I have been having some medical problems. It started with a lot of lightheadedness and dizziness. (Insert blonde jokes here.) After a couple visits with doctors they said I have TMJ. A jaw disorder from grinding teeth, clenchig teeth and some other stuff. I guess it's usually caused by stress. Over the few weeks after that the dizziness got worse and I was feeling numbness and tingeling in my arms. Then came difficulty swallowing. This is where I freaked. I can handle pain but not being able to swallow was driving me nuts. Finally a Dr. put me on xanax for panic attacks. It really has helped me. I am still having the problems but they are less and I am handeling them much better. Does anybody know of any harmful side effects of xanax?
This panic attack stuff really surprised me because I am a really happy person. Over the past 9 months I have found out my moms cancer returned, built a new house and I own my own business with my mom which is a complete stress in itsself. I am having an MRI done on Monday just to make sure nothing else is going on.
I haven't been on here much at all because I get super nauseated from reading too much. I am getting better though. I hope to be bugging you guys again all the time really, really soon. If anybody else has anything to share on this subject I would love to hear it. I really have missed this place!

Originally posted by ImSoooSure
Does anybody know of any harmful side effects of xanax?


Hi. I'm not a doctor, but I play one with a search engine. (link) (http://bipolar.about.com/library/sfx/bl-alprazolam.htm)

Second link (http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/XAN1491.HTM) - to keep from needing to read too much, scroll past the first four horizontal bars on this second page.

I hate to say anything against your doctor's orders, but I was having panica attacks for a while during a really bad stretch in my life and it was better to live with it than to take that crap. There are things out there, like perphenazine, that won't do weird things to you, like making you fall asleep at odd times, giving you nightmares, etc. TMJ is serious, my hubby has it and it's very painful but I really think you should try to find a doctor who doesn't want to drug you up so much. My husband practices the martial arts and that has helped him to relax so his pain is greatly minimized and handled with just ibuprofen, and I took out my paints and canvasses again to realx me. The root of your problem is probably tension because of bad circumstance in your life. I am not putting down psychiatric drugs--they help a lot of people and they have value, but some of them, like xanax, can make you feel gross, and the ydo no good if they are not in conjunction with learning relaxation techniques and in some cases talk therapy--they do nothing but make you sleepy by themselves. Good luck! PM me anytime you need to talk

Don't know anything about Xanax, but I hope things come right quickly. Get well soon so we can see you posting regularly again.

I had a similar situation that involved stress and grinding my teeth in my sleep was my release. I would wake with pain in my jaw and often with headache, but it passed as soon as the cause of the stress disappeared or I dealt with it. I don't know about xanax or anything prescribed for this condition, but I hope your MRI shows everything else to be in tip top shape! :)

{{{hugs}}} I've been wondering how you were doing. Glad you checked in. I was taking a break myself in November & December.

I am currently taking Klonopin, which is kind of like Valium's baby sister, for panic attacks & anxiety. My psychiatrist & I were talking drug options a few months ago, and he told me that it's very easy to become dependent on Xanax. (and on my prescription too, not to leave anyone out) You might want to talk to your doctor about that.

I found for me that the drugs were more helpful in the beginning of treatment, when I really needed to get away from the edge... you probably know exactly what I'm talking about. After a while, the side effects were messing me up more than my actual illness. I can tell you that I went the medication/therapy route, and a year later, I am better. I only have to take a pill when I'm really feeling "out there," maybe one a week, and I'm off my antidepressant now, too. The therapy probably helped more than the drugs, in the long run, but they were of about equal importance for me. It is possible to get better, even if it looks like forever right now.

Let us know how the MRI goes... hope everything works out. {{hugs}}

Mary

Thanks for the info. I'm going to research this drug some more. I hate taking any kind of meds. Even aspirin. I will definately look into this more before I take it. I think I'll look into yoga! The main thing this med. has helped me with is the nightmares. It only started about a week ago but my dreams were so awful. They would have me freaked out all day. Right in the middle of all this my mom went into the hospital which didn't help matters. I think she is getting out on Monday.
I have 2 questions.
MaryC, what were the side effects?
Brandyblue, did your husbnds TMJ give him dizzy spells, headaches and things like that?
Thanks for the help guys!

I'm sorry to hear about your medical woes, ImSooSure. I know how frightening and frustrating such problems can be. I hope that you respond well to the medications and to the treatment. Best of luck...


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Imsoosure, my hubby's TMJ didn't give him those symptoms, but an underlying dental infection did. Look into that. I don't think your stress is helping either.

Very good thought on the dental probs. Brandy! I went to a dentist 2 weeks ago and he didn't see any infections. I do have atleast 1 impacted wisdom tooth though. I have an appointment with an oral surgeon in a week for x-rays and to see if that's part of the prob. too.
The other problem might be a fall I had in Sept. I got caught up on an electric fence(low voltage) and fell back and hit my head on a pile of rocks. Thanks for all the help on this. ;)

I´m wondering that your doc was so easy on prescibing Xanax instead of trying out alternative medications and methods, like valerian for example.

I can only say that all of these psychopharmaceutical products should only be seen as a kind of last resort if nothing else helps - I´m speaking there of experience, since I got almost trapped in that "chemical regulation".
Every drug of these kinds (even the 'natural' ones!) should only be taken under the close surveillance of a doctor and as a part of a therapy, not as a therapy itself.

You have mentioned nausea attacks when you are reading. Sounds maybe stupid, but have you checked your eyes recently? Some changes in your optical perception can cause nausea, e.g. when the letters begin to dance and/or swim before your eyes.
If you are experiencing these attacks in front of your computer monitor, I suggest to check the frequency settings (should be above 75 Hz if the monitor/graphic card allows, 80 Hz and above are optimal) and probably to increase the size of the letters in your browser. Another possibility is that you´ve injured yourself more than it seemed when you had smacked your head during that accident, this should also be checked again.

I hope that you will get well soon again and that my tips were of a little help for you. ;)

Thanks Wave! I'm going to make an appt. with an eye Dr. today. I have seen ear, nose, throat, dental and reg. Dr's about this but not an eye Dr. yet. I am very cautious about this xanax drug too. Everyone is so surprised about it becuase I dont and never have experienced depression or any of the things they usually give this drug for. The closest thing I can relate this feeling to is flight sickness. I tell all the Drs and they just prescribe another tranqualizer. :confused: I'll let you know on the eye thing. Thanks again!

Hey :) I PM'd you about the drugs, Lisa. (doesn't that sound awful! LOL!)