG FREE time with a good therapist. You'd be amazed how many people do NOT need medication! I also firmly believe a PCP does not have the training to diagnose nor treat psychiatric disorders.

Secondly, you say you are depressed. Xanax is NOT an anti-depressant and should NEVER be prescribed for that condition. It is manufactured solely for the treatment of severe anxiety, panic disorder or PTSD. (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) I would have you ask your friend what condition she was prescribed Xanax for. If she says "depression," please tell her she is seeing a quack!

Many, if not most, of the newer anti-depressants ARE primarily prescribed for depression, but if you do your research, you'll find they are also prescribe for an astonishing array of conditions......conditions that you do NOT have.  

I will use sertraline (Zoloft) as an example FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN IT WAS THE FIRST ANTI-DEPRESSANT I TURNED TO.......IN NO WAY AM I SIGNALING ZOLOFT OUT FOR NEGATIVE REASONS!  

If you go to your doctor and he/she diagnoses you with DEPRESSION, they may put you on Zoloft. Zoloft WILL treat your depression.......it is also frequently prescribed for the following conditions:

OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Panic Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)

Sertraline also has what are known as "unlabeled uses." This means that sometimes Zoloft is prescribed for these conditions as well:

Premature ejaculation
Pruritus in cholestatic liver disease
Hot flashes  

If you go to your doctor and he/she diagnoses you with ANXIETY/PANIC DISORDER, they may put you on Zoloft. Zoloft WILL treat your anxiety/panic disorder, even though it's MAIN function class is as an anti-depressant! Essentially you are being treated for depression, which you do not have.........along with all those other conditions I listed.

I contend that the new thinking in the medical community which says if you're depressed, then you must also be suffering from anxiety and if you have an anxiety/panic disorder, this must be making you depressed, so we'll kill two birds with one big pill.

I have PTSD which manifests itself with severe panic disorder. I can't begin to tell you how many doctors have tried to put me on anti-depressants. I refuse. I politely inform them I am NOT depressed. I KNOW what it feels like to be depressed and I do NOT feel like that. I tell them, also very politely, the ONLY times I feel depressed is when they try to tell me I'm depressed! Yes, they are the doctors, but it's MY body and I know my body (and my mind) much better than they do. I do not wish to be over-medicated.

I take Xanax for my panic disorder. I have taken the same dose for 10 years. I no longer have panic attacks, I no longer live with terrible daily anticipatory anxiety. I do not abuse my meds. I do not feel or look or act like an exhausted zombie. Every three years with the help of my PMM
(Psychiatric Medication Manager) I taper down.........VERY SLOWLY, to see if I can stop taking it. Unfortunately, when I get to a bit less than 1/2 my regular dose, the panic attacks return. I will never stop trying and I believe someday I will be successful. Like a diabetic with their insulin or an epileptic with their Dilantin, as a person with PTSD, I take Xanax so I too can live a "normal" life.

I have definitely made some statements and observations that some, perhaps many, will disagree with. I can only say that we are all different. What works for you may not work for me and vice versa. We can only seek out what works for each of us.      
      

[anxiety860]

Interesting, I didn't know that about klonopin. I must have misunderstood and hear about the supposed benefit of it. Makes sense.

[Paxiled]

Klonopin is just as addictive as Xanax, if not more so.  The supposed benefit of klonopin is that it lasts in the body longer, but because it takes longer to work it's usually dosed daily as opposed to the safer way to take any benzo, which is as needed.  Anytime you take a benzo every day they are all classified as addictive drugs.  Some people won't notice this, but many will, and they can be hell to stop taking.  It's much easier if you only use them when you absolutely need to.  The above is correct -- therapy should always be a first choice.  If it doesn't work, you can always see a psychiatrist and determine if a drug is necessary and which one would be best.  As for depression, benzos aren't usually used for that -- they are downers, used for anxiety.  Depression is a down disease, so you don't usually use a down drug to treat it.

[anxiety860]

In my opinion therapy should be your first option before jumping to medication. If medication is however the answer for you I've read klonopin is less addictive than Xanax. Im no doctor just what I've heard and read