<p>I hope I can get some insight into this medication from the font of wisdom that I’ve come to know as CC’s parent’s cafe: I have a friend who has been taking this drug for about a month without a prescription, or medical supervision (she is getting a friend’s “leftovers”). I don’t know the dosage, nor the frequency with which she takes it. But I seem to remember a thread from long ago that discussed this drug. I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it at the time, but I do remember mention that it could be highly addictive. How concerned should I be? I suspect, highly.</p>
<p>Yes, you should be concerned.</p>
<p>There are questions to ask, however. How often is this person taking the Xanax? If it’s once or even only a couple times a week, I suspect once the supply runs out life may be able to continue on as normal. If not, then there is reason for concern. Xanax is a highly addictive drug, similar to opiates. It is VERY hard to wean someone off the drug, and the withdrawal symptoms along with any psychological addiction make the habit very hard to break. </p>
<p>Other than the highly addictive qualities of the drug, Xanax can be scary because of its reactions with alcohol, and opiates for that matter. If your friend is consuming any alcohol (or painkillers) while taking the drug, the chance for an overdose increases exponentially. </p>
<p>Is there a reason why the friend would be taking this? I don’t have too much experience with people I know taking this drug, but from what I’ve seen, the effects are less than desirable. It really just induces a drunken stupor that isn’t favorable to most social situations.</p>
<p>Xanax is a benzo - serious stuff and definitely addictive. Taking Xanax without a prescription or medical supervision is drug abuse, plain and simple (whether or not your friend is currently addicted, or ever becomes addicted). The friend who is supplying “leftovers” is most likely breaking the law, and is certainly guilty of reckless and unethical behavior.</p>
<p>I admit that after years of hearing about the wonders of xanax, I was disappointed…which is a good thing, because I was also worried about becoming addicted. The small dose does nothing, and the next dosage up makes me dangerously sleepy…like sleeping through Fantastmic at Disneyworld sleepy.</p>
<p>It’s illegal to take someone else’s prescription drug, and in this instance, foolish since she wasn’t evaluated prior to taking it. For the right patient at the right time at the right dose for the right duration, it can be a decent drug. But sans an evaluation, there’s no way to know the benefit or harm.</p>
<p>I doubt she will get addicted by taking someone’s leftovers from an old prescription unless the friend continues to supply her. She’ll probably run out and that will be the end of it, or she’ll seek (and hopefully receive) medical help from a thoughtful and qualified professional.</p>
<p>I am very sensitive to medications. Took the smallest dose Xanax once and felt dizzy for about 36 hours. Not for me!</p>
<p>I use xanax. For me it does what it supposed to do. I have taken the same dose nightly for three years and will continue to do so. BUT to take a drug, even over the counter drugs for a long period of time is never a good idea. And to take xanax without a doctor’s prescription except in a grave emergency is really a bad idea.</p>
<p>Incidentally how different we all are: I was given two different painkillers after surgery: one didn’t work, one didn’t work and made me woozy. I used tylenol…plain old tylenol. That worked.</p>
<p>Another long-time xanax user here. I use it for very occasional anxiety, when I fly and to help me sleep. Rarely use more than 1/2 of a .5 milligram dose (which is a tiny dose), a full .5 mg will make me very sleepy.</p>
<p>I had a very long talk with my PCP about Xanax and addiction. While it can be addicting (though it’s not rated as ‘highly addicting’ - that’s a misconception,) it’s not the evil drug people sometime make it out to be. </p>
<p>-Like many other substances one can get addicted to it if you have an addictive personality and you start using it ‘recreationallly’ (to get high) rather than for a specific purpose. </p>
<p>-One of the hallmarks of addiction is the need to increase the drug of choice. A person who has 1 glass of wine most every night is probably not an alcoholic but the person who starts drinking more and more and ‘planning’ when they will get their next drink probably is. Building up a tolerance to any substance is never a good sign. You can also develop a psychological dependency to this and many other substances. </p>
<p>-Millions of people use benzodiazepines without getting addicted, just as millions drink without getting addicted. Yes, there are certain substances that have a higher propensity for addiction but that doesn’t mean everyone will have problems with it.</p>
<p>-Xanax is one of a number of rxs that are also sold as ‘street drugs’, which is why it is a controlled substance. That’s also why Sudafed is now a controlled substance.</p>
<p>-Your friend might or might not have an issue with it. I certainly don’t think it’s smart to take someone else’s prescription, ever.</p>
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<p>Physician here. Any drug on the Controlled Substance list is there for a reason. They won’t even let physicians prescribe such drugs without regulation so definitely higher risks. Someone who takes another person’s prescription drug more than once or twice needs to be evaluated instead of self treating. It is more imortant to be properly helped than hide “emotional” issues- the only good thing about TV ads for antidepressants is taking mental health issues out of the closet.</p>
<p>A number of years ago, I was prescribed xanax for “panic attacks” even though I told the physician that I certainly wasn’t aware of any anxiety issues. I even went to a psychologist who mentioned that he never heard anybody describe the symptons that I was describing. I found it totally useless so stopped taking it. Apparently my “panic attacks” were not the cause of my symptoms.</p>
<p>I just finished seeing a client who had withdrawl seizures form xanax. If xanax is taken up to high doses (which can happen if someone is taking it without oversight by the prescribing doc) and stops abruptly, they can have an acute psychotic episode. And even when taken appropriately it can cause rebound anxiety when it is wearing off. These are not to be taken lightly.</p>
<p>^I agree. I would also add I’ve had at least two friends who had major, major problems getting off of long-term use of Ambien. Apparently, Ambien can be quite addictive and cause drug dependency if used for more than 4-6 weeks. One friend had to be hospitalized. Any long-term use of tranquillizers or hypnotics need to be followed carefully by a physician.</p>
<p>The person in question is my brother’s girlfriend. She has a history of major depression, and apparently, anxiety—though I was unaware of the anxiety issues. I have serious qualms also, about the supposed reasons why she is taking this medication: so that she is more “emotionally stable”, less inclined to display Jekyll and Hyde mood swings (her emotional issues have been a major stumbling block in their relationship, and the primary reason for their breakups (twice). She begged for a third chance a few weeks ago, promising that “things would be different this time” and that “she would change.” And indeed, my brother has told me that she is an entirely different person, much easier to be around. He only recently found out that she’s been taking her friend’s leftover Xanax. I don’t think he even knows how often, or how much she is ingesting. I strongly advised him to encourage her to go to her PCP, discuss her concerns, and only take this drug under medical supervision. After posting the OP, I went online and did some research, and I have to say that I’m now more concerned than ever. I sent him an email with some links to a few sites, and once again reinforced my advice to encourage his girlfriend see her doctor. I’ve not heard back from him yet, and I worry that he may feel that I’ve overstepped my bounds. He’s already disappointed enough that her self control is apparently merely drug induced. I think he’s a bit afraid of her, to tell the truth.</p>
<p>Is it like Valium?</p>
<p>Has she ever been evaluated for bipolar disorder?</p>
<p>Anxiety isnt a lack of self control.
She should speak to her dr.</p>
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<p>Yes, Xanax is in a class of drugs called benzodiazapines. Valium is in that class also. They help calm the emotions, relieve anxiety, help facilitate sleep, etc.</p>
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<p>No, I don’t think she has. Interesting that you should ask, because, it wasn’t until after I typed my last post, that the thought occurred to me, too. I’ve never been around when she has “gone off”, but I my brother says she can turn on a dime—be sweet and loving one moment, and suddenly fly into a rage. I don’t know if such behavior is indicative of bipolar disorder, though. I know there are many different types of the illness, however. Others might be able to better say whether this is indicative or not. </p>
<p>I do know that this woman, who is otherwise a very lovely person, has not been very good with relationships. She’s been married three times, and prior to meeting my brother, had a multi-year relationship that also ended badly.</p>
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<p>Emerald, the self control issue relates to her mood swings and lack of anger management, apparently. I agree that she needs to speak to her doctor. They’ve gone to two different couples counselors, and each time, the therapist has honed in on her immediately, and both therapists felt it would be good to see her individually. She was extremely upset about that, feeling that she was being picked on by the docs. Personally, I think it doesn’t bode well with a relationship, when the couple requires counseling even before they’ve gotten engaged, much less married. I feel like my brother is in over his head with this thing, but he’s a grown man, and has to make his own decisions.</p>
<p>I’d be concerned about the “friend” that is donating the “leftovers”. He/she has no idea what other meds the person may be taking, alcohol consumption, driving ,etc and obviously hasn’t given a thought where the blame will fall if/when something goes amiss with the person now using the Xanax. You might want to point out the culpability laws that pertain to those who have served alcohol to someone who then has an accident of some sort and also mention that the penalties would be far more severe for someone “sharing” controlled substances, which Xanax is.</p>
<p>This is not an issue for people who are using Xanax once in a while. It probably isn’t a problem for people who use it to fall asleep. However, people having regular panic attacks could end up with more panic attacks because of Xanax. </p>
<p>Besides being very addictive Xanax has a short ‘half-life’ (compared to many other benzo’s). As a result regular users may end up having withdrawal symptoms in between taking the prescribed dose. These withdrawal symptoms can be worse than the reason why the Xanax was prescribed in the first place. Benzo’s with a longer to much longer ‘half-life’ are as addictive as Xanax, but without or at least with less withdrawal symptoms as a side effect.</p>