I take Xanax occasionally for anxiety.

I took it before a home game once, which was pretty swell. I don't think I played any better, but I didn't get impatient and make any stupid moves like I tend to do when I played live donkfests.

The only good thing is that my mind isn't thinking about 1000 things, but I think it also hurts my ability to really concentrate\analyze one thing.

I can't imagine taking xanax and trying to play poker lol. Last time I took a xanax, I blacked out for a good 3 hours. DrugsRbaddddddddddddMMmmmmmmmk?

You're right about how beta blockers work, but I would argue that's exactly why they are so useful. Gabaergic drugs like xanax have profound affects on mental ability even at therapeutic doses. Beta blockers do have some mildly unpleasant side effects, but reducing you ability to think critically isn't one of them.

This mg-mg comparison is not correct. First it has to deal with bioavailability (that leads to blood concentration), and then drug potency. LSD is a good example of this for psychoactive drugs (low dose - monster effect).

Pharmacokinetics (PK) is the science of 'what a body does to a drug' (defined mainly by Clearance (CL), and Volume of Distribution (Vd) - as well as Bioavailability (F) discussed above). PK is a well-defined science for the most part because it is based on math. Pharmacodynamics (PD) is the science of 'what a drug does to the body' - and defined by mechanism of action (MOA) and effect. It is linked to PK, but it is less defined as a science because of uncharacterized MOA (and toxicity).

All drugs have a PK-PD response and relationship - if not, then they would not be a drug because of lack of phamacological activity. Sorry for the geek speak - I am a PK-PD Scientist (in oncology drug development - not ones you ever want to be on unless in dire condition).

The comment is an earlier post about benzos and alcohol was also way off - alcohol increases the effect of the benzo - it does not mask it. It is a poor combo unless you really want to get wasted and act like your IQ just dropped 35 pts.

Xanax is good for long (10hr+) plane flights to those that have flight anxiety(and a pair of noise cancelling headphones due to sound-brain stimulation - even while sleeping). Xanax may be good for someone who gets anxious during poker, but there are many better ways to deal with it - and you are playing at a disadvantage (even normalizing the anxiety effect) due to the pharmacological action of the drug (loss of concentration).

xanax is great once a month when i cant sleep, take half smoke a few bowls 2 hours later gn. Anything more than half mixed with beer or weed will make you forget everything you do while your on them and your prone to lose things. If you want to experiment i recommend half while playing a live session every few months and try to learn something about your emotions.

xanax, then adderall

Lol op obviously heard it wrong. Xanax is vallium, aka mommies little helper.

Xanax is like a pill form of beer, its gonna sedate you and relax you. Thats not good for poker, you want adderal or some form of adhd medication.

LOL no prob the worst drug to play poker on. Just completely spaces you out, and practically puts you asleep. I played poker on xanax everyday for 2 or so months and had the worst downswing of my life. Not to mention the withdrawals from benzos are insane.

I went drinking on xanax once. This was during the a summer's day.

When I came round it was dark and I was in a completely different pub.

Must have blacked out for 6 hours.

But yeah, good sh|t.

I don't agree with consensus and being an addict is no good. But playing online sessions I think xanax is great because you regain composure and outbursts at least most of us. But online for me personally being mellow taking a horrific beat by some moron doesn't quite sting as much. Do what you go to win I guess. Its just IMO.

i think xanax could be helpful in preventing tilt if taken in small doses. it cancels out emotion.

I find a flask of the the Purple Drank works fine. Win or loose I don't care because the party is here....