How do you get off of Xanax?

[Luke]

In an effort to help me stop drinking, my doctor prescribed 1 mg of Xanax which I take nightly to help me sleep.  This has proved effective and has helped me stop using alcohol to help me sleep.  I have been taking the 1 mg dose of Xanax for about 7 months now and I would like to get off this medication.  I have heard horror stories of people trying to do this.  How do you recommend I wean myself from this medication?  The 1 mg tablets can be cut in half but would dropping to .5 mg/day be too sudden a jump?  Thank you.

[Claire_MHModerator]

Hi, folks,

Since this thread is old and the original participants are no longer taking part, we'll close it now.  If you'd like to ask a question or start a new thread, please click the "Post a Question" button near the top of this page.  Thanks!

Claire
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[nursegirl6572]

This is a very old thread.  Please start a new thread so your question doesn't get missed.

Click here to start a new thread:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/new_with_new_subject?forum_id=77

[victoria34345]

Been on xanxa for 15 yrs .25 to 1mg.I want to get off but scared of panic coming back.Ive never taken y more than 1mg a day.mostly .50 aday.How should I tapper? victoria

[hdatray]

ive been on zanax three weeks dont take it all the time .5 mg can i taper off using .25 mg

[spider6]

Hello there and welcome.
You have posted on a 14 year old thread.   Please start a new thread of your own.  You'll get more help that way......I myself just scan over the years if they are so long ago and don't read them.

The xanax thing is tricky.....I was a mistress to this devil for 13+ yrs.
So because you haven't been taking them for that long and the dose
is not that bad (not abusing) you shouldn't have a nightmarish experience.
I can't advise you on how to wean, and I would never advise anyone to
go c/t as this is very dangerous with benzos.

Post a new thread like I said and others will be sure to respond as soon as
they can.  I have been clean of benzos for about almost 20yrs. So I think
there are others here who are more current on how to advise you.
I wish you much luck and strength and think you are doing the right thing.
Benzodiazepenes are "H*LL"  in a tiny little pill.  Stay away.

hugs.

[Mukymuky2]

I've been taking 2mg of Xanax, it's a long story but basically I was supposed to get the XR kind,but instead got the regular "bars" of 2 mg. I noticed this a few days ago and got the Xanax XR they don't feel that different but that's beside the point. I've only be taking Xanax for about a month and have read some of the worst things about the withdraw you'll get from it. I don't want to take this anymore for a fear of addiction, how's a safe way to ween yourself off this, without getting a lot of the symptoms that come with withdrawal?

[Springer52]

No, I was once on 2 bars every 4 hours. I weened myself off slowly and there were days I had to take more than the day before. But it was all worth it eventually.

So many People seem to forget, many drugs that are prescribed, they're only for a portion of your life. A little helper to get you where you're going.

If you're thinking about getting off of the xanax go ahead, and try working in so other things to help out like exercise or some breathing techniques.
Best of Luck

[Desperate18]

     I have been on 2 1mg's tablets a day for well over 10 years,  what is the best way of weaning myself off of this? I really want to get out of this addiction really bad.  I'm afraid of getting seizures can anyone here give me some advice on what would be the best way of going about doing this in the safest way? Thanks to all.

[Michelle12264]

PLEASE HELP.  My son is addicted to xanax.  He is spiraling and I am going to lose him.  I do not know what to do to help him.  He wants help.  We have no money.  He tried cold turkey and ended up in the emergency room with seizures.  He got a concussion from falling and broken teeth.  PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME.  I'M BEGGING.

[deblessard]

I was on 1 mg four times a day and got pregnant and had been taken the xanax for years as soon as i found out i was pregnant i went off it cold turkey, i was sick at least eight months of my preganancy, it was like having morning sickness, i got thru it and my daughter is a healthy 18 year old. i stayed off it because i was nursing, then went back on it and now he just up my does to 2mgs four times a day for severe aniexty. good luck

[OpenMind24hours]

You should start your own thread under "post a question". You should get lots of answers.

[mammyann]

I have been self useing for 2years about 1to 2 bars a day. Went one day with out last may an has a seisure. I want off I dont kno how an I am scared I dont want my kids to see me have another seizure again can anyone help

[BenCroz]

I have been taken xanex regularly for about 2 yearsfyearsfrom doses ranging from doses ranging from 4mg to upwards of 10mg I dont take it more then three days in a row because as much as it helps my anxiety it has started to help. I tryed to get xanex prescribed to me but because of me being a 20 year old male I guess I fit the profile of someone that would abuse. So unfortunatly for me it is easyer to find xanex bars then it is to buy a beer so I began self medicating. Before my uses of xanex I had anxiety and anger issues if I taper off how should I? and if I do will I be full of anxiety and and anger for ever? Any answers would be fully appreciated sencierly Ben C

[jackie409]

I was on Xanax for 12 years. I did not take more than 1mg at any time.  My doctor prescribed it to help calm my anxiety and sleep problem.  I finally realized I needed to get off of it when it was creating problems for me; I would frequently urinate - every 10 minutes all day long even at night before bed.  I became withdrawn from people - felt nervous in social situations and would sweat and turn red.  I would lash out at people for minor things.  All these things were also affecting my productivity at work.  I didn't think I could go without it.

I saw a new doctor and he gave me the BEST advice to get off the Xanax.  While you withdraw, slowly taper off of it, by about .5 mg every other day.  Only drink WATER and LEMON.  NO CAFFEINE period (includes coffee, tea, mountain dew soda).  This is extremely important.  NO Coffee (including Decaf); NO Alcohol; NO sugar; NO Chocololate.  NO Soda (esp Mountain Dew as it is high in caffeine); NO herbal teas.  I stayed away from caffeine for 6 months.  If I would have caffeine, alcohol, or anything high in sugar, I would get an urge for the Xanax.  Believe me - this works.  I've been off of it for 7 months and recently started incorporating tea and decaf coffee.  I feel 100% better..I can't believe I thought I needed it. I sleep better, no more frequent urges for the bathroom; I'm sociable again.

[march12]

I was on 2.5 a day mainly to help me sleep and help with bp going up due to my pain medications. some people get sleepy on pain meds others get energy! well thats me! when I take my pain meds I can clean my whole house! so my doc gave me xanex to help control my bp and it worked but now I want to stop the xanex because I tapered down from my pain meds to a point that is manageable.. but sometimes not always I get a spike in my BP so not sure what to do? i've got myself down to 1.25ml of xanex from 2.5
but I'm at a stand still at this level for weeks due to my spikes in BP! I'm so confused  because I need my pain meds to manage my pain and now my bp spikes are more frequent due to my decrease in xanex use..  can anybody find me somebody to help!!!!!!!! me

[Mandy033]

That can possibly kill an individual because xanax withdrawl is the most dangerous in the world besides hardcore alcoholics. Poeple should check with their Dr. and coordinate a safe way to detox.

[azuyle]

i been taking alprazolam for 9months since starting ive always taken 1/2 a pill of .50mg ive always wondered is the name brand xanax stronger or weaker than the generic alprazolam ? Before starting alprazolam i drank alcohol often 2-3 times a week since early 2008, i been sober since starting alprazolam , its depressing to me being sober that long i felt like i was "in paradise" when i was drinking my budweiser and listening to my fave music :( i miss those days!. my doctor always gives me 3 refills i sell my leftovers before getting refills. I experimented with melatonin taking 1/2 of a 1/2 a 3mg melatonin so .75mg worked well for me so does drinking chamomille tea , Im going to ask my doctor next visit i want to get off it! i miss my lifestyle im just going to change by drinking only a 6pack of pint cans  of beer once a week.  I have fibromyalgia symptoms after starting xanx , im not working anymore i feel very fatigued , senstive to light & sound, also my legs /feet have felt numb tingly since nov 2010, i have trouble staying asleep longer than 4hrs at night,  can anyone posts what medicine is given as a substitute for xanax ?? Im seizure prone theres some medications that have seizure warnings i took dilantin for 11 months nov 2004-oct 2005, thanks for any replys!

[Seabass77]

Do not ever take more than your average daily dose in a day.  That is the first step.  Afer that, progess is progress, no matter how small the incriment.  Go slow so you don't seize.  No more than 0.5mg every 3 days even if you are comfy with that pace, is what I read.  Start now and you are already on your way.  =)   I take 0.75mg/day for over two weeks and I'm already ready to talk to my doc about stopping Xanax.  This forum has some horror stories.  Good luck people. God bless.

[Joshua1226]

The only problem is finding a heartless non money hungry Doc in the box who will do it.

[helpneeded2012]

Kim, I am in chicago suburbs, my dr had me on 10 mg a day and it's been upping for four years now...now he has stopped and I have no insurance and can't afford dr. no clinics treat benzo's...believe me and I'm in the medical field..Please help, I have no choice and I have just a cpl left.

Thanks!

[Brittanypaige]

I sometimes go on these xanax binges usually during the transformation from spring to summer it's something seasonal or whatever . So me I slf medicate and I don't have a doctor monitor me iv been up to 8 bars which is 2 mlgs which makes 16 mlgs a day. Talk about not remembering but I believe I will cut my days down by two bars a day so one day is 8 bars next is 6 bars next 4 and so forth. I need to know is this safe? I have had seizures before but my anxiety and panic is absolutely crazy and my mother doesn't allow my doctor to put me on any benzoids so I cannot have a doctor monitor . Is this a safe way to do this? Or is it too quickly should I cut it by 1 mlg a day ? Any insight would
Be appreciated thanks

[littlebit667]

hon, this thread is old enough you might not get the help and support.  Go up to the top and click on the orange ask a question icon.  Repost (cut and paste) your post and it will start a new thread that will be seen!  This is a very active group and you will get help!  Glad you are here.

[db1914]

I am in the same boat you are.  I have been taking the drug for more than 3 years now, taking a dose of 0.5 daily.  I now want to quit it all together, and found it very dificult.  Not taking has made me very "stupid" in everyday normal activies, such as talking!!! Let me know if you have found anything thst has helped you get through it. I was thinking about taking st. john's wart or 5-htp, to help get back to "normal".  Thanks for any suggestions

[staticage]

hey man,start you a thread,theres lots people here to help...good luck.

[LostNoMore]

Hey bp - go to the top of the page and hit the 'post a question" button
and that will start a new thread. Sorry you're struggling so much. Get your own thread going and people will help you.