Extended Release Xanax *Help*

[Tyno]

I have a prescription for .5 mg xanax for sleep. I have horrible insomnia. I've been on this same dosage for several years, and even though the original .5 mg dose does not do a much anymore, my doc refuses to up the dose. Basically I end up taking  usually 2 tablets at at time. The end result being that my script runs out mid-month and I have nothing after that. 

That being said, without it I basically can't sleep more than a few hours because obviously now my body is used to having it each night. 

Here's my question:

I have some 1 mg extended release tablets laying around. But, I guess because of the mechanism and formula they don't work properly and I have barely had a decent night's sleep in days. Is there any way to remove the "extended release" bit and have it work like a normal instant release xanax? I know this topic has been discussed with other medications. I'm just not sure what to do. I've tried crushed it up, it helps a little, but not much. Like most modern extended release medications, it has "sticky" or gummy parts to it if you try chewing it, which is the extended release crap. 

Is there any way to counteract the extended release bits? Any help at all would be extremely helpful! I need sleep!  :Embarrassed:

 

[Akup7ich]

In my experience with any extended release meds ... no matter how you break the shell it’s always extending.. that being said if you crack the nut .. it’s still the nut but possibly a little shorter acting? Maybe a little less harsh ... this is passed on my ultram ER I get at CVS . 

If I take a 1/4 it releases even quicker.. so in the past when I had to make a pill last longer I made it Tiny tiny bits and experimented . Sometimes I found the sweet spot .. sometimes I got a damn big headache 

i don’t know about Xan but somewhere I read about something funky called water distraction or something funky with pain pills when people separate out the tylonal?

no clue if that helped  I like zannaflex muscle relaxers . There is no benzo in them but they totally help me sleep 

 

[Tyno]

Thanks for your help! The water distraction thing probably won't work, I think that's only for meds that you want to separate, such as Tylenol and oxycodone. Maybe I'll try a flexiril or something in the meantime. Those usually make me a bit drowsy. 

 

[mark6699331]

im shocked the xr dont work for you can take a day or two for halflife to build up. the xr have saved my  life allowed me to function normally. the high dose ir is too much a up-down blood level thing. one tip i have is always get brand. the .5mg brand are 4x or more potent and actually anti-anxiety the generic i got last month .5mg i could taken 10 of them and nothing no anti-anxiety and worse some generics just make me pass out that's not the molly. it's a very complex molecule to make i used to tour the upjohn labs as a kid in portage michigan and  saw giant vats f it made- no two brands alike hope helps

 

[JustChiilin]

I have a prescription for 1mg extended release. They are yellow. I have no problem breaking and crushing them down into a powder. Just shoot it down and works about the same as IR

 

[porkandbeansboy]

One thing I can tell you is that apparently a high fat meal with this specific formulation increases the amount of it that's absorbed which is high alone in itself to begin with. Preferably some small snack high in fat I like to eat Coconut Cream Piem myself personally. ^_^

From what I understand breaking it will speed things up but won't make things instant.