Question:
It was originally prescribed for stress due to the fact that I have two
children (3 and 14) months and am an isolated stay at home mom. I
definitely needed something to diminish my perpetual anxiety and stess;
however, my husband and I have both noticed I'm handling the everyday stress
a lot better, but feel the Xanax is also causing panic attacks. Had very
racing heart before due to situational events, but now become anxious and
have panick attacks for no reason at all such as riding in the car. Help!!!
Is it the medication and just a horrible side effect? Am I on the wrong
dose (.25mg 3 times day)? Or is my stress manifesting itself in a new way?
Answer:
These are not known side effects of Xanax. On the contrary it's *the* med for
avoiding or *stopping* PA's very quickly. You might want to try to take .5 mg
when you feel a PA coming on. If that causes more panic instead of stopping it
you may have an adverse reaction to Xanax in which case this is not the med for
you. It is rare but it happens. Maybe you would want to switch to Ativan in that
case which is much like Xanax but different enough to be tolerated better.
You shouldn't have to argue with the pharmacist. His job is to fill
prescriptions. If he has any questions, ask him to call your doctor who
gave you the script (and argue with him, IF HE DARES).
I needed Xanax 10 mg/day (TEN), at one point in the past, to block my
panic attacks. This dosage was prescribed by a Professor of Psychiatry
at the UCSF School of Medicine.
The usual dosage range for panic disorder is Xanax 2 to 4 mg/day,
starting at 0.25 or 0.5 mg three times daily, and increasing slowly, if
necessary, to a dosage level that blocks PAs.
You shouldn't have to argue with the pharmacist. His job is to fill
prescriptions. If he has any questions, ask him to call your doctor who
gave you the script (and argue with him, IF HE DARES).
I needed Xanax 10 mg/day (TEN), at one point in the past, to block my
panic attacks. This dosage was prescribed by a Professor of Psychiatry
at the UCSF School of Medicine.
The usual dosage range for panic disorder is Xanax 2 to 4 mg/day,
starting at 0.25 or 0.5 mg three times daily, and increasing slowly, if
necessary, to a dosage level that blocks PAs.
