Bipolar Depression

I just read this page, http://www.xanax-effects.com/xanax_prescription.html. here I came across the dangers of getting addicted to an anti depressant. I wanted to know what is commonly done when a person gets mentally and physically dependant on an antidepressant.

First of all, Xanax (alprazolam is the generic name) is NOT an anti-depressant. It is an anti-anxiety medication. A dependence can occur, the symptoms of which would be when your body requires more of the drug to have the same effect as it did previously with a smaller amount. That is a physical addition. A psychological addition would occur when someone cannot function without it or is afraid to go without it, but doesn't necessarily need to take higher amounts. What is "done" is that you would need to get weaned off of it slowly and either replace it with another, less addictive, drug concurrently or after you are weaned off.

I have been taking it for 15 years and only take 1/8 of a milligram which puts me to sleep, but then again, I don't ever get addicted to anything. And, I only take it once in a while, when I can't sleep or if something upsetting has happened and I need to "take the edge off". Some people's systems (biological and/or psychological) are more susceptible to physical and/r psychological additions, so they need to be careful. An example of this would be someone who finds it hard to give up alcohol and/or pot/drugs. I knew someone who started with 1 mg/day and was up to 8 mg/day in a short time to have the same effect. He was also addicted to other things, like vicodin, compulsive spending, cheating on his spouse, etc. Never diagnosed, but I think he was BP-II.

I hope this has helped a little bit. If you are BP, you will need a good shrink and probably a mood stabilizer.