Benzos aren't working anymore; neither is therapy.

[Hurt]

Hey everyone. This is my first thread but everyone seems ridiculously nice here so I figured what the hell. I had been using 1mg xanax on and off for about 2 years. For months it was a godsend helping with anxiety, then slowly it stopped working. It's gotten to the point where I can take several milligrams and still not get relief (or any effect at all). I tapered off it with the help of Valium, but life has its way of bringing you back to hell. Any advice? Should I just stop taking everything and deal? Are any other drugs as effective or just more of the same? Life sucks some (most of the) time(s).

[SlowRoll]

My immediate thought is to look for a good Psychiatrist, get a proper diagnosis and he/she will work with you to find the right effective medication.

Benzodiazepines like Xanax are usually safe and effective for short term use only.

I think the right medication along with some type of therapy is usually the best path to take IMHO.

[abbygirl]

Slowroll is pretty much on the money. Benzos work well in the short term, or during panic attacks, then start some serious therapy with a reputable psychiatrist.

[BuckeyeFan]

If you truly need benzos @abbygirl you might try switching it up every so often. I agree with the others though about getting a good psyche and talking about your issues. I wish I had the means to do so since ADD runs in my family and it's hard finding a doc that doesn't immediately think you're drug seeking. I hope you get things sorted out. ~sub

[Roswell1947]

If I may ask, What brand xanax are you taking?
Greenstone..Purepac..Parke Davis..Mylan?
Thx!

[Hurt]

Thanks for the advice my friends. It is much appreciated. I wish I could see a psych but at this point I can't afford it financially. The ones I've found don't deal with insurance and/ or treat you like an addict. I will weather the storm as always, just thought some feedback would be comforting. It was. Thanks again for your suggestions.

[merrymiau]

@Hurt

Anxiety, especially after tapering off of benzos, can really paralyze your ability to cope with life. But you mention how much your life sucks all the time.

Are you still experiencing lots of anxiety or panic attacks? I ask because no benzo in the world is ever going to make you happier; all they're really good for, really, is helping you feel steady enough to get on with other things that might help you climb out of this rut.

Do you feel like your primary issue might be depression? Or is the anxiety causing you to feel depressed?

[Hurt]

If I may ask, What brand xanax are you taking?
Greenstone..Purepac..Parke Davis..Mylan?
Thx!

I had tried both pfizer brand and dava generic. Brand were much better IMO.

[Loubitan]

Hey everyone. This is my first thread but everyone seems ridiculously nice here so I figured what the hell. I had been using 1mg xanax on and off for about 2 years. For months it was a godsend helping with anxiety, then slowly it stopped working. It's gotten to the point where I can take several milligrams and still not get relief (or any effect at all). I tapered off it with the help of Valium, but life has its way of bringing you back to hell. Any advice? Should I just stop taking everything and deal? Are any other drugs as effective or just more of the same? Life sucks some (most of the) time(s).

@Hurt - Ask your doctor about Cymbalta. It is an antidepressant without the usual side effects. Then take extra Xanax with it...and have a strong scotch on the rocks. That should do ya. Just kidding. Talk to your doctor. People tend to build tolerance to benzos. Also benzos can be paradoxical after long term use...meaning what you originally started taking them for...tend to be symptoms of long term use. You need a long term anti-depressant/anti-anxiety like Cymbalta. I am a cymbalta fan, because it does not make you fat or make you lose your sex drive.

[dafeet]

Do you take any kind of ssri in addition to the benzos? I, too, suffer from anxiety, but my dr. told me that the anxiety is just basically a symptom of something underlying...typically depression. He then put me on a combo of xanax and ssri. The xanax was used for the more immediate and acute anxiety until the ssri had a chance to work. That took about 6 weeks to fully feel the benefits. I was then able to wean myself off the xanax and just maintain by continuously taking an ssri. I'm at the point now where I only need a benzo when I get a rare anxiety attack, or when I'm going through a stressful time. My point is, maybe it would help to add something like therapy and/or an ssri to go along with the benzo to treat the underlying issue.

[Loubitan]

If you truly need benzos @abbygirl you might try switching it up every so often. I agree with the others though about getting a good psyche and talking about your issues. I wish I had the means to do so since ADD runs in my family and it's hard finding a doc that doesn't immediately think you're drug seeking. I hope you get things sorted out. ~sub

@subhuman - what do you mean by switching up the benzos? Like taking different ones? Switching from Xanax to Valium to Clonopan and then back on the merry-go-round again. Does that work with benzo tolerance?

[brienzi]

in my experience with benzos....what works for me is not taking more and more when tolerance builds...i'll taper down quickly....and then take as needed again....And i prefer to stick with vals....I don't get that sleepy feeling...just a nice calmness...

[BuckeyeFan]

Yes that was what I meant @Loubitan. If you're just on low doses it does work...at least in my experience. If you're on high doses...forget about it. ~sub

[SlowRoll]

Thanks for the advice my friends. It is much appreciated. I wish I could see a psych but at this point I can't afford it financially. The ones I've found don't deal with insurance and/ or treat you like an addict. I will weather the storm as always, just thought some feedback would be comforting. It was. Thanks again for your suggestions.

Hurt,

This may have been mentioned, but, if you cannot afford a Psychiatrist, your primary doctor can also help you with Anxiety and possible depression.

They are able to prescribe the medication you may need as well. If your insurance covers that, you can go that route instead of seeing a Psychiatrist.

[Hurt]

@Hurt

Anxiety, especially after tapering off of benzos, can really paralyze your ability to cope with life. But you mention how much your life sucks all the time.

Are you still experiencing lots of anxiety or panic attacks? I ask because no benzo in the world is ever going to make you happier; all they're really good for, really, is helping you feel steady enough to get on with other things that might help you climb out of this rut.

Do you feel like your primary issue might be depression? Or is the anxiety causing you to feel depressed?

You are right on. Tapering off the benzos has been quite hellish, but I'm doing my best. I am at the moment still experiencing a lot of anxiety. I know you're 100% correct in that no bezno will make me happier, and I had used them initially to take control of the panic attacks and then foolishly assumed that would be a happy pill. Quite the opposite effect. My primary issue is definitely depression. We all have our battles. I must thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Much appreciated.

*This post was auto-merged. The following text was added 14 minutes after the last post:*

@Loubitan I will ask my doctor about Cymbalta; I've never tried it, but I'm glad it works well for you and hopefully will for me as well.

@hurting2day I was on Lexapro 20mg along with the Xanax 1mg for 2 years. I too suffer from depression and anxiety, so I feel for you. I know the anxiety is an underlying cause of something deeper. Lexapro worked initially, but started to make me numb to everything. I need to find a different SSRI. Perhaps Cymbalta. Good luck with your battle as well my friend.

@SlowRoll That is the route I had been taking (insurance covered Primary Care Doc) and as this thread indicates I'm due for another visit. Haha

Again, much thanks to all of you who contributed your kind words and advice. It means a lot.

-Hurt

[merrymiau]

@Hurt

I have been in your boat. Or, in your life raft, if that feels more accurate.

Do you have a family member or close friend who is supporting you right now, or perhaps someone who would be willing to support you if you only had the courage to ask? Maybe not. Maybe that's naive of me, to think that you have someone you can fall back on. It doesn't even have to be financially. Maybe your best friend has access to internet and transportation, and maybe he/she will help you research sliding-scale clinics to find you the best one to suit your needs, and then will even help you get there. It's hard to do this stuff alone, sometimes.

You deserve to do more than just function; you deserve to be genuinely happy and grateful for your life. And one day, I bet you will be. Even if it feels like you're traipsing through never-ending muck at the moment -- you will have your moment.


So let's say you do have someone you can trust and rely on -- I think they might help you find a psychiatrist who will help you get on the right med regimen. I am, myself, frequently surprised that I am capable of being loved when I feel certain I don't deserve it. I'm an eternal pessiment. But still, I bet they would help you either (a) call around to find the right sliding-scale clinic or (b) just drive your sad hiney to a psychiatrist because they care about your well-being that much.

If you don't have a person that will help you make it through that first step, then I have full confidence that you can do that for yourself. I just want you to make it as easy on yourself as possible, whatever that takes. You are @Hurt -- but you shouldn't have to be forever!

[Hurt]

@Hurt

I have been in your boat. Or, in your life raft, if that feels more accurate.

Do you have a family member or close friend who is supporting you right now, or perhaps someone who would be willing to support you if you only had the courage to ask? Maybe not. Maybe that's naive of me, to think that you have someone you can fall back on. It doesn't even have to be financially. Maybe your best friend has access to internet and transportation, and maybe he/she will help you research sliding-scale clinics to find you the best one to suit your needs, and then will even help you get there. It's hard to do this stuff alone, sometimes.

You deserve to do more than just function; you deserve to be genuinely happy and grateful for your life. And one day, I bet you will be. Even if it feels like you're traipsing through never-ending muck at the moment -- you will have your moment.


So let's say you do have someone you can trust and rely on -- I think they might help you find a psychiatrist who will help you get on the right med regimen. I am, myself, frequently surprised that I am capable of being loved when I feel certain I don't deserve it. I'm an eternal pessiment. But still, I bet they would help you either (a) call around to find the right sliding-scale clinic or (b) just drive your sad hiney to a psychiatrist because they care about your well-being that much.

If you don't have a person that will help you make it through that first step, then I have full confidence that you can do that for yourself. I just want you to make it as easy on yourself as possible, whatever that takes. You are @Hurt -- but you shouldn't have to be forever!

Thank you, @merrymiau. That was quite beautifully written. I too feel surprise that others are capable of loving and caring about me when I feel I deserve nothing. It is one of those rare, good surprises life offers you. A helping hand when you need it most. I do have someone to fall back on, luckily, and now it seems a have a whole group of amazingly kind people I didn't even know existed.

[spicylilnacho]

@Hurt

I have been in your boat. Or, in your life raft, if that feels more accurate.

Do you have a family member or close friend who is supporting you right now, or perhaps someone who would be willing to support you if you only had the courage to ask? Maybe not. Maybe that's naive of me, to think that you have someone you can fall back on. It doesn't even have to be financially. Maybe your best friend has access to internet and transportation, and maybe he/she will help you research sliding-scale clinics to find you the best one to suit your needs, and then will even help you get there. It's hard to do this stuff alone, sometimes.

You deserve to do more than just function; you deserve to be genuinely happy and grateful for your life. And one day, I bet you will be. Even if it feels like you're traipsing through never-ending muck at the moment -- you will have your moment.


So let's say you do have someone you can trust and rely on -- I think they might help you find a psychiatrist who will help you get on the right med regimen. I am, myself, frequently surprised that I am capable of being loved when I feel certain I don't deserve it. I'm an eternal pessiment. But still, I bet they would help you either (a) call around to find the right sliding-scale clinic or (b) just drive your sad hiney to a psychiatrist because they care about your well-being that much.

If you don't have a person that will help you make it through that first step, then I have full confidence that you can do that for yourself. I just want you to make it as easy on yourself as possible, whatever that takes. You are @Hurt -- but you shouldn't have to be forever!

What wonderful words! Even though it's tough for me to admit it and I have had HORRIBLE experiences with anti-depressants and doctors, ITA with everyone on looking into ant-depressants. That being said, I'm right there with you. I have no insurance and can't really afford to get professional help either but some days I feel like, how can I afford NOT to, ya know? It's hard to take a step back some times and know when your symptoms are becoming unmanageable, but it takes a lot of strength to know yourself like you do and admit it. I have a few close people in my life that I force to tell me the truth, even if it's ugly. I make them tell me if they think I've become a shut-in, an irritable, intolerable witch, if my anxiety and panic is holding me back. I know it's bad when I make excuses not to go places because I'm scared I'll have too much anxiety or a panic attack. Like the person above says, you deserve to be happy! And live a full life! And you are strong enough to get through this on your own, but I hope you have someone in your life to lean on...another thing everyone deserves. (((HUGS)))