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.

[km]

Luke: At one time an MD had me on 11 mg per day of Xanax for panic attacks. It worked, but I was always in a fog and my memory suffered dramatically. I'm no MD, but I finally got sick of it, tapered myself down on  my own. Started with .25 mg decrease a day for 5-7 days. Experienced only mild edginess at this rate. After a week or so the edginess subsided to the point I would cut dose by another  .25 mg. Took me almost 4 mos., but have gone from 11 mg to .75 per day. Have now switched M.D.,s, explained situation to him, and he keeps me on maintenance dose of .25 mg/ 3 times day. My body has adjusted over time and this lower dose works just as effectively for me in preventing panic attacks. Still have concerns about taking it daily, being at the mercy of a pill, but it offers me the chance to experience life without the misery of panic disorder.

[ksp84]

i take 8 mg per a day of xanax what is the best and fastest way to get off

[swtbreezie]

please taper off the xanax w/d can cause seizures.  good luck someone will come post that knows more than me KEEP posting it helps hon.  We are here for you.
swtbreezie

[Jacqui805]

Related to Xanax (alprazolam), I can tell you the following:

1.  The risk for developing a psychological/physiological dependency to this drug is greater in patients taking >4mg/day.
2.  If during beginning of treatment patient experiences drowsiness, light-headedness, and dizziness, the patient should be reevaluated at some point, as these s/s usually do disappear as therapy progresses.  Dosage should be reduced if they do not.
3.  Certain blood tests should be monitored during therapy, such as CBC and liver and renal function  periodicaly during long-term therapy.  
4.  The recommended doses are as follows:
     For anxiety:   (Adults)  0.25-0.5 mg 2~3 times daily (not >4mg/day; begin with 0.25 mg 2~3 times daily in geriatric/debilitated patients).
     For Panic Attacks: (Adults)  0.5 mg 3 times daily; may be increased as needed (not >10mg/day).
5.  Comes in liquid in two concentrations:  0.1 mg/ml and 1 mg/ml
6.  Comes in tablets in four dosages:  0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg
7.  Treatment with this medication should not exceed 4 mos without re-evaluation of the patient's need for the drug.
8.  The drug needs to be tapered off so as to avoid w/d s/s from tolerance and to avoid rebound anxiety.  
9.  If during treatment, the med. is less effective after a few weeks, the patient should check with their health care provider (without first increasing the dose on their own).  
10. Abrupt w/d may cause sweating, vomiting, muscle cramps, tremors, and convulsions.

[chris147]

I have been taking 0.5 xanax for quite some time. I no longer want to use it. It is very easily habit forming (no kidding).

After using this for a few years I have tried to stop off and have not been successful. It's way too easy a quick fix.

I stopped for three days now. I have been strongly tempted/irritable and emotional at times. I'm staying with it now. I don't think that I ever been off it for three days in a row since regularly using this.

When can I expect this to subside? Is it ok to ever take it again afterwards, or am I forever hooked to this?

Sad that I got pulled in to begin with, Chris

[miss_mel]

well xanax are addicting and weaning your self off isnt easy.i dont get why dr. put people on addicting meds to stop another addiction.
any-ways
the emotion and temper/irritabilty are commen when comeing off xanax its called zannie rages. its okay in 5 days if you dont take any then it should stop.
but you have to go 5 days with 0 xanax.

Mel

[chris147]

Shocked because i had just read that the toughest points were during 48-72 hours. I will be aware.

Big question for me is this: Am I addicted? Is the dose that I was taking put me in that area. I have never taken more that 0.5 mg on a given day. Curious about this.  

[chris147]

Very tempting to take it again. I'm trying very hard. Knowing that bottle is in the cabinet is powerful. Don't know if i will make it right now.

Depressed. Thinking that I am worthless and that everything is hopeless. Sorry to be so bleak but I have to get this out here. Nobody else knows and I will not go on record and get professionally treated. If that is what is called for, that is.

Gonna try to make it through this night and hope that this gets better.

[lostmarbles]

please check out my journal. I have posted several useful web addresses in relation to benzos. They really helped me to understand benzos more, how they work, what they do to you short term/long term, taper plans etc...

[John636]

Iam taking Zanax .25 Itook 1[2 of a pill for a number of years and read about addiction and now all of a sudden this dossage doesn't work and when I stopped the doesage for 28 hours Iwas in pain , can Iget off of it aand how long will it take

[Summer123]

There is a doctor in the UK who recommends doing a cross over to valium to get off of xanex.  She equates .25 mg of xanex to 5 mg of valium.  If you go on 5 mg of valium and decrease the dosage by 1 mg or 1/2 mg every week or two you should be fine.  Otherwise, I would suggest you divide the .25 mg pill in four and go down by 1/4 pill every one to two weeks until off.  Good luck.

[speciality]

consult a Dr. Or you can even call a pharmacist anonymously. Tapering from Xanax must be done with extreme care. I would GUESS the slower the better, but oplease BE CAREFUL, and do not rely soley on internet opinions. Good Luck

[speciality]

the amygdimayla (sp?) My Dr. told me this as he prescribed  a HANFUL of xanax when my Mother died, and I could not stop crying. He told me they work on the emotional center, I am no Dr. But I would guess the WD and feelings of worthlessness may be from stopping the med.

[kimmieb]

hey, please consider the above post by lostmarbles....she KNOWS what she's talking about.....check it out

i, too, was on a benzo (ativan -- lorazepam) for almost 5 years, up to 3 mg every night for sleep....never abused but developed BIG TIME dependency....knew i had to and wanted to get off....but knew i could NOT do it without the help of a good physician....found one (in the chicagoland area) who is simply AWESOME, a biologically trained psych doctor, and he successfully weaned me off within a period of only a few months....honestly, before going to him, i never thought it was possible....i honest to God thought i would be on these things for life....it CAN be done and it CAN be done with minimal pain and distress if done correctly under a good doctor's supervision....that's your first goal....find a good physician....also go to benzo.org...and also google "theroadback", it's a program designed specifically to help people get off any psychotropic med, including the benzos....i still currently use their Body Calm and Body Calm Supreme capsules at night to help with sleep....but am off the benzos!  you can do it....check out these things....and use lostmarbles as a reference...she can be a HUGE help to you

blessings and good luck!!!!!
kim

[JiinJiin]

I have been on xanex for about 2 months and 3 days now.I really want to get off of these things because they have been taking toll on my everyday life.I been feeling dizzy,nauseous& also getting headaches.My dr precribed the xanex for me because I told her I was having anxiety and panic-attacks.I need some answers on what to do here..I dont want anything happening to me.I just want to get off these things before its too late to do so...
thanks for reading....

[cgmomma]

hun, this is a very old thread go back to the forum and at the top of the page click post a question.  Most people probably won't see this.  There are many here who can help you so post a question and know that you came to the right place...

britt

[itcanbedone]

i have been on xanax for 9 years now starting at 1mg a day when first started to now 6mg a day.  it is a very hard drug to get off of.  throughout my years to now the first thing i would recomend is finding a good doc and be honest with him/her about everything you take, your lifestyle etc., and never lie to your doc, they are there to help you.  i could take 10 mg right now and function fine sad to say but am down to 6mg a day.  you have to look deep inside yourself and have faith and a positive attitude that you can and will reduce and get off, this sounds easy but you can imagine how much harder it really is.  i have gone to 15mg a day to now 6mg and on the way down from there.  excercise is one of the best tools you can use, it gets your mind off it and releases natural chemicals in your body that almost fel like you just took a xanax.  i have a brother in law that is addicted to working out, the indorfins sp? he is used to and gets cranky if not able to work out.  i was put on xanax when i was 16 yes 16 and now im 25, find a good doc, try your very hardest to keep positive and know you can beat it but never do it cold turkey.  i am in the process right now and with God, my wife and my will i will conquer this addiction.  if anyone needs any help with questions im sure i can answer it, i was also a pharmacy tech for 3 years, never took a thing from there but have knowledge of all benzos etc.  folks trust me you can beat this demon, my thoughts and prayers are with you as i hope you will pray for me too, thats it for now, thanks for your time