Xanax and loss of memory

I became addicted to this med. It's easy to get dependent on it, both psychologically and physically, is what I found.

Would take it while at work, to "reduce stress" but had total loss of memory while using it. Not good, if you are a nurse and can't remember whether or not you've taken care of something.
I hope to NEVER use this med again, especially since I drank with it, all the time.
Am now in AA and don't use mood altering chemicals. Thank God.
My sister is now hooked on Alprazolam and won't hear my warnings about it. I wish they'd take it off the market.

I had been taking xanax on and off for years but they made me very irritable. depressed and I had dry mouth. I stopped taking them and was given another benzo for my anxiety. I took that for about 6 years but they stopped working for me. Now I am taking xanax again and this time I am getting the same side effects with additional ones. Such as increased appetite, horrible cravings for sugar and loss of memory. I am in the process of getting off the xanax, I hate them, they are a horrible drug. I am quite scared because the first time that I stopped taking them I ended up in the hospital with terrible withdrawals. My experience with xanax hasn't been fun. For people that are thinking of taking them for anxiety, depression, whatever, try something else first.