xanax problem

Hi everyone, I am new to this group and a long time patient of anxiety
and bipolar disorder. I've struggled trying to find the right
benzodiazepine. I started seeing my current psychiatrist about 2 years
ago, and I started on clonopin, then we switched to ativan, and then
xanax. I continued to have severe anxiety, so I went to a hospital
after hours and the doctor there suggested I try valium, which he
prescribed to me. It seemed to work but then about two weeks into
taking it, it seemed like it did absolutely nothing for my anxiety, so
I rushed back to the xanax because it was what I was used to, and out
of all the other benzos seemed to work the best for the longest time.
I am back on it, .5mg 4 times daily. I guess my doctor's intention is
to administer like that proactively to avoid panic attacks. However
that seems to not be working either. I know about the hype with
benzos, how alot of kids take them recreationally and they can be
habit forming, etc. I don't want to come off as being a "pill seeker."
How could I better communicate with him that my current dose isn't
working, and that I have to double or triple sometimes the dosage to
feel anything?

A D schreef:
> Hi everyone, I am new to this group and a long time patient of anxiety
> and bipolar disorder. I've struggled trying to find the right
> benzodiazepine. I started seeing my current psychiatrist about 2 years
> ago, and I started on clonopin, then we switched to ativan, and then
> xanax. I continued to have severe anxiety, so I went to a hospital
> after hours and the doctor there suggested I try valium, which he
> prescribed to me. It seemed to work but then about two weeks into
> taking it, it seemed like it did absolutely nothing for my anxiety, so
> I rushed back to the xanax because it was what I was used to, and out
> of all the other benzos seemed to work the best for the longest time.
> I am back on it, .5mg 4 times daily. I guess my doctor's intention is
> to administer like that proactively to avoid panic attacks. However
> that seems to not be working either. I know about the hype with
> benzos, how alot of kids take them recreationally and they can be
> habit forming, etc. I don't want to come off as being a "pill seeker."
> How could I better communicate with him that my current dose isn't
> working, and that I have to double or triple sometimes the dosage to
> feel anything?


Hi,

Sorry to hear that benzs don't seem to do much for you.
Do you take medication for bipolar disorder?
The first choice medication is still lithium and it is often augmented
with an antipsychotic. If you never tried this, it may be a suggestion
to talk about with your doctor. Although antipsychotics are not
indicated as first choice meds for anxiety disorders it is (IMO)
unlikely that your bipolar disorder & an anxiety disorder are. That
sounds to me like DSM- dependency ;-)
It is fairly possible that with a combo of lithium and, say, Seroquel or
Risperdal your anxiety will be brought under control along with bipolar
disorder.

Philip

"Philip Peters" <philip@p-peters.demon.nl> wrote in message
news:4a489c69$0$185$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl...
>A D schreef:
>> Hi everyone, I am new to this group and a long time patient of anxiety
>> and bipolar disorder. I've struggled trying to find the right
>> benzodiazepine. I started seeing my current psychiatrist about 2 years
>> ago, and I started on clonopin, then we switched to ativan, and then
>> xanax. I continued to have severe anxiety, so I went to a hospital
>> after hours and the doctor there suggested I try valium, which he
>> prescribed to me. It seemed to work but then about two weeks into
>> taking it, it seemed like it did absolutely nothing for my anxiety, so
>> I rushed back to the xanax because it was what I was used to, and out
>> of all the other benzos seemed to work the best for the longest time.
>> I am back on it, .5mg 4 times daily. I guess my doctor's intention is
>> to administer like that proactively to avoid panic attacks. However
>> that seems to not be working either. I know about the hype with
>> benzos, how alot of kids take them recreationally and they can be
>> habit forming, etc. I don't want to come off as being a "pill seeker."
>> How could I better communicate with him that my current dose isn't
>> working, and that I have to double or triple sometimes the dosage to
>> feel anything?
>
>
> Hi,
>
> Sorry to hear that benzs don't seem to do much for you.
> Do you take medication for bipolar disorder?
> The first choice medication is still lithium and it is often augmented
> with an antipsychotic. If you never tried this, it may be a suggestion to
> talk about with your doctor. Although antipsychotics are not indicated as
> first choice meds for anxiety disorders it is (IMO) unlikely that your
> bipolar disorder & an anxiety disorder are. That sounds to me like DSM-
> dependency ;-)
> It is fairly possible that with a combo of lithium and, say, Seroquel or
> Risperdal your anxiety will be brought under control along with bipolar
> disorder.
>
> Philip


You said it, Philip!! For the first time in 11 years, I'm not on a bunch of
combinations for my bipolar mind. (No lithium)!! I'm going into my 3rd
week of 1 mg. of Xanax 3x a day, two 100 mgs. of Seroquel as need (if needed
at all) and then 800 mgs. of Seroquel XR at night. I do feel a bit dopey in
the mornings, so when I see my p-doc on Thursday, I'm going to ask him to
drop me down to 600 mgs. of the Seroquel XR instead.

What I have noticed (thus far) is NO suicidal thoughts, which is a HUGE
positive for me.

--

·.·´¨ ¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
Laurie
((¸¸.·´ ..·´
-:¦:- ((¸¸ ·.·

*~*LiveLoveLaugh*~*

All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
~Abraham Lincoln