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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by becksA on May 13, 2004, at 17:06:53
Well since I started the Xanax XR a couple of days ago, (2MG per day)...I have defeinitly noticed an overall calming effect. However, I still feel quite tense when talking to strangers especially for lighthearted converstaions, jokes, anything that involves laughing blah blah blah...He wants me to stay on 2mg a day until he sees me again in a month. Any chance after a few more days it will begin to work in that way? Also that IS what it can be supposed to help correct? Thanks!
Posted by theo on May 13, 2004, at 18:00:09
In reply to Still new to this Xanax XR, please questions!!!, posted by becksA on May 13, 2004, at 17:06:53
I took 2mg per day total but took 1mg twice daily. It worked wonders taking split doses every 12 hours (7am & 7pm) versus one morning dose. Xanax XR has a half life of around 12 hours so even though it is marketed as once daily, taken twice daily makes better sense.
Point being for me it was a lot smoother this way and I felt comfortable on a consistant basis around people when I took it this way but felt uncomfortable taking a single dose, to many peaks and valleys.
Posted by becksA on May 13, 2004, at 18:08:11
In reply to Still new to this Xanax XR, please questions!!!, posted by becksA on May 13, 2004, at 17:06:53
one more question.....for the XR, how long does it last exactly? HE wants me to take it 2MG ONCE a day, but i like to hang out late, I dont want it stopping just in time for me to go out with friends....
Posted by becksA on May 13, 2004, at 18:10:22
In reply to Re: Still new to this Xanax XR, please questions!!!, posted by theo on May 13, 2004, at 18:00:09
Hey, that's interesting, Since I'm prescribed 2MG, if i do it the way you suggested, I will only be on 1MG at all times, correct? That won't be enough will it?
Posted by kittencat on May 13, 2004, at 18:34:44
In reply to reply to theo...., posted by becksA on May 13, 2004, at 18:10:22
> Hey, that's interesting, Since I'm prescribed 2MG, if i do it the way you suggested, I will only be on 1MG at all times, correct? That won't be enough will it?
Just a comment...I don't recommend splitting doses, as the point of the enteric coating on the Xanax XR tablets is to ensure smooth, steady, 24 hour release into your system. If you cut or crush these pills in any way, you will alter the pill's rate of absorbtion into your body. Not dangerous, necessarily, it's just that if you remove the coating by splitting the pill, I believe it would be almost - not quite, but almost, the same as taking a regular fast-acting Xanax pill, thus negating your 'round the clock XR insurance.
Posted by becksA on May 13, 2004, at 20:01:52
In reply to Just a comment re: splitting doses, posted by kittencat on May 13, 2004, at 18:34:44
Well I have 1 MG tablets, I just take two of them. So no splitting would be necessary. However, I was under the impression that the xanax XR is just like any other extended release drug, like dexadrine for example, where it lasts about 8 hours instead of the usual 4 or 5. Is that not true?
Posted by theo on May 13, 2004, at 22:52:13
In reply to Just a comment re: splitting doses, posted by kittencat on May 13, 2004, at 18:34:44
Posted by theo on May 13, 2004, at 22:56:20
In reply to Re: Just a comment re: splitting doses, posted by becksA on May 13, 2004, at 20:01:52
As I mentioned before, the half life is around twelve hours so to keep a steady state of the medication, my doc prescribes me 1mg tablet twice daily (every 12 hours). You'll need to have your doc prescribe it that way because for a 30 day supply, you'll need 60 pills.
Posted by kittencat on May 13, 2004, at 23:02:37
In reply to Re: Just a comment re: splitting doses, posted by becksA on May 13, 2004, at 20:01:52
> Well I have 1 MG tablets, I just take two of them. So no splitting would be necessary. However, I was under the impression that the xanax XR is just like any other extended release drug, like dexadrine for example, where it lasts about 8 hours instead of the usual 4 or 5. Is that not true?
Well, I don't know, I guess. See, I don't think it's "extended wear", if you will.. I thought it was extended "release", in that it had a special coating that dissolved slowly & released the medication into the bloodstream over 24 hours, until a full milligram had been released. I could very well be wrong.
I do know, for what it's worth, that with regular Xanax, you're not to cut it up or crush it in any way, or take it with grapefruit juice, for that matter, because it releases itself into your system too quickly, leading to higher than normal concentrations of the med in your blood, which could be slightly dangerous for some people, usually the elderly, I think. I hope I haven't sounded like a know it all. I was just worried about someone new to Xanax XR cutting it up. I think I misunderstood.
Best,
kittencat
Posted by becksA on May 13, 2004, at 23:17:28
In reply to Let's ask chemist...chemist?, posted by kittencat on May 13, 2004, at 23:02:37
Thanks, yeah a note from chemist would be most helpful. However for now I'm going to stick to what my doc told me, 2 a day (at the same time) until my next appointment. (Although I feel like i could use more. What seems to be the average dose on xanax xr? Or does it tend to be all over the place
Posted by chemist on May 14, 2004, at 0:02:12
In reply to Still new to this Xanax XR, please questions!!!, posted by becksA on May 13, 2004, at 17:06:53
> Well since I started the Xanax XR a couple of days ago, (2MG per day)...I have defeinitly noticed an overall calming effect. However, I still feel quite tense when talking to strangers especially for lighthearted converstaions, jokes, anything that involves laughing blah blah blah...He wants me to stay on 2mg a day until he sees me again in a month. Any chance after a few more days it will begin to work in that way? Also that IS what it can be supposed to help correct? Thanks!
hello there, i apologize for not checking earlier....the xanax extended-release is, from all accounts i have heard (not read,: heard), excellent. the question is whether you are up to the full dose for maintained dosage. i am an immediate-release fan, myself, although this requires frequent and timely dosing. the XR form is intended to alleviate the trouble of dosing several times each day. in a nutshell, wail a day or two: 2 mg of XR xanax should bring you right-as-rain, and if it doesn't, augment with immediate-release 0.5 mg qd prn anxiety until therapeuptic dose is reached on the XR.....let us know if this helps, and all the best, chemist
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