Can anyone explain this? I previously had a prescription to xanax that I didn't finish.

In search of a medicinal cure for this (tegretol HELPS but doesn't CURE it) I began an experiment of xanax 3 nights ago.

I find that 0.5mg-1.0mg (depending on initial level of pain) makes the pain almost disappear My type of TN pain is tooth compressionish pain. Basically feels like two teeth are pressing together too hard causing some discomfort or slight pain.

In these three nights after taking the xanax about 90-120 minutes have passed the pain basically....disappears. I mean, I KNOW it's still there if I wiggle my tooth (readers of my past posts know my biggest trigger besides cold is physical stimulation of one tooth)

Has anyone tried this? Especially those with TN tooth pain issues?

I hesitate to mention this to my GP and eventual neuro because obviously xanax is not prescribed for TN and mainly for anti-anxiety. I find that my paranoia and fear of TN also goes away. It's almost a two bird with one stone kind of medication.

I don't have an extremely large cache of xanax left from my previous prescription. I discontinued usage due to the sleepiness properties xanax brought about during the day as my doctor put me on something else (an SSRI antidepressant).

I just thought I'd mention this.

If anyone has some xanax laying around -- do try this! The only interaction with one of our typical medicines (tegretol) is that tegretol keep xanax from reaching peak duration of plasma levels. It does NOT prevent xanax from reaching peak plasma levels overall. Meaning, same strength -- less duration. Perfect at night. I have not experienced the xanax hangover (mental cloudyness, yawning all day) either -- likely due to what I typed above.


Other medications I have been on (opiate painkillers) that have NOT had as much effectiveness as xanax: hydrocodone (vicodin) and meperdine (demerol). I find it interesting that an anti-anxiety drug has taken away my pain for 3 nights now....

Zanax is a depressant to the central nervous system. I went to a psychologist in K.C. for over a year to Dr. Lemons who gives a person the tools to deal with chronic pain. It is total relaxation of the body. It's like SELF HYPNOSIS but not adding any extra pills. I have the tapes to listen to when my pain escalates. The KEY is that the zanax is doing the same to you but as time goes on, you will need more and more zanax to achieve the same effect you are getting now.
I stopped breathing two years ago in the middle of a major surgery because I was on prescription Methodone and to put me under it took a little more and a little more and a little more Anesthetic until I literally stopped breathing and was put on the vent.
You should be very cautious with the zanax as we don't want you to fall asleep and not wake up.
Bless, Doodle bug7

Thank you for the suggestions.

Not to worry I am experienced with Xanax as I have taken it before. 0.5mg is the smallest dose you can get as 2.0mg is the strongest "pill" you can obtain. Some people (not I) are/were prescribed up to 6mg a day so 0.5-1.0mg at night isn't going to kill me =)

I plan to continue to take xanax when I have the "WTF OMG" nerve pain that none of us should have to deal with.

I'm serious though, you guys have no idea....

.....worrying about TN all day. Worrying about my pain all day.... GONE in 60-90 minutes. My PAIN is almost ERASED. OPIATE based pain killers couldn't even do that.

Ok guys and gals. As Borat says GREAT SUCCESS.

About 7PM (it's 9:40PM now) I had my typical day-to-day symptoms:

Dull ache/pressure in bottom right of mouth. Typically around the tooth to the right of the vampire tooth (what # tooth is this???)

It feels like this tooth is too close to another tooth and is rubbing but this is not the case. I have had full X-ray = everything is A-OK.

I took a 1.0mg xanax "football" (blue round oval) and at least an hour ago the pain has gone to barely noticable.

I can wiggle that tooth and get the slightest of feeling out of it. Almost like it's sore from over eating than TN.


Xanax has once again dulled my pain to near non-existent levels with the added benefit of a mood lift. I TRULY believe, as this is my 4th night to try this, Xanax has KILLED the pain. It's not that I don't care about it because obviously I'm typing correctly and I'm on a forum. I'm not f-'d up or "on drugs." And since I can wiggle the tooth and get a "feeling" I know I'm not "drugged up." I hate to be preemptive on the next comment but..... at least at night... xanax is giving me my life back.


Please, I beg anyone who's in my similar situation. Try this and report back. This is not a medication I can take in the afternoon as I get a little "silly" and tend to crave and eat the hell out of salty foods but LOL it's better than PAIN!

Do you hear yourself saying that you are an experienced Xanax user? No one is, although they think so. In time, when you seem to have built a tolorance for the amount you are using now and you have a day that the pain just won't let up, what will you do? Oh yes you are an experienced Xanax user, what was I thinking. When you said "You guys don't understand"
Guess what? WE DO. There is a lot that goes unsaid in this forum but there is a bond tying us together. Whenever we need each other, someone comes to the rescue. I feel like I want to rescue you but, oh yes, you are an experienced Zanax user. Bless, Doodle bug7

Again, thank you for your concern but I don't need rescuing. I come here for support and to share/learn of new ideas and methods of dealing with TN.

Taking Xanax before bed happens to be one of my current strategies.

None of us should have to sit around and be in pain because we're too afraid to try alternative medications. No one knows what we're going through, including each other (to the degree that our episodes happen). Our medical professionals (GP, neuros, etc) have no idea what we're going through -- they've just studied it in books and patients.

I'll just come out and say it. I'll take ANY narcotic that makes me feel better. I didn't choose TN, and I didn't choose this life that I lead now but you know what I can choose -- HOW TO FEEL BETTER. I'm not going to sit around and be in pain when I know I can take something and A) lose the pain, B) forget the pain exists. For those 2-4 hours I feel FREE. and for those 7-9 hours I sleep I FEEL GREAT.

I struggle with this pain during the daytime and if I have something at home that's going to help me sleep and make me feel like the TN doesn't exist.... I'm going to take it. Addiction won't occur as this is a finite supply of a previous prescription. I will, obviously, need to talk to my GP/neuro about this.

Have you even ever taken xanax? I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers but I came here to SHARE A PAIN STRATEGY and because it's a medication you may've never taken before I get jumped on.


Ultimately this is my opinion of life-changing disorders: If there's something out there that makes you feel better, takes away your pain, makes you feel normal and forget -- do it. Don't let anyone stop you. Your life is in your hands and quality of life means so much to me because I've got at least another 50 years to life. I won't let anyone interfere with what I believe to be a better quality of life when I suffer with TN.

To offend you was not my intention. I guess i am passionate about it as my son was addicted to valium and xanax. I remember him laying in bed suffering from withdrawels and it broke my heart....
Bless, Doodle bug7

I understand and appreciate your concern. Addiction is something a good many of us on this planet struggle with -- from the legals to the kinda legals to the outright illegals.

I want to extend the story to you that I smoked cigarettes for 10 years until this May. This May, 5 months before my TN started, I used Chantix to quit smoking. I was preparing to graduate from college and my college was going smoking-free and as an aide they offered all the students (12,000+) the option of coming in and getting a health evaluation and free Chantix.

Chantix is about $150(US) a month and no insurance covers it yet. I was able to quit on May 20th and have never looked back. I haven't had one cigarette, not one puff, not one "hey man let me hit that". NOTHING. DEAD QUIT.

What I am saying is I have my own stories of addiction so I have been there. They say nicotine is harder to quit than heroin so I am thankful to have quit. I feel healthier (though I gained about 15-20lbs -- NYE RESOLUTION haha) and I feel like I can do anything (though, that feeling has been squashed a bit by the TN.....)

At any rate, addiction to xanax, for me, will be an impossible task due to the fact I don't obtain it on the street.

I must admit, I will talk to my GP on the 15th and will report back my findings.

I'd like to update this with the following:


If the pain/pressure is dialed in a little high then xanax has not releived my pain fully but it's better than opiate-based PKs.

Something to note: the Wiki page on TN suggests clonazepam (Klonopin) is an accepted medication for TN. Alprazolm (Xanax) is a brother/cousin/sister to Klonopin as both are benzos. For those who don't follow, that is good news.