I've been an anxiety ridden and have had OCD all my life, but recently I've been beset by panic attacks whenever I drive or teach group fitness at my gym.

So my doctor prescribed .25 mg of xanax before bedtime nightly as needed for anxiety. What I don't understand is, I sleep fine so I don't see the point in taking the xanax at night if it will wear off by the time I wake up. I've read that xanax lasts for a few hours so why would the doctor have me take it at night when the actual panic attacks happen during the morning or afternoon or early evening? And by "as needed", how would I possibly know when it's "needed" since I'm told to take them before bed?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding how it works, but would .25 mg before bedtime actually serve me throughout the following day for 24 hours?

The prescription is for regular generic xanax, NOT xanax xr.

Also, since I teach a cardio class, and that's when the panic attacks sometime hit me, I'm assuming it's not a good idea to take a tab prior to class.

Is the Dr. a psychiatrist? I ask this because there are a lot of GP's prescribing anti-anxiety drugs when they should be referring you out to a psychiatrist. It's like going to a cardiologist when you need a pediatrition. I am convinced that a lot of GP's do not take our illness of anxiety disorder as serious as they should so they treat it as if it were a cold or something. Just a thought. If the Dr. is a psychiatrist, suggest a new one because I tend to agree with you. Take care....Ed

there is emerging research that says taking Xanax daily will help reduce anxiety overall. But if you are concerned, call your doctor.

I take Klonopin (a similar drug) twice a day for anxiety. I have a lot less general anxiety and I can control the occasional panic attacks. And I do get a little sleepy when I take the am dose.

I didn't like the way the Xanax was making me feel so I stopped taking it.

The feeling when I was on wasn't the issue, it was when it wore off that I tended to feel more anxious than usual.

I decided to take an alternative approach and try herbs. A naturopath suggested that I try an herbal supplement called Ashwagandha. I've started taking it on a daily basis and whenever I feel an attack coming on, I'll take a dose of liquid Kava Kava. The Kava Kava sometimes makes me feel sleepy, but overall, I've felt less medicated "in the head", and prefer it over the Xanax which makes me feel a bit "outside of myself".

I teach aerobics, and the panic attacks tend to hit me during class when my heart rate is up and I'm at full throttle and because I keep thinking of not having an attack, of course, that causes it to strike, making me panic and afraid to faint in front of the whole class. I'm assuming that Xanax is a muscle relaxer and one loses coordination while being on it, which would be counterproductive for me teaching group fitness. I'm hoping that the natural approach of Kava will work for me.

xanax is a sedative--not a muscle relaxer. I can't imagine why your doctor prescribed it for nightime unless somehow he/she had the impression you weren't sleeping through the night. I took xanax as needed for a few years and then daily...the last year I was on it 3 times a day...that was back in 2005. Xanax helped me keep from falling apart during the day and helped me sleep at night. (I had had an emotional breakdown along with panic). The daytime doses helped calm the intense trembling in my veins--a sort of constant "vibration", inbetween panic attacks. Xanax lasts about 6 hours. And if taken at the start of a panic attack, it helped keep the attack from becoming full blown. The problem with xanax is that, for some people, there is a tendancy to become psychologically dependent on it. Also there are withdrawal symptoms after taking it for a period of time if you suddenly stop. After taking it regularly for about 3 years, I was able to be weaned off a little at a time with just a slight spacey feeling that lasted 30 minutes or so.

I take Xanax at night before bed to control panic attacks that come on while sleeping. I do take it as needed during the day. You would be safe to take it at night to help control the overall anxiety and then take one if you have an attack during the day. It should not make you drowsy or loopy while teaching but you will have to try it to find out.

I can take .5mg of Xanax and 2mg of Valium and never have to altar my day. I can continue with any level of activity unchanged. BUT, that is not saying you will be able to. The "as needed" part is for a panic attack during the day. Take one and don't be afraid. That would still only put you at .5mg in one day and that is relatively low. I was on 1.5mg daily for over a year and I have a brother who is on 3mg a day even now.

Keep it to the minimum if you can and breath through the attack if possible. Do not use the Xanax as a crutch BUT DO take it if you need it.