Xanax (anxiolytic addiction and withdrawal)

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Gwen Olsen spent fifteen years as a pharmaceutical sales rep working for such health care giants as Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Abbott Laboratories. She enjoyed a successful, fast-paced career until several conscious-altering experiences began awakening her to the dangers lurking in every American medicine cabinet. Her most poignant lessons, however, came as both victim and survivor of life-threatening adverse drug reactions. After leaving pharmaceutical sales in 2000, Gwen worked in the natural foods industry first as an Account Manager for Nature's Way, and then as a Regional Sales Manager for Gaia Herbs. She is currently a writer, speaker, and natural health consultant.

In this video Gwen discusses anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications). These medications are sometimes also called minor tranquilizers. These drugs include the benzodiazephines such as Valium, Xanax and Ativan. Buspar is also non-benzodiazephine anxiolytic.

These drugs are highly addictive and people experience severe withdrawal symptoms when coming off of these drugs.

Gwen specifically talks about her own Xanax addiction.

She also discusses "rebound syndrome" and "discontinuation syndrome", which are basically just withdrawal symptoms.







Channel: Education
Uploaded: May 11, 2007 at 1:28 am
Author: psychetruth

Length: 00:07:11
Rating: 4.63
Views: 44895

Tags: Xanax ativan valium addiction withdrawal psychiatry anxiety ocd social disorder mental health gwen olsen psychtruth

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Video Comments:
mahpiohazi (December 3, 2008 at 10:02 pm)
Addict of 6 years per myself and psychiatrist. Currently weaning. Even the weaning is HELL.
badgers2819 (November 26, 2008 at 11:17 am)
some people take xanax cause you can get high and messed up if you snort it or take a whole bunch of it. but its not like weed where you just take it once in a while, once you start taking it you aint gonna be able to stop taking it. you will get withdraws and might have to go to rehab. dont take it if you dont need it
seahawks888 (November 26, 2008 at 10:41 am)
If you didnt have extreme fear before taking xanax then why did u start taking it? its only for people that have extreme paranoia and panick attacks like i have thats why i cant go a day without it.
psychetruth (November 26, 2008 at 11:27 am)
Doctors will prescribe Xanax for much more mild form of anxiety than extreme paranoia or panic attacks. It's commonly prescribed for stress.

In fact recently my mother was prescribed it prior to operation so she wouldn't worry too much about the operation.

No panic attacks are needed to get a prescription, many docs will prescribe it if you just complain about stress.

Also extreme paranoia is usually medicated with antipsychotics drugs.
cirexlab (November 23, 2008 at 2:52 pm)
Don;t use it
I have been struggle to get em off.. My maximal dosage I was 6mg..when I was on 2mg daily I cut Cold Turkey.. I have been 6 days no Xanax, today the Shaking legs is gone.. but how it last for the fear and anxiety goes away?? I mean, even before I use xanax this extreme fear was not in my life.. xanax is destroying
seahawks888 (November 21, 2008 at 4:50 am)
yea im so addicted to it to theres no way i can get off it. been on it for over 5 years
BarryInMissouri (December 1, 2008 at 5:54 pm)
After being on Xanax for 8 years I decided to get off of it. I did a 30 dat taper which was not nearly anough time so the withdeaws were extreamly painfull and lasted about 6 months. I still had side effects from the Xanax for another year and a half but not nearly as bad as the first 6 months. If you truly want off of this drug or other Benzo's you could probably do it but you will need the support of your family and working would almost be out of the question. Hopefully you can do it.
JonnyTommyGuns (November 20, 2008 at 2:47 am)
I want to quit xanax but im just scared of the withdrawl symptoms. Even before I started xanax I was very aware of the side effects so I have a very low dose. I take one .5mg xr xanax once a day. This is for panic attacks too so I assume I will have extremely bad attacks after I quit. Any suggestions as to what could help me through the withdrawl?
midoriwow (November 19, 2008 at 5:47 pm)
i was put on xanax for the first time at age 17, 120 2MG pills/month. Kind of ridiculous. I became addicted to a drug and entered rehab. I had seizures even when I was ON xanax, because I wasn't on enough of it. I have taken 30MG of xanax in one day, amounts that would KILL a first time user. There is no reason for xanax or any drug like it to be on a mainstream market. benzos feel nice but they suck. some of you might say it was me. well, it's not. it's science. you can't argue with chemistry.
ovrth3rainbow (November 19, 2008 at 3:49 pm)
I also was prescibed xanax for mild anxiety when I was 15. After a year my anxiety had gotten alot worse so they upped the mg. The year after I was still on xanax but couldn't go to school off it without having severe panic attacks. By the next year I was addicted and found myself not leaving the house without taking it.