Zanex...

beck4582

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So does anyone know how many mgs is too much to take in one day. I'm afraid my husband is getting addicted. The doctor perscribed them for anxiety and he's been taking 4 - 6 mgs a day. He's begging me for another one tonight, and I'm scared. He sleeps ALL the time. I don't know what to do...
 
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beck4582

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Thanks for the link - we're arguing about it now... He says he's not addicted - but he needs it to "cope" right now. I"m going to call the doctor first thing in the morning because I am getting really scared. He sleeps 18+ hours a day, has trouble speaking coherently sometimes, and stumbles a lot when he walks. But every time I try and tell him I'm worried, he gets mad and tells me that he's fine and he just needs it until things "settle down". *sigh* This is going to get worse before it gets better, isn't it?...
 

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I'm not an expert, but I have taken the drug - and it sounds like he is, or is becoming, addicted. Please do what you would do for you pet - call your pharmacist (make sure you're talking to the pharmacist, not the check-out person), they should be able to guide you more closely.

It's a very effective and relatively inexpensive drug, but it does tend to create dependency quickly. Remember if your husband is becoming dependent that this is not his fault or choice; however, you need to become educated about what you CAN and SHOULD do before you take action. If it's too late to speak to a pharamacist where you are, try calling local emergency rooms, poison control centers, or if it's available, where you are, a nursing hotline. If none of those work, please make talking to a competent pharamacist your #1 priority tomorrow.

I know this is all very scary, but trust your instincts. There is a problem, or at least a burdegeoning one, and dealing with it now is far superior to dealing with it later.

Good luck, and don't get angry. It won't help.

You and your husband will be in my thoughts and prayers.
 

natalie_ca

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It sounds to me like those pills need to be flushed down the toilet, and he needs to get to his doctor and work on his addiction.

He's taking way too much, and he's become dependant on it. Sleeping 18 plus hours a day, stumbling, slurred speach are signs he's taking too much. Way over the prescription amount.

It's meant as a short term solution for anxiety. If he's needing it that much, then he needs to see a doctor and get something else...such as an antidepressant that he takes once per day.
 

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It kind of sounds like he is in denial which is a symptom of addiction...but I don't know the whole story. I do know that Zanax is addictive because it can make a person feel wonderfully mellow. It's good that you are going to talk to the doctor but I'm so skeptical of doctors these days, they all seem like drug salesmen to me.
And replacing one drug for another just seems like a continuation with a different set of problems. Don't let them just "sell" him/you another drug without doing the research, those anti-depressants IMO are just scary & are also hard to quit.
Maybe you can work on just using therapy without drugs.
 
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beck4582

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Thanks you guys. I"m calling the doctor first thing in the morning. Something has to be done. I am so worried... I'll keep you all posted.
 

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Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

It sounds to me like those pills need to be flushed down the toilet, and he needs to get to his doctor and work on his addiction.

He's taking way too much, and he's become dependant on it. Sleeping 18 plus hours a day, stumbling, slurred speach are signs he's taking too much. Way over the prescription amount.

It's meant as a short term solution for anxiety. If he's needing it that much, then he needs to see a doctor and get something else...such as an antidepressant that he takes once per day.
I agree with Linda on this one, it sounds like he needs to go and see the doctor. It doesn't take long for someone to become dependant on a pill like he's taking and for an addiction to form.

You are so brave right now to try and get him help.
Stand your ground and don't let him convience you nothing's wrong. Trust your instinct on this one honey and get him help before it gets worse.
 

rubsluts'mommy

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Originally Posted by Beck4582

Thanks for the link - we're arguing about it now... He says he's not addicted - but he needs it to "cope" right now. I"m going to call the doctor first thing in the morning because I am getting really scared. He sleeps 18+ hours a day, has trouble speaking coherently sometimes, and stumbles a lot when he walks. But every time I try and tell him I'm worried, he gets mad and tells me that he's fine and he just needs it until things "settle down". *sigh* This is going to get worse before it gets better, isn't it?...
I'm assuming you're controlling the meds... which is good... like Sharky said, don't give him over the RX dose... period. Is he also seeing a psychiatrist as well as the regular doctor? If not, he needs to be. The Psych can tweak dosages as appropriate... if he's having anxiety issues, he should also be in counseling... to deal with the issues that are making him anxious. if he's not going to specialists, then when you talk to the doc tomorrow, ask for referrals. I'd also ask for a sit-down of your own with the doctor to discuss everything... if your DH is going alone, he may be lying to the doc to get higher dosages...

BTW, addicts that are knee-deep within their addictions don't believe they are addicted... hence the first step in a 12-step program: admitting you have a problem... I have a sibling who went through all that years ago...

If he's already had the maximum for the day, hide those pills... somewhere he can't get to... begging for more is a bad sign of addiction... good luck...

A.
 

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Originally Posted by Beck4582

Thanks for the link - we're arguing about it now... He says he's not addicted - but he needs it to "cope" right now. I"m going to call the doctor first thing in the morning because I am getting really scared. He sleeps 18+ hours a day, has trouble speaking coherently sometimes, and stumbles a lot when he walks. But every time I try and tell him I'm worried, he gets mad and tells me that he's fine and he just needs it until things "settle down". *sigh* This is going to get worse before it gets better, isn't it?...
Possibly, but not necessarily.

It is easier to dispute a layperson (like your wife!) as a nag, than do to so with a professional. If he is already in the fullblown throws of addiction, you can expect more irrationality, anger, upset, etc, than if he's just leaning in that direction. Physical addiction is harder to overcome than physcological addiction and a level of denial.

For the record, he probably DOES need something to help him cope right now, so bear that in mind even as you bear in mind that the Xanex isn't it, and is no longer helping.

Where he's getting the drugs is also a factor - is it a regular check up doctor/GP? A physchatrist? A gradual switch to a different drug (and probably, eventually, more nuanced therapy) is in order.

Possibly a switch over to sleeping tablets might help (personally, I found them less helpful than Xanex because I wasn't as worried about the addictive effect, but that is NOT the common reaction). Anyway, here I'm just speculating. But there are different strategies available to you/his medical team.

If, for example, he's willing to switch over to sleeping tablets it might lower the ego-cost to him - it's not necessarily an issue of addiction, it'll keep you happy/help him sleep/whatever - in general, the all-or-nothing approach doesn't work most people. He knows somethings wrong (it might 'only' be the addiction or it might be something else, or it might be both), but, in general, you're likely to have better success getting him to collaborate in his progress than if you give into the urge (and I'd be very surprised if his behavior doesn't provoke you) to attempt to 'control' his progress.
 
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beck4582

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Originally Posted by RubSluts'Mommy

I'm assuming you're controlling the meds... which is good... like Sharky said, don't give him over the RX dose... period. Is he also seeing a psychiatrist as well as the regular doctor? If not, he needs to be. The Psych can tweak dosages as appropriate... if he's having anxiety issues, he should also be in counseling... to deal with the issues that are making him anxious. if he's not going to specialists, then when you talk to the doc tomorrow, ask for referrals. I'd also ask for a sit-down of your own with the doctor to discuss everything... if your DH is going alone, he may be lying to the doc to get higher dosages...

BTW, addicts that are knee-deep within their addictions don't believe they are addicted... hence the first step in a 12-step program: admitting you have a problem... I have a sibling who went through all that years ago...

If he's already had the maximum for the day, hide those pills... somewhere he can't get to... begging for more is a bad sign of addiction... good luck...

A.
Our family doctor has set us up with a psychiatrist, but we couldn't get in until June. Hes been put on Lexapro (which is what I take) as well as the Zanex. We are starting counseling tomorrow. Depending on what happens to his job, we'll be changing insurances so I don't know what that means for the doctors, but hopefully most of them won't have to change.

I really appreciate the quick responses. I live far away from family and feel kind of alone with all of this. It's nice to have some other support.
 

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Originally Posted by ShopCat

It kind of sounds like he is in denial which is a symptom of addiction...but I don't know the whole story. I do know that Zanax is addictive because it can make a person feel wonderfully mellow. It's good that you are going to talk to the doctor but I'm so skeptical of doctors these days, they all seem like drug salesmen to me.
And replacing one drug for another just seems like a continuation with a different set of problems. Don't let them just "sell" him/you another drug without doing the research, those anti-depressants IMO are just scary & are also hard to quit.
Maybe you can work on just using therapy without drugs.
Anti-Ds come in a number of varieties, not all of which are as disturbing as others. For the record, Prozac (which I take myself) is very gentle on the system, non-addictive, and lots of other things. Does it help everyone? No. Do some people have side effects? Yes. Did I have some side effects as I got used to the drug? Yes.

But let's not go overboard here. Being allergic to, say, wool, does not mean we run around naked.

I would have serious doubts and questions if my doctor wanted me to switch to Paxil (for example), that doesn't mean all anti-ds are off-limits to me.

Xanax, for the record, is not an anti-depressent. It is an anti-anxiety medication (it makes you feel calm). Anti-ds are much different, and tend to work over the long term (weeks to months) to actually change your brain chemistry in subtle but important ways.
 

satai

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Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

It sounds to me like those pills need to be flushed down the toilet, and he needs to get to his doctor and work on his addiction.

He's taking way too much, and he's become dependant on it. Sleeping 18 plus hours a day, stumbling, slurred speach are signs he's taking too much. Way over the prescription amount.

It's meant as a short term solution for anxiety. If he's needing it that much, then he needs to see a doctor and get something else...such as an antidepressant that he takes once per day.
Please don't just flush his medication down the toilet, for two reasons:

1. It automatically makes you the enemy. He is an adult - he may be ill, but he is not your prisoner, and if he's addicted, he will be irrational, and he will be likely to distrust any further discussion/whatever on your part.
2. MORE IMPORTANTLY, unless you actually understand addiction, do not mess with his medication with out expect advice; some substances (and I do not know if Xanax is one of them) become lethal if one is addicted and they are then withdrawn.

Please take no ACTIVE action until you are certain the advice you have been given will not cause more harm than it allivates.
 
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beck4582

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Originally Posted by Satai

Please don't just flush his medication down the toilet, for two reasons:

1. It automatically makes you the enemy. He is an adult - he may be ill, but he is not your prisoner, and if he's addicted, he will be irrational, and he will be likely to distrust any further discussion/whatever on your part.
2. MORE IMPORTANTLY, unless you actually understand addiction, do not mess with his medication with out expect advice; some substances (and I do not know if Xanax is one of them) become lethal if one is addicted and they are then withdrawn.

Please take no ACTIVE action until you are certain the advice you have been given will not cause more harm than it allivates.
I have, myself, been severly depressed in the past and have dealt with anxiety. I am doing my best to be understanding and supportive. He's about to loose his job because of all of this. My job cannot support us. I'm freaking out. I know, however, that I can't just make him stop taking this all together. He'll flip out. I don't want it to kill him, though. I read about stars like Heath Ledger who OD on OTC drugs, and it scares me. I know I can't deny him the drugs. But I also know that he listens to our doctor, so I'm going to call and talk to the nurse tomorrow and see what we can work out.

Oh, and for the record, I lay him out a certain number of pills in the morning and take the bottle with me to work...
 

satai

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Originally Posted by Beck4582

I have, myself, been severly depressed in the past and have dealt with anxiety. I am doing my best to be understanding and supportive. He's about to loose his job because of all of this. My job cannot support us. I'm freaking out. I know, however, that I can't just make him stop taking this all together. He'll flip out. I don't want it to kill him, though. I read about stars like Heath Ledger who OD on OTC drugs, and it scares me. I know I can't deny him the drugs. But I also know that he listens to our doctor, so I'm going to call and talk to the nurse tomorrow and see what we can work out.

Oh, and for the record, I lay him out a certain number of pills in the morning and take the bottle with me to work...
For the record, I wouldn't dream of telling you want to do - I'm just pointing out possible problems that exist. It's great that he's still ready to listen to your doctor, and I'm glad he can cope with the # of pills you leave him, and thus isn't escalating.

I DO know that it's scary, because, like you, I haven't just dealt with mental health issues myself, but with other loved ones. The sooner you take this issue to a professional, the closer you are to a real solution, so I think it's great that you're talking to the nurse tomorrow. Take care.
 

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I am prescribed xanax, and I only take it at night if I need it. I don't want to go from one addiction to another, and xanax can be highly addictive. I just don't think I personally needed as much as I was prescribed, and am doing fine with what I am taking. If If I get really stressed during the day, I break one in half. I am prescribed 3 mgs a day. It has beenmy experience that your husband is taking too much, but I am nt a doc or pharmacist, and only know about my personal experiences and those of friends on the same meds. I am glad your counseling begins tomorrow, maybe your counselor can speak to his doc. I hope tings work out for both of you. Please keep us posted. We will worry about you if you don't.
 

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IMO if your DH has to put himself in a stupor to "cope" there is something wrong. Either he is addicted and lying to you about still feeling anxious or he really is still anxious and needs that many to curb it. Either way it's not good.
 

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You've gotten a lot of good advice. For what it's worth, it sounds to me like he's beyond the point of being told to cut back, even by a doctor... I doubt that he can at this point. He may even need to be hospitalized while they wean him off. The slurring is a very frightening symptom... I hope you're able to get help on an emergency basis.

I especially want to agree with a no-blame approach. It sounds like he needs reassurance just desperately, and that's such a painful place to be in -- I really feel for him. Many good thoughts for you and your husband... I hope he can get free of this quickly.
 

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Originally Posted by Satai

Please don't just flush his medication down the toilet, for two reasons:

1. It automatically makes you the enemy. He is an adult - he may be ill, but he is not your prisoner, and if he's addicted, he will be irrational, and he will be likely to distrust any further discussion/whatever on your part.
2. MORE IMPORTANTLY, unless you actually understand addiction, do not mess with his medication with out expect advice; some substances (and I do not know if Xanax is one of them) become lethal if one is addicted and they are then withdrawn.

Please take no ACTIVE action until you are certain the advice you have been given will not cause more harm than it allivates.
Do not mess with his medication. If xanax is like valium they take you off it gradually or it can become dangerous!
 
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beck4582

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I really want to thank everyone for the support. I can't begin to tell you how much this has helped. I know there is no "quick fix" - that this is going to be a long healing process. He is severly depressed and has a lot of issues to work through. I would be explaining all day if I tried to go into it all, so I won't, but I really just wanted to thank you guys. I'll let you know as soon as I have more information.

On a cute note, Pepper knows he doesn't feel well and has been snuggling with him a lot...
 
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