I sometimes take mine (for the burning mouth) only to then experience more burning in my head, go figure!

I believe this medication lends itself to more instances of paradoxical reaction than some medications do.

I had not heard of paradoxical reactions to medications. I did some searching and am finding this very interesting.

Thanks, Laura!

I take 1 mg at night and can take another .5 mg twice during the day. It helps to reduce spasticity because the baclofen isn't always enough and also helps with the nystagmus. I don't have any real adverse side effects. I feel lucky to have found something that actually does help.

I give a fair amount of benzos for anxiety and drug/alcohol withdrawal and there is a place for them but I would urge everyone to really consider and discuss with your doctor the chances of of becoming dependent as well as the severe withdrawal that can result from discontinuing them abruptly.

Make sure you really want the drug. I have a friend that is being made to get off this med after 10 years. She has parkensons. It does cause addiction, and the good must outweigh the negative. I do take zanax on occassion, but not regularly, as I am afraid of the same thing. Getting off any of these meds can be hard. Good luck to you in what ever you choose to do. ginnie

I was just saying to myself this morning that I would like to back off my xanax. it isnt as effective as I would like it to be, and I would probably do better to take it as needed, instead of on a regular basis. I am down to 0.25 so I am on the lowest dose once a day. I really want off alot of the stuff they have me on. Enough! Now, watch I will freak out.

I have been on benzodiazapines since August of 2000. Before my 'official' dx in September, I was given generic xanax for the MS hug and my extreme anxiety about not being sure what was going on, no spinal tap yet, and was given the IV solumedrol...

when I saw my current neuro in September, he prescribed both Klonopin and xanax. over the years, up to 2006 I took .5mg Klonopin at bedtime and xanax only prn. I decided in 2006 I wanted off them--my neuro said NO, not a good idea, but I proceeded to wean myself off, going to .25 mg a night, then every other night, then every couple of days... over a period of about 6 months I was off of all benzos.

it did not work. I couldn't sleep, I was anxious all the time and my neuro said I really needed to go back on them. I did and it took several months for me to get to where I could sleep again, not have heart palpitations, and 'stabilize' on the meds once more.

last October I started chantix to quit smoking. to make a long story short, the chantix screwed up everything, yes I cut back to only smoking outside and down to 2-3 cigs a day (for a while was at a few puffs on one cig a day) but could not let go of that last cigarette and my anxiety levels, depression, etc went thru the roof. was up to 1.5 mg of klonopin a day and .5 of xanax frequently to curb the chest pains and anxiety.

yes, benzos are addictive and it looks like I will be on them for the rest of my life, so I'm just accepting that. now that I've stopped the chantix, am tapering back to .5 mg of klonopin at bedtime and the xanax PRN. still trying to quit smoking, but no more chantix.

I hate taking any meds period, never took anything before MS but now I have a boat load of drugs and it seems my social life consists of doctor appointments I refuse to worry now about being addicted to a benzo; I tried to get off and it did not work. the chantix worked but at a price; at least I only smoke outside now and don't jump up every time I get a craving.

so, benzos work for anxiety, if you're getting a 'buzz' you probably don't need them, but if they help you sleep/reduce anxiety, I believe they have a place in our MS life--addictive or not. just mho