Taking Xanax - worried about addiction

[Barbee]

ALPRAZOLAM 0.5MG TABLETS


This is what I take and it works... no RLS at all BUT (isn't there always a but?) I am afraid of becoming addicted. Also, in the morning I remain groggy for about 2 hours. At least it lets me get a good nights sleep.

ALPRAZOLAM is Xanax.

Is there anything similar that isn't habit forming? Right now I'm taking it just on Friday nights so I can get a good night's sleep.

[Polar Bear]

Barbee, I mentioned this also in another section. My doc is no expert in rls, but he read the Mayo Algorithm which I printed out and took to him, he was happy to prescribe Ambien for sleep as recommended in the algorithm by Dr B. My doc also felt it is better than a benso for sleep, and according to Dr B, it has less chance of addiction.

[Polar Bear]

Sorry about the double post above.... the computer was going too slow for my liking... and I got impatient.

Also it should of course be 'benzo'

[Barbee]

Is there any side effects? Where do I find this artlcle?

[Polar Bear]

There probably are side effects with Ambien, but none that I am aware of, what I mean is, none that I noticed personally. I personally do not feel hung over the next day.

The Mayo Algorithm can be found at www/rlshelp.org, also if you look through some of the posts there is a link under some of the 'signatures'.
I think there may also be a link in one of the stickies, probably the pharmaceutical section.

[Neco]

The only concern with something like Ambien and other sleep aids, is that unlike opiates or benzos, with act on the central nervous system and in the body can function as a block for the RLS for long durations, sleep aids are usually just hypnotic medications that while may be able to put you to sleep, won't necesarily allow you to stay asleep and once you're done sleeping, if your RLS is still present they won't really do anything for it.

Is that a reason NOT to try them? Of course not. But it may come down to weighing the pros and cons about medications like this, so best to be informed. For me personally, Ambien doesn't do anything. I could take it now having not taken it for more than a year, and it may put me to sleep, or may not. Eventually reaching the point where taking it is like doing nothing.

Everyone is different and you should definitely give it a try if you would like to find a safer, less addictive substance. But don't totally discount Xanax if it does work for you, in the end.

[mackjergens]

There are other down sides to Ambein for some folks. for me it made me sleep walk. That of course does not mean it will affect all that way, but you should certainly research and read all you can before trying it, so you will be familair with anything side affect you might have.

[mackjergens]

One another problem with taking a sleeping pill while having RLS, IF the rls is very strong you might end up trying to walk the floor to get rid of RLS while being very sleepy from taking a sleeping pill. That also happened to me once. Was not a pleasant thing to go thru. So just know what ALL MIGHT happen.

[Polar Bear]

Yup... this happened to me last night.

Leaning against the wall, exhausted, had sleeping pill also, but rls was too strong. It took about an hour walking to subside the rls. I was bouncing off the doorframes.

However, this does not happens so often, maybe once every couple of weeks. I still prefer to take the ambien to (usually !!) get to sleep

[happyfeet]

OK I love Xanax!
(Oops! That may come across as an addictive statement.)

Panic has determined if I can do anything or go anywhere for some 20 years. However, Effexor had helped me manage panic. I also take .o5m of xanax as a tool when I need it (like taking a plane or going to an overwhelming event). I only take xanax once in a while.

I have found that xanax helps to calm my mind when I just can't fall asleep. I also noticed that my legs don't bother me on those nights. If I take it early enough, I don't have a big problem in the morning.

Now as to being addictive...I can't say for sure. Is the cure/treatment worse then the affliction? So much of the information written seems to be fear based. Talk to your doctor and understand how your meds work.
Hopefully you have a support group of friends and family around you.

[Aiken]

Now as to being addictive...I can't say for sure.

If you took it more regularly, you would know for sure. When taking benzos regularly, your body/mind thinks it's out of equilibrium and adjusts accordingly, meaning you then have to take at least that much all the time, or you'll go bananas. Worse, you have to take even more than before to get the effect you need. It's a vicious cycle, and hard to control with Xanax because of its short half-life (the shortest of all benzos, in fact).

Taking Xanax infrequently, as you are, should be okay as long as you can keep it that way. It's the one way benzos are really useful.

[lexique]

When you say infrequently, how infrequently do you mean, or does that too depend on a person?

[ViewsAskew]

In terms of dependence, it does depend, but even if you took them every day for a month and then stopped, you would probably be OK. You'd have to stop for at least two weeks, though. Now, some people might have problems after just a few weeks, but I've not heard of anyone who had problems for just a few days then stopping.

Addiction is different - it's when you "need and want" it both physically and psychologically. You feel like you must have it to be OK. This can happen amazingly quickly for some people, but again, I doubt it would be as quickly as a few days. Then again....I'm definitely not an addictions specialist!

[Aipulu]

I used Xanax for months at a time and have had no issues in transitioning to other meds. I need something every night. I have always felt the best the next day after taking Xanax. Not sure if it is anti-anxiety med still in my system. Xanax has a short half life (4 hours I think). My ex was a physician and once found an article that said Xanax was not addictive if only taken once a day. Fits my experience. Nonetheless most physicians shy away from it and other benzos.

[Betty/WV]

My doctor prescribed Ambien for me, (I have tried everything). The first night I took it I sleep walked. I ate a large piece of ice cream cake that was in the freezer and blamed my husband. I didn't remember doing it until much later. I literally bounced off the walls in the hallway. It was the worse feeling, like I was half awake and half asleep. I never took it again. I'm sure that everyone doesn't react that way, but it really scared me. What if I went outside or took the car, who knows what would have happened. BETTY/WV