Xanax dosage range

I was up to 5mg per day for about four years (1995-99...panic started in 1995) and then I tapered down to about 1 mg/day for the past several years until I had a relapse recently. I'm currently taking 6 mg/day, but want to increase it to 7mg/day. Clearly I would want to taper way down again once I'm feeling better for awhile.

So, I'm just wondering what folks on here think about high doses of Xanax. Right now I take it five times a day. Two doses are 1.5 mg, and three doses are 1 mg. I feel much, much better when I take the 1.5 mg doses, so I'd like to increase my total daily dosage by 1 mg so that four of my doses would be 1.5mg. (I'd just take 1 mg at bedtime.)

I've read that the max is 10mg, but my doctor seems to think 5-6 is the max.

Thoughts would be appreciated! And yes, I am concerned about tolerance, but heartened by the fact that back in the 90s I never had tolerance issues.

Dan

Hey Dan,

I'm sorry that no-one has yet replied - Perhaps no-one has been in your situation before. Whatever you do, don't be silly enough to self-medicate your own dosages, okay? Drugs - in general - are powerful things and you, I, or anyone else should'nt mess around with them. I have witnessed first-hand the power they have.

I'm not sure as to the max Xanax that should be consumed in a day is. However I'm surprised your doctor is still allowing you to use Xanax like this, from the way you talk about it your pretty much heavily addicted to this little pill. I've taken Xanax before, and yeah it's one hell of a great thing to take. However I usually take one like once a month, and do like 2 mg of it in one shot, get a good 13 hours of sleep and I end up feeling like a million bucks for the next 3-4 days. Xanax is a HIGHLY addicting drug, which is why I find it weird that your doctor keeps giving it to you instead of switching it up with some other similar medications so you don't develop physical addiction. Anyone I've ever known with a Xanax prescription usually gets 1-2 refills on it and then the doctor will pull them off, and if they are still having problems prescribe some form of anti-depressant. On the actual question, of how much is to much? Your doctor is telling you 5-6mg, I find that being the safe answer. Personally I would say listen to your doctor, but I'm sure he is given you a low number to keep himself safe of a malpractice suit. I remember when I tore every ligament in my ankle and was prescribed Percocet 10mg pills, and the doctor told me the max I was allowed to take was 3 a day or it could cause health complications. I've since realized that was ridiculous as with any form of painkiller your body forces itself to purge any excess if you take to much at once, not to mention I've since done like 2 Roxicet which are 30 mg a piece in a single swoop and was more than fine (was great actually). So I say stick to what your doctor said, but I don't think going over will kill you, I just think you've grown into an addiction and should really cut back.

Khy wrote:I'm not sure as to the max Xanax that should be consumed in a day is. However I'm surprised your doctor is still allowing you to use Xanax like this, from the way you talk about it your pretty much heavily addicted to this little pill. I've taken Xanax before, and yeah it's one hell of a great thing to take. However I usually take one like once a month, and do like 2 mg of it in one shot, get a good 13 hours of sleep and I end up feeling like a million bucks for the next 3-4 days. Xanax is a HIGHLY addicting drug, which is why I find it weird that your doctor keeps giving it to you instead of switching it up with some other similar medications so you don't develop physical addiction. Anyone I've ever known with a Xanax prescription usually gets 1-2 refills on it and then the doctor will pull them off, and if they are still having problems prescribe some form of anti-depressant. On the actual question, of how much is to much? Your doctor is telling you 5-6mg, I find that being the safe answer. Personally I would say listen to your doctor, but I'm sure he is given you a low number to keep himself safe of a malpractice suit. I remember when I tore every ligament in my ankle and was prescribed Percocet 10mg pills, and the doctor told me the max I was allowed to take was 3 a day or it could cause health complications. I've since realized that was ridiculous as with any form of painkiller your body forces itself to purge any excess if you take to much at once, not to mention I've since done like 2 Roxicet which are 30 mg a piece in a single swoop and was more than fine (was great actually). So I say stick to what your doctor said, but I don't think going over will kill you, I just think you've grown into an addiction and should really cut back.

I've been taking it for 15 years now. When I was well I was able to cut down my dosage by 80%, and was on the road to being off completely until I had a relapse three months ago. I plan on cutting down again once I feel stabilized for awhile. I have a disease, and this medication helps tremendously. I'm physically dependent upon it, but so what? I don't abuse it, have never taken more than prescribed, and it has allowed me to live a normal life.

dtc17, I hada been taking Lexapro for four years before I started to try to come off of it, and that took around a year in total. It just has to be done very slowly and with caution. For example, in the days following a reduction in dosage, take it easy in your life and try to bear with it as much as possible. Your body will just have to readjust. Arguably, the biggest thing that you could do is get a good night's sleep each night on the days following the reduction.

Take care,
Kevin

Medication should only be taken if needed. Only if needed to control the situation. It should not be taken regularly. Be aware of its side effects which is also very hard to control.

Cassandra Evers wrote:Medication should only be taken if needed. Only if needed to control the situation. It should not be taken regularly. Be aware of its side effects which is also very hard to control.

Im sorry, but that's just false. Medication is supposed to be taken regularly (for most types), and not everybody gets the same side-effects. There are more people in the world who have benefitted from medication, than there are those who have not benefitted.

Kevin

The dosage depends on the individual person as it is very important to consult your Doctor before starting any medication for the anxiety, panic attacks and depression, as the drugs for this things are addictive and if taken for a longer time then you will be habited to it.

Thanks for sharing such kind of useful information about Xanax dosage range. It is very helpful and interesting for every one. According to me i think that Xanax Tablets contain alprazolam which is a triazolo analog of the 1,4 benzodiazepine class of central nervous system-active compounds.

It is very helpful and interesting topic to discuss about Xanax dosage range. Every one can share their thoughts about it. According to me i think that Dosage should be individualised for maximum beneficial effect.The successful treatment of many panic disorder patients has required the use of XANAX at doses greater than 4 mg daily