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MedHelp Member's Question

Xanax

by Dan, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
I have been on Xanax - 2mgs a day for 9 years.  In July of this year I started coming off this drug.  Today I am down to .5mgs a day.  But my problem is I can't seem to get any lower. I try to reduce (.37mgs a day) but the withdraw is so bad I go back to .5mgs. Any suggestions on how I can continue reducing the dose without the withdraw?
Member Comments (92)

by To sick and scared from Neena, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
I went through withdrawals from Vicoden ES 4 weeks ago with the help of Xanax.  Now, I am still taking 2mgs at night and maybe one more, if things get bad during the day.  What are the withdrawals like?  After withdrawals from codiene, I dread anymore withdrawals.  My therapist seems to think that I can stay on Xanax for ever, but I don't like taking pills anymore.  I want off of everything.  What should I expect when cutting down?  Neena

by Frankinscense, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
You cannot escape the withdrawal of benzodiazepine drugs. A very slow detox will keep withdrawal symptoms to a minimum. A long acting benzodiazepine reduced slowly over a period of time has proven to be  the safest and produce the least amount of withdrawals.

Sincerely,

Dan...

by Lynn to Neena, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
So Dan, what happens when you simply stop the benzos? I just take  one half of a blue each night because I can't sleep without it, but don't take them during the day. Am I going to have to pay the price, the dreaded insomnia??? I am still trying to taper off the percs, but thats a whole other story.

by Be careful, Lynn, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
Abrupt withdrawal from benzos can result in seizures. Withdrawing from percs or any other narc is miserable, but not life-threatening. However, withdrawing from xanax, klonipin, valium and the like can be life-threatening.

Check this forum for other postings on benzos. You can read about people who have experienced seizures. This is not something to be taken lightly. Good luck.

by to Kat, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
You are simply going to HAVE to stop, since you can't taper any longer.  The longer you wait, the worse the withdrawal will be.  Unfortunately, you just have to ride out the withdrawal.  You may find some relief by using Kava or Valerian, both available at GNC or another health food place.  DON'T start taking Kava or Valerian UNTIL you stop the Xanax or it will potentiate the effects of the xanax.

by Frankinscense, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
The above post is causing some confusion. Anyone that is trying to taper off xanax should at least, advise their doctor when deciding to taper xanax.  Xanax comes in three different strengths . White 0.25,Red.05,Blue 1.0.  Use red then white wholes and halves to taper from one mgm's with the help from your physician.  This person above is advising without using they're name,do not do this. It causes confusion!

Sincerely,

Dan...

by Julie, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
Is Xanax basically the same thing as Ativan?

by Frankinscense, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
Both are short acting benzodiazepines. Both produce equal dependence and addictions if taken daily over a period of time.

by To sick and scared from Neena, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
But why would they allow me to continue to take them even just at night knowing that I became addicted to codiene?  Now that I have gotten over the codiene withdrawals, I have no shaking, etc.  The Xanax does allow me to sleep.  I was sleep deprived for a long while and even Ambien did not work.  Will I need to ask my doctor to ween me off the Xanax?  As far as I know Ativan is the same as Xanax, Julie.  I was given that also for panic attacks during a family emergency.  I am tired of PILLS.  I want my life back.  I don't want to depend on anything, not even for sleep.  But, the docs don't seem to think that it's bad for sleep for long periods of time.  Maybe they have plans to help taper me in the future.  I refuse to relive the Hell that I suffered with Vicoden ES withdrawals.  Neena

by tom to thread, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
listen to Dan regarding the dangers of abruptly discontinuing benzos like ativan, xanax, valium, klonopin, librium. Prior to back surgery in 1993, my orthopedic surgeon had me on ativan for a year. After a successful surgery that eliminated the need for the ativan, I let myself run out of the stuff during the Christmas holidays. Not wanting to disturb my doctor over Christmas, I reasoned this was as good a time as any to quit. Four days later, Christmas night to be exact, sometime in the night I went into a seizure, causing my chest and stomach muscles to contract violently. Of course, I was unconscious during the whole thing and don't know how long I was in seizure. The following morning, my wife got up and headed toward the kitchen to make some coffee. She thought she'd close the bedroom door and let me sleep in. As she was about to close the door, something told her to look back at me in the bed. As the paramedics loaded me into the ambulance, they told my wife that, had she closed the bedroom door without glancing back at me, it would have been a sleep I would not have woken from.



The chest and stomach muscle contractions from the benzo seizure were powerful enough to leave me with two compressed vertebra in my upper back. The muscle and nerve damage in my chest was so extensive that I could not walk upright for two weeks and had to literally crawl to the bathroom on my hands and knees.



It took more than a year to recover from this experience. And, as I said, I still have two compressed vertebra which will never heal.



If that doesn't convince you, how about the nurse I know who bit her own tongue off during a benzo-inspired seizure? True story.





by Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys, Nov 21, 2000 12:00AM
Just out of curiousity, anyone know how much oxycontin 40mg goes for on the street?  Doc just gave me script for 200!!  Bet you're all drooling right now. :-)

by for Sick and scared/beware of Vicky!!, Nov 22, 2000 12:00AM
To sick and scared

You came to the right place. Everyone here has, is, and will be going through the same thing you are and that is what this is all about.

Vicky, you said you were sorry yet you keep this going by making comments in your last post that NOBODY else seems to want to answer "sicks" question. Maybe because you are the only one sitting here checking on the posts, waiting to attack someone else. My god you are sick in the head woman. GROW THE HELL UP!

You are not worth this. I hope nobody else responds to your posts and argues back with you. You have a serious attitude problem!!!!!

by to curious, Nov 22, 2000 12:00AM
pal...take your game somewhere else. 200 oxys my arse. there are sick people on here.what's your game? it's people like you who will make this drug unavailable for those who need it.street value...get help sicko

by to curious, Nov 22, 2000 12:00AM
pal...take your game somewhere else. 200 oxys my arse. there are sick people on here.what's your game? it's people like you who will make this drug unavailable for those who need it.street value...get help sicko

by Lynn to Neena, Nov 22, 2000 12:00AM
Ditto, no one here is drooling for any more fucken pills. We are all here to help each other get off these mothers. If you put 200 oxys in front of me right now I'd probably throw up, I'm so sick of looking at pills and am going to get off them or die trying.

by To TOM, Nov 22, 2000 12:00AM
In your previous post, you advised "listen to Dan" regarding benzos and the dangers of seizures. Just to let you know, Dan did not mention the threat of seizures with abrupt withdrawal from benzos. I did. Dan gave a detailed post about the color of xanax and corresponding dosage, along with some other rambling information. I wrote the short post about seizures. And I stand by my guns, as proved by your anecdote. To the person(s) withdrawing from xanax (or any benzo)--get help and be informed about the serious dangers that accompany this withdrawal.

(I'm just clarifying this because there are other folks out there who have professional and academic experience with addiction and/or medical concerns. Not just so-called-"Doc"-Dan)