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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 23 of 23. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 1980Monroe on December 30, 2003, at 21:36:26
From what ive heard, its true xanax is pretty addicting. I would rather be addicted to alcohol, but thats my opinion, feel free to argue. Anyways i just want to know if it is. I would really like to know some other opinions, and arguments. Thanks
Posted by dragonfly25 on December 30, 2003, at 22:11:00
In reply to is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by 1980Monroe on December 30, 2003, at 21:36:26
i would say it is easier to be addicted to. you don't smell xanax so you can take it just about anywhere, it seems harmless when you start it b/c a doctor gave it to you, you might use it more often than alcohol, it is very easy to justify your use of the drug, where it may not be so easy to say - the doctor told me to drink. so what i am trying to say is that i think it is more dangerous to people, b/c they feel it is harmless initially.
dragonfly
Posted by 1980Monroe on December 30, 2003, at 22:53:53
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol? » 1980Monroe, posted by dragonfly25 on December 30, 2003, at 22:11:00
Good awneser
Posted by m0nger on December 30, 2003, at 23:43:37
In reply to is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by 1980Monroe on December 30, 2003, at 21:36:26
I suspect xanax is more addictive then alcohol, in the sense that tolerance and dependence could develop quicker then with alcohol, and the withdrawal could be more dangerous to a long time user. However, if i was forced to choose between which drug to be actively addicted to, i would choose xanax, simply cuz it would do a lot less harm to the body. Alcohol is really hard on the system, its one of the most physiologically damaging drugs there is, if used heavily. Heroin is even less damaging then alcohol, in that respect (although since heroin is illegal, you can't be sure of its purity, it can have nasty contaminants)
Posted by dragonfly25 on December 30, 2003, at 23:47:59
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by m0nger on December 30, 2003, at 23:43:37
benzodiazapines can be quite dangerous if stopped suddenly- just thought i'd add that. but alcohol has the most dangerous withdrawal for sure
> I suspect xanax is more addictive then alcohol, in the sense that tolerance and dependence could develop quicker then with alcohol, and the withdrawal could be more dangerous to a long time user. However, if i was forced to choose between which drug to be actively addicted to, i would choose xanax, simply cuz it would do a lot less harm to the body. Alcohol is really hard on the system, its one of the most physiologically damaging drugs there is, if used heavily. Heroin is even less damaging then alcohol, in that respect (although since heroin is illegal, you can't be sure of its purity, it can have nasty contaminants)
Posted by 1980Monroe on December 30, 2003, at 23:52:45
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by m0nger on December 30, 2003, at 23:43:37
You changed my mind, alcohol is damaging to the body adn the mind, i forgot about that(im an airhead). I would stick with xanax, even thought thats bad too. Thanks for the reality check.
Posted by m0nger on December 30, 2003, at 23:58:44
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by dragonfly25 on December 30, 2003, at 23:47:59
Well i did say "could be", as thats the one thing in that post I wasn't certain of. :) I've heard it both ways from medical professionals, actually (severity of withdrawal danger comparisons), probably ultimately depends on duration and quantity of use.
Posted by 1980Monroe on December 31, 2003, at 0:00:55
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol? » dragonfly25, posted by m0nger on December 30, 2003, at 23:58:44
yea thats true
Posted by dragonfly25 on December 31, 2003, at 0:05:22
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol? » dragonfly25, posted by m0nger on December 30, 2003, at 23:58:44
sorry, i was actually agreeing with you. it didn't sound like that i guess :)
Posted by ace on December 31, 2003, at 0:47:52
In reply to is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by 1980Monroe on December 30, 2003, at 21:36:26
Posted by m0nger on December 31, 2003, at 1:17:20
In reply to Re: NO- used properly it is safe and no withdrawal (nm), posted by ace on December 31, 2003, at 0:47:52
Well that's the caveat, *if* used properly. Same applies to alcohol too (whether or not the alcohol is used recreationally or medicinally). Just clarifying in case i gave the impression i believe xanax is always addicting (and/or inferring that its not useful and/or is a dangerous medication that *everybody* should avoid). However it is widely recognized as having that potential in PDRs and Layman's medication guides.
Posted by Jaynee on December 31, 2003, at 2:18:32
In reply to is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by 1980Monroe on December 30, 2003, at 21:36:26
I personally would rather be addicted to alcohol than xanax, because I don't need some "FRIGIN" Doctor to give me my booze.
But in a perfect world I would rather not be addicted to anything.
It just makes me angry that doctors prescribe benzo's and then when you feel you can't live without them they say no you can't have them anymore, without giving you an alternative.
Drug pushers.................
Posted by Jaynee on December 31, 2003, at 2:21:54
In reply to Re: NO- used properly it is safe and no withdrawal, posted by m0nger on December 31, 2003, at 1:17:20
Posted by Viridis on December 31, 2003, at 6:10:56
In reply to is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by 1980Monroe on December 30, 2003, at 21:36:26
Xanax isn't "addictive" for most people who need it (i.e., most don't become obsessed with it, let it interfere with their lives, etc.). However, it can induce tolerance (need for larger doses to achieve the same effect) and dependency, which is common with many medications and simply means that if you discontinue it you have to do so gradually.
It does seem that of the benzodiazepines, Xanax probably has the greatest abuse potential, but it still doesn't come anywhere near alcohol in this respect, is much safer, and is a "life saver" for many people.
Posted by linkadge on December 31, 2003, at 6:43:37
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by Viridis on December 31, 2003, at 6:10:56
The reason they perscribe it is exactly that. Alcohol is by far more dammaging to the liver, brain, body etc. Alcohol, by itself, ia specifically neurotoxic. Also, it's actions can be much cruder than a benzodiazapine.
It's bassically the same thing as saying you'd rather be addicted to nicotine gum, zyban etc. then cigarattes. Essentially the doctors want to reduce the dangers associated with alcoholism.
Linkadge
Posted by 1980Monroe on December 31, 2003, at 10:44:36
In reply to As for the hangover........................RU-21., posted by Jaynee on December 31, 2003, at 2:21:54
You are right, i was actually on Xanax for a couple months and i started showing signs of dependence, i my doc said "WELL, you have got to get off!" im like why the hell did you even prescribe it to me in the first place. So i rubbed in his face i drink Vodka for a substitute, just to make him feel bad what he's done. Medical Revenge. Later
Posted by invisible15010 on December 31, 2003, at 11:16:02
In reply to is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by 1980Monroe on December 30, 2003, at 21:36:26
Be very wary of Xanax. When I started to suffer depressiona and extreme anxiety symptons during my divorce, my family dr. gave me Xanax. It worked great.......it became my best friend. I had to go into the hospital to get off of it. I would never take it during periods of extreme anxiety. It is probably safe for someone that needs it just occassionaly. But if you are dealing with ongoing issues, I would definately stay away from it. I was at a great hospital, but it was a horrible experiance. They say the addiction is worse than Heroin. All these meds most definately have a good side and a very dark bad side.
Posted by 1980Monroe on December 31, 2003, at 11:42:59
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by invisible15010 on December 31, 2003, at 11:16:02
Is it more powerful, what really is the diffrence in the effects, why do doctors presbibe valium, and others presbribe xanax (i know its for panic attacks). Why can xanax be more addicting
Posted by Alexander on December 31, 2003, at 16:34:31
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by dragonfly25 on December 30, 2003, at 23:47:59
> benzodiazapines can be quite dangerous if stopped suddenly- just thought i'd add that. but alcohol has the most dangerous withdrawal for sure
>
> > I suspect xanax is more addictive then alcohol, in the sense that tolerance and dependence could develop quicker then with alcohol, and the withdrawal could be more dangerous to a long time user. However, if i was forced to choose between which drug to be actively addicted to, i would choose xanax, simply cuz it would do a lot less harm to the body. Alcohol is really hard on the system, its one of the most physiologically damaging drugs there is, if used heavily. Heroin is even less damaging then alcohol, in that respect (although since heroin is illegal, you can't be sure of its purity, it can have nasty contaminants)
>
>--> much safer than alcohol???
well in pursuit of an anxiolytic that will do the best job for me I did also mention Xanax to my MD, who said that he no longer Rxes it, due to his negative experience. He said that when it became available they thought they had the "wonder drug" only to find themselves in a much greater dilemma for most patients than they were before having started Xanax.
But then he said that everybody is different and that he may be biased.
He took a book of the rack written by MDs for MDs on psychotropics, including narcotics, and he told me to watch out for "bold printed" stuff, while he will flip through the pages.
There was ONE paragraph, consisting of three or so lines in bold in this entire book and it was in reference to Xanax and said something like:
Highly addictive;
Must NEVER be stopped abruptly, nor substituted for by other benzos when attempting to withdraw but tampered off slowly, otherwise it may be deadly.I think the message here was that Xanax withdrawal is the most dangerous and Xanax dependence the most stubborn dependence to break. When I asked him about opioids he 'waived me off' saying "that's easy". When I asked him "what about cigarettes", he said that I got him there.
In his experience, he said, Xanax is the most difficult habit to break, second only to smoking cigarettes. On the other hand Xanax "cold turkey" is something that is more "deadly" than anything he knows of.
Posted by linkadge on December 31, 2003, at 16:53:23
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by Alexander on December 31, 2003, at 16:34:31
I don't see exactly why this should be so. Pharamcologically, it is not really different from Klonazepam. I droped a months use of Xanax in one night, and never had any problems.
But, I got very addicted to the tylenol 3's given to me for my wizdom teeth. I would find them much more appealing then xanax. But then again, I have *never* had anything that resembled social phobia. I personally don't think I have any problem with my gaba neurotransmissoion.
I think than opiates have a really strong role in my depression. I am addicted to exercise, sometimes exercising 3-4 hours a day. Unlike celexa, exercise is the only sure thing for my depression. Not working? just exercise more. But when I popped 4 tylenol 3's, it was like the effort of running 15k within a few minautes.
I cannot describe the how they solved my problems. It was like I had a feeling that nobody could take away from me.Unfortunately, a doctor would never perscribe this for me continually.
I think it really depends on where your brain is to start.
Linkadge
Posted by zeugma on December 31, 2003, at 17:34:25
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by Alexander on December 31, 2003, at 16:34:31
The problem I've been having with Klonopin is that it seems to worsen my narcolepsy-like symptoms (hypnagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and unrefreshing sleep leading to excessive daytime sleepiness). The drugs that block these symptoms are monoaminergic reuptake inhibitors, and sure enough, after adding Strattera to a TCA, the already diminished number of these symptoms disappeared altogether, only to reappear immediately after starting Klonopin treatment. Frustrating... it seems like I have GABAergic as well as monoaminergic problems, but treating the GABA issues (terrible social phobia) worsens my monoamine dysregulation, which shows how precariously balanced these two systems are in my case. And I have experienced a return of depression in the past two weeks.
I began to scale down the already subtherapeutic dosage of Klonopin a little while ago. I took .125 mg two days ago, but nothing yesterday or today. I think the holidays are contributing to my state of mind (I get depressed when I just sit around, but the social phobia and lack of energy makes me want to isolate.) I'm thinking maybe Xanax would be better than Klonopin becomes it seems less likely to cause depression and also has a much shorter half-life so if I took it in the morning it would be out of my system by evening. But it was hard enough to get my pdoc to let me try Klonopin, I don't know if he'd let me go for Xanax, and I'm fairly discouraged about my options for overcoming social phobia right now.
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.
Posted by zeugma on January 1, 2004, at 18:21:41
In reply to Re: is Xanax more addictive than alcohol?, posted by Viridis on December 31, 2003, at 23:26:18
I was depressed amd anxious today when I woke up, so I took .375 clonazepam along with my other meds. Even though I hadn't taken any clonazepam for the last few days, I was still oversleeping and waking up exhausted, so I don't know if I can blame it for all of this problem...the holidays have been VERY depressogenic for me. It might be the lack of a daily routine that has caused this plunge in mood and ability to function. Also, typical of my depressive states, my appetite has nosedived, leading to even greater loss of energy. The few times I've gone outside in the last week I've been extremely self-conscious, which the clonazepam was helping to manage. And even without the clonazepam, I've been totally enervated. I took the K around 3 pm, and it helped me when I went to the grocery store and also when I walked around the neighborhood. I'm going to have to sort all this out when I see my neuropsychologist next week.
This is the end of the thread.
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