Emergency Alprazolam Withdrawal

Hi
I have been prescribed Alprazolam for more than two years at 6mg per day and have been taking the daily doses as directed. My doctor has gone on 'a summer vacation' and I have less than one week's doses left. I will not have the ability to get in touch with my doctor until september 10th and it will be virtually impossible to have this medication replaced by another doctor because of how high the dose is and because of how nervous I am to ask someone I dont know for this - I - dont even want to be on this terrible medication. I found out how dangerous this this medication is last year when I left my medication on a plane and went through 72 hours of acute withdrawal in a foreign country.... that experience gave me a preview of what Hell may be like, I dont think I could withstand another experience like that. I have been taking 3-4mg per day to try to extend what I have left for 3 days now - this has made me extremely nervous but it is nothing like what I experienced when I was forced to suddenly stop taking the drug last year. Is there anything I can do myself with the last thirty mg to avoid the most serious aspect of the Alprazolam withdrawal syndrome? Is there any way to extend the action beond the six hour half-life by using grapefruit juice or other even alcohol if it comes right down to it (I know benzodiazepines are used to treat alcohol withdrawal so the reverse may be also true as a last resort?) Im pretty desparate already and I will do anything not to have to experience the acute withdrawal again, I wnt survive another round of that.

Any help will be more appreciated than you will ever know. Thanks.

[3 1/2 yrs sober]

I know when my Dr goes out of town and I try to call her office they have a recording of who to call in case you need to see a dr.  Have you tried to call your Dr's office?

[wdagain]

Look's like your only choice is to limit your intake to 1.4 mg per day until he gets back on the 10th.  Another thing to think about would be checking yourself into a hospital.  You are taking much higher than the recommended dosages.  6mg per day is a huge amount.  You can do this but if you cold turkey you could have seizures.  This problem is not going to go away when your Dr comes back.  At some point you will need to reevaluate how much Xanax you are taking.  Good luck to you.  We are here for you.

[vicaddict]

Do you have an urgent care or anything? Any Dr who prescribes this stuff knows you cannot stop them abruptly.

My suggestion would be to go into the urgent care, or an on call dr, or the ER if need be. Even if they do not give you the full strength they will give you something to get you through until your own Dr comes back.

It's either that or making what you have left last. I also think that is quite a high doseage of the stuff.
I do not know anyone that has been above 2mg tabs.

But please go in and be seen, tell them the story and they WILL give you something to get you through. Even if it is only 1mg tabls 3xs a day it is better than having nothing at all.

Keep us posted please.
Tracy

[vicaddict]

Or do you mean 6mg/day not in one pill. I am sorry I probably misunderstood you.

Still seems high to me also. Even at 6mg/day.

None the less, go in and be seen before you are completely out.

[wdagain]

FYI, They come in .25mg, .50mg and 1mg

[vicaddict]

Thanks.

Yeah, I take clonazapam now .5 . I used to take alprazolam but not anymore, they did not work for me.
But I believe mine were only .5mg.
That is what my clonaz is now as well, 2xs/day.

[notmenow!]

The gilr said she is on the 2mg bars, they come .25mg, .5mg, 1.mg, 2mg. What I would do is talk if you have been using the same pharmacy they will understand and probally float you some until you dr returns from vac. Most doctors have another doctor covering for them when they are out of town, Is the office closed also. Call you insurance co if you have one paying for the xanax and ask them about the emergency supply. But definately talk with your pharmacist they know you cant go cold turkey, and I believe will be able to track down a doctor covering for him. What do yo do see him every 3 months and get 2 refills?    good luck

[FLaddict]

Do not use the juice or alcohol to make these last that is playing with fire girlfriend... Not only will it not keep you out of withdrawls it may kill you... Grapefruit juice makes the concentration of the drug in your system higher and adding alcohol can make you black out or OD..
You need to see another doctor about this.. withdrawling even cutting back too much can produce seizures and other dangerous symptoms.. You are gonna get past the fear of talking to someone to get help.. Not doing it could kill yourself..

[vicaddict]

No chit? Grapefruit juice? Wow, I never knew that or would have ever thunk it! Or are you referring to it being mixed with alcohol?

Wow. I am really curious now.

Thanks for the info. I am not on them anymore, but does that apply to the rest of the drugs in that family?
Like say the ones I take, Clonazepam. I don't drink grapefruit Juice anyhow but I have friends who do and take the same meds. Just curious g/f!
Thanks!

[vicaddict]

Oh and I do not drink alcohol either. But just curious just the same. :)

[FLaddict]

Generally No benzo should be mixed with grapefruit juice... there are other meds as well with this warning.. Some addicts will also take stuff like Tagament to potentiate their pills and make them kick stronger.. this is very dangerous.. It changes the normal blood plasma levels.. and can cause someone to OD or black out..

[vicaddict]

Wow, I never heard of that. Seems so odd ya know? I would never have thought of that, and even if I had I would never mess with it. Good to know though in any case.

Thanks gf!

Huggs
Tracy

[VOsRose]

Is it the whole boost to the metabolism thing that makes grapefruit juice do that to medication?  I know there are even antibiotics they tell you not to take with grapefruit juice...but I've also heard that grapefruit juice is great to drink as a weight loss aid.  Just wondering...

Rosie