POLICY: MESSAGES POSTED ON THIS SITE REGARDING THE USE OF XANAX OR ATIVAN AND OTHER MEDICATIONS FOR FLYING, IT WILL BE REMOVED.
Medication is between you and your doctor. Even though your doctor prescribes them there are risks.
No anti-anxiety medication - when taken properly - is strong enough to do more than "take the edge off". Often they do not help at all.
When the proper dose fails to provide the desired relief there is a temptation to use alcohol in addition.
DO NOT COMBINE MEDICATION WITH ALCOHOL. DOING SO DURING FLIGHT WHERE THE AIR IS THINK CAN BE FATAL.
1. The majority of psychiatrists never prescribe them or prescribe them only with great caution with carefully screened clients.
2. Doctors who are not psychiatrists often do not understand the risks (or, just give patients what they want in spite of the risk).
WHAT ARE THE OTHER RISKS?
1. Dependency. Once dependency exists, getting off these meds is more difficult than getting off heroin.
2. Sieizures. Once dependent, the only way to get off them safely is to be hospitalized and weaned off them because to come off too rapidly can cause siezures.
3. Fatal Interaction With Alcohol. When in the throws of high anxiety, when one has already taken Xanax and finds it is not working, it is common for the person to take another dose and then have a few drinks. This can be fatal. Alcohol and Xanax (or Ativan) when combined causes a disturbance in the regulation of breathing.
You may want to be knocked out, but do you want to stop breathing when knocked out?
4. Birth Defects. Animal studies indicate the possibility of birth defects when these meds are used in the earliest stages of pregnancy, such as becoming unexpectedly pregnant.
5. Limited effectiveness (part a). Xanax and Ativan do not work at all for one person in three.
6. Limited effectiveness (part b). For those who do respond to Xanax and Ativan, a safe dosage will not "knock you out", will not cause you to "feel nothing" but will only take a bit of the edge off.
ITS A "NO-BRAINER"
Once you know the risks of Xanax and Ativan, whether to use them or not is a no-brainer.
These medications are not a responsible way to deal with anxiety either on a daily basis or for flying.
If you need medications on a daily basis for anxiety, and you are being prescribed Xanax or Ativan, you need to find a responsible psychiatrist who will switch you to a non-addictive alternative.
If you think you need Xanax or Ativan for flying, think again. At safe levels, they provide limited relief or no relief at all.
A word about meds for day-to-day anxiety (non flying anxiety). If a doctor prescribes Xanax or Ativan for routine use, find another doctor. That is simply not responsible, and there is no question about it. Why? Because there are anti-anxiety medications which are effective and which are not addictive such as Buspar, Lexapro, Zoloft, and other SSRIs.
If after all this, you still are going to use Xanax or Ativan, educate yourself thoroughly on the internet.
Here is some of what you will find at www.drugs.com.
Xanax is habit forming. You can become physically and psychologically dependent on the medication. Do not take more than the prescribed amount of medication or take it for longer than is directed by your doctor. Withdrawal effects may occur if Xanax is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use. Seizures may be a side effect of sudden discontinuation of the medication. Your doctor may recommend a gradual reduction in dose.
Avoid alcohol while taking Xanax.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you
have kidney disease;
have liver disease;
have a history of alcohol or drug abuse;
have asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or another
respiratory disease;
are depressed or have suicidal thoughts; or
have mania, bipolar disorder, or another psychiatric
condition (other than anxiety or panic disorder).
Xanax is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that Xanax is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether Xanax passes into breast milk. Do not take Xanax without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
And then it comes to mind, why use anti-anxiety meds which lead to dependency when there are anti-anxiety meds which do NOT lead to dependency.
Ah, the answer is, you have to take them for a couple of weeks - maybe more - before you get relief. Of course, once you do get relief from them, the relief continues, AND you don't have the risk of addiction.
For example, buspar (see www.drugs.com)
What is Buspar?
Buspar is an anti-anxiety medicine. Buspar affects chemicals in your brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.
Buspar is used to reduce fear, tension, and anxiety associated with anxiety disorders.
Buspar may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
It may be several weeks before you start to feel better, but do not stop taking Buspar without first talking to your doctor.
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Although unlikely, it is possible that you will experience some drowsiness or dizziness at the start of therapy with Buspar. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking Buspar.
Note: you CAN take alcohol with buspar, though you must not with Xanax.
Research shows buspar is at least as effective as Xanax and Ativan, but it is not "popular" because it takes weeks to take effect.
Medication is between you and your doctor. Even though your doctor prescribes them there are risks.
No anti-anxiety medication - when taken properly - is strong enough to do more than "take the edge off". Often they do not help at all.
When the proper dose fails to provide the desired relief there is a temptation to use alcohol in addition.
DO NOT COMBINE MEDICATION WITH ALCOHOL. DOING SO DURING FLIGHT WHERE THE AIR IS THINK CAN BE FATAL.
1. The majority of psychiatrists never prescribe them or prescribe them only with great caution with carefully screened clients.
2. Doctors who are not psychiatrists often do not understand the risks (or, just give patients what they want in spite of the risk).
WHAT ARE THE OTHER RISKS?
1. Dependency. Once dependency exists, getting off these meds is more difficult than getting off heroin.
2. Sieizures. Once dependent, the only way to get off them safely is to be hospitalized and weaned off them because to come off too rapidly can cause siezures.
3. Fatal Interaction With Alcohol. When in the throws of high anxiety, when one has already taken Xanax and finds it is not working, it is common for the person to take another dose and then have a few drinks. This can be fatal. Alcohol and Xanax (or Ativan) when combined causes a disturbance in the regulation of breathing.
You may want to be knocked out, but do you want to stop breathing when knocked out?
4. Birth Defects. Animal studies indicate the possibility of birth defects when these meds are used in the earliest stages of pregnancy, such as becoming unexpectedly pregnant.
5. Limited effectiveness (part a). Xanax and Ativan do not work at all for one person in three.
6. Limited effectiveness (part b). For those who do respond to Xanax and Ativan, a safe dosage will not "knock you out", will not cause you to "feel nothing" but will only take a bit of the edge off.
ITS A "NO-BRAINER"
Once you know the risks of Xanax and Ativan, whether to use them or not is a no-brainer.
These medications are not a responsible way to deal with anxiety either on a daily basis or for flying.
If you need medications on a daily basis for anxiety, and you are being prescribed Xanax or Ativan, you need to find a responsible psychiatrist who will switch you to a non-addictive alternative.
If you think you need Xanax or Ativan for flying, think again. At safe levels, they provide limited relief or no relief at all.
A word about meds for day-to-day anxiety (non flying anxiety). If a doctor prescribes Xanax or Ativan for routine use, find another doctor. That is simply not responsible, and there is no question about it. Why? Because there are anti-anxiety medications which are effective and which are not addictive such as Buspar, Lexapro, Zoloft, and other SSRIs.
If after all this, you still are going to use Xanax or Ativan, educate yourself thoroughly on the internet.
Here is some of what you will find at www.drugs.com.
Xanax is habit forming. You can become physically and psychologically dependent on the medication. Do not take more than the prescribed amount of medication or take it for longer than is directed by your doctor. Withdrawal effects may occur if Xanax is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use. Seizures may be a side effect of sudden discontinuation of the medication. Your doctor may recommend a gradual reduction in dose.
Avoid alcohol while taking Xanax.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you
have kidney disease;
have liver disease;
have a history of alcohol or drug abuse;
have asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or another
respiratory disease;
are depressed or have suicidal thoughts; or
have mania, bipolar disorder, or another psychiatric
condition (other than anxiety or panic disorder).
Xanax is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that Xanax is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether Xanax passes into breast milk. Do not take Xanax without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
And then it comes to mind, why use anti-anxiety meds which lead to dependency when there are anti-anxiety meds which do NOT lead to dependency.
Ah, the answer is, you have to take them for a couple of weeks - maybe more - before you get relief. Of course, once you do get relief from them, the relief continues, AND you don't have the risk of addiction.
For example, buspar (see www.drugs.com)
What is Buspar?
Buspar is an anti-anxiety medicine. Buspar affects chemicals in your brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.
Buspar is used to reduce fear, tension, and anxiety associated with anxiety disorders.
Buspar may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
It may be several weeks before you start to feel better, but do not stop taking Buspar without first talking to your doctor.
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Although unlikely, it is possible that you will experience some drowsiness or dizziness at the start of therapy with Buspar. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking Buspar.
Note: you CAN take alcohol with buspar, though you must not with Xanax.
Research shows buspar is at least as effective as Xanax and Ativan, but it is not "popular" because it takes weeks to take effect.
