Long Term High Dose Xanax Effects (Page 10)
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I began taking Xanax in 1982. I have been abusing it more and more over the years. I can now take 14 mg and not even tell it. I can stop taking it with no withdrawals. It's like I am immune to it. For the past two years I have been experiencing a lack of cognition, forgetfullness, and general fatigue. It does not matter if I stop the Xanax for a couple of months, I feel like the deficit is permanent. Can Xanax lead to permanent brain damage?

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I used xanax, vallum, klonopin, & lorazapam (shopper) for about 5 years, been clean 3, the day before I ended up in the PSYCHATRIC HOSPITAL on a 5150, I had taken 3 1/2 grams of cocain & 200 mils of a mixture of the above listed meds. I was 98lbs. I went down to 96 in detox. After not receiving proper counseling at rehab, although ive been clean since oct 2, 2007, ive recently went back to counseling for some unresolved issues. I was informed by my therapist (whom I trust for the first time since entering counseling @ 14), that my extreme mood swings are due to the fact my brain has not recovered fully. Not to mention ive since had my 2nd child & still weigh only 115 @ 5'6. So now after everything ive worked for for the last several years, I get to hear im annorexic, or why dont u eat more :/... PLEASE PEOPLE, STAY AWAY FROM BENZOS! & if thats the first suggestion from your doc, GET A 2nd OR EVEN 3rd opinion. (this was not ment as a personal reply, new to site, appologies :) )

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Over the past 6 years I've abused Xanax off and on, usually for periods of weeks or months daily with short intervals in between, the longest being a few months. When I started when I was 13 my first time taking them I took a few of the 0.5mg and it didn't really do a whole lot. My second time I had gotten the 6 of the 2mg from my friend in middle school and took five of them during 1st period. Got arrested with the last one at school a few class periods later. After this, my drug use drastically increased. At first I would switch between drugs and mix a lot of them at the same time, mainly using xanax, ecstasy, cocaine, marijuana and alcohol. But xanax and ecstasy quickly became my favorite, often mixing them with alcohol. (Rarely all 3, usually xanax + alcohol or ecstasy + alcohol) Eventually I got to the point where I couldn't function sober, my whole life revolved around drugs. I would take xanax at school, at work, anywhere I was really, and take large doses of usually at least 10-14mg ranging up to 30-45mg+ daily and more often then not drinking on them. I could feel the affects of the drugs and alcohol working on my body, began throwing up blood the next day after I'd drink. It got bad a couple years ago when I thought I was going to die after taking 4 xo's (ecstasy) and drinking a handle of vodka and 30 case of beer with two friends. Began throwing up, horrible cold sweats, couldn't talk, couldn't think, could barely move. And no one would take me to the hospital. I barely slept that night, freaking out the whole time. That's when my anxiety attacks really started to occur a lot more frequently. At first, I just had to stop taking uppers such as ecstasy, cocaine, ect. After the incident I tried to take only a couple xo's a week or two later and began to freak out again, which is when I began to be worried and decided not to take any uppers. My xanax use became more frequent, with longer lengths of time and shorter intervals inbetween, probably because I discontinued the use of most other drugs and xanax still remained my favorite that I wouldn't freak out if I took it. But then I had my first sober anxiety attack, and it reminded me vividly of the time I thought I was going to die on the ecstasy and alcohol. It lasted three days, and I was sure I was dying. I went to doctors and got examined, and they all said I was fine it must be anxiety. But I couldn't believe it, couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that anxiety could be so bad that I had intense physical pain and literally thought I was dying. After awhile of seeing doctors and having anxiety attacks more and more frequently since the first time, I began to accept it, but it would not stop. No matter what people told me, what relaxation techniques I learned, nothing helped. My xanax abuse grew even more during this time, and if I wasn't on it I had my unbearable anxiety. Finally my drug and alcohol abuse led me to the point where I was homeless again living under a bridge late november. I woke up one morning, took my last 6 2mg pills I had on me to stop the shaking, which I woke up with daily until I took the xanax and let it kick in. I realized I had to stop, so I called my mother and asked if she would let me move in to get sober. After letting her think about it for awhile, she allowed me to move back in and I quit my job because most of my drug use occurred at work and with co-workers. After my mother found out what drugs I was taking she researched it and decided to pay for a detox program for me to go through so i wouldn't die from withdrawals. I got horrendously sick for a few days and was bedridden, and it took a couple weeks of taking 18 pills/vitamins daily that the detox program The Right Step gave me to deter seizures, help sleep and other things before I started to feel a little better, but barely. Just good enough to move around and not have a seizure. Now it's been a little over 3 months since I last used, February 22, 2011 precisely. (I went to rehab beginning of december but relapsed about a month later for a short time) For the longest time I thought my anxiety was attributed mainly to all the ecstasy I took and the time I though I was going to die, (my ecstasy addiction was almost as bad as my xanax one for quite awhile) but after reading a lot of information about xanax-abuse effects it sounds a lot like what i go through, albeit milder than mine seems to be. But I live in a fog, it's hard to think, hard to focus, have insane migraines every day (most likely attributed to multiple concussions in the past year), and my anxiety, although quite a bit better than it used to be, is still a constant thing and my intense anxiety attacks still occur although not with the frequency they used to (however I did have two pretty bad ones this weekend, but was most likely due to smoking because I do get really anxious when I smoke pot, which i don't do much anymore for that reason.) I've been extremely afraid that this condition is permanent, because I do not think I could live through my life if this were to continue. Even though I feel physically miserable most of the time, and have crazy mood swings, depression and anger, I still try my best to stay as positive as possible and move on with my life. My life is going better than it has in a very long time (even though it doesn't feel like it), I have somewhere to sleep, food to eat, and am undergoing job training. It's just extremely difficult to think, study, do work, and live my life like a normal person. But after reading about it taking 3-18 months to recover, I now have new hope that I may be able to feel normal again one day. You don't even understand how f***ed up in the head I feel like I am. I am still worried that I may have done some long-term damage to my body, but that may just be attributed to paranoia and anxiety (my physical feelings and worries are the main reason for my anxiety) because I am still very young, (will be 19 in a couple weeks) and I often hear and see people doing drugs for a lot longer than me even if not as much as I did. I am very grateful that I am still alive, although a little surprised that I am, but I'm tired of that life and I don't want it anymore, I just want to feel normal. It's so hard to think clearly.

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Ariana75 Hi there I would love to talk to you more I m going through the exact same situation in a very avery all four types of abuse in this abusive relationship I havent taken xanex in six years and this is this time i need it ten times worse it was prn but i told the doctor in my circumstances if i take as needed i will be taking them all day long. I literally in theis relationship have panic attacts 247 with no avail. Finally today i feel some releif and calm but Im still trying to find a way out of this complex relationship senario and I cant find my way out of it. I love life and I love him but I realized yesterday That I cant jeopardize my health and my life for someone that i love unconditionally thats not willing to go to anger managment. I would love to talk with you about what you did maybe our circumstances were the same maybe not i dont know. hit me up please

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Methadone detox is very hard to diagnose how long withdrawals will last. I've been on methadone 2x the first time in Detoxed in 3 weeks and was on methadone for 6 months and stopped cold turkey at 150mg. The 2nd time I got on I was on methadone for 1yr and 1month and weaned myself all the way to 10mg cause they told me I'd have an easier time getting off. But they lied the longer your on methadone the longer your withdrawal will last, not including the insomnia that comes after the initial physical withdrawls. So the longer u stay on it you will have the worst withdrawals you'd never wish your worst enemy to experience. I just finally said F*** this. I'm not gonna let the methadone clinic rule my life and I'm sorry but there's no remedy to help with methadone detox if your planning on getting off just make sure you have 1 month open cause my last and final methadone detox lasted 3 weeks with the worst imaginable pains and hell I've gone through. If I can do it twice you can do it just stay STRONG and when your In the heat of your detox just stay positive and know that after the first two weeks you'll start feeling better everyday will start be become more and more manageable...... Stay strong and I hope I helped with and questions regarding a methadone detox...
P.S- methadone stores In The bones so take a lot of calcium and other vitamins of that nature

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Hi there, thank you... will def talk to a psychiatrist also i signed up to a gym work out i hear can do you good on this matter...although yesterday had panic attack and strong feelings of anxiety so... i took 5 pills of 1 mg during the whole day.... relax and watch some romantic movies (lol) I will follow the path of going to speak to a doc and a female psychiatrist see the out comes ... i 'd like to d-tox from this chemical stuff from my body and exercise and better diet should put me back on the right path... Only thing....? hope to have enuff strnght to keep doing it, eat better, work out... I know i will have those funky days/nights where i just want to be numbed or relaxed ... again Thank YOU! Alexia :)

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Hey all...first time on any post!...so thanks in advance!!
I take 100mg of trazadone and .25mg of xanax every night for the last 4 years. My question is: Will (point 25) .25mg everynight of Xanax cause any bad or permanent side effects...I'm 50 and can't sleep without at least the trazadone...the Xanax is a little bonus to keep me asleep thanks!!!!

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Bobby,
It is amazing how much our situations are similar! I get really bad anxiety when my husband is around and I prefer to be alone/out/doing whatever I can, just to get away from my home. I was prescribed Xanax a while ago, but only recently started taking it on a regular base. Me, too, feel enormous guilt about leaving him and the whole situation started to seriously get out of control. Xanax (0.25mg) can keep me asleep for about 2 hours, max. If I want to sleep through the night, I have to take another pill as soon as I wake up. That scares the hell out of me! without Xanax, I can't sleep at all and daytime anxiety is out of control. Unfortunately, I had to quit my job due to anxiety. I am starting Citalopram today and hope it will ease out some of the symptoms. Take care!!

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I am prescribed .5 mg 4 times a day of xanax. I have not taken them at regular intervals; like today I took two at about 1:00 p.m. and one at about 8:00 p.m.; I was not going to take the fourth .5mg xanax, but it is 1:26 a.m. and I'm not sleepy or feeling like I could go to sleep; I just now took the 4th .5mg xanax for this day (1:28 a.m.); I am afraid I have become dependent on xanax, although I don't seem to need them for anxiety now that my wife has left for a while; she's been gone for almost a week, and I'm not as upset as I usually am when she is here, but I just got a bit of that upset, just getting a text from her; she drives me crazy; I think I"m going to have to leave her, even though she has cancer and is bipolar, I used to feel guilty about wanting to leave her, but she has become so difficult to live with that I just don't think I care any more. And I can't remember who I've told that to; I feel like I'm going crazy; like something in my mind has broken, and I'll never be the same; I don't feel love or affection for anyone (myself included); I don't even enjoy the dog any more; nothing is fun; used to love music; not now; jokes aren't funny; I'm a miserable person. I would like to go to sleep forever. ...although I am not suicidal, I would not deliberately hurt myself; I am hoping something will come along and I will be happy again, but it just doesn't seem to be happening; I've been off work and on one after another psychiatric drug for a year, all with bad side effects; I'm tired of it all. Any ideas out there? ... I just don't much care about anything.

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I get panic attacks when having to fly , doc gave me some Xanax 250mcg to take before flying. Will I become addicted to this medication and will I get side effects or withdrawl symptoms from using Xanax for 2 days flying each way??? Maybe I should just cancel my flight.???

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I have been on Xanax for 6 yrs, along with xyprexa and paxil for depressive/anxiety disorder. I take a max daily dose of 6 mg/day. My psychiatrist has no problems writing my scripts and feels that it has given me my quality of life. I once was told that genetically your liver can need more than the average person (my father was a bad alcoholic) they said my liver could be more tolerant to meds b/c of my liver. Sometimes I abuse it just to get a high which really doesn't work so I don't know why i do it. I don't even get tired on Xanax but now I'm seriously getting worried about damage to my liver. the thought of getting off it scares the crap outta me!

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Alexia,

I know you probably feel you've exhausted all means of getting the help you need but you haven't sweetie. You need to get off the meds as I think they are the first culprit for the causation in your depression. You will need medical help for this and can be closely monitored. After getting off the meds successfully, you need to go talk to a mental health professional; pref a woman who can be quite empathetic and supportive in your situation. Perhaps there are unresolved childhood issues that you need to come to terms with. Nevertheless please don't give up on yourself! Help is out there for you seriously. You probably just haven't seen the right professional. Good luck to you. There is also spiritual counseling in which you can benefit from even more..I hope what I've said helps and please keep us abreast as to your progress--

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to Feetfried, thanks for advise. Thanks to all the people that are sharing, caring, and advising people... not all of us are strong enuff... to dare to take a step.... for better ... Thank You All.
Alexia.

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And im also losing extrem weight too, im weighing 135 from 150 since i stop using. the irony huh, where i should be gaining weight when quitting, not the other way around.

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Hi everyone, my names Jay and im an ex drug addict. During my times coming down i would take some kind of xanax or valium so i would not get anxiety attacks. It has been two weeks of quitting and my anexiety has been hitting me up daily since. There are times i wake in the morning with anxiety, when im extremely hungry my back around my right shoulder muscles witha bit of right side muschle aches, these muscle aches feel like a contast pain that i would want to hurt myself to feel a different pain. there are times i cant even hold down water or food for a good 24plus hours just vomitting or in extreme. When this gets real severe for me to handle i check myself into the ER and some drs dont know what going on tell this one doctor starting to message my back and he asked how it feels and i says it feels so good. Then he mentions im getting anxiety attacks and prescribes me ativan(lorazapam). well comes to say it help me for awhile but the pills were a bit strong for me plus i wasnt able to get them prescribe for me from a dr. telling me i had to see a pyschiatrist for such meds. i cant afford a pyschiatrist. plust them pills are strong. Recently I was talking to a friend about this and he mention xanax(bars). I recently took a whole one because my anxiety hit me hard. NOTE: my anxiety attacks are severe, extreme vomitting, dry heeves anything i drink or eat, which is very light drink and eat, i vomit out, i get into vomitting fits. With them first my back is twisting and churning with extreme pain has if someone has a big fist and is constistantly rubbing on it with such force it drives me nuts. I cant afford rehab.........so what I am getting to i took some xanax and it help me out quicklike and it wasnt as strong has lorazapam. i got my xanax of the street because im desperate for help. plus ive read alot about anxiety on here on the web and would love anyones opinion on this, on what i should do. what kind of helps should i seek, How can i win this battle with anxiety and start a new fresh life. I am desperate for some great help and advice. These anxiety is affecting my life and the others around me.

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Alexia-- You cannot die from an overdose of a benzodiazapine alone. You will get sick and throw up first or just sleep alot until it wears off. Write back before you do anything irrational......

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i've been takin xanax for past 4 years and now i really want to take some amount that will help... befor was to calm down and deal with life better... . under greatest pressure and solitude... single woman age 35 and nothing , nothing is seem to help or work out for my life... don't mind to take those pills and gently fall asleep, how many pills will help me to do so? Please do not reply with comment like , don't, look for help... i've done all this and i reached the LIMT i deserve to put my pain off and easy up free me from my prison... Thanks for the info... God bless you all... Ciao Alexia.

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cold sweats after i stoped juse xanax... now its been 2 week since i stoped... first 3 days i had fever... now i just have cold sweats... how long time can it last? i was using 3-4 0.5 mg pills a day.

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JHall, the problems you are experiencing are all too common when taking Xanax for a prolonged period of time; as in your case it's been 28 years. The cognitive problems that you are having are the same thing I have been having. You feel mentally muddled (confused or get confused easily), forget and slowed thinking. My reactions are slower and I know I'm definitely not the same person I was prior to taking the Xanax. I have been taking 1 mg of it daily for the past ten years. I initially started with 2 mgs daily. I know on one hand this is def a bad thing and I'm depressed about it but on the other hand I feel as though I wouldn't be able to work or deal with the world if I didn't take them. The thought of getting off them makes me paranoid. Not sure what to do about this. Perhaps cognitive-behavioral therapy might help as it entails replacing bad, negative thoughts about yourself with good ones. It's basically talk therapy and may even involve hypnosis. Ultimately tho I just wanted to answer your question and let you know you are not alone. I hope thinks work out for you and I myself will have to figure out where to go from here with my problems as well..take care!

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i'm taking 40 mg of celexa a day for GAD and SAD and some depression plus up to .75mg of xanax per day usually less (I start out with .175...split a .25 in half)

at this low level are there concerns about long term usage? in terms of these side effects or should I be ok? a little goes a long way and I'm not tempted to abuse it...

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Hey there Jhalljhall, I hope that your doing alright @ the moment?
As A Nurse Practitioner I wanted to let you know that *Long Term Use* of Xanax can seriously damage your Liver. As well, ... you mentioned something about your cognitive abilities correct? Well, YES, Long term use, ... CAN Cause serious problems with memory *(and just so you know, the memory loss should only be *Temporary)* ... Xanax also CAN cause, what is called 'Cognitive depression.' *(this is when your ability to perform your daily tasks become foggy, like your in a haze, & forgetful too)*
I suggest that you get help immediately!! I feel for you, & also wanted to let you know that *Confusion* is also a Long Term Use side effect too. Please, if anything, try your best to get help with this very serious addiction. I wouldn't continue taking the amount that you've mentioned, ... One day you may not wake up sweetie!! Take good care of yourself Jhalljhall.

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