Hi Vickivdb,
Xanax (alprazolam) is an anti-anxiety drug, very different from anti-depressants (aka SSRI's) like Paxil, Effexor, Prozac, etc. I've taken two different anti-anxiety drugs (lorazepam and clonazepam) both of which are very similar to Xanax.
You will not hear the same withdrawal stories about anti-anxieties as you do about SSRI's. I went off lorazepam after taking it for about six months with no noticable effects.
Recently when my anxiety started coming back I did alot of research on the subject. I was prescribed an SSRI by my doctor but decided against taking it in favour of an anti-anxiety.
SSRI's change the chemistry in your brain, namely levels of seretonin, adrenaline and dopamine, it takes time for these levels to adjust (up to 2 weeks), and takes time to re-adjust when you come off.
Xanax and other anti-anxiety drugs work immediatley, and there is no cumulative effect as there is with an SSRI.
The one problem with anti-anxiety drugs is that they can be habit forming, meaning that you grow addicted to them in the same way as nicotine or alcohol or sleeping pills. I was prescribed 0.5mg twice a day, but I only take 0.25mg in the morning and take either 0.125mg at night or nothing depending on how I feel. If I have a particularly stressful event to tackle I'll take the full 0.5mg at least an hour before the event. By doing this I feel like I am minimizing the chance of growing addicted to the drug. My doctor says it is fine to do this. When I don't feel like I need it I don't take it, when I do I do.
When I plan to come off completely I'll just take less and less.
It has been my experience that the withdrawal is not bad, so don't be worried! :)
