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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jealibeanz on February 28, 2007, at 14:56:53
I have been taking alprazolam daily since last May. I began with a starting dose of .25mg t.i.d. Then increased after about 6 weeks to .5mg t.i.d. After a few more months, I increased to 1 mg t.i.d (at this point I switched to brand name Xanax, since I was using several pharmacies and noticed major difference. I prefer brand name). And finally, for the past few months, I've been taking 1 mg q.i.d.
Yesterday, my doctor got the idea that I would like taking Xanax XR since it would last all day. Since the largest pill made is 3mg, that's what I got.
I was very sick, so I didn't argue because I have laryngitis, I just wanted to go home.
So I didn't ask about how much of a difference he thought the decrease from 4mg to 3mg would make. I didn't tell him to make sure the write DAW, so I'd get brand name. I didn't ask how long it's supposed to last, and then remind him that the extended release meds tend to be much shorter than expected with me.
So, anyway I filled it, and of course it was generic. I'm not pleased. I don't think he knew there was a generic. I also don't think he's trying to wean me down to a lower dosage without making it obvious. He doesn't play games. If he wanted that to be a goal, he'd tell me.
Well, I'd like some input from those who has tried either alprozolam ER or Xanax XR. How did it feel? Sedating? Relaxing? How long did it last? Are the IR and XR doses equivalent?
I've taken it today and I definitely feel different, not terribly anxious at all. Haha, but I took 2 of the 3 mg pills plus Lunesta plus regular Xanax yesterday evening, so that may have carried over (bad night!)But I woke up feeling that way. I also just began taking Provigil, that's another unknown.
Next time I go back I will ask about:
1. BRAND NAME!2. the possibility of 2mg Xanax XR b.i.d. if I think it's necessary (or maybe 1mg and a 2mg if he wants to see if I can handle the lower dosage)
3. A one month supply of regular Xanax, so I can supplement if necessary (for those super-freak-out moments!). I wouldn't plan on using this much at all. And thankfully I still have a little bit of regular left.
Posted by nolegirl23 on February 28, 2007, at 16:27:48
In reply to Xanax XR, posted by jealibeanz on February 28, 2007, at 14:56:53
> I have been taking alprazolam daily since last May. I began with a starting dose of .25mg t.i.d. Then increased after about 6 weeks to .5mg t.i.d. After a few more months, I increased to 1 mg t.i.d (at this point I switched to brand name Xanax, since I was using several pharmacies and noticed major difference. I prefer brand name). And finally, for the past few months, I've been taking 1 mg q.i.d.
>
> Yesterday, my doctor got the idea that I would like taking Xanax XR since it would last all day. Since the largest pill made is 3mg, that's what I got.
>
> I was very sick, so I didn't argue because I have laryngitis, I just wanted to go home.
>
> So I didn't ask about how much of a difference he thought the decrease from 4mg to 3mg would make. I didn't tell him to make sure the write DAW, so I'd get brand name. I didn't ask how long it's supposed to last, and then remind him that the extended release meds tend to be much shorter than expected with me.
>
> So, anyway I filled it, and of course it was generic. I'm not pleased. I don't think he knew there was a generic. I also don't think he's trying to wean me down to a lower dosage without making it obvious. He doesn't play games. If he wanted that to be a goal, he'd tell me.
>
> Well, I'd like some input from those who has tried either alprozolam ER or Xanax XR. How did it feel? Sedating? Relaxing? How long did it last? Are the IR and XR doses equivalent?
>
> I've taken it today and I definitely feel different, not terribly anxious at all. Haha, but I took 2 of the 3 mg pills plus Lunesta plus regular Xanax yesterday evening, so that may have carried over (bad night!)But I woke up feeling that way. I also just began taking Provigil, that's another unknown.
>
> Next time I go back I will ask about:
> 1. BRAND NAME!
>
> 2. the possibility of 2mg Xanax XR b.i.d. if I think it's necessary (or maybe 1mg and a 2mg if he wants to see if I can handle the lower dosage)
>
> 3. A one month supply of regular Xanax, so I can supplement if necessary (for those super-freak-out moments!). I wouldn't plan on using this much at all. And thankfully I still have a little bit of regular left.This is a great post; I have always wondered how to approach my Pdoc about getting a small supply of regular xanax to supplement my xanax XR.
I take 4 mgs of XR xanax per day. I am prescribed 2 mgs in the am, and the next two mgs 12 hours later. HA!
I feel the effects of the xanax XR (generic) wear off about 4 hours after I take my initial morning dose. Later on, about 6 hours after taking the XR (which is SUPPOSED to last 12 hours) I get soooooo drowsy.. I can't keep my eyes open.
So, my solution has been to take 2mgs' in the am (after I have had my coffee) and I take the next two mgs' at about 4 or 5 pm.
I just don't last when I take the 2 mgs' in the morning -- my anxiety is back by mid afternoon/evening.
Before I started taking the 2nd 2 mg dose earlier than prescribed, I drank wine. Too much wine ?
Perhaps. But the wine helped give me a soothing, antidepressant feeling.
But, then there is the whole 'self medication' factor which comes into play..I have often wondered about generic vs. brand name. Every pharmacist has assured me that brand name is = to generic. You have raised an interesting question, and I appreciate that.
Maybe I will try the Brand name of Xanax XR and determine whether or not I notice a difference.As for now, I can't get my pdoc to give me 6 mgs' of Xanax XR per day (i'm thinking 3 mgs' in the am , 3 more at night..). He thinks that 4 mgs' is a 'high dose.' (He is quite conservative).
Sooo, maybe the REAL DEAL xanax XR will do the trick.
Thanks for the post!~ Shanon ~
Posted by jealibeanz on February 28, 2007, at 16:32:26
In reply to Re: Xanax XR, posted by nolegirl23 on February 28, 2007, at 16:27:48
Generic does NOT = Brand
My doc always confirms this when I complain about a generic not working well, or differences between generic brands, or success with brand name. By law, they are allowed to have an error of up to 20% in the active ingredients. This doesn't even take in to account inactive ingredients, which can make a difference. Plus, there are many reports of studies and investigations where generic drugs were wayyyy off the mark.
Posted by bassman on February 28, 2007, at 20:05:47
In reply to Re: Xanax XR, posted by jealibeanz on February 28, 2007, at 16:32:26
Xanax XR (brand name) is a whole different drug to me than Xanax IR. All the XL does is make me sleepy, which the IR does not, and the XR doesn't have the definite AD effect I feel with the IR. I think the IR is an excellent drug, but the XR is a stinker-just not the same in terms of anxiety-decreasing ability. I would stay away from the generic...my bet is that a lot of testing and $ went into making the brand name consistent. The generic houses just make things as cheaply as they can...
Best of luck-anxiety is miserable.
bassman
Posted by Phillipa on February 28, 2007, at 22:39:23
In reply to Re: Xanax XR, posted by bassman on February 28, 2007, at 20:05:47
Take it from me a long time user of benzos and take the regular xanax made by greenstone your pharmacy will get that generic if you ask it is the exact same as the namebrand xanax. A pharmacist told me not to waste my money on namebrand as they are the same. Valene will agree with me as she also took it. And the extended release doesn't release properly hence the need to add regular good luck. Love Phillipa
Posted by valene on March 1, 2007, at 11:32:16
In reply to Re: Xanax XR, posted by Phillipa on February 28, 2007, at 22:39:23
Yes, I absolutely know the difference between generic and name brand xanax, and found that greenstone brand is totally the same. As mentioned in an older thread, greenstone is owned by Pfizer, who was a division of Upjohn, the original manufacturers of name brand Xanax. So I save myself $35.00 monthly by taking greenstone alprazolam.
Val
> Take it from me a long time user of benzos and take the regular xanax made by greenstone your pharmacy will get that generic if you ask it is the exact same as the namebrand xanax. A pharmacist told me not to waste my money on namebrand as they are the same. Valene will agree with me as she also took it. And the extended release doesn't release properly hence the need to add regular good luck. Love Phillipa
Posted by jealibeanz on March 2, 2007, at 5:18:49
In reply to Re: Xanax XR, posted by bassman on February 28, 2007, at 20:05:47
> Xanax XR (brand name) is a whole different drug to me than Xanax IR. All the XL does is make me sleepy, which the IR does not, and the XR doesn't have the definite AD effect I feel with the IR. I think the IR is an excellent drug, but the XR is a stinker-just not the same in terms of anxiety-decreasing ability. I would stay away from the generic...my bet is that a lot of testing and $ went into making the brand name consistent. The generic houses just make things as cheaply as they can...
>
> Best of luck-anxiety is miserable.
> bassmanIt's only been a couple of days with the generic Xanax XR, so I can't give a full report yet.
I can say that it feels different. Very different. Not good, not bad, just not like the same medication. I would rather be comparing brand vs. brand. I may like brand name Xanax XR since I definitely preferred the IR.
I'm not even certain how long this medication lasts. Is it like Valium where eventually you become "saturated", and you basically have even plasma levels at all times?
I did have to supplement with Xanax IR because I had a very stressful day with important interviews. Normally at such an occasion, I would have been taking the Xanax right before anyway to calm me down, however, this time I needed to take IR on top of the XR.
I can tell my doc this. That I did need to take my leftover IR during some stressful occassions. It could be due to the fact that I'm used to taking 4mg daily, and now and taking 3mg, or that I'm taking generic, or I don't respond as well to the XR medication.
I think if I had it my way, I'd try 4mg Xanax XR (brandname- 2x2mg tabs a day, since the largest pill is 3mg), plus have a supply of IR Xanax to use PRN. Does that seem logical or out of line?
If anyone else has any experience with Xanax XR, please share! :)
Posted by bassman on March 2, 2007, at 6:01:48
In reply to Re: Xanax XR, posted by jealibeanz on March 2, 2007, at 5:18:49
My brief experience with XR (I must say, I looked at the serum vs time curves on the web site and was all encouraged!) was that I was suspicious that I'd have to take 1 mg XR twice a day instead of the 1 mg IR ( 2- 0.5 mg doses) I was taking. The idea for me was to get rid of Klonopin, which I suspected was causing depression. I was fearful of going up to 2 mg Xanax XR, most because 0.5 mg XR wasn't working and I didn't want to have to withdraw from something that didn't offer some comfort. I stayed with the Klonopin + Xanax IR because 0.5 mg Klonopin/day seems to keep me away from Xanax interdose anxiety.
I mean, I love the idea of XR! I find Xanax to be a wonderfully helpful drug for panic disorder and if XR keep the constant reminder that it's Xanax time away plus the doc's were cool with it, what could be better? So I really, really wanted it to work-especially if I could just take it once a day and "forget" I was taking it. The real mystery to me is: why does XR "feel" so different than IR? Why do I feel sleepy and drugged instead of perky and undepressed as I do with IR? Dunno. :>}
Posted by jealibeanz on March 2, 2007, at 7:48:19
In reply to Re: Xanax XR, posted by bassman on March 2, 2007, at 6:01:48
> My brief experience with XR (I must say, I looked at the serum vs time curves on the web site and was all encouraged!) was that I was suspicious that I'd have to take 1 mg XR twice a day instead of the 1 mg IR ( 2- 0.5 mg doses) I was taking. The idea for me was to get rid of Klonopin, which I suspected was causing depression. I was fearful of going up to 2 mg Xanax XR, most because 0.5 mg XR wasn't working and I didn't want to have to withdraw from something that didn't offer some comfort. I stayed with the Klonopin + Xanax IR because 0.5 mg Klonopin/day seems to keep me away from Xanax interdose anxiety.
>
> I mean, I love the idea of XR! I find Xanax to be a wonderfully helpful drug for panic disorder and if XR keep the constant reminder that it's Xanax time away plus the doc's were cool with it, what could be better? So I really, really wanted it to work-especially if I could just take it once a day and "forget" I was taking it. The real mystery to me is: why does XR "feel" so different than IR? Why do I feel sleepy and drugged instead of perky and undepressed as I do with IR? Dunno. :>}I actually feel less sedated, but I also just started Provigil, so I can't accurately judge right now.
Posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2007, at 18:42:52
In reply to Re: Xanax XR, posted by bassman on March 2, 2007, at 6:01:48
Maybe your digestive enzymes break it down too quickly so you get an initial jolt? Just speculating. Love Phillipa
Posted by bassman on March 2, 2007, at 19:16:09
In reply to Re: Xanax XR » bassman, posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2007, at 18:42:52
I've wondered about something like that-that maybe a high serum level which drifts off somewhow has a very different effect..but that is just speculation on my part at best... and b.s. at worst.:>}
Posted by jealibeanz on March 2, 2007, at 19:43:40
In reply to Re: Xanax XR » bassman, posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2007, at 18:42:52
> Maybe your digestive enzymes break it down too quickly so you get an initial jolt? Just speculating. Love Phillipa
I don't think that is the case. Xanax XR has some sort of gel coating surrounding or embedded within the tablet. I read about it in prescribing info, but don't understand it. Just another one of those weird release mechanisms!
It's designed so that there is a slow onset. Probably the outside coating is inert, allowing for the time delay.
The medication is designed to be long-lasting, but also designed to get people away from the immediate gratification that regular Xanax possesses. They easily could have put a coating of immediate-release surrounding the XR table (somewhat like Ambien CR), but chose not to.
This wasn't exactly a good explanation either! What a weird drug. How did these people take Xanax, keep it in the same chemical structure (basically), yet make it so different?
Posted by jealibeanz on March 4, 2007, at 6:52:24
In reply to Re: Xanax XR, posted by jealibeanz on March 2, 2007, at 19:43:40
Do anyone know the therapeutic length of time of Xanax XR? I can't seem to figure it out. I know the company has the diagram showing that the med is the the bloodstream for 24 hours, and at a peak for about 12. I'm not really sure what their claim is.
This is the end of the thread.
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