Panic Attacks - Xanax?

[damone]

I suffered my first panic attack about a month ago. I had another, more severe one, last week. Each night since then, I have had to take a Xanax right around the same time, as I've begun to feel an attack coming on. I'll get the racing heartbeat. The Xanax tends to kick in before the nausea, dizziness and tingling starts up.

Can anyone who has dealt with this give their thoughts? I'd like to try and get by without the Xanax, but the thought of having another attack scares the bejeezus out of me. What do I do if I start to fight it without Xanax, but it gets the better of me? Should I give in and take it, or just deal with the attack?

I'm dealing with some light headedness and nausea as well from the anxiety.

 

[CathrynRose]

I suffered my first panic attack about a month ago. I had another, more severe one, last week. Each night since then, I have had to take a Xanax right around the same time, as I've begun to feel an attack coming on. I'll get the racing heartbeat. The Xanax tends to kick in before the nausea, dizziness and tingling starts up.

Can anyone who has dealt with this give their thoughts? I'd like to try and get by without the Xanax, but the thought of having another attack scares the bejeezus out of me. What do I do if I start to fight it without Xanax, but it gets the better of me? Should I give in and take it, or just deal with the attack?

I'm dealing with some light headedness and nausea as well from the anxiety.

ALL HAIL THE XANAX GODS!

I, like you, wanted to do it on my own. But when I finally 'gave in' and let the medicine fix what was wrong with me, my life has taken a 180º.

I'd always been a worrier - generally health (i.e. "Look at this mole...is it bigger? Is this a lump in my breast? Why does my eye look funny?" and on and on)

After my mom passed away VERY suddenly and VERY tragically (she choked on a peanut butter sandwich ....then her heart stopped, then she was in ICU...etc etc. ) it just spiraled out of control. It was daily anxiety. Everything and anything could set me off, and I was sick of it. I gave in and went to a Psychiatrist.

And my life is a 1000% times better. I am only on Xanax - and it's daily. Once in the morning usually will be the days worth - but I can take more if I need it. But just having it in my purse makes me *not* need it.

THAT ALL BEING SAID -

I read - and it does help, but....- taking deep breaths that your OUT breath is longer than your IN breath will force your body to relax. And again, it works - but if you're suffering - give in.


ETA - my anxiety attacks are the dizzies, or whooshies. I feel so out of my self. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Those wooshies, will then - if left untreated - turn into the panic attacks - which, for me, are that I am going crazy. Sounds so silly..how can you 'go crazy'??? OR are "I'm dying!"

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I am sure the doctor prescribed the Xanax for a reason - for you to use it. I have suffered since I was 16 with anxiety attacks. Some times I use the Xanax faithfully for months, other times I do not need it. Since this is new to you, take the Xanax at the "first" sign that an attack is coming on. You will also need to get to a counselor or psychologist as soon as possible to work how to deal with the attacks. You may never know why you are getting them. Bio-feedback and other exercises should be discussed and tried. Good luck. Hope your road it short. Diane.

 

[minkydog]

I am sure the doctor prescribed the Xanax for a reason - for you to use it. I have suffered since I was 16 with anxiety attacks. Some times I use the Xanax faithfully for months, other times I do not need it. Since this is new to you, take the Xanax at the "first" sign that an attack is coming on. You will also need to get to a counselor or psychologist as soon as possible to work how to deal with the attacks. You may never know why you are getting them. Bio-feedback and other exercises should be discussed and tried. Good luck. Hope your road it short. Diane.

I agree with this. I would also like to add that there are other meds that can be taken daily to prevent some of the anxiety. You really need to talk to a psychiatrist because they know the ins and outs of Allllll the drugs. In the meantime, take the Xanax as ordered. Just be aware that Xanax is addicting, so it's not something you're going to want to take for long periods. Last year I was mildly habituated to Xanax and Ambien and let me tell you, going off those drugs was pretty miserable. Now I have new meds, a 3 med cocktail, that for the most part controls my anxiety and depression.One is an antidepressant that has the side effect of controlling anxiety. I haven't had a Xanax in about 6 months.

 

[vettechick99]

I would continue to use it and figure out why you are having the attacks in the first place. They aren't typical for most people. The only time I've had one was when I was going through a really difficult time. Maybe you can figure out why you are having them and then you won't need Xanax anymore. But keep using it til you do!

 

[Liberty Belle]

I used to have panic attacks in college. The thing that helped me the most was, first, knowing exactly what all the symptoms stemmed from (so I'd not panic and think I was having a heart attack or dying) and, then, making my body go as limp as possible. That really helped and usually stopped the attacks. I took Xanax for about two weeks and haven't needed them since.

 

[Christine]

Xanax is wonderful for panic attacks. I think you should continue to take it and make sure you take it BEFORE they start. This was one of the treatments for me. As long as you keep experiencing the panic you will then start to worry and obsess and panic ABOUT the panic besides the underlying crap that's causing this.

Xanax is addictive. You won't *crave* it like an alcoholic craves alcohol or a heroin addict craves their drug, but it will change that particular portion of your brain so that, without Xanax, you will become very sensitive to adrenaline surges or excitement and it will set off panic and tremors. In my experience, it took me a long time to get to the point where I had trouble when I didn't take it. But you can slowly wean off of it.

If I remember correctly, your doc gave you about 20 tabs? That won't addict you but it's also not going to fix it. You are going to need therapy and some longer-term meds to control the panic so you can stop being afraid of it.

 

[damone]

If I remember correctly, your doc gave you about 20 tabs? That won't addict you but it's also not going to fix it. You are going to need therapy and some longer-term meds to control the panic so you can stop being afraid of it.

Exactly. It was the ER doctor who gave me the 20 tabs. I've only taken about 7 of them so far. I'm going to see the therapist tomorrow, so I'll see what he says. My fear is he won't prescribe anything else for me. I've been on Prozac for about 8 years to deal with depression/stress. It really helps with that end, but does absolutely nothing for anxiety attacks. I have a bad feeling he'll tell me it's one or the other, in which case I'll find myself in a world of trouble.

 

[CathrynRose]

Exactly. It was the ER doctor who gave me the 20 tabs. I've only taken about 7 of them so far. I'm going to see the therapist tomorrow, so I'll see what he says. My fear is he won't prescribe anything else for me. I've been on Prozac for about 8 years to deal with depression/stress. It really helps with that end, but does absolutely nothing for anxiety attacks. I have a bad feeling he'll tell me it's one or the other, in which case I'll find myself in a world of trouble.

If he does do that, you find yourself another DR. It should not be one or the other. Both can be treated, at the same time.

I know that most people frown upon daily Xanax - but it works for me. And my DR is whom said 'you know what? it's working for you. Why are we going to tinker with other meds, when you're on a low dose?'

And I love her for that.

 

[minkydog]

Exactly. It was the ER doctor who gave me the 20 tabs. I've only taken about 7 of them so far. I'm going to see the therapist tomorrow, so I'll see what he says. My fear is he won't prescribe anything else for me. I've been on Prozac for about 8 years to deal with depression/stress. It really helps with that end, but does absolutely nothing for anxiety attacks. I have a bad feeling he'll tell me it's one or the other, in which case I'll find myself in a world of trouble.

It might be time for a medication tune-up. You might need more than one med to take care of your symptoms. That's not unusual. I had severe depression with crippling anxiety about 18 months ago. Through trial and error we found what works, and eventually had to add one more med. I take Lamictal, Remeron, and Seroquel. I swear, the Seroquel has been my life-line. Its a "helper drug". It helps everything else work better for me. Since going on the Seroquel my anxiety has been drastically reduced. Not that I don't still have anxiety, but it's not disabling now and most of the time I can get through it with appropriate coping skills.

 

[Christine]

None of the antidepressants worked for my anxiety. Why? Because I'm not depressed. Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand, but just as often they do not. Drugs like Prozac can help anxiety that is caused by depression, but if you anxiety is caused by something else (me, I've got too much adrenaline), they can make the anxiety worse. While drugs like Prozac can make you sleepy, they also have a "stimulating" effect because that's what you need with depression. They can definitely exacerbate anxiety.

Like CathrynRose, I used a doctor who was very well-versed in anxiety and knows that Xanax is a wonder drug for many people. Most psychiatrist are FINE with Xanax. Most general practictioners are scared to death of it. Xanax itself is very safe taken every day and has few to no side effects. Cannot say that for the SSRIs (Prozac, Paxil, and the like). However, it is a medication that you should definitely be monitored with and your past habits (addiction problems) should be taken into account when it is being prescribed to you for daily use.

Also, just a tip. You may try cutting your Xanax dosage in half for preventative type situations. A little bit works very well before you have panic. You need to take more when you actually are panicking to get it to stop. Taking half a tab each night might be enough and can make the prescription last a bit longer.

 

[sasywtch]

I was taking 5 a day of the highest dose and weaned myself down to one of the lowest dose a day. I did take it first thing in the morning and didn't wait for an attack to come on. It helped me and was the only drug that did. I no longer take any but keep the bottle in my purse for the "just in case".