Xanax withdrawal

[B-bunch]

I had to quit cold turkey after doctor stopped prescribing for 2 years.  I didn't know anything about Xanax and what it could do during withdrawals. wow. Was it ever a scary trip. After the initial shaking and sweating and not being able to walk or even get out of bed. I was so out of it I stopped taking my HepC meds and my thyroid meds (I had my thyroid removed) I then started into a psychotic episode that lasted for over a week. My brother and mother had to call 911 at 4:30am because I was talking to imaginary friends in the bathroom and took my pants off then sat in a dry bathtub.
I evidently couldn't make myself understood because my speech was so garbled. I don't remember the real reality of that week I just remember my version of it. With bits of my brother and my mother walking in and out of my visual and auditory hallucinations. When I got to the hospital I was so dehydrated it took several IV bags before I was stable. Again I don't remember any of this. I evidently thought that a little man lived inside my head in his own condo! I have a rich imagination. At least I didn't try to jump out a window or hurt anyone. I easily could have turned from happy hallucinations to scary ones.Luckily my mind was being nice to me and  I just had a big party in my episode. I was told I was laughing and talking to groups of people that were standing around my bed.

It's been a week and I'm back from the hospital I'm back in my right mind and the hospital helped me taper with Adivan.

I'm still a little shaky, hand tremors, sweating,major constipation, heart pounding when I get up from sitting or laying down. I get these jerks of my entire body as if I just received a big electric shock. .

Does anyone know how long I will have these withdrawal symptoms?

I think all XANAX and generic forms of XANAX should be destroyed. How can that be legal?  

[B-bunch]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. I saw a nutritionist and she is helping with  new eating habits that will help my body not go into sharp highs and lows which causes anxiety. Here is a good article about that.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coping-with-anxiety/AN01589/rss=1

Each day it gets better.
Sharon

[Josh26]

xanax was HARD TO QUIT but i did it ....it took me 4 weeks straight up actually make that 6 total
man the thing about xanax is TIME you gotta taper and taper and let time work for you but just know that there is the backend of the withdrawl once you take your last piece youre body will wonder where did it go..so just know try to get to that point this is what i do and i dont reccommend but it worked for me

10 mgs a day
tapered down to 8 a day within 3 days
took 8 for 3 days
down to 4 a day within 5 days
stayed there for 1 week
then i cut to 2
SO BASCIALLY AT THIS POINT I WAS DOING HALVES
now heres where it got tricky
then i broke the 2 up into quarters and took 2 in the morning 2 in the afternoon and 2 in the evening equalling 1.5 mg's then i held for about 5 days
then i took 1 quarter off of each time frame meaning down to 1 quarter in morning 1 in after and 1 in evening
held firm there for a week
then i took away my middle quarter
leaving me with 1 quarter in the morning and 1 at night and held firm until my body adjusted took about a 5 days
then i just took 1 quarter at night nonthing else
held ther for like 3 days
bared with the intensity of it all
and then 4th day
DONE
i guess you could call it a 40 day taper plan i didnt read about it..its just the way got off it and i'm still alive alert and ready to go i'm about a month clean off xanax and i feel super! post me if you hve any questions
JOSH

[road2recovery]

I also came off of a benzo(klonopin) c/t...I had no idea what was happening to me..The shakes were terrible..I could not swallow..Even my head would shake..i did not sleep for about 13 days then they put me on lexapro and wihin 2 day i was much much better..
I did not experience what you did, but i can defienlty understand it..
hope this helps some
R2R

[gettingoff30]

I agree with retired.  I had to wean down from xanax.  I was taking 4 bars /day for about 2 years.  I went through a psychotic issue with seeing things shaking, sweating all that.  I got through the acute part after about 2-3 weeks.  After a month I was sleeping again.  You should be feeling better each day.  The anxiety does go away.  I agree with you about Xanax it is very strong.  Drs seem to prescribe it with ease down here in FL.  Anyways 2 weeks you should be feeling better after a month you will feel noticably better.

[retiredrn]

Wow, what an experience.  I agree, these drugs are not the innocuous little helpers the pharm industry has pushed. It took me well over a month before I felt ok after kicking xanax and I didn't take them as long as you. Are you taking your Hepc and thyroid meds?  I've heard the Hepc tx makes you feel like sh*it, what is your genotype?  Did you have thyroid cancer?