HELP MY HUSBAND HAS TO QUIT XANAX HE HAS 5 DAYS!!

[mistyandgene]

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN GOING TO A METHADONE CLINIC HERE IN OKLAHOMA.IVE BEEN THERE FOR 1 YEARS  MY DOSE IS 180 MGS A DAY .HE JUST STARTED THIS CLINIC 2 MONTHS AGO BECAUSE HE HAD A DOCTOR FOR 12 YEARS AND WE HAD TO GET NEW INSURANCE AND SHE DOESNT TAKE OUR INSURANCE WE HAVE NOW SO AFTER ALL OF THOSE YEARS HE WENT TO HER SHE WAS GIVING HIM 480    10 MGS METHADONE  PILLS A MONTH AND 150 XANAX 1MG  SO HE WOULD TAKE 160MGS METHADONE A DAY AND 5 1MGS XANAX A DAY BUT SHE TOLD US WE HAD TO FIND A NEW DOCTOR THAT WOULD TAKE OUR INS.WELL AT THAT TIME I HAD BEEN AT THIS CLINIC FOR A ABOUT A YEAR SO I TOLD HIM JUST DOSE AT THE CLINIC WITH ME AND WE WILL GET A DOC,TO GIVE YOUR XANAX TO YOU AND YOU WILL BE OKAY.ABOUT ONE MONTH  A GO WE GAVE THE CLINIC THE XANAX PRESCIPTION AND PAPER WORK ON THIS AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD GIVE IT TO THE DOC. TO OKAY ABOUT A WEEK PAST SO WE THEN ASKED THE NURSE IF IT HAD BEEN OKAYED YET THEY ALL SAID IT PASSED AND THE DOC. SAID HE COULD TAKE IT WITH THE 110MGS A DAY OF THE METHADONE BUT HE WOULDNT GIVE ANYMORE THEN 110 A DAY. WELL YESTERDAY HE HAD A DOC.APPOINTMENT AND THE DOCTOR TOLD HIM IT WAS NEVER OKAYED TO TAKE AND HE WANTED HIM OFF ASAP AND GAVE HIM A DETOXIFICATION PAPER FOR 5 DAYS ONLY TO HELP HIM TAPER OFF OF IT.WE DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN TAKING THIS MED.FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS AND ITS HARD TO JUST QUIT IN FIVE DAYS BUT IF HE CANT QUIT THEY WILL TAKE HIM OFF THE METHADONE WE TRIED TO GO BY THE CHART YESTERDAY BUT HE WAS MAD ABOUT IT ALL AND TOOK WHAT HE WAS TAKING BEFORE.SO WHAT CAN WE DO HE NEEDS HELP OR IS THERE SOMETHING HE CAN TAKE TO MAKE HIM DO BETTER WITH THIS..HE WANTS TO QUIT BECAUSE METHADONE AND XANAX DOESNT MIX REAL WELL.PLEASE IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO PLEASE LET US KNOW.THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!    MISTY AND GENE FROM OKLAHOMA!!!

[nursegirl6572]

51 mg of Xanax a day?  Honestly, I cannot believe he is alive.  I cannot believe any Pharmacy would have filled that amount.  He only has ONE choice for safe detox at that dose....aggressive inpatient detox in a hospital....his risk of seizures and life threatening complications is HUGE.  I don't want to frighten you...but this is serious.

The very HIGHEST dose of Xanax daily I have ever seen a pt on is about 4-5 mg, and that was way over the top.  Starting dose of Xanax is 0.25mg.

Get him help immediately.

[nursegirl6572]

OOOOPS.  I re-read that.......5-1 mg tabs, not 51 mg.  Whew.  

Even still....that is an AWFULLY  high dose...a 5 day taper would be dangerous.

I would seek a few different opinions, perhaps consult with an addiction specialist?  I really think he needs inpatient detox to be the safest.

[SophieShine]

Hi there, welcome to the forum!
I don't know nothing about methaddone but I unfortunately know a little about benzos and xanax. I agree with the above. Inpatient detox. At this dosage, tapering in 5 days is impossible, the risks of DT and seizure are way too high. I do not understand that a doctor would have given him so little time to taper. You definitely need a second or third opinion.
Keep it safe.
xxx. sophie.

[dominosarah]

Get ahold of a doctor ASAP.  5 days is not long enough at all.  Please be safe......sara

[mistyandgene]

The reason he has to quit is because the methadone clinic will quit giving  his 110mgs  of methadone a day because you cant take both and stay on this program it can be a bad mix with those two drugs.This doctor is the one that sees the people who dose at this clinic so more less what he says goes or my husband goes.Thats why we dont know what to do about this problem its a bad deal.He thinks he can just do it cold turkey but i know its a bad way to have to do it and if he goes to treatment then he would have to get off methadone and xanax so its twice as bad.I hear getting off the methadone is the worst thing you can ever do.So thats why we dont know what to do.Thank you Misty and Gene lost in Oklahoma!!!!

[hopinforhappy]

The sad thing is he really shouldn't have been on both at the same time to begin with.  Xanax supposedly puts your body into such a relaxed state that when you fall asleep your body can "forget" to breathe.  I am so sorry to here this.  He does need to get off the Xanax but I think I would do some research pull some things off the internet then take the info to the clinic doctor.  Explain to him your concerns.  If he still is persistant that he will only give the 5 days, find another doctor and get a second oppion.  I imagine he deals with this a lot but you should be heard.  Good luck

[SophieShine]

you REALLY need to go see another doctor! He can't go CT in 5 days of tapering. this WAY too dangerous. I don't want to sound harsh but he's gonna end up in the ER.
IMHO inpatient detox is the best option
Please try to find a way to keep him safe.
All my strength. xxx. sophie.

[HelpinUtah]

Misty:
I agree with Sophie!  If he stops Xanax that fast it can kill him, cause seizures, etc.  PLEASE find a place he can go for inpatient DETOX!  Or, find another doctor who can manage him.  Being on Xanax that long - there is no way he can detox in 5 days!  
Lots of prayers headed yours and hubby's way!  Hugs, Janet