Take Xanax? Does it make you lose your appetite? Other side effects?

[bertha katzenengel]

You don't have to answer of course, don't out yourself as a Xanax user if you don't want to. I have been relying on it for a few days now. I don't want to but the alternative is unacceptable.

So: side effects that you have experienced?

Thanks!

[Zuni]

1. My shrink sometimes gives me Ativan for anxiety

it is in the same class of drugs as Xanax.

Basically, Xanax, if you take enough, is like drunkeness in a pill.

[Droopy]

2. Yep

I know someone who abuses Xanax. I'll be talking to him via messenger and he will start typing things that are undecipherable. Then I'll ask him how many Xanax (or "footballs" is the street name) he's had and it's usually at least 4. I've been with him when he's taken that many and he acts like he's drank a fifth of whiskey. That guy gets a little bit of a hangover from taking so much, but I would think that if you do not abuse the drug that the side affects would be minimal.

[Zuni]

25. I have abused Xanax in the past

a few years ago I was the bass player in a blues band, and the guitarist popped Xanax. I took a whole bunch at one practice and couldn't stand up, yet I could play the bass. :shrug:

[katmondoo]

3. It is OK if you take one only

After that you start to feel too far out of it. Also it can take two to three days to overcome the effects. Over a period of time I started to see and feel huge bugs crawling over me. I stopped taking it, now I keep it on hand and use it only when I am very upset.

[Worst Username Ever]

4. I have noticed no side effects.

I only take a pill about once every month or so, so I guess my body hasn't had a chance to HAVE any side effects, but for what its worth...

[flamingyouth]

5. I don't really have any side effects

Actually, I've found that it makes me less drowsy than Ativan. It's been very helpful for me when I've needed it. :hi:

[TrogL]

6. Drowsiness

It actually allows me to eat if I'm upset or panicked. I calm down enough to be able to cope.

[Lorien]

18. Me too

I couldn't stay on it-I already have CFS. :-(

[Catchawave]

7. The Mental Health Group might be helpful.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=276

They are really supportive of these sort of questions.

[bertha katzenengel]

20. Thank you, Catchawave...

you got me sittin on top of the world (I'm from Surf City, I couldn't resist)

I didn't know there was such a group. Will check it out.

[Bossy Monkey]

8. I took it for a month or two. Just noticed I was getting habituated

(ie, effects were diminishing on the same dosage) and so promptly quit. I have a friend who takes half a Xanax whenever he knows he's headed into a stressful situation (meetings with idiots, for example) and he hasn't had any trouble. My shrink would only give it to me if I took it daily for some reason; given that constraint I felt that it was better to do without than to get hooked.

Edit: here's the bird's eye lowdown: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/alpraz_ad.htm
It's the same information that's printed on your package insert and in the Physician's Desk Reference, except legible and machine searchable. There's a separate listing for XR if that's what you're taking:
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/xanax-xr_ad.htm

[malta blue]

9. It's fine once in a while, but beware long term use

My doc gave it to me for anxiety and is pretty liberal with refills, but I tend to use it maybe once a month or so. My SO's brother was hooked on it in his early 20's and suffered serious withdrawals (hallucinations and such).

[Nikia]

12. My mother-in-law has used it long term

I know that it is not proper to call people with legal prescriptions addicts, but she has been taking it for years and is at a relatively high dose, which she takes 3 times per day. Despite taking enough to knock me out in one dose, she still has anxiety and is upset that her doctor won't give her more.

[malta blue]

13. Not my business

but does she use any other anxiety coping mechanisms? After a while, I'm sure you can build up a tolerance, but I would think that having to take a pill 3 times a day can be anxiety causing as well.

[Nikia]

10. I take one if I have a panic attack

My perscription is only 0.25 mg. This will knock most of my panic attacks down. It will make me a little tired and sometimes a little loopy. If I lay down, I will usually sleep. Sleep is not necessary though and I will be functional if I stay up doing things.
I have had two bad panic attacks where that wasn't enough. In one case, I took 1.0 mg at the emergency room. All my vitals had been rather elevated for me. I had made the mistake of taking Sudafed and caffeinated soda. I did not fall asleep right away, but remembered very little of what went on after that point until I went home and fell asleep. In the other case, I couldn't get the panic attack under control after taking one of mine. We had arrived at my husband's friends house and he also takes them and I took one of his 1.0 mg. They sat with me and I suddenlty fell asleep.
In all cases, I thought that stomach upset might be a side effect, but I think that it is rather a side effect of the panic attack combined with ingesting anything during that time.

[tammywammy]

11. do not drink while on xanax

trust me, you don't even have to drink a lot, and you'll black out and not remember anything.

[bertha katzenengel]

21. No worries, tammy. I do not drink.

Thanks. :)

[FuzzySlippers]

14. It was prescribed for me once.

It made me feel kind of weird from the beginning, and after a few days my speech started to slur, so I got off it pronto. I like Ativan much better. Doesn't make me feel weird--just mellows me out a little.

[purr]

16. Ativan is good shit...

dr gave me 5 pills for when i had a bad anxiety attack.. My house could've been on fire and I wouldnt have cared.

These types of drugs arent good for me :)

[purr]

15. Took Xanax until I found out I was pg

It first made me feel like I was on cloud 9.. I got over that in about 2 weeks and my anxiety was GONE.

I have bad anxiety about driving and I always thing something is going to happen no matter who drives. I dont drive more than 5 miles from my house at any given time.

I didnt lose my libido, appetite, only my anxiety.

[bertha katzenengel]

22. Oh, purr... I'm so glad you didn't lose that first thing you mentioned

in your last sentence. I have had zero (because of my anti-depressants) for going on two years now. :(

[Bok_Tukalo]

17. Zoloft has a great side effect for me

<ope>

[blondeatlast]

19. I'm an ex-Xanax user. Nothing bad, it made life tolerable

when it felt as if it were spinning out of control.

As with you, the alternative was unacceptable (I'm facing the same awful decision about HRT right now--I don't want to, but if I can't get a handle on the blood glucose, I simply must. Otherwise I'm going to die in a head-on crash and take my son and possible the occupants of another car with me--some decision to have to make, eh?!).

I knew it was addictive going in, and so I was very cautious about taking it only when I needed it. I suspect that you'll hear a lot of negativity about it, but it literally saved my life--and I'm completely off of it now for 2 years.

Hang in there and if you want to discuss anything privately, you know the drill.

[bertha katzenengel]

23. sorry I didn't reply individually -- i've taken in everyone's replies

and I really appreciate all of you weighing in. My shrink just called me in a refill, because I went through the script I had that was just for air travel. He said if I go through this bottle (30 count .5 mg) that he won't refill it until he sees me. Too I'm seeing a therapist.

Thank you, thank you all. I love you, DU.

[Droopy]

24. Take care, bertha

I don't know if I helped any, but I will say you're welcome and we love you, too.

[davsand]

26. I take it to sleep.

It is a small dose (.25, I think) but I take it to sleep at night. Ambian messed with me badly, and Valium was great for about the first four days, then I started to need a second dose to sleep thru the night. The doc wrote me a scrip for the Xanax and it has done fine as a sleeping pill.

I can't complain about side effects, and I really don't feel any burning urge to go knock off a liquor store so I can buy more of it... My advice is follow your Doc's advice and make sure you talk to him about any fear you have of the Xanax, otherwise I hope it helps you!


Laura

[BlackVelvetElvis]

27. I've take it occaisionally

When I have PMS. 0.25 to be exact. It just chills me out a little. Anything over that and I get very groggy. No other effects.

[Kat45]

28. My mother was taking it for a while, after my father died.

She didn't have much of an appetite then, which may or may not have been due to the xanax. Weird thing is, she's a msjor chocoholic (as am I), and she had no desire whatsoever for chocolate while she was taking it. After she stopped, she started eating it again. :shrug: