Anyone Here Taking Xanex?

[songbird7]

First of all I offer caring and support to those here dealing with anxiety and depression related to IC; You all mean a lot to me and I really empthasize with you as I know these feelings first hand. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Is anyone here on Xanex especially for some years? If so has it caused problems peeing? I'm trying to see if that aggrevates this tendency with IC.
All info very helpful. Thanks much everyone.
Songbird

[Sarojini]

Hi Songbird,

No, I don't take Xanax but I know many on the boards do. I take Klonopin, which is kind of like Xanax, for anxiety -- but I've only been on it for 2 weeks and haven't noticed any urinary symptoms from it. I do notice that I have fewer intense bladder spasms when I take it though.

Good luck :)

[mom_in_ma]

Songbird,
I take it for axiety when I have a flare and it helps with the bladder spasms. So, no it doesn't cause trouble for me...it helps tremendously. I only use .25 (1/2 a tablet) during daytime hours...or .5 mgs at night. A whole tablet puts me to sleep!

[songbird7]

Then what probably was going on relates to IC symptoms in general. That's a relief, I thought the Xanex was causing it. I would like to get off the Klonopin and Xanex some day over a period of years, however; it does help the bladder to relax, so this might not happen.
((((( )))))
Songbird

[caitlinsmom]

My doc has given me some Xanax, but I can not use it during the day due to the fear I will fall asleep and not be able to watch my 1 year old. I will take a .25 before bed, but I try not to every night cause I am afraid I will become dependent on them. I did not take one last night and I did not rest well at all. I am tired either way anymore, so tired I could cry. I need to have lab work done to see if it is lupus or not. Every day the past week it seems that I have not slept at all. My counselor says it could be my depression from all that is going on besides the IC (which at times seems like the least of my problems)

[louise]

Hi,

Has anyone had a VERY negative reaction to Xanax? My pain doctor gave it to me yesterday to try for three days to see how my bladder felt. I take Imovane at night to help me sleep and when I first started taking it the pain in my bladder felt better. So he decided to try me on Xanax which is in the same family of benzodiazipines.

I took ONE of the .25mg yesterday afternoon and had a little rest. When I woke up I felt awful - very drowsy and dizzy but the worst was the depression and the terrible razor sharp pain in my bladder. It was horrible!!
My bladder wasn't even feeling that bad when we went to see the doctor.
I phoned my pharmacist and she said obviously that drug does not agree with me!! That's not an exaggeration! She said to stop it and let the doctor know. I have left a message for him.

I would be interested hearing from anyone else who reacted like this to Xanax. I had much the same reaction a few years ago when I tried Elmiron.
It caused me (at that time) the worst pain I have had in my bladder so I had to stop that as well.

Thanks for your help and advice.

Louise

[louise]

Hi,

Has anyone had a VERY negative reaction to Xanax? My pain doctor gave it to me yesterday to try for three days to see how my bladder felt. I take Imovane at night to help me sleep and when I first started taking it the pain in my bladder felt better. So he decided to try me on Xanax which is in the same family of benzodiazipines.

I took ONE of the .25mg yesterday afternoon and had a little rest. When I woke up I felt awful - very drowsy and dizzy but the worst was the depression and the terrible razor sharp pain in my bladder. It was horrible!!
My bladder wasn't even feeling that bad when we went to see the doctor.
I phoned my pharmacist and she said obviously that drug does not agree with me!! That's not an exaggeration! She said to stop it and let the doctor know. I have left a message for him.

I would be interested hearing from anyone else who reacted like this to Xanax. I had much the same reaction a few years ago when I tried Elmiron.
It caused me (at that time) the worst pain I have had in my bladder so I had to stop that as well.

Thanks for your help and advice.

Louise

[Teri]

If it weren't for xanax I'm not sure I'd still be here. It's the only thing that calms my bladder down and let's me get a 1/2 way desent night's sleep. I have been on it for years and plan on being on it till the bitter end.

Wishing you the very best songbird :)

[louise]

Hi,

It goes to show you just how crazy and unpredictable this disease IC can be!!
I am so happy for you, Teri, that Xanax works so well and apparently has done so for years. Then you, Songbird, sound like you are unsure if the drug is helping or hindering you. In my case, I definitely know it made me worse -
terribly worse - razor sharp pain worse. It doesn't get much worse than that!! I felt like someone was slashing my urethra and bladder with razors with extra strength sharpness. It was just a horrible pain and if I had to live like that the rest of my life, well, I don't know what to say.

But that is exactly how I felt after taking ONE Xanax. And on top of the sharp and debilitating pain I was so darkly depressed it was miserable.

It amazes me how some people can get good wonderful relief from a medication (thankfully) and then the next person - like me and others - get a horrible reaction from the drug (you can stick it where the sun don't shine!!!).

Anyway, my urethra and bladder are beginning to feel a little bit better since the Xanax incident on Tuesday afternoon. I would imagine it will take a few days for them to feel better. In the meanwhile, I have started taking Zyrtec that has received high praise by one person on these boards. I am from Canada and for anyone here who also wants to see if it helps them as well as it did someone else the brand name here is REACTINE. It is available in two forms:
a red box that also contains a decongestant which someone advised could cause us problems and a blue box that just has the antihistamine in it. And the good news for us is that it is available over the counter - no prescription.

But as always, you should check with your doctor before starting any new medication on your own. I am definitely NOT advising anyone to rush out and buy a package without consulting with their doctors first.

Louise

[mom_in_ma]

Teri,
I agree with you, if it weren't for xanax...I would have gone over the edge by now. It's my miracle drug. And nope, I'm not addicted to it in the least. In fact, I take it only when I need it because it makes me sleepy. I can't imagine abusing it just because of that fact...I would be sleeping 24/7!

[songbird7]

Thanks everyone for getting back to me. I haven't been on the board for a little while and am seeing your messages. Sleepy now.
Hugs,
Songbird

[MakinIT]

Yup...I call this little game the pharmecutical merry go round...the docs are saying.."hmmm, well this doesn't do it, lets try this..." I can't even keep track of all the stuff I've been on.

I had a yucky reaction to Elmiron too. I take Valium (in the same class) and it really calms my bladder. Considering I also take Morphine and some other "goodies" for pain, it doesn't seem to be a big deal. I've managed to cut my valium from 15 mgs/day to 5mgs at bedtime. Helps me less zombieish BUT my bladder starts spasming about noon.