I've been prescribed Xanax XR 1 mg for over a year now. Over the past two weeks I've been interested in 'abusing' it, I've taken about 3 mg before, about 6 months ago, and felt very messed up, but over the past 1.5 weeks I've been VERY stressed out and have taken anywhere from 3 mg Xanax XR to 4 mg Xanax XR daily. I am also prescribed 0.5 mg Ativan at night, since 2 months ago. I have noticed that 3 mg Xanax XR does not make me messed up anymore, and that is from about a week and a half of taking that much. Is tolerance supposed to go up this quickly? The first time I took 3 mg a week and a half ago I was really messed up. Now I barely feel it. So last night I crushed up 2 1mg Xanax XR and took it and felt it a little more then because it wasn't extended release. My question is just about the tolerance? Is it normal to go up that fast? My second questions is this: When your tolerance goes up and you don't become sedated from the dosage anymore do the anxiolytic effects still remain? Because I am prescribed it for anxiety. Thanks!
Xanax is considered a "short term" benzo (why an extended release form is available is beyond me...oh, yeah: Marketing!). Tolerance to any benzo will usually develope quite rapidly. Your doctor isn't doing any service to you by adding Ativan. Just do the research if you have an inkling to abuse these meds.
I took Ativan last night, two pills..I felt pretty damn good all night..could focus well, and felt no stress, and lots of confidence. Today, I got a prescription for Xanax (for my anxiety)..I took two pills right away, and really felt nothing, except a little tired. I don't know how Xanax could be used recreationally. To me, it was like a placebo..maybe I just need more? Or maybe my anxiety is so high, I need something stronger.
OP: Benzo tolerance is no joke. it goes up daily, but not in incriments of whole pills necessarily. it keeps going up, and the tolerance applies to all of the affects, most importantly, the affects that you are taking them medically for.
Thanks. I took 3 1/2 of the .5mg pills today -- 2 pills, then 1 1/2 pills an hour later. I didn't want to get too crazy, since I had just smoked bud and had to drive to the university to teach right afterwards (lol). As soon as I got in the car to leave, I kept thinking about all these funny memories and couldn't get this huge smile off my face for about 10 minutes! It was great.. I was feeling great for about 3 hours, now I'm just coming down, getting tired..it's really nice. I feel confident, relaxed, and euphoric. I don't know if that's typical or not..I already have it as a prescription for anxiety anyway, so it might affect me differently from most people.
