Posted by Viridis on December 31, 2003, at 23:26:18
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by zeugma on December 31, 2003, at 17:34:25
I do very well with Klonopin, take a fairly small dose (1 mg) once a day, and it's continued to be effective for 2 1/2 years now with no change in dosage. I'm probably dependent on it, but the improvement in my life is dramatic.
I also have an ample supply of Xanax, to be used when the anxiety is overwhelming. I find Xanax very effective, but have to use about 3-4 times as much as I did initially to achieve the same effect. I take it about 2-3 times a month, and it certainly does its job. At this rate of use, I have no worries about dependency etc., and I have no desire to increase my usage. But I can see how it could be a problem for some people.
Interestingly, Xanax is the only benzo that appears in the "top ten" list of hard-to-discontinue meds released by the World Health Organization. The rest of the list is dominated by commonly-prescribed antidepressants, with Paxil and Effexor at the top.
So, there are some genuine concerns with Xanax (and I actually know people who have had real trouble with it), yet it's incredibly effective and most patients seem to be able to use it responsibly. I'd hate to see it banned outright and think that doctors just have to monitor patients who use it carefully, as my pdoc does.
poster:Viridis
thread:294899
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031231/msgs/295276.html