"i have been on ssri&#039;s and benzos for probably 3 or 4 years. ssri&#039;s for depression and on top of that benzos for anxiety and panic attacks. was on ativan for 3 years and it eventually stopped working. would take 2 0.5mg pills and it would not affect my anxiety at all. psychiatrist switched me to xanax 0.5mg everyday as needed up to 3 pills a day. it actually works. it takes a few minutes and wipes away any panic attack and softens my anxiety. i am very careful though because i know it can be very addictive. i was clean off the ativan for months and had no withdrawls so i know i was not addicted to that. have only been on the xanax a few months and i only take it as needed so not to get addicted."