Julie wrote:You do realize how addictive (more and more needed to do the job) Xanax can be?
Xanax is mildly addictive if abused or you just don't need it. You will reach a point where the dosage doesn't need to be increased. Xanax is like candy compared to Oxycodone and other opiates. They shouldn't even be in the discussion. Xanax is a wonderful and safe drug.
The problem with a lot of family doctors is they are so paranoid over prescribing anything that is addicting that they sometimes do more harm than good. For example; If you go into the doctor and tell him, I've got occasional anxiety/ depression, sleep issues etc... The first thing they do is put you on an expensive drug that you have to take every day. Paxil, celexa, effxor etc. et.., Whatever the pretty sales rep is pushing. Xanax cost about $2/ month. The others approach $100/ month. They tell you SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are not additive but they are. With Xanax, you can spot treat a little anxiety or sleep issue, not so with the SSRI's. It's one every day like it or not. Half the world is on one of these SSRI. Xanax has no side effects for me. It's a racket for sure. It's a amazing what a few donuts or pizzas can do.
Addiction is only a problem when you run out. right? So if you got a prescription and it's handling your needs, that's what counts. The street has given opiate pain relievers a bad reputation but to some they improve the quality so much, it worth the addiction. Pain doctors understand this, family doctors don't. Getting off opiates is easy for me. Takes about 4 days to get it out of your system.
So last night I took 1 mg xanax and 50 mg Tramadol. (A fake none addicting opiate like pain reliever) Tramadol is another great drug and I use it to wean myself off opiates from time to time. Tramadol appears to have a longer half life than opiates also so for pain relief during sleep, it may be better than an opiate. Here's my chart. Notice the OSA once the drug wears off. I can't explain any of this. Just wondering if anyone has seen positive effects of pain relievers during sleep as related to OSA. I don't know about central apnea and the link with opiates. The article posted spoke of chronic morphine use in pretty high dose. That's some serious dosage. I won't go there.
My dilemma, I see a benefit from a mild pain reliever related to OSAs. But there doesn't seem to be a medical reason for the fewer OSAs. Here's my sleep chart from last night. Notice as the tramadol wears off, the OSAs increase.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxWjRG ... sp=sharing