Xanax and drugs

I was prescribed Xanax yesterday for panic attacks. I have seen many people in treatment centers and rehabs for all sorts of chemical addictions. Xanax use seems to be among some of the drugs heard in their "war stories" as wonderful due to the high they get from using it. I took my first dose yesterday and was so tired I could barely crawl myself into bed. Is this the normal effect from Xanax? Does it continue if it is used on an "as needed" basis? I can't figure out what could be so wonderful about the drowsiness as a "high"?

This drug may as well be a placebo. I've was on it 6 weeks, and stopped taking it 9 days ago. Following my doc's advice I'd ramped the dose up from 1/4 tablet a day for the first week through to a maximum of 6mg daily. During the first 2 weeks I felt what might have been hot flushes through my face, but I can't for certain put it down to the xanax. I'm getting sick of psych meds that do nothing. I too went through the talks with my doc over the addictive possibilities and took that as a worthwhile risk considering the extent of my problems. Congrats for the people it works for, but like many drugs doesn't work on everyone.

Xanax is much maligned but was my saviour after having a total personality change with the onset of undiagnosed fibromyalgia. I held out for 18 months. I have taken Xanax for 8 1/2 years now and suffer no bad side effects except I'm sure it has helped me gain 30kg!(depressing in itself). Doctors don't seem concerned that I have taken it for so long. In fact a few have said I will probably be on it for life (a scary thougt for someone who hates having to rely on drugs but has to have a life). I have had a couple of dodgy liver function tests and have to have another one. This, I wonder, could be a side effect of long term use of Xanax? Is this harmful? Any comments welcome.