Replies To: Long term High dose Xanax effects

mike says

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:26:57 -0800

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...

leetheleo65 says

Mon, 7 Sep 2009 21:39:24 -0800

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.

shawn says

Fri, 4 Sep 2009 11:58:10 -0800

Can't anyone just give difinitive answer. Will taking 200 .50mg alprazolam and 25 hydrocodone kill you? Won't you just fall off to sleep or will you really vomit?

matt says

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 17:20:38 -0800

I am getting off methadone its beem 2 weeks and the only thing to sleep is xanax not to get high but to sleep how long does it take to get physically addicted ?????

bchgrl says

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:40:09 -0800

My 20 year old son was on Xanax for 1 1/2 years.After going on Suboxone for his heroin addiction,his doctor prescribed this to him for his anxiety.This can be a very deadly combination if you abuse it...you can go to sleep and never wake up.
At the end he was snorting 8 bars a day.It completely changed his personality.He became very withdrawn,angry and depressed.
One day after selling a bunch of his Xanax as well as taking so many of his prescription,he became so desperate to get more that he actually told his doctor that the reason he had run out of 90 Xanax in 16 days was because his Mother(me) was taking his pills herself.(not true of course!).This is how addicted you can get to Xanax.When confronted and withdrawling that same day,my son went off the deep end to the point I almost had to call 911 before he finally agreed to let me take him to get help.He was actually at a point that he was a danger with his violent behavior to anyone that confronted him,his aggressivness was so out of control.My son was a very laid back and calm kid before he started using Xanax.This is very normal behavior with abusing Xanax.He became very angry and aggressive...started breaking and throwing things in the house and threatening to kill himself.I put him in a detox center and he is now in a rehab.He says the Xanax withdrawl is worse than heroin ever was.He wanted to die.
It's been almost a month and he still feels bad and is suffering major memory loss...but is very slowly feeling better.Xanax withdrawl can take months and months.Going cold turkey can kill you.You need medical supervision to wean off this drug.
Hope this story helps someone out there from getting to the point my son got to and is still battling becuse of Xanax abuse...

practical pill poppers says

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:25:24 -0800

Aloha, I abused xanax for roughly 3-4 months; taking up to 15mgs per day and usually snorting it. I can say this, detox was complete hell. I'll never take it again. All benzo's are quite difficult to revive from after becoming physically dependent. Be careful out there!

Selahway says

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:42:17 -0800

I was originally prescribed Xanax (alprazolam) .25mg at bedtime to help me sleep (I could not stop thinking - had my own business). Now 20 years later, I am taking .5mg, 4 times, daily. I have been told the low dose I am taking should have no negative effects. It was actually a small dosage. (According to my last Psychiatrist.) I sometimes feel it has effected my cognitive abilities and anxiety is still an issue. If possible I would like to do with out it - will there be predictable physiological issues? Could it effect my brain function long term? I also take Celexa and Wellbutrin.

bman says

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:55:31 -0800

I have been taking xanax 3mg 3 times a day for the last six months ans lately I've been abusing it so bad that I took a total of 12 milligrams in 1 hour if not more.I have been abusing it at this level for deveral months and feel that the medicine is doing amything for my panic attaks anymore

Verwon says

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:42:14 -0800

Dcat, you're brain chemistry would eventually return to normal, however, it can take a long time, from several months and up to a year, depending on how long you were taking it and how high your dosage.

In addition, this medication causes a very high rate of dependency, so if you abruptly stop taking it, you will experience withdrawal effects and this can include rebound anxiety and depression.

Were there any other questions?

dcat says

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:43:28 -0800

i've been taking .5mg of xanax 3 times per day for about a year now. i often don't even take all 3 in a day, depending on my stress level.

in an attempt to deter me from the drug, a psychiatrist once told me that if i began taking it and then discontinued use, the xanax would have caused the chemical balance in my brain to function differently and that i would basically never be able to be happy again.

is there any validity to what he said?