Xanax - does it work??

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DianaT
DianaT Member Posts: 532
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

My onc just prescribed this for me.  Any advice, things to watch out for, side effects?

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  • drgnfly
    drgnfly Member Posts: 111
    edited December 2008

    I took xanax at night to help me sleep, when I had a surgery or appointment that I was anxious about, or when I was having a rough day. I found a dosage that was good for me, just took the edge off of my nerves but never made me feel like I couldn't function. I would take a whole .5 mg pill pre-surgery. I don't think I would have been able to do the things I did without it. I took 1/2 of a pill at night for almost a full year just to help me turn off the worry in my mind so I could sleep. When I decided to stop I did not have any problems at all. I take melatonin at night now, and even though I have hot flashes that wake me I am able to get a pretty good night's sleep. So my suggestion is to take the xanax when you are anxious or feeling overwhelmed. It will help you.

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  • car
    car Member Posts: 492
    edited December 2008

    Two of my friends have been on/off xanax and have had no problems. I was on it during my DIEP surgery since the morphine and generally what was going on was giving me panic attacks. I do know that it's a standard anti-anxiety med.

    A good source to research meds and side effects is medlineplus.gov, which is affiliated w/the National LIbrary of Medicine and the NIH. Just type the medication in the search box and it'll provide you w/a ton of information. 

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  • DianaT
    DianaT Member Posts: 532
    edited December 2008

    Thank you. Searching now.

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  • ksmerrill
    ksmerrill Member Posts: 26
    edited December 2008

    Here are my opinions:  Xanax works beautifully for anxiety, especially the panicky kind that comes on suddenly, like a panic attack, or when you have a scan or something similar that is making you really worried.  This would be considered "situational anxiety."

    However, if you are having chronic anxiety, and pretty much feel worried all the time, that would fall into the "generalized anxiety" type, and I don't think Xanax is the best way to manage it.  Xanax can make you feel quite out of it and your short-term memoy will suffer (I blame the chemo for everything, though).  I would recommend Lexapro, Cymbalta, or something similar if that's what your anxiety looks like.  

    Glad you got some help, though.  Xanax was my first medication I got to help with my anxiety and I wish I had gotten it much sooner!  :)

    Kristy

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  • PuddinTame
    PuddinTame Member Posts: 128
    edited December 2008

    I took xanax before my wire-guided stereotactic biopsy and before my MRI.  I also took one yesterday because I had to wait several hours at the hospital for my mastectomy.  I think they are great for calming nerves and allowing me to take a deep breath.  But, I don't think I would take them long term.  I agree that an antipressant might work better.  I take Wellbutrin daily (from way before BC).

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  • jgallo
    jgallo Member Posts: 18
    edited December 2008

    Diana I will tell you that I too was prescribed Xanax which is what got me through the first month after my diagnosis. Only made me tired and relaxed just the way I wanted to be. I hope it works as well for you good luck.

    Judy 

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  • DianaT
    DianaT Member Posts: 532
    edited December 2008

    Thank you ladies.  I almost had a break down yesterday, my heart racing, crying ~ just a plane slob. The pharmacy wouldn't give the prescription to me because the lady that took the script over the phone wrote down my wrong birth year.  Luckily the pharmacist knows me (sad to say at 31) and called my dr.  I brought in my onc's and nurses Christmas presents today and my NP told me how everyone goes thru different emotions and the xanax is ok to take until I get in to see the psychologist that specializes in oncology patients. We will see what he has to say after I see him.

    Thank you again ladies. 

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