Is Xanax Safe to Take Just Once?

[Geo]

Loud incidents keep happening around me.

Today I got exposed to a truck horn alarm and a 4wheeler again going up my street.

My ears have hit another high... Can't take this, I keep shaking from pain and loudness and my anxiety is high right now...

I'm positive I ain't sleeping tonight... I

have Xanax which I never used and I am scared too from stories but if it will calm my nerves and help me sleep a couple of hours I guess it's worth it...

I also read someone waking up from a louder spike after taking it as I cant afford any more spikes...

Is it safe just to take it once for tonight not planning on using it frequently? Well I hope not...

 

[Danny Boy]

Loud incidents keep happening around me.

Today I got exposed to a truck horn alarm and a 4wheeler again going up my street.

My ears have hit another high... Can't take this, I keep shaking from pain and loudness and my anxiety is high right now...

I'm positive I ain't sleeping tonight... I

have Xanax which I never used and I am scared too from stories but if it will calm my nerves and help me sleep a couple of hours I guess it's worth it...

I also read someone waking up from a louder spike after taking it as I cant afford any more spikes...

Is it safe just to take it once for tonight not planning on using it frequently? Well I hope not...

You won't take keppra but you'd take xanax which is highly addictive and dangerous. Craziness.

 

[Danny Boy]

More common

• Being forgetful
• changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
• clumsiness or unsteadiness
• difficulty with coordination
• discouragement
• drowsiness
• feeling sad or empty
• irritability
• lack of appetite
• lightheadedness
• loss of interest or pleasure
• relaxed and calm
• shakiness and unsteady walk
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
• slurred speech
• tiredness
• trouble concentrating
• trouble in speaking
• trouble performing routine tasks
• trouble sleeping
• unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• blurred vision
• body aches or pain
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles, or tingling feelings
• changes in behavior
• chills
• clay-colored stools
• confusion about identity, place, and time
• cough
• dark urine
• decrease in frequency of urination
• decrease in urine volume
• diarrhea
• difficult or labored breathing
• difficulty in moving
• difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
• difficulty with concentration
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
• dry mouth
• ear congestion
• environment seems unreal
• fainting
• fear or nervousness
• feeling of unreality
• feeling warm
• fever
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• headache
• hyperventilation
• inability to move eyes
• inability to sit still
• increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid
• irregular heartbeats
• itching
• joint pain
• lack or loss of self-control
• loss of bladder control
• loss of coordination
• loss of memory
• loss of voice
• mood or mental changes
• muscle aching or cramping
• muscle pain or stiffness
• muscle weakness
• nasal congestion
• nausea
• need to keep moving
• painful urination
• problems with memory
• rash
• restlessness
• runny nose
• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• seizures
• sense of detachment from self or body
• shaking
• shivering
• shortness of breath
• sneezing
• sore throat
• sticking out of the tongue
• sweating
• swollen joints
• talkativeness
• tightness in the chest
• trouble in breathing, speaking, or swallowing
• trouble with balance
• twitching, twisting, or uncontrolled repetitive movements of the tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs
• uncontrolled twisting movements of the neck, trunk, arms, or legs
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
• unusual facial expressions
• unusually deep sleep
• unusually long duration of sleep
• vomiting of blood
• wheezing
• yellow eyes or skin

Rare

• Actions that are out of control
• attack, assault, or force
• chest pain
• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in ears
• decreased awareness or responsiveness
• deep or fast breathing with dizziness
• ear pain
• false or unusual sense of well-being
• fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
• feeling jittery
• feeling unusually cold
• generalized slowing of mental and physical activity
• hearing loss
• hoarseness
• lack of feeling or emotion
• loss of control of the legs
• loss of strength or energy
• nightmares
• numbness of the feet, hands, and around mouth
• severe sleepiness
• shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
• sleep talking
• sleeplessness
• swelling
• talking, feeling, and acting with excitement
• thoughts of killing oneself
• unable to sleep
• uncaring
• unusual weak feeling
• voice changes

Incidence not known

• General tiredness and weakness
• light-colored stools
• stomach pain, continuing
• upper right abdominal pain

Some alprazolam side effects may not need any medical attention. As your body gets used to the medicine these side effects may disappear. Your health care professional may be able to help you prevent or reduce these side effects, but do check with them if any of the following side effects continue, or if you are concerned about them:

More common

• Absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods
• decreased appetite
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• decreased sexual performance or desire abnormal ejaculation
• difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
• inability to have or keep an erection
• increased appetite
• increased in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• increased interest in sexual intercourse
• increased weight
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• stopping of menstrual bleeding
• watering of mouth
• weight loss

Less common

• Abdominal bloating and cramping
• blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
• change in taste bad unusual or unpleasant (after) taste
• cracked, dry, or scaly skin
• cramps
• double vision
• feeling of warmth
• heavy bleeding
• menstrual changes
• pain
• pelvic pain
• redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• seeing double
• sudden sweating
• unexplained runny nose or sneezing

Rare

• Acid or sour stomach
• belching
• bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils (black part of eye)
• change in color vision
• difficulty seeing at night
• feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• feeling of relaxation
• heartburn
• hives or welts
• increased sensitivity of eyes to sunlight
• indigestion
• redness of skin
• runny nose
• sensation of spinning
• stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
• stuffy nose

Incidence not known

• Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• red, irritated eyes
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males
• unexpected or excess milk flow from breasts

 

[Chelles]

I've never taken Xanax but I've taken ativan (another benzo) once and it didn't spike my tinnitus so I'll say go for it you need rest.

 

[Geo]

I've never taken Xanax but I've taken ativan (another benzo) once and it didn't spike my tinnitus so I'll say go for it you need rest.

yes i do..if i cant sleep in a couple of hours ill just take it to put me out im barely trying to keep my sane right now..

 

[Chelles]

yes i do..if i cant sleep in a couple of hours ill just take it to put me out im barely trying to keep my sane right now..

Quit being stubborn your body needs rest in order to recover so take it and hopefully it will make you sleepy.

 

[PaulBe]

Light coloured stools eh Danny? I had been thinking about refurnishing anyway.

 

[Nick the Swede]

Of course you should take a pill just to get some rest, will do you no harm. Not more likely that you will abuse benzos than alcohol. Just stay disciplined when using them, i think that´s the most important thing.

 

[inadmin]

You won't take keppra but you'd take xanax which is highly addictive and dangerous. Craziness.

You keep recommending it like it's easy to get as an a pill for a headache.

 

[linearb]

the biggest risk with taking Xanax once is that it makes you feel so much better that you want to take it twice and then three times. If you're suffering profoundly and can really keep it to a very occaisional thing, then I'd say go for it, and I say that as someone who struggled with benzos for years.

You keep recommending it like it's easy to get as an a pill for a headache.

I don't know what part of the world you're in; in many countries benzos as still sold over-the-counter; in the US many doctors do give them out at the drop of a hat, and there are a number of benzos which are not legally controlled in the US and thus can be imported with impunity. Dangerous, dangerous!

 

[Markku]

I don't know what part of the world you're in; in many countries benzos as still sold over-the-counter; in the US many doctors do give them out at the drop of a hat, and there are a number of benzos which are not legally controlled in the US and thus can be imported with impunity. Dangerous, dangerous!

I think @inadmin referred to @Danny Boy's habit of recommending Keppra for hyperacusis (not widely prescribed off-label for hyperacusis, so isn't probably trivial to get it prescribed, although I'm not aware of the exact hurdles).

 

[linearb]

I think @inadmin referred to @Danny Boy's habit of recommending Keppra for hyperacusis (not widely prescribed off-label for hyperacusis, so isn't probably trivial to get it prescribed, although I'm not aware of the exact hurdles).

Ah, gotcha. Yeah. He should stop doing that, the plural of 'anecdote' isn't 'data', and while he speaks of the stuff in glowing terms it is a dangerous drug which can have very troubling and severe psychological side effects even after short-term use.

 

[nills]

I took it once as a teenager, to go out ... makes you happy drunk as you have never been drunk before! ... it is most definitely habit forming even after 1 time use because it is just to much fun.

 

[Geo]

the biggest risk with taking Xanax once is that it makes you feel so much better that you want to take it twice and then three times. If you're suffering profoundly and can really keep it to a very occaisional thing, then I'd say go for it, and I say that as someone who struggled with benzos for years.

I don't know what part of the world you're in; in many countries benzos as still sold over-the-counter; in the US many doctors do give them out at the drop of a hat, and there are a number of benzos which are not legally controlled in the US and thus can be imported with impunity. Dangerous, dangerous!

thats what im scared of. taking it one time and being in a good place while on it and taking it over and oaver and not caring.

 

[LadyDi]

Have to chime in. While I respect everyone's opinion, some stuff on this thread is just simply incorrect (or slanted) scare stuff. What is happening with @Geo is a good example of why such posts can be harmful to people who are suffering and might benefit from these medications. Think about that, posters. There is a difference between offering negative opinions about a drug and posting a benzo version of "Reefer Madness."

So @Geo: The best person to answer this question is not us. It's your doctor. Everyone reacts to all medications differently, especially benzodiazepens like Xanax (alprazalom). They are serious drugs and you are wise to proceed with caution.
Here is my opinion (just an opinion and from someone who does not know your medical history):

* One pill will not "hurt" you. It will not make you a crazed drug addict. It is far more likely to help you and calm you down.

* You may have to take it more than once to get the desired results. That's OK. It does not mean you'll be gulping Xanax for the rest of your life.

* TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR! Ask him/her what is the appropriate dose for you. A .5 mg pill is about average. Also, your doctor can help you set limits (take no more than X amount a day, let's take it for only two weeks, etc.) and stick to those limits.

* If you do have a serious history of drug abuse and/or alcoholism, you need to be particularly cautious and perhaps seek another option. Share any addiction history with your doctor. Your doctor can help you decide if you should take a benzo.

This opinion, BTW, comes from someone who took a low dose of Xanax for a little more than a year because of panic-anxiety sparked by tinnitus. I weened off a few months ago. No real problem. Now I do not take benzos any longer -- because I don't need them, although once I did. I am not an addicted, drooling zombie. If you search Tinnitus Talk, you will find plenty of people just like me.

Please, if your doctor feels this might help you in the short term and you truly are suffering, try it -- under medical monitoring and being aware this medication's negatives.

And: I am getting pretty tired of seeing keppra referred to as if its a cure-all with no side effects (Which it has. Like any medication). It doesn't even work for tinnitus.

 

[Danny Boy]

I think @inadmin referred to @Danny Boy's habit of recommending Keppra for hyperacusis (not widely prescribed off-label for hyperacusis, so isn't probably trivial to get it prescribed, although I'm not aware of the exact hurdles).

As I said, let's do a study on tinnitus talk, like we do, for trobalt, to see if it does work for hyperacusis. Anyway, Viking already said his doctor has got data as he's being using it on patients for hyperacusis successfully.

And it does work on the KV3.1 channels, as does Autifony's drug.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20065495

Experimental and simulation studies on the mechanisms of levetiracetam-mediated inhibition of delayed-rectifier potassium current (KV3.1): contribution to the firing of action potentials.
Huang CW1, Tsai JJ, Huang CC, Wu SN.
Author information

Abstract
Levetiracetam (LEV) is an S-enantiomer pyrrolidone derivative with established antiepileptic efficacy in generalized epilepsy and partial epilepsy. However, its effects on ion currents and membrane potential remain largely unclear. We investigated the effect of LEV on differentiated NG108-15 neurons. In these cells treated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP, the expression level of the K(V)3.1 mRNA was elevated. With the aid of patch clamp technology, we found that LEV could suppress the amplitude of delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(K(DR))) in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC(50) value of 37 microM. LEV (30 microM) shifted the steady-state activation of I(K(DR)) to a more positive potential by 10 mV, without shifting the steady-state inactivation of I(K(DR)). Neither Na(+), nor erg (ether-a-go-go-related)-mediated K(+) and ATP-sensitive K(+) currents were affected by LEV (100 microM). LEV increased the duration of action potentials in current clamp configuration. Simulation studies in a modified Hodgkin-Huxley neuron and network unraveled that the reduction of slowly inactivating I(K(DR)) resulted in membrane depolarization accompanied by termination of the firing of action potentials in a stochastic manner. Therefore, the inhibitory effects on slowly inactivating I(K(DR)) (K(V)3.1-encoded current) may constitute one of the underlying mechanisms through which LEV affect neuronal activity in vivo.

And KV3.1 channels have functions in the auditory processing, so it makes sense why it could potentially work for hyperacusis and tinnitus, for tinnitus it needs to be very potent I'm guessing.

 

[Street Spirit]

Have to chime. While I respect everyone's opinion, some stuff on this thread is just simply incorrect (or slanted) scare stuff. What is happening with @Geo is a good example of why such posts can be harmful to people who are suffering and might benefit from these medications. Think about that, posters. There is a difference between offering negative opinions about a drug and posting a benzo version of "Reefer Madness."

So @Geo: The best person to answer this question is not us. It's your doctor. Everyone reacts to all medications differently, especially benzodiazepens like Xanax (alprazalom). They are serious drugs and you are wise to proceed with caution.
Here is my opinion (just an opinion and from no one that knows your medical history):

* One pill will not "hurt" you. It will not make you a crazed drug addict. It is far more likely to help you and calm you down.

* You may have to take it more than once to get the desired results. That's OK. It does not mean you'll be gulping Xanax for the rest of your life.

* TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR! Ask him/her what is the appropriate dose for you. A .5 mg pill is about average. Also, your doctor can help you set limits (take no more than X amount a day, let's take it for only two weeks, etc.) and stick to those limits.

* If you do have a serious history of drug abuse and alcoholism, you need to be particularly cautious and perhaps seek another option. Share any addiction history with your doctor. Your doctor can help you decide if you should take a benzo.

This opinion, BTW, comes from someone who took a low dose of Xanax for a little more than a year because of panic-anxiety sparked by tinnitus. I weened off a few months ago. No real problem. Now I do not take benzos any longer -- because I don't need them, although once I did. I am not an addicted, drooling zombie. If you search Tinnitus Talk, you will find plenty of people just like me.

Please, if your doctor feels this might help you in the short term and you truly are suffering, try it -- under medical monitoring and being aware this medication's negatives.

And: I am getting pretty tired of seeing keppra referred to as if its a cure-all with no side effects (Which it has. Like any medication). It doesn't even work for tinnitus.

Thank you Lady Di, well said and fully AGREE!

 

[inadmin]

Yes @linearb that's what i was refering to.

And to the original poster- there will be no harm whatsoever from taking one pill AND only on an occasional basis. The idea is self control- not abusing the dosage or doing it on a daily long term basis.

 

[soundmachine]

Many moons ago, I took Xanax . After awaile, it actually induced insomnia. I was very relaxed but could not sleep. I tapered off at about a 10% dose until off. Never again. A couple of times can lead to every night. Then you are back to square one and addicted. Z drugs like Ambien can cause ototoxicity (it was one of the causes of my T). Benzos don't seem to be ototoxic but can lead to insomnia.
You might want to try an orexin antagonist like Belsorma. It seemed to not be ototoxic or addictive (*short term use mind you like no more than a month*) as the GABA agonists. It was hard to get my natural sleep back but when I did, I will do my very best to stay away from that poison. Handle like you would cyanide. That will pretty much keep your perspective.

 

[gary]

Loud incidents keep happening around me.

Today I got exposed to a truck horn alarm and a 4wheeler again going up my street.

My ears have hit another high... Can't take this, I keep shaking from pain and loudness and my anxiety is high right now...

I'm positive I ain't sleeping tonight... I

have Xanax which I never used and I am scared too from stories but if it will calm my nerves and help me sleep a couple of hours I guess it's worth it...

I also read someone waking up from a louder spike after taking it as I cant afford any more spikes...

Is it safe just to take it once for tonight not planning on using it frequently? Well I hope not...

Geo, LadyDi has given you great advice, I suggest you read her post over a few times....

 

[soundmachine]

have Xanax which I never used and I am scared too from stories but if it will calm my nerves and help me sleep a couple of hours I guess it's worth it...

I also read someone waking up from a louder spike after taking it as I cant afford any more spikes...

Is it safe just to take it once for tonight not planning on using it frequently? Well I hope not...

I would go for Belsomra. Expensive as hell but safe to take for month at 20mg. It did not cause any increase in my T. It also has a calming affect at night too. It does not do anything with the GABAs .. only orexin receptors. Benzos are not safe. However, Belsomra is new. So I can't vouch for its safety long-term (Merck is the big pharma). But for a month should get your sleep back and easy to walk away from it.
It has a long half-life and will take a few days to get to the right plasma-level. After that, you should be fine.

(only available in the USA) .