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What Are The Side Effects Of Xanax?
Question: My regular MD. has prescribing me my Xanax for the past 17 years. I had been driving all the way back to St. XXXXXXX to see my regular psychiatrist and that got to be too much for me. This is a drug I have been taking for over 30 years and is needed for panic disorder, aniexty attacks. This has been a wonder drug for me all this time. NOW, no one wants to prescribe it anymore. My MD said he could not do it and said I need to see a Psychiatrist, who may prescibe it. But when I seen him today for the first time, he say no ut wrote me a script for only .5 mg once a day. I have been taking 2 - 1mg. aday. What is the reasoing behind the fact that one wants to prescribe this medication. I know of other people who are running into the same problem. What the heck??? If it has helped me out of deep depression periods, why are they all now against using this drug???
Brief Answer:
The drug may increase the risk of cognitive impairment on long term use
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I have read your problem and I can understand your concern. You were taking Xanax or Alprazolam and the drug belongs to Benzodiazepines group of drugs. The drug is a very wonder drug for control of anxiety symptoms and it is also effective in reduction of depressive symptoms. Usually the drug is advised to be taken for short periods of time only like less than 4 weeks because of association of this drug with side effects.
It can result in tolerance and dependence and individuals may need progressively increasing doses of drug to seen its effects. Long term use in people especially in individuals with more than 50 years of age may increase the risk of cognitive side effects like memory impairment, forgetfulness, difficulty in making judgements etc. These side effects may increase risk of dementia. Also the drug may increase risk of falls during night and may result in increased risk of injury.
These side effects associated with the drug are probably the reasons behind your doctors not prescribing the drug.
If on 0.5 mg doses you develop side effects or withdrawal symptoms then visit a ER and ask for gradual tapering of doses. For depressive symptoms please take the advise of your psychiatrist. Its difficult to stop the drug after 17 years of use but stopping the drug will really help you in maintaining your physical and mental health in future.
Thanks, please ask again for more doubts. Take Care
The drug may increase the risk of cognitive impairment on long term use
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I have read your problem and I can understand your concern. You were taking Xanax or Alprazolam and the drug belongs to Benzodiazepines group of drugs. The drug is a very wonder drug for control of anxiety symptoms and it is also effective in reduction of depressive symptoms. Usually the drug is advised to be taken for short periods of time only like less than 4 weeks because of association of this drug with side effects.
It can result in tolerance and dependence and individuals may need progressively increasing doses of drug to seen its effects. Long term use in people especially in individuals with more than 50 years of age may increase the risk of cognitive side effects like memory impairment, forgetfulness, difficulty in making judgements etc. These side effects may increase risk of dementia. Also the drug may increase risk of falls during night and may result in increased risk of injury.
These side effects associated with the drug are probably the reasons behind your doctors not prescribing the drug.
If on 0.5 mg doses you develop side effects or withdrawal symptoms then visit a ER and ask for gradual tapering of doses. For depressive symptoms please take the advise of your psychiatrist. Its difficult to stop the drug after 17 years of use but stopping the drug will really help you in maintaining your physical and mental health in future.
Thanks, please ask again for more doubts. Take Care
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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