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Just started Xanax...anyone have experiences to share?
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Jan 28, 2023 | Replies (177)Comment receiving replies
@alanysm. I used to have severe Anxiety. The kind that would send me to the ER because I thought I was literally dying. I had never heard of Xanax before, but I began to question the medical staff when they would only give me 10 pills at a time. They explained how addictive Xanax is, which terrified me, so I asked them for something non-addictive and they told me about Vistaril. It’s simply a prescription strength Benadryl. It’s used for allergies, but it worked way better than the Xanax did. The Xanax was barely taking the edge off my anxiety. The Vistaril knocked my anxiety completely down. The generic name for it is Hydroxyzine. I’m so thankful they were able to help me without adding “opioid addict” to my problems. Opioids are terrifying. If you can find something else that works for you it would be in your best interest to switch. Even if the doctor is giving you a low dose. Opioids in any form are addicting. And in my experience Klonopin wasn’t much help at all, but everybody is different. I hope you feel better
Replies to "@alanysm. I used to have severe Anxiety. The kind that would send me to the ER..."
Benzodiazepines (Valium, Klonopin, Xanax, etc.) are not opioids, please don't confuse the terms. Benzodiazepines, though, can be physically and psychologically addictive, yet they don't necessarily lead to that in a classic sense.
Looking just now, in an article updated this month, it says those that use Benzodiazepines for anxiety, and use them as directed, even over the long term, doesn't seem to be a big part of the abusive use of these drugs.
https://www.verywellmind.com/addiction-and-dependence-benzodiazepines-2584274
And that is my point, and the points of some others on this thread. I've been using it, sparingly, for 30+ years, having one prescription with 2 refills that I never got the 2nd refill for because it expires in 6 months. In addition, the initial Rx, and one Refill, would last me nearly a year, but it's likely because it was written as one tablet twice a day as needed, and I was using 1/2 to 1/4 tablet every several days, as I still do.
Suddenly, this is a high priority for the govt due to Electronic Records they can peruse and find people supposedly abusing them? They're not addressing the Drug Problem, they're finding crime where none exists. A woman 2 homes away died from a drug overdose, the Postal Person was on their doorstep as the fireman arrived and ran up the steps with a reversing agent in hand, but too late this time. A young man behind our home died from an overdose. Friends, and friends of my family members have lost children or spouses to overdoses, none were from Benzodiazepines, all were from illegal street drugs.
Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine, so, it shouldn't cause physical addiction but can cause psychological addiction or perhaps better worded as dependence. It is good for anxiety in those that can take it, which I'm sure many can.
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Thanks for sharing your story, @thequeenjaida, and welcome!
Vistaril (hydroxyzine) is used for short-term treatment of the symptoms of anxiety and tension or as an alternative to other habit-forming anxiety medications. Here’s some more information: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/hydroxyzine-oral-route/description/drg-20311434
@thequeenjaida, do you have to take this medication everyday, or can you take it "as needed”? Have you experienced any side effects?