Drug Ratings for XANAXAverage Rating: 3.9 (900 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
Charts & graphs: Reviews Summary for XANAX | Top 10 Adverse Effects (reported to FDA)
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR XANAX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 5 | Anxiety | Sleepiness | I was prescribed Xanax for anxiety and though was allowed 1-2 daily as needed, I have chosen to only take half to one pill as needed when I start to feel overly anxious. I have also tried to resolve my anxiety by participating in a cognitive behavioral therapy clinical trial, as well as personal research on that method of treatment. When I start to feel anxious, I first try to calm myself with CBT and that usually works. However, there are times when no amount of mind-over-matter will calm my racing heart and half a Xanax does the trick. I'll take a full pill if I'm flying anywhere. I understand the medicine can be addictive, however, anxiety can be treated in so many ways that I highly recommend trying a non-medicinal approach to try for lasting results and using the Xanax on an as-needed basis. Doing so eliminates the risk of dependency as you learn ways to calm your anxiety without medicine. Using Xanax (or any other drug) as a supplement to behavioral therapy or even talk therapy, rather than as a substitute, is, in my opinion, an effective way to address anxiety. I hope to some day be skilled enough at CBT and at being able to recognize and avoid my triggers (when reasonable) that I can eliminate the need to medicate. Until then, half a Xanax every other week or so hasn't given me a single side effect and I haven't had a single thought or action that hints at addiction. | F | 41 | 2 years 25 mg 1X D | 1/1/2013 | 5 | Bipolar panic and anxiety disorder | Xanax has been a blessing to me. I struggled with severe panic and anxiety attacks. The take your breath, feel like you're having a heart attack kind. After taking a Xanax I would feel much calmer within 20 minutes. Some days are worse than others so I may not have to take my entire prescribed dose every day, but I always make sure I take a couple to prevent anxiety from coming and prevent withdrawal from happening. My life has been livable, I am able to go to a grocery store and shop without feeling like I am going to die! | F | 35 | 10 years 2mg 6x day | 12/26/2012 | 1 | Situation stress | Do NOT under ANY circumstance take this poinson. I detoxed off Xanax 4 months ago and remaincompleyely incapacitated. O have had to resign my job and am being passed around from family member to family member so no one burns out caring for me. I am completely dependent now on others. I suffer debilitating insomnia, anxiety, depression, burning skin,tachycardia, dry mouth, pins and needles sensations and many more painful crippling symptoms. Nothing is so bad that you need to take Xanax. Stay away from this drug!!!!!! | F | 47 | 7 months 2.5 | 12/17/2012 | 5 | Anxiety | Memory loss. | F | 27 | 3 years 2mg | 11/30/2012 | 5 | Panic Disorder & Agoraphobia | Mild short-term memory problems. | This medication has been very effective in controlling my panic attacks. | F | 37 | 21 years .75 mg 1X D | 11/28/2012 | 5 | Panick attack | No side effects | F | 36 | 6 months 10 MG 3X D | 11/18/2012 | 1 | Anxiety | Depression, serious addiction, worsened anxiety over time. AVOID THIS DRUG! | yes, xanax will calm you down but it will also make you completely numb, dependent and over time even MORE anxious as you work to manage the new anxiety of addiction. My life literally became me waiting for my next dose, and panicking that I would lose my pills or somehow not be able to take them, because the withdrawal from this drug is so immediate and so harsh that it is not worth taking to begin with. The only country in the world that prescribes benzos for more than a 2 weeks period is in the USA. There is a reason for that, and it is Big Pharma. If you want to be a drug-addicted shell of a person then by all means take this drug. But I promise you over time it will destroy your life and your brain. PLEASE AVOID! There are other options for anxiety that aren't slowly poisoning you. | 31 | 2 years 1 mg 2X D | 11/16/2012 | 1 | Panic Attacks/Anxiety | This drug is a monster. | This drug still whispers to me. I have been off of Xanax for 3 months now, but I still find myself thinking of them, EVEN DREAMING of them. I was numb the whole time I was taking them and didn't realize truly how numb and insensitive I was until I got off them. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that stopping them cold turkey was so horrible. I truly just wanted to die for the first 3 days I came off them and didn't feel normal until 2 weeks after. Yet, they are so addicting I don't know if I'd turn one down today; I've just stopped myself from seeing a doctor to get them. Learn to cope through life with God. | F | 20 | 6 months 1mg 4X D | 11/3/2012 | 4 | Clinical anxiety. | I love this drug for fast acting oral medicine. Tried Ativan but it didn't do the job, mid. anxiety attack! Only thing I do not like us feeling very groggy. | F | 26 | 8 months 2mg | 10/25/2012 | 5 | Anxiety/Sleep problems | Drowsiness & sedation (which were welcomed) | Great drug for anxiety problems, best there is as far as I'm concerned. It works quickly and it works best when you are very anxious/agitated. | F | 25 | 3 months 1 MG 1X D | 10/15/2012 | 5 | Anxiety | I was 25 when I toon it.ong story short it was indeed a wonder drug. Nothing botherse at all. A person could yell at me over something stupid which would normally upset me... Nothing. I felt a. inner peace and almost like there was a shield around me protecting me lol!!! I am on klonopin now because my doctor thinks Xanax is addicting well so is klonopin and he's got me prescriptions until next year. I miss Xanax. Hands down the best anti anxiety med ever | F | 26 | 3 weeks .25 mg | 9/26/2012 | 5 | Panic disorder with agoraphobia | Sleepiness | I owe a lot to this drug. After suffering frequent panic attacks that put me in the ER followed by agoraphobia (fear of leaving my house), I was put on this at 0.5 MG twice a day. Simply put, it saved me from a life of living in fear of having another attack all day and finally allowed me to leave my home to go do regular things like shopping or going to the movies. Sometimes it would make me tired, but drinking a caffeinated soda or a cup of tea or coffee always helped. I experienced no side effects other than sweet relief from my crippling anxiety. Now I only take it as-needed when I feel I'm going to have a bad day or I have to face a big challenge, like going out of town. I haven't had to use any for a while because I think just the confidence of having it in my pocket is enough to ward off any anxiety. It works quickly, especially if you let it dissolve under the tongue (be sure to drink a soda or something with it while doing that, though, because the taste is horrible). In short, I am so thankful for this drug and now I have my life back. | M | 27 | 3 years 0.5 MG 2X D | 9/13/2012 | 5 | COPD PANIC ATTACKS | NONE WHATSOEVER,I FIND IT MOST EFFECTIVE,NO SIDE EFFECTS | M | 68 | 12 years 2X D | 9/1/2012 | 5 | Panic attack and anxiety | Tingling in legs in arms when it wears off but I was so scarred to take this pill because of the bad reviews I has seen but after 2 weeks of thinking I was going crazy or about to die I had to take something and Xanax it was I only take 1/4 of the pill I don't want to fall to sleep just bring the attack down so I could function I think the reason some people get addicted is because there dosage was to high to begin with so maybe it u start with just a pinch of the pill you might not get addicted to it but don't get me wrong I do understand how someone could because when u take the pill u have no worrys at all.... I hope this message could help someone with what they are going through I had never experienced anything like axienty or panic until I turned 31 and I was living hell | F | 31 | 2 weeks .25 | 8/5/2012 | 4 | Anxiety, Panic Attacks | Drowsiness, inceased appetite, weight gain, depression, "high" feeling. | I loved it and it stopped my panic attacks and anxiety. But this is very addictive and I had to quit because I was abusing them. Don't become addicted and this will be a godsend for you. | F | 18 | 8 months 0.5 mg. 2X D | 8/5/2012 | 5 | anxiety & depression | drowsiness, decreased hunger | F | 28 | 2 years .50 | 7/17/2012 | 5 | Social Anxiety | Sleepiness | Xanax is great for my social anxiety. I take one or two pills about an hour before an anxiety inducing situation and I feel calm and collected - I don't get sweaty and anxious like I normally would. Unlike others I don't get any euphoric feeling from it, actually quite the opposite, I usually want to go home early from an event as I'm not having much fun. Drinking on Xanax is dangerous as I don't ever feel drunk or even tipsy, so I will drink way more than I normally would or should - I don't recommend ever drinking while taking this medication. Overall I think this medicine works very well for me. | F | 34 | 2 years .25 1X AN | 7/8/2012 | 5 | Generalized anxiety / Panic attacks | none to report | It's truly a miracle for me (in how well it works). | F | 56 | 20 years 0.5mg 6X D | 6/29/2012 | 4 | Acrophobia | None | M | 68 | 10 years 1 mg. 1X D | 6/18/2012 | 4 | Generalized anxiety / Panic attacks | I spent all the years from puberty into my late 30's dealing with a host of anxiety disorders and insomnia. Went through therapy, a host of SSRI's and other antidepressants. The doctors always said xanax and valium were temporary fixes and highly addictive. Well, after 7 years of daily use, Xanax is still effective at the original dosage prescribed by my doctor. Furthermore, no more anxiety attacks or insomnia. Side effects include minor short term memory loss and mild drowsiness. I'm very grateful to my doctor for dismissing the myth about Xanax being a temporary fix. | M | 45 | 7 years 1 mg 2x d | 6/18/2012 | 5 | generalized anxiety / panic disorde | mild drowsiness, dry mouth | F | 25 | 3 years 0.5 MG | 6/13/2012 | 5 | Anxiexy | I have been taking Xanax for 22 years. Always had breathing attacks. Finally diagnosed with PH and multiple Pulminary Hypertension. Caught disease after it had already damage lungs and PTE Surgery got fresh clots and old white clots, too many unreachable. Missed Bed Time one last night and terrible nightmare. | M | 49 | 10 years 2 MG x3x | 5/30/2012 | 5 | anxiety, performance anxiety | Extreme tiredness after using drug for performance anxiety, difficulty with short term memory and thinking | F | 36 | 7 months 1.5 mg | 5/28/2012 | 5 | anxiety attacks | F | 71 | 1 years .0625 | 5/15/2012 | 4 | Panic attacks/Anxiety/PTSD | Calms me down, no bad side effects. | F | 42 | 5 years .5 mg 2X D | 5/15/2012 | 5 | anxiety | take 1/2 sometimes only 1/4 occassionally to help me thru a long car ride or a stressful situation. Really works | F | 55 | 4 years .5 mg 1X AN | 5/5/2012 | 5 | Anxiety | Drowsiness like that of one alcoholic drink for the first 20 - 30 minutes. | This stuff works very well! Yes, it is highly addictive and should not be taken daily unless you want to become dependent on it. I take this on an emergency basis only. Maybe once a month if things are too stressful for me to handle. I take 0.5mg and 20 minutes later, POOF, all anxiety is completely and totally gone and I’m left with a feeling of peaceful calmness washing over me for the next few hours. GREAT STUFF FOR OCCASIONAL USE ONLY!!! | F | 26 | 1 years 0.5 MG 1X AN | 5/4/2012 | 3 | Anxiety | Increased emotional instability | I took XANAX for 8 months 1x per day (at night) and only 1 MG. Initially I enjoyed the feeling of relaxed contentment that occurred when I took the drug. Moreover, it really helped me sleep and stay asleep. I felt less anxious for a brief time however this was quickly countered by irrational emotional outburts such as crying for reasons ranging from how my hair looked to things I saw on TV. My husband could not look at me the wrong way and I would react negatively. I can only compare it to PMS only I felt this way ALL THE TIME! I became very quick to anger and began to experience genuinely paranoid thoughts. The last straw came a couple of weeks ago when I picked a 3 day (yes 3 day) fight with my loving and kind husband for a reason so ridiculous I am too embarrassed to reveal it. It ended on day three with us both utterly exhausted, near the brink of divorce and me sobbing uncontrollably. I quit taking the drug cold turkey. The first night was unpleasant, I had racing thoughts and simply could not get to sleep. Fortunately the second night was bit better and I am now back to normal by which I mean my emotions have returned to what they were prior to XANAX. All in all - not worth the what I put myself and my poor husband through. | F | 36 | 8 months 1 MG 1X D | 4/5/2012 | 5 | Panic attacks | None. Just a little tired. And can't drive on it. This is the best benzo I have used. Took all anxiety away and calmed my racing thoughts of worry and paranoia. Am looking into getting back on it | F | 26 | 1 months .25 mg | 4/2/2012 | 1 | anxiety and sleep | Severe anxiety (100 times worse than when I started), insomnia, aggression, slurred speech, gastrointestinal problems (pain and vomiting), depression, agoraphobia, muscle pain, numbness in hands, blurred vision, paranoia, etc., etc., etc. DO NOT stop this drug cold turkey. Starting this med is dangerous but stopping it abruptly can kill you. | If this drug is offered to you run like hell. Otherwise you'll be living in hell trying to get off it. Find drug free ways to manage "life". Heroin addicts won't even take benzos. That should speak volumes. | M | 45 | 7 years 1 3X D | 3/23/2012 | 4 | I have had little or no side effects but I am on several other meds so it is hard to tell. | I was prescribed Xanax for sleep and anxiety when I went cold turkey off Suboxone and it definitely helped with the severe panic attacks and horrible insomnia - although I didn't sleep throught the night with ANYTHING for 2 months when I came off suboxone. I asked my doctor if I would experience withdrawals when I stopped taking xanx and she said that I would not. Now I am reading here that the withdrawals are terrible. Suboxone withdrawals were the worst thing I have ever been through and I can't believe I have to go through more If I want to get off xanax, but I do because I feel exhausted all day long after taking it to sleep at night. and my tolerance is going up. I have learned over the past few years that doctors don't always know what they are prescribing or how it can effect your life. | F | 43 | 15 months .75 -1.0 1X D | 3/21/2012 | 5 | Anxiety | I loved Xanax. It helped ease my ibs, my headaches, and even menstrual cramps. The only problem was it made me too tired to drive so I would only take it when I knew I could. It kind of made me loopy and didn't make me gain weight. | F | 26 | 1 months .25 mg | 3/16/2012 | 5 | insomina/anxiety/panic attacks | Withdrawal when taken on a daily basis and then suddenly stopped. Otherwise it helps A LOT but I believe I need to increase my dosage now because I am become so overwhelemed with school, work, and planning a wedding. I'm so stressed and practically unable to function normallly without I take it as needed but seem to need it more often. Very quick working drug but does have downsides | F | 23 | 2 years .5 | 3/8/2012 | 1 | depression,anxiety | i should of never been on this prescribed med. all these years, i lost my self worth,my life was drugged, it was not me, i had no feelins no emotions i slept my problems without dealing with them,i feel it masked all my emotions, i am now going cold turkey after seeing what this drug has done to me, how can a licensed psy. write prescriptions all these years and never never inform me or my husband what it can do to me. i will never take this drug and i want to tell my story to all. it has been 30 days since my withdrawal so far, and i written a journal about each day what i am going thru. no one wanted to detox me just give me another nacortic and i am willing to clean my mind of this drug. God help any one who is going thru the hell i am going thru. it is a very addicting drug and what it has done to me is so hard to describe. i feel cheated out of about 18 years of my life while on this dangerous drug. there should be something done to make doctors,psy, and whoever to sit down and ex | get it off the market | F | 68 | 18 years varied 3X D | 3/8/2012 | 5 | anxiety-panic-complicated grief | None | Miracle for me. Probably should take it more than I do, but save it for the really bad times. My doctor quit so I have to see her replacement--am dreading that. I don't want to take Lexapro. Was on it for just a few months and could barely get out of bed. xanax helps so much without sedating you. | F | 50 | 2 years .25 1X AN | 3/4/2012 | 3 | Insomnia/Anxiety | Xanax has been a blessing and a curse. It has helped me get to sleep so well since dealing with a trauma almost 7 years ago. It drifts me into a nice sleep, doesn't feel like I got hit in the head by a hammer. I started at .25 and eventually worked up to 2 mg every night. There were times when even that wouldn't work, so I'd half another tablet. It got to the point where I would take them during the day if I was feeling very anxiour or stressed about something. Needless to say, it became consuming. And then the time would come that I'd run out of my Xanax and not have any for a week. The withdrawals were the worst thing I can describe. I was sweaty, nervous, paranoid, crying and emotional for no reason, agitated, and extremely annoyed by everything and anyone. I got down to .5 mg for a couple weeks and the symptoms didn't go away, so I went back to 1 mg a night and am fine. Going to try to go to .75 for a couple weeks soon and then taper from then. | See comments to the side. | F | 28 | 7 years 1-2 mg 1X D | 2/27/2012 | 5 | Anxiety | Able to relax | F | 34 | 1 months .25 | 1/28/2012 | 1 | gad | I was in love, no side effects until I forgot it at home and had an attack because of the withdrawal symptoms that kick in between doses, then I was aware of what hell they can be when I quit cold turkey.. | M | 31 | 2 years .5 x2 day | 1/17/2012 | 4 | Panic attacks and depression | Dizziness and disorientation at first. | I asked my Oncologist for something that would keep me sane during 6 months of chemotherapy. Once I completed chemo I wanted to come off Xanax and never realized how hard it would be. I tried to taper off on my own twice and the withdrawal was horrific. I went to my family doctor (not the same one who prescribed them) and she gave me a plan of reducing only a half a tablet per week until I was down to 1/4 tablet per day. No withdrawal. Although it helped me get through a difficult time I will not take it again. | F | 56 | 5 months .5mg 5X D | 1/15/2012 | 4 | Panic disorder | Severe blurry vision pupils dilated when it was wearing off I feel nauseous if I miss a dose taken in the morning thinking about coming off it I'd rather have panic then to feel so irritable and jittery | F | 27 | 7 months 0.25 | 1/8/2012 | 5 | anxiety | If I take a whole one, drowsiness, 1/2 tablet no drowsiness. | I think this is like any other drug. It effects people differently. I am grateful for having this to fall back on. I do not take it daily, but as needed. It helps me to sleep at night when my mind goes in circles with random thoughts. If I don't need for days, I don't feel withdrawal and the days I do need it works fast and effectively. | F | 59 | 7 years .5 mg 1X D | 12/22/2011 | 4 | anxiety and panic attacks | This drug does wonders for panic attacks, only issue is became extremely addicted to it. It did help calm my anxiety and helped me function in society. | M | 41 | 10 years 2 mg | 12/8/2011 | 5 | severe anxiety/panic attacks | none really; slight drowsiness. | This is my "miracle" drug. I've had severe, think I'm dying type panic attacks since I was 17 (21 yrs) & Xanax helps me through. No, it hasn't cured me but it *always* helps me & makes them ease up & calm down. If I feel one coming on, I take 1/2mg Xanax & within 15m, I feel calmer, I can breathe easier. Attacks run in my family. I'm the third member to use Xanax & this med works for each of us. I don't know how I'd manage without it. I keep them with me everywhere. I even switched primary care Dr's when my Dr said they wouldn't prescribe it for me any longer. 1st) you can't just "stop" taking this after so many years, it's dangerous & 2) this medication *helps* me. I'd rather find another Dr than to attempt stopping this med. 3) I found their refusal, knowing I am addicted (yes it's addictive) to be 'bad medicine'. | F | 38 | 21 years 1mg 3X D | 12/4/2011 | 1 | Anxiety | Loss of memory short term, increased anxiety over time, chemical dependency, inability to truly feel in life. This drug is only good to be used for a short period of time. It is extremely addictive and can be used to numb feelings. It's not worth it. Seek CBT help. I had a doctor recommend it a few months into my Xanax usage and I look back and wish I had listened. I didn't want to feel my emotions. I liked being numb, but that is the short term easy fix that will quickly drag you down to he'll if you dont stop. Xanax was a gateway for me. I started at 23 years old. I had never drank or abused any drugs, but Xanax helpede change all that. 6 years later and 30 days of impatient treatment I have 45 days clean and sober. I would avoid this like the plague. Do all you can to fix the problem without medication. I know medication can be good for us, but always follow the guidelines and be careful. I hope this helps some of you struggling to find hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. | M | 29 | 6 years 2-4 mg | 12/4/2011 | 5 | Aniety/ panic attacks | A little tired and foggy. | This drug more of less saved my life. I had extreme panic attacks multiples times a day and very bad anxiety, S.A.D. and G.A.D. this stuff works very very well for me and I am sooooo happy that i have it. if you have problems like mine this is a must. i sometimes dont take it for a few weeks and sometimes take it alot for a week or so straight depending on my stress level. personally i havent had any withdraws from it when i dont have it. i have taken 2mg a day for a week once and still no problems stopping it. | M | 20 | 1 years .5 2X D | 11/29/2011 | 5 | Panic disorder | None | F | 44 | 3 months 0.25 | 11/27/2011 | 1 | slight anxiety | I tried xanax the first time when I was 19, and fell in love. BUT I have been hooked on it for 8 years now. at points I was taking four or five 2mg bars a day, while most people pass out after 1mg. I have terrible mental withdrawals and anxiety if I don't have them, and to be honest I don't think I even had anxiety before I ever took a xanax...just tried it for fun. I have a total love, hate relationship with xanax...the only drug I have ever been addicted to. | F | 27 | 8 years 2 mg | 11/24/2011 | 5 | Insomnia / Anxiety | None.doesn't give depression, rage or drowsiness like other benzos(clonazepam, diazepam) and way less side effects. The only problem is I like it too much . | I take Xanax ond and off for years when bipolar insomnia and anxiety is severe, I experience no withdrawal even when taking it for months and no tapering-off, for me is a wonder-drug. | M | 24 | 5 years 0,5 mg 1X D | 11/23/2011 | 1 | anxiety | extremely addictive almost almost got my kids tooken away. Now im on klonopin we will see how this works | F | 19 | 1 days 1mg | 11/22/2011 | 1 | anxiety, GAD | Drowiness; headache; decreased sex drive | Withdrawal effects are horrible although I just had very low dosage (0.125 mg/day) on and off for 3-4 mo. My Dr. shouldn't prescribe this evil med to me since it almost ruined my life. To be honest, I feel much better of not taking it. I have been completely off of Xanax for almost 2 months, I still feel the withdrawal symptoms (dizziness, blurry vision, anxious speech, confusion, difficult to concentrate, anxiety) almost everyday. I started cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) a month ago for my GAD, it is quite helpful and no side effect at all. I strongly recommend CBT for GAD and panic attack and never never never take xanax. Trust me! | M | 36 | 3 months 0.125 mg 1X AN | 11/8/2011 | 1 | Anxiety | I am lucky as am on the way to get out of hell...I never knew what it was doing to me, indeed I & others thought that I am defective person unlike before taking it. Once, when I read about it...it shocked me...I lost my career, lost big paying jobs because I became impulsive...Dread spending time in family...withdrew from social circle...became chain smoker & tea drinker...BUT GOD had given me intuition to quit it...after when I read about it...I FEEL I AM LUCKY that i am not defective...it was my ignorance and dependence...May GOD help each one who is unknowingly taking any benzo...I am recovering, and now at just 1.25 mg of Valium...it'll be off soon...may God help me. | Pls Pray God and be content with your life to avoid any anxiety related emotions...Don't beat yourself up if you are withdrawing...affirm that you're improving for better. | M | 38 | 12 years 3 1X D | 11/4/2011 | 1 | Anxiety | Memory problems, weight loss, urinary frequency, IBS, then after I stopped it I was completely shocked by the withdrawal no one warned me about...it was a year of shear hell, A YEAR!! | This is a benzodiazepine...LOOK UP BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL...at first it will seem like a wonder drug until you gradually begin to lose your health...then when you go off it holy crap!!! I have NEVER been in so much misery for so long! | F | 48 | 5 years 0.5 mg 1X D | 10/28/2011 | 1 | Panic Disorder & GAD | Increased anxiety & panic, insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, agoraphobia | Worked for over 20 years and then became my WORST nightmare and RUINED my life. Am now tapering off benzo's with valium. Benzo addiction and withdraw is very serious issue. Xanax may seem like a God Sent at first but when it turns its ugly head on you, you will realize you are in BIG TROUBLE. Avoid xanax and ALL benzo's at all costs. Check out benzobuddies.com and see real life experiences of people who were prescribed and now trying to come off these meds. It is nothing short of tragic and inhumane. | F | 50 | 20 years .5 4X D | 10/28/2011 | 1 | Anxiety & Panic | None AT FIRST | I tapered off carefully and went into screaming withdrawals. 1,000 times worse than my original anxiety and took 28 months to recover | M | 42 | 4 months .25 3X D | 10/28/2011 | 3 | anxiety | memory loss, drowsiness, low inhibitions. | Xanax is great for short term use in low dosages. It becomes highly addictive over a long period of time. Anxiety intensifies and tolerance rises. I went from taking 1-2 MG each day to 6-10 MG every day. Quitting is very hard. The withdrawals are awful. | M | 23 | 14 months 1 MG 3X D | 8/29/2011 | 3 | Anxiety / Stress | Calming effect, somnolence, and less anxious about daily affairs. | After a while, my body was rejecting it due to its toxicity, and I discontinued cold turkey after 6 weeks. I don't recommend this. For an entire week I was NOT myself, had mental disassociation, horrible rebound anxiety, insomnia, and paranoia. After 1.5 weeks, the withdrawal subsided, but I would only suggest taking this medication for a SHORT time, and only if you suffer from acute sudden panic attacks. | M | 32 | 6 weeks 1 mg 3X D | 8/13/2011 | 4 | Anxiety | Tired at bedtime but this is good thing as I goto sleep really well then | Settles me make me less sensitive more level headed. I never have been on it for very long but for the brief times I have been, its been wonderful. | M | 40 | 7 days .25 3X D | 8/12/2011 | 5 | Anxiety disorder, panic attacks | Initially, some adjustment to being tired. I am a person who experiences side effects - often very severe- from all medications. Being anxious makes these all the worse, of course. Xanax gave me absolutely no issues. | It is extremely effective and fast-acting. I could not live without it. Although I have tried alternatives over the years, this is the one my doctors and I prefer. In all the years I have taken it, I have not increased my dosage. I still take a 1/2 MG pill and break it half yet again. I would caution that there is a dependency, but this is like saying a diabetic is dependent on insulin. If I wasn't lacking sufficient amounts of GABA, I wouldn't need Xanax. That's logical. You don't get addicted, you just feel badly if your body requires a chemical to stabilize and it is deprived. Doctors now have relaxed the hysteria about Xanax being " addictive". They push pills with pharma kickbacks, and Xanax is no longer one of them. If it works, insist on it. | F | 48 | 20 years 0.25 MG 1X AN | 7/29/2011 | 2 | panic attacks | anger and hostility | it made me look likke a junky, i lost a job or two and couldnt remember anything the next day | M | 29 | 365 days 5mg 6X D | 7/25/2011 | 5 | Insomnia | None | I only take .25 at night. It helps me to relax to fall asleep. I have taken a second one in the middle of the night if I am under extreme stress, BUT never take it during day. | F | 54 | 7 years .25 @night 1X D | 7/23/2011 |