How to get Xanax (for legitimate reasons?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Benzos are a popular drug of abuse and I think asking for a specific one by name will set off screaming alarm bells for a doctor and flag you as a potential drug seeker, rightly or wrongly. They hear every excuse and lie in the book and can get in trouble with the licensing board for prescribing controlled dangerous substances without very good reason. So they are cautious. I would not ask for Xanax specifically next time.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My primary care physician suggested it as a stop gap measure while we waited for the SSRI to work effectively.

She's refilled it a few times since then. .

I was prescribed Xanax as needed for "travel" about 10 yrs ago- when my anxiety and panic was acutely triggered by plane travel and then later, pretty much any travel.

Prescribed a low dose and just a few pills. Xanax gave me my life back and obliterated the intense anticipatory anxiety that I had experienced every since I was 5.

Now I carry around the prescription bottle with one Xanax pretty much everywhere I go. It's my security blanket. Just knowing that relief is there soothes me and gets me through the event.

Advice for getting this prescribed:

- I bring in my bottle of pills (usually full) to show my prescriber.

- My parent was an alcoholic; I am a teetotaler. My NP knows this.

- I take this exactly as prescribed: AS NEEDED and I try not to take it more than 2 days in a row.

You sound addicted.

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to abuse Xanax?

I thought Xanax was non-addictive!!!

That's what my PCP told me when she pushed it on me for covid related anxiety. I've never had anxiety before but with 3 kids home, no job, terrified of my parents dying, and my unemployment still not approved, she recommended it. I've been taking it but this thread scares me that I'll get addicted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to abuse Xanax?

I thought Xanax was non-addictive!!!

That's what my PCP told me when she pushed it on me for covid related anxiety. I've never had anxiety before but with 3 kids home, no job, terrified of my parents dying, and my unemployment still not approved, she recommended it. I've been taking it but this thread scares me that I'll get addicted.

??? Who is your PCP? Benzodiazepine drugs are highly addictive, and that's not exactly a secret. I'd be worried about other things your doctor is saying.

(Sorry about your anxiety, though)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to abuse Xanax?

I thought Xanax was non-addictive!!!

That's what my PCP told me when she pushed it on me for covid related anxiety. I've never had anxiety before but with 3 kids home, no job, terrified of my parents dying, and my unemployment still not approved, she recommended it. I've been taking it but this thread scares me that I'll get addicted.

Benzos are highly addictive and Xanax is commonly abused. It’s also one of the classes of drugs where the withdrawal can kill you if you go off it cold turkey. I’d get a new PCP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Addiction nurse here. Gosh. Did it ever occur to you to follow medical guidance? Your psychiatrist and your PCP don't want to write you for this medication. I can certainly believe it worked well for you in the past, but they are right to be cautious. It should really only be a "MRI, plane ride" type occasional med. Not "getting me through a stressful period of days...weeks...etc." While you weren't willing to tolerate side effects of the SSRI meds, you are ok tolerating the high potential for addiction with this one?

Thanks for the condescension but first of all- as stated in my op, I have not yet seen or been given any guidance from a psychiatrist. My question was whether it would be more effective/appropriate to consult one in this case.

My prior PCP of many years (and whose medical guidance I trusted) believed it was appropriate to provide me with a short term prescription for Xanax during a specific high stress situation- and it worked effectively for me without issue. So no, just because one subsequent pcp is hesitant to provide it does not mean I’m going to now take their word as gospel. Clearly some physicians have a knee-jerk reaction against prescribing it, but judging from the wide range of responses there is not medical consensus.

No, I am not particularly worried about the risk of addiction because 1. I know myself and that I am extremely cautious with meds/ don’t have an addictive personality. 2. When I was prescribed it a few years ago I took it only sporadically as indicated and less than the maximum dose and had no issues stopping (with pills left over) once the circumstances improved. I have not felt any need to take it since then until now.

I appreciate the advice/experiences shared by other posters!

[Anonymous]

I got Xanax and Klonopin from a psychiatrist. She seemed unconcerned about liberally prescribing it to me, but she knew me well enough to know that I didn't have the personality to abuse it. (In other words, she knew I was anxious enough about becoming dependent on it that I would never let myself become dependent on it.)

[Anonymous]

Your best route is developing an established relationship with a psychiatrist. That is how I get my medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Addiction nurse here. Gosh. Did it ever occur to you to follow medical guidance? Your psychiatrist and your PCP don't want to write you for this medication. I can certainly believe it worked well for you in the past, but they are right to be cautious. It should really only be a "MRI, plane ride" type occasional med. Not "getting me through a stressful period of days...weeks...etc." While you weren't willing to tolerate side effects of the SSRI meds, you are ok tolerating the high potential for addiction with this one?

Thanks for the condescension but first of all- as stated in my op, I have not yet seen or been given any guidance from a psychiatrist. My question was whether it would be more effective/appropriate to consult one in this case.

My prior PCP of many years (and whose medical guidance I trusted) believed it was appropriate to provide me with a short term prescription for Xanax during a specific high stress situation- and it worked effectively for me without issue. So no, just because one subsequent pcp is hesitant to provide it does not mean I’m going to now take their word as gospel. Clearly some physicians have a knee-jerk reaction against prescribing it, but judging from the wide range of responses there is not medical consensus.

No, I am not particularly worried about the risk of addiction because 1. I know myself and that I am extremely cautious with meds/ don’t have an addictive personality. 2. When I was prescribed it a few years ago I took it only sporadically as indicated and less than the maximum dose and had no issues stopping (with pills left over) once the circumstances improved. I have not felt any need to take it since then until now.

I appreciate the advice/experiences shared by other posters!

OP, the pendulum has swung on this class of drugs since you were prescribed it by your GP. Some of this is a reflection of reality; these drugs were perceived as almost harmless, and they aren't harmless (see PP whose PCP did not know that Xanax is addictive! This is how it was marketed when it was released in 1986--but for a physician not to know this now is almost criminal) and some is overreaction to the opiate crisis. (Some is legitimate reaction to the opiate crisis--many opiate overdose deaths involve benzodiazepines as well).

Because of this, most PCPs kick all consideration of benzodiazepines for anything but medical procedures to psychiatrists. Do go see one and discuss the whole history.

[Anonymous]

I had a horrible medical ...event and because of a chronic illness, I have to have this particular procedure annually. So my doctor gives me a prescription of 5 a year. One for the night before, one for the morning of and one for after if things go really bad again. The other two, and I'm not kidding, for if I accidently "drop one in the toilet". That is exactly what he said.

FWIW, I don't get how they are addictive. I just feel...ok with getting all kinds of things jabbed into my body painfully but if that wasn't happening, I wouldn't need the pills.

[Anonymous]

I initially got it for flying and get the lowest dose refilled about every 9 months (30). I take it for flying (ha!), and to unclench my jaw when it is alarmingly tight which has been a chronic issue. I never take more than one in a row, never two days in a row. I think I’ve taken it maybe three times in 5 years for “stressful situations” like a panic attack or the day my child had surgery as they headed in because I needed to function without panicking. It does not make me groggy. It does the job. I take the smallest dose only.

My pcp has a record of my refills which are steady hit infrequent.

How often do you intend to use it and what for? I find that having a REAL reason is the key. I’d never ask for it “to have around just in case.”

[Anonymous]

As many have said, your best route is to see a psychiatrist who can do a complete work up on your mental health and then develop a treatment plan. My psychiatrist prescribed me an SSRI and also prescribed a benzo (klonopin) to use until we got the SSRI dosage right. He also prescribes me gabapentin off label for anxiety. Psychiatrists know ALL the meds and how to prescribe them for optimum effect.

[Anonymous]

My psychiatrist has no issue with prescribing Xanax for me. I've been on anxiety medication for 15 years and I take Xanax occasionally when I feel a panic attack coming on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to abuse Xanax?

I thought Xanax was non-addictive!!!

That's what my PCP told me when she pushed it on me for covid related anxiety. I've never had anxiety before but with 3 kids home, no job, terrified of my parents dying, and my unemployment still not approved, she recommended it. I've been taking it but this thread scares me that I'll get addicted.

I came on here to post that pcps are generally much more casual about prescribing Xanax than psychiatrists (because psychiatrists often manage the consequences of cavalier pcp prescriptions.)

Yes, benzos in general and particularly Xanax are potentially highly addictive. Go to a psychiatrist and ask about switching to something less habit forming. Do not stop abruptly as it is dangerous.

[Anonymous]

I had a psychiatrist tell me it is really hard to prescribe and suggest I just drink wine - which seemed like an odd response but that is what I do now...