Xanax. real people, cases and professional comments

In this article we are gathering under the roof the most frequent questions and requests on Xanax at WebMD forum. And we have Dr. Martin Powell from University of California in San Diego, a psychiatrist with 10 years of experience to comment on them.

‘Can Xanax cause addiction? I’m willing to do something about my recurring panic attacks, but I was struggling to give up smoking and reduce the consumption of alcohol. It was a battle of years…’

Indeed, the intake of Xanax may become cause habit-forming behaviour. In your case, as long as the medication is prescribed by the doctor, you might be starting with a lower therapeutic dosage and a possible increase throughout the course of treatment. The duration of the reception could be lower than in normal cases - all these procedures are aiming at reducing the risks of addiction. You are likely to be prescribed an adjusted schedule for discontinuing the drug, that may include an individually designed regimen in conjunction with exercising, diet and etc. As long as you follow the professional recommendations the risks of addiction are close to zero.

‘I'm 27 years old and have a strong tendency of panic attacks, very rarely strong ones, that lasts for almost 2 years. Once they pass away, I’m really afraid of their repetition, which is accompanied with heart palpitations. Sometimes I can calm myself down, sometimes not. It’s a disgusting state, as these attacks occur out of the blue. I’ve been trying a number of herbal remedies, but it is all just useless. I certainly understand that probably should go to a psychiatrist, but I’m not sure about psychotropic drugs and antidepressants, I’m not sure I’m ready for it all. I’ve seen Xanax could be a more gentle way out… Please, advise!’

Whether to take the drugs or not would be a professional decision made by the qualified doctor - so your case may not even include any medications, if the cause of the problems is identified and its not too late. Another thing is that the attacks have been observed within 2 years, which is a long period of time for patterns formation that are difficult or even impossible to break without the use of drugs. Xanax is indeed an effective medication for attacks suppression, but it should only be prescribed by your doctor. You are in the right direction now - your first step should be visiting the specialist as soon as possible. Just pull the trigger and don’t postpone the problem.

Why Xanax is oftentimes referred to as an ambiguous solution to disorders?

Alprazolam is considered to be an efficient solution for relieving moderate to severe anxiety and panic attacks. But it’s not a first line medication, and depending on the region, the attitude towards its reasonability of use varies greatly. While in some countries, such as the US, it is approved by the regulators for panic disorder treatment, in others, e.g. Australia, it is not recommended for use in the identical cases, which is explained by tolerance, dependence and abuse risks. The decision on the choice of drug is made by the doctor and his/her vision of treatment, that’s why the ‘ambiguous’ references take place.