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How Effective Is Xanax For Anxiety Disorder?
Please excuse the long post.
I am a 31 year old male.
I have had generalized panic disorder and anxiety since I was 20 years old. I am now 31. I have been taking Ativan with great success off and on since I was about 20. I don’t take it every day. Usually "as needed".
One year ago I herniated my L5 disk and quickly graduated from Vicodin to Norco. Now I am so addicted to Norco that I am using a compounding pharmacist to create tapering amounts of Hydrocodone and far less APAP to save my liver.
The trouble is that I often find myself using the e pain meds to treat my anxiety, especially when I run out of Ativan. Also Ativan is no longer as effective now that my tolerance for Norco is so high. However, if I run out, my anxiety becomes unbearable. So it’s a delicate balance of having both drugs handy at the same time, which is nearly impossible with my Primary Dr. who has very little time for me.
My question is, is there something better out there for anxiety? How effective is Xanax for example? How can I taper off of the Norco Compound and not lapse into anxiety attacks?
At the moment I have 50 Compound Norco Pills to last form today until the 23rd of Feb. That means a strict regimen of 1 pill times per day. VERY hard to stick to with the anxiety issues. I will pick up my Ativan refill tomorrow, but I am also afraid of taking too many of those.
In essence, I don’t think my primary doctor has a good grasp of my case, and quite frankly I don’t think he cares. I pay out of pocket as I have no insurance. I live in San Francisco. What options are there for me? I have heard some good things about "West Side Crisis Center". But I also don't want o be shoved in with heroin addicts.
Any recommendations? How do I find a better doctor with no insurance? How do I treat my anxiety? How do I get off Norco once and for all? Assuming I have NO options, what regiment might work with the 50 pills I have, and the 90 Ativan?
Any and all serious advice is greatly appreciated.
I am a 31 year old male.
I have had generalized panic disorder and anxiety since I was 20 years old. I am now 31. I have been taking Ativan with great success off and on since I was about 20. I don’t take it every day. Usually "as needed".
One year ago I herniated my L5 disk and quickly graduated from Vicodin to Norco. Now I am so addicted to Norco that I am using a compounding pharmacist to create tapering amounts of Hydrocodone and far less APAP to save my liver.
The trouble is that I often find myself using the e pain meds to treat my anxiety, especially when I run out of Ativan. Also Ativan is no longer as effective now that my tolerance for Norco is so high. However, if I run out, my anxiety becomes unbearable. So it’s a delicate balance of having both drugs handy at the same time, which is nearly impossible with my Primary Dr. who has very little time for me.
My question is, is there something better out there for anxiety? How effective is Xanax for example? How can I taper off of the Norco Compound and not lapse into anxiety attacks?
At the moment I have 50 Compound Norco Pills to last form today until the 23rd of Feb. That means a strict regimen of 1 pill times per day. VERY hard to stick to with the anxiety issues. I will pick up my Ativan refill tomorrow, but I am also afraid of taking too many of those.
In essence, I don’t think my primary doctor has a good grasp of my case, and quite frankly I don’t think he cares. I pay out of pocket as I have no insurance. I live in San Francisco. What options are there for me? I have heard some good things about "West Side Crisis Center". But I also don't want o be shoved in with heroin addicts.
Any recommendations? How do I find a better doctor with no insurance? How do I treat my anxiety? How do I get off Norco once and for all? Assuming I have NO options, what regiment might work with the 50 pills I have, and the 90 Ativan?
Any and all serious advice is greatly appreciated.
Wed, 21 Jan 2015
Hello thanks for choosing HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. You have anxiety and panic attacks since last 11 years and are taking Ativan or Lorazepam on SOS basis for that. The medicine was resulting in improvement but now it has stopped working and you have probably developed tolerance. You have herniated L5 Disk and for its pain you started taking hydrocodone and have developed dependence on that. You took medicines from local pharmacist. You still have severe anxiety.
Coming to management-
- Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine drug and the drug can help to control symptom control of anxiety. But if taken for long durations individual may develop tolerance to its effects. So this is the reason for poor response. As Xanax (Alprazolam) is also a benzo drug and as per my opinion this would not result in much benefit. You should discuss with your doctor for proper treatment of anxiety. SSRIs are drugs of choice for anxiety. Discuss for that drugs for your symptoms.
- As you have supply of medicines till Feb so you can start tapering the doses of Hydrocodone gradually. Reduce the doses by 20-25% every 2 weeks and stop completely over 6 weeks. This will not result in serious withdrawal. Discuss with your doctor before making any significant change in drugs.
- Visit a state run hospital for proper management if you don't have insurance. You can take help of google for good centres near your place.
Thanks, hope this helps you.
I can understand your concern. You have anxiety and panic attacks since last 11 years and are taking Ativan or Lorazepam on SOS basis for that. The medicine was resulting in improvement but now it has stopped working and you have probably developed tolerance. You have herniated L5 Disk and for its pain you started taking hydrocodone and have developed dependence on that. You took medicines from local pharmacist. You still have severe anxiety.
Coming to management-
- Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine drug and the drug can help to control symptom control of anxiety. But if taken for long durations individual may develop tolerance to its effects. So this is the reason for poor response. As Xanax (Alprazolam) is also a benzo drug and as per my opinion this would not result in much benefit. You should discuss with your doctor for proper treatment of anxiety. SSRIs are drugs of choice for anxiety. Discuss for that drugs for your symptoms.
- As you have supply of medicines till Feb so you can start tapering the doses of Hydrocodone gradually. Reduce the doses by 20-25% every 2 weeks and stop completely over 6 weeks. This will not result in serious withdrawal. Discuss with your doctor before making any significant change in drugs.
- Visit a state run hospital for proper management if you don't have insurance. You can take help of google for good centres near your place.
Thanks, hope this helps you.
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