Ok so I explained to my new doctor that back in VA I was taking Alprazolam 1Mg for 2 years! It’s been the best medication I’ve been on for my GAD she told me she didn’t like the medication for me and that she will only give me 0.5mg and ONLY 10 since I only take one every once a week or so.... so I have to make it last 3 Months she says..... and then come back if my anxiety reoccurs a lot to the point it affect daily activities... I feel very iffy because I just had my baby 3 mo ago and I grabbed my last refill my old doctor gave me last year before I got pregnant and now they expire in 2 months! I have 50 of them left plus 10 my Primary care Gave me... now this is my question, should I see a Psychiatrist to talk about continuing my Alprazolam 1mg or have my Doctor Put me on another Long term Anti depressant ! ? Which mind you I’ve been on so many such as Klonopin.lexapro.zoloft.celexa and Prozac 😩 I Hate them all yuck. What should I do?
Question : Ok so I explained to my new... - Anxiety Support
Question
Do you take aprazolam relaise ?
Why a anti depressant ??
That is not always helpful for GAD
My doctor says it’s an addictive benzo... & antidepressant or SSRI is better so she won’t continue to give me alprazolam Iam suppose to take 2 daily but I usually take like 1 every other day but idk if I should seek help from a Psychiatrist better.
Psychiatrist give most also a anti depressant
They all say it's addictive
Make me so angry
I talk too my therapist he said no aprazolam is good for GAD
Anti depressant is more for the emotions
Make you flat
Off course is it worse than they give another not ssri's I whent too all off them
I whas so really on the edge I had more anxiety with this chemicals yuk
I chould talk too another one
If you are ok with it stay with you aprazolam
Thank you!!!
Your welcome
I taken the same so I know 😊💗just lissen too yourself not them feel the anxiety
There are a lot people that taken aprazolam
So no worries
It's a safelifer just that help us
💗
Thank you!!!
My belief is take the problems to the one most educated in the fuel you are struggling with. GP are great, however a psychiatrist evaluation would be helpful. The answer may be the same. But, you've then had a second opinion.
Thank you 😊
I'd talk to a psychiatrist for sure. I will say...this doctor is understanding what's going on with the government and benzos: they will soon be as scrutinized as badly (or already are) as opiods. I do think your doctor is being a little tough love on this...a dose shouldn't be messed with unless there's a reduction plan. My psychiatrist warned me of this (the scrutinizing of benzos) but also acknowledged it is what works for me. My GP, upon hearing I was struggling with a previous benzo dose, didn't listen to me and cut me down one less a day which caused extreme panic for me. My psychiatrist, knowing it is what works for me, put me back on the regular dose with a consistent follow-up to see if we're able to reduce or if an antidepressant is helping me to cut back.
I would convey this to your GP (getting the dose of Xanax returned to your therapeutic levels) so that everyone has the right medicinal information. One of the issues out there is some people have so many doctors prescribing them things that some of the other doctors aren't aware what another doctor has written....which bodes not so well if there are interactions. It's just best practice and shows you're a responsible patient. It's also worth mentioning, many doctors/psychiatrists are likely to put you on both the benzo and antidepressant because the end goal is to transition you from benzo/antidepressant to just the antidepressant. This doesn't mean they'll swipe the benzo out from underneath you as much as it's a general treatment goal I believe. Just my own experiences and thoughts, hope you can find a psychiatrist willing to help you with this issue! Take care for now.
Thank you so much ! This is true! I don’t want to be cut back from my original dose and be put on another type of prescription scared of Withdrawal but let’s see what happens hoping for the best
YES!!! If she refuses? See another psychiatrist. Something like that happened to me. I was using Mirtazapine, she didn't like it for me because I was gaining weight, which is a side effect. So she put me on Trazdone, I told her I had already tried it and that it did Nothing for me. She still insisted I used it. She left me No choice. Still did nothing. So I Stopped taking it. Found out she was leaving her practice and didn't tell me. So I'm looking for another psychiatrist, thsts not been easy. I'm not on anything now. Having stomach issues and daily anxiousness. Hopefully I'll find someone Soon? You
Thank you I will be seeing a psychiatrist
I would suggest the psychiatrist also. All doctors "practice" medicine. They try to get it right, but they all have different opinions. Every patient's needs are different. If your GP isn't understanding your situation, you need to see someone else who does. I have been on and off Lexapro 3 times and have been able to come off of it when my life calmed down. For many years I had to take something to be able to sleep, first Ambien, then Temazepam. Currently I take a Xanax .5 at bedtime if I cannot get to sleep. I am trying to cut down on this as soon as possible. There are times in our lives that we need some extra medical help to gain stability and control of our emotions. See another doctor!
Regarding the "expiring" of your old prescription, that date doesn't mean you must throw them away. It only means that after that date it may lose a little of its effectiveness. You can look this up. They have found that most meds can be used successfully for possibly a couple of years past their expiration date. I have had at times to resort to ambien that was 3 years old! It still worked!
Thank you!
I would go see another doctor or a psychiatrist. I recently changed doctors. My new doctor was "concerned" about my xanax but understood that it helped. She asked a few questions and I think she felt comfortable I was not abusing it. She discussed anti depressants. I told her I am seeing a therapist on a regular basis and she has watched me go and off anti depressants. My therapist agrees that as needed basis of xanax works for me. So my new doctor refilled my regular rx. I get 60 pills at .50 each. They last me months! I can take up 2 if I am really really bad, but rarely do. I take .25 or a whole pill if I have a bad day. I have a very stressful job and I wish I could say that i dont need them, but I work for a crazy boss. She makes me very anxious and when she is up my... i take the more. I think its best to talk to a doctor, take them in moderation and manage your symptoms. I am not sure taking them everyday is a good solution so maybe wound them down a bit and try to find a happy medium. Dont be afraid to talk to another doctor or psychiatrist. Sometimes it just has to be a good fit.
Thank you so much I will be in search of a Psychiatrist
I took then for 8 years l milligram in am. And then two years ago they wanted me to try something new. Gave me diazepam it was ok for a couple of months. But anxiety Stared back little by little now. I catch hell all day and my doctor said he want put me back on them since I been off so long my anxiety should be getting better ok it’s got worse so gave me another depression Drug to take with the one I have all that does is make me sleep. I think that the doctors don’t want to give this out anymore but I will get mine back. It a controlled substance but so it my other one so what’s the deal. I feel your pain
So sorry to hear! Xanax is the only prescription that works I hope someone will understand that
I totally support your last statement. It is the ONLY prescription medication which has ever helped me. Yes it needs to be used sporadically and extremely responsibly but when used in that way it is a truly magnificent drug. Also if you read these forums you will see that this is mentioned by many people. I do agree though that using it longterm it does not work and is a bad idea and that it's open to abuse so needs to be carefully controlled and monitored. NOT a reason not to use it at all. 
Hi! I have been on 1mg 2x day for several years; but it is RX by a neuropsychiatric who only RX the med for a month at a time. Insists I don't "skip" a dose just because I'm feeling better.....I use it in a combination with another medication, which the MD changes periodically. I would prefer not to take either one, but for my chemistry, he seems to know what he is doing. Would not recommend it for anyine else unless a psychiatrist is involved. Oh, and my MD spends time with we when I need it.
I hope you find a great pdoc who understands your needs. It's to bad anti anxiety meds are beginning to get a bad rap, because people are out there using them for rec instead of what their meant for. Like the stigma for mental illness isn't bad enough, now were "drug addicts " geez!! Cant win for losing
YES! exactly it sucks because I’ve been on the med and I can get off the med I have plenty around me right now and I’m not a junkie looking for it. It’s when I neeeeeed them! I hate how they are Really making our meds look bad 
Hello new mother! Congratulations! Have one question though: are you still nursing your baby? I don't know if Xanax (alprazolam) passes through breast milk. That maybe a concern fir you. My anxiety is stable if I take the 2x day dose of 1 mg. All of us are so different chemically, and the best "chemist" I know is a nueropsychiatrist. Twice I tried to do without it for a few days, and was one the dumbest things I could do. Need to come off if it gradually.
No one other than someone yiou trust needs to know what your psychiatrist prescribes. My best wishes ti you to be referred to the right psychiatrist for your needs..
Yes currently Breastfeeding but not taking any Xanax At the moment I’m transitioning her To formula and bottle so I’m hoping she can Transition soon. I’m still going to see a Psychiatrist because I think it’s better to talk to one and get more help
You're a wise and informed mother. Best wishes to you both!
Thank you so much! ♥️
Xanax saved my life.
Because of anxiety, panic attacks and depression, I had to drop out of college, they ruined my honeymoon (my husband never forgave me. Great start to a marriage!), I spent a day at Epcot in the infirmary, & it has effected my life in all ways.
I was on 4mg./day. I went to the pharmacy to pick up my refill & it was for 2/day. He never told me he was cutting it down & no one ever returned my calls. Disgusting!
I hate him for what he did. I went in to see him & he put me on 3/day for the next two months. Then we’ll see. I will go to as many different doctors as necessary to stay at 3/day. Some people are on 10/day!
Fortunately, at 4/day, I was able to manage with only 3, so I have quite an arsenal for back up.
I will not live without it again & I’d rather go to jail for purchasing them from Canada than EVER live the way it was.
I was nearly suicidal.
Good luck.
YESSSSS!!!! I’m so crippling to go out with if I don’t have my Xanax! It has saved my life the past two years before I got pregnant now that I had my baby and down to One prescription left I’m willing to find a psychiatrist who is down to give me 2/Day 1MG! I feel where you coming from! I’ll go Purchase them anywhere if I have too!!! I cannot be without it!
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