How to stop taking Xanax?

[AFKW]

I have been taking 2 mg of Xanax every morning along with 30 mg of Lexapro,because the Lexapro does not relieve my anxiety.  Today I only took 1 mg and am in complete withdrawal.  Total wreck.  How do I taper off the Xanax properly without going into the hospital?

[lovemyfriends]

i have a friend who has been using xanax for the past two weeks illegally, he bought it off of someone. now he feels hooked on to it but wants out. what should he do? since I have no clue on any of these types of meds. please help!

[lovemyfriends]

i have a friend who is using xanax for the past two weeks illegally, he bought it off of someone. now he feels hooked on to it but wants out. what should he do? since I have no clue on any of these types of meds. please help!

[Shakedown74]

I too am taking 6-10mg xanax a dy,uuuuugh ni hate it.Ive done the "getting off the opiates thing",it wasnt fun to say the least.Any advice for someone like me to just quit??

[donewitis]

Well..good for you getting off the benzos..and you are doing it the only way it should be done...slow and steady taper. Google Ashton Manual...Benzo Buddies dot org . I'm glad to hear that you have someone with you.
Look forward to hearing your progress.
God Bless You

[Mattyaus]

I am taking Xanax after a period of nine years with out it 6 mg for the multitude of symptoms associated with post traumatic stress disorder.
I am tapering and in 72 hrs feel hypervigilent and have two people watching me around the clock I can not sleep as I am feeling like some thing is missing???...again 6mg a day 32 years old non drinker nor drug abuser took 4 months 9 years ago aiming for three...diet and will to do it any advice I have valium to control fits cramps etc..

[AFKW]

Hi!  Grateful to hear form you, especially on the weekend!  Just getting on the laptop - kids had it all day...daughter had homework, but son just had it!  Had a pretty good day today - washed all of the dishes, but you'd never know it by looking at the sink right now! lol    Got 2 good naps! Tomorrow I start my tapering down of the Klonopin - will see how that goes...  not too shaky today, but will see how that goes too...

So, benzo's are about the only thing that you have never abused  rx wise, huh?  Lucky you!  I've never done illegal drugs either, except for mary jane too but I did it as an adult and to "fit in" with someone who I was in love with...  Glad to hear that you anxiety disorder(s) have you terrified of illegal drugs and opiates stronger than vicoen, oxy, perc, ect!  You should be terrified of overdose - been there, done that.  Not fun. Miscarried and didn't think that he cared, so overdosed on my meds - don't remember what I was on then, but I was in ICU for 3 days, on life support and coded at least once that I know of.. Was unemployed and my coverage ran out while I was in the hospital, so they sent me to the state hospital - mother wouldn't take responsibility, so she wouldn't sign me out!  Big mess!  One of husband's cousins signed for me, but for "personal reasons"... another big mess!  .
Mouth just started watering again a little while ago and I'm spitting a lot again... Ugh!  Don't know if it's the medicine or in my head!  Was doing that when I first got out of the hospital...Wish it would stop!  I think that it's the medicine...  Looking forward to hearing back from you!  Take care!

[MzHolly]

oh i said benzo's were about the only thing I never abused...I meant rx wise. I've never done illegal drugs (except mary jane years ago, which I don't like), because of fear. That's the only thing anxiety disorder's ever been good for lol. Terrified of illegal drugs and opiates stronger than vicoden, oxy perc, ect, cuz I know how easily I get addicted and am terrified of overdose.

[AFKW]

Wow! More than you can count?!  My husband is the same way with alcohol - sober now - says he's through - we'll see = only can take one day at a time...
Xanax and Klonopin too?  Glad to hear that you never abused benzos. Vicodin is what you're in withdrawal from now?  What were you taking Vicodin for? Pain?  Isn't that what "House" takes? Hope I learn how to be a better mother, wife, daughter and friend. Hope I learn how to love my life.  Seems like you have everything under control..... What a story.

[AFKW]

Hi Holly!
Sorry I could not get back to you on this last night. Both kids needed my son's laptop for schoolwork and I didn't get back on. So, you also have anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and ocd.  We have more in common than I realized.  Glad to know that you know how stressful and scary this all is, but as I told my doctor this morning, I want to do this and I need to do this.  I'm not going to give up! Glad to know that I won't have a seizure with the Klonopin and the Neurnotin. Hope I don't have any weight gain.  Since I've been sick, I lost all my weight and am back to where I need to be.  Don't want to get big again.  My doctor's appointment was fine.  He's upping my Leprexo to 40mgs.  When my Klonopin runs out, I am to start taking 1/2 .05mg tablet daily. When my Neurnotin runs out he's upping it to 300 mgs.  My main problem, right now, is that I just can't seem to relax!  Usually watching TV relaxes me! So, that's the plan, so far.  He will see me in 2 weeks.   Thanks.  I will feel free to message you privately too! Glad to her you're happy to talk on here or privately!  :)  I am feeling better - just can't relax!  My throat still gets scratchy off and on too.  Hope that it will get easier and looking forward to feeling great when it's over and being proud of such an accomplishment.    Thanks for telling me that trowing out the Xanxa took a lot of courage and to give myself some credit on how well I'm doing.  Need to talk to the doctor about taking vitamins and or supplements.  I am supposed to be taking vitamin D last I was told, but haven't gotten it refilled......  Looking forward to talking with you soon!

A

[MzHolly]

More than I can count! Alcohol numerous times before I got sober, Xanax and klonopin, although the xanax was because I couldn't have it in rehab and the klonopin was because I found out I was pregnant. I've never abused benzo's, but that's about the only thing. Vicodin withdrawal is what I'm embarking on now, been through it before when I stopped cold turkey because I started drinking and was afraid of overdose. It was easier then though, the alcohol helped dull the withdrawal, but I was drinking myself to death. The pills, the booze, they made the anxiety and ocd dissapear...but at a huge cost. My quality of life was nonexistent. When I sobered up I learned to be a mother, a wife, a daghter, a friend all over again, and a better one. I love my life now but I know my addictive ways, and know my 5 pills a day could easily turn into 20. So that's my story.

[AFKW]

Hi!  Doing better now that it has been a few days. Thanks for asking! Nice to know that it's NEVER too much trouble to talk. I'm grateful for that. You have been through many different withdrawals? How many? What? What withdrawal are you about to start? Is it under doctor's supervision? Glad to know that you've been where I am and know how hard it is. Where are the pages that list things that help through withdrawal? Can't stand hot baths - especially as hot as I can stand! Sweat too much! lol Trying to distact myself from the panic and anxiety. Can't cocentrate enough to read - but I do wartch TV. Try to be with the family, when they feel like being bothered with me... I do try to take walks.  Please keep in touch so I can let you all know how I am doing.

A

[MzHolly]

I also have anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and ocd, i know how stressful and scary all this can be, but don't give up! You won't have a seizure with the klonopin and neurontin. Neurontin has many purposes, anticunvulsant, anxiety, and chronic pain. Don't worry about weight gain, that didn't start til I had been on it a long time, plus I was on another drug that made me gain weight, so both together is what caused the huge weight gain, plus I was put on these drugs in rehab for alcoholism, and I didn't really eat when I drank, 1 big meal a day, the rest of the time I drank, so having an appetite again helped with the weight gain, my metabolism was all screwed up. How was your dr's appt? Did he give you a plan on how you will wean off these 2 new drugs? Please feel free to privatly message me too, I'm happy to talk on here or privatly. I hope you are feeling better. It will get easier, you will feel great when it's over, and proud of such a huge accomplishment! You're doing great. Throwing out the xanax takes a lot of courage, so give yourself some credit on how well you're doing. Also ask your dr if you should be taking any vitamins or supplements. Talk to you soon!
-Holly

[MzHolly]

how are you doing now that it's been a few days, feeling any better? It's NEVER too much trouble to talk. I've been through many different withdrawals many times and about to start another, I've been where you are and know how hard it was. Read the pages that list things that help through withdrawal. Take hot baths, as hot as you can stand. Distract yourself from the panic and anxiety as much as you can, read, watch tv, be with family, whatever it takes to feel better. Ask your dr if you can take some melatonin to help you sleep, it's been a great help to me. Try to get a little excersize, even if it's just walking around the block, it helps with that "crawling out of your skin" feeling. Please let us know how you're doing.
-Holly

[AFKW]

Hello!  Thank you for posting!  Glad I called the doctor.  Seeing him in the morning at 9:30.  Afraid.  Don't want to be hospitalized again!  Been on Xanax and Klonopin before too!  Put me on Klomopin and Neurotin.  Hope I don't gain weight!  Just got back to my normal size!  Have to do this!!    Seeing Doctor in the morning at 9:30AM!  Afraid!  Don't want to be put back in the hospital!  Having major withdrawal symptoms!  Haven't been to sleep!  Don't want to wake the kids!  Don't know if I can take them to school!  Don't know if I can take myself to the doctor's!  Thank you for the luck.  Also, thank you for believing in me that I can do it.  Hope it goes better than it is right now!  Please message me back, if it's not too much trouble...

[AFKW]

All of my message didn't post!

AFKW

[AFKW]

Hello!  Thank you for posting!  Was taking 2 mgs, sometimes 4 with 30 mgs of Leprexo for panic attacks the Leprexo wasn't controlling.Wanted off of the Xanax - knew I was addicted...only took 1 mg of Xanax yesterday and went into withdrawal.  Got onsite. and got help.  Called the doctor - put me on Klonopin and Neurotin - decreasing dosages - Feel like I am experiencing what you said - a huge shock to my system!  Don't know if I'm going to make it!  Very uncomfortable!  Know it can't be avoided!  Doctor told me that it was going to be hard!  Afraid!  Have to get the kids up for school in 2 hrs!  Have had no sleep!  Been pulling my hair out!  Don't want to go into the hospital again!  They don't really care or help anyways - just put you in more debt!  

Am doing it with my doctor. Can't cut my dosage anymore - threw out all of the Xanax in the house yesterday and the trash was picked up today.   Damn! just deleted all that I wrote!  Don't want to go back into the hospital = they don't really care or help anyways - just put you in more debt!  Hope to GOD I don't have a seizure!  Feel like I'm having a horrific panic attack right now!  

Thank you for the luck.  Please message me back, if it's not too much trouble...

[MzHolly]

glad you're seeing your dr. been on xanax and klonopin, klonopin was easier to wean from for me. Neurontin definantly helps, but made me gain weight, came off that after the klonopin. You can do this!!! with klonopin i weaned off 2 mgs (under psychiatrist supervision ofcourse) .25 every 2 weeks, 2 months total, but didn't have withdrawal symptoms til i got down to the last week, even then, it was better than the xanax one (4 mgs of xanax though). Also I condensed it a little with the dr's ok, after the first couple weeks i was able to go down by .50 at a time and sometimes after only a week. My dr supervised all of this though, i saw him every 2 weeks during this time. It was also fairly easy for me to switch between xanax and klonopin, this was just my expirience, hope it's similar for you. good luck! You can do it! I hope it goes very well for you!

[AFKW]

Hello!  Thank you for posting!  Having a really tough and rough night!  Just got through dry heaving and throwing up a little dinner.  Recuperating from 2 colds, 2 weekends in a row - 1st one caused a massive sinus infection resulting in tremendous headache.  Head was hurting before I laid down so rinsed nose with NeilMed Sinus Rinse - must have dripped down my throat and upset my stomach.  Sipping on room temperature ginger ale.  Room is hot.  Heated kettle to inhale hot steam.  Head hurts less - stomach not so upset - mouth taste terrible again - have not been taking care of teeth - probably have gum disease - father's side of family suffers from depression - shaking again. Been on Xanax for years!  was taking 2 mgs, sometimes 4 with 30 mgs of Leprexo for panic attacks the Leprexo wasn't controlling - took only 1mg of Xanax yesterday and went into withdrawal.  Got onsite and got help - called the doctor - called in Klonopin and Neurotin - hope to GOD I don't have to be hospitalized again!  Feel like I can't make it!  Decreasing dosages of both to help withdrawal. Dr's appt. in the morning at 9:30 AM!  Afraid!  Several months!  GOD!  Don't know if I can do this!  Can't put my family through another hospitalization!  They don't really care or help anyways - just put you in more debt!  Hope it is doable for me!  Not sure if I can make it!  Don't really know if I have the perserverance and patience to make it!  Pulling out my hair!  Thank you for posting. And thank you for the good luck.  And thank you for the blessing.  Please message me back, if it's not too much trouble...Don't really know how to pray...AFKW

I was taking 2 mgs - sometimes 4 with 30 mgs of Leprexo. Panic attacks.  Seemed to help.  Wasn't supposed to be on the Xanax.  Wanted off.  Took 1 mg yesterday and went into withdrawal.  Husband pissed off because doesn't want any stress because he just got out of the hospital for detoc from alcohol.  Kids know something is wrong but don't know exactly what - daughter doesn't care and son is concerned.  

[my_mayberry]

one way to taper from xanax is to have the doctor switch you to diazepam and slowly withdrawal on that. there is a method for converting from xanax to diazepam (it can't just simply be switched)...and then a typical taper thats used. you could see what your doctor thinks of this method. another method would be to stay on the xanax and do a slow taper. in general, this is harder because of the short half-life of xanax. its like being 90 degrees out and jumping straight in to a very cold pool....its a huge shock to the system....only you have to imagine that in this pool, you don't get used to the cold water quicker by just jumping in.

in any event...if you stay on the xanax and do a taper, you may do alright....but it has to be nice and slow. some people say going off xanax is very easy....others (and theres a lot of them) say that its one of the hardest things they've ever done. i imagine that the latter often times don't do proper tapers....but even with the best taper, its still uncomfortable. that can't be avoided.

ultimately....make sure you do this with your doctor...and DON'T cut your dose so much anymore unless you're actually begging for a hospital visit, be it from a seizure or from a horrific panic attack.

good luck

[gnarly_1]

HI.....I was on xanex for years told my doctor I wanted off was taking 4mg a day it was a sloe process that took several months I was tapered off .25mg at a time and my doctor went by how I was feeling with appointments every 2 weeks...it was a grind to get off of but its doable it just takes some perseverance and pacents if you have any questions message me
good luck and God bless.....Gnarly    

[AFKW]

Haven't heard from you. Just trying to check in.....nose is stuffy again and sinus headache is coming back. Hope that it isn't another infection!  Just took the last med for that today...

[AFKW]

Forgot!

Got this today on general sharing on fb.  Luke 27-28 and Romans 13:10.  Have to check back for yesterday's passages.

[AFKW]

Hi!  I'm up because my son has a temperature of 101!  

Talked to the doctor and he called in 2 meds to taper off the Xanax yesterday - started them last night - Trying to wait until 6 to take next dosages.  Have an appt. on Wed. Sent you a add friend request - keep in touch!  Please.  

Getting over a cold, and with my son sick again, who is where I caught the cold from in the first place - afraid to take the cold medicine like I did before..... throat is scratchy again and sinuses are plugged up with green mucus again - Ugh!  Gargled with warm salt water for the throat and rinsed with the warm nasal rinse for my nose...Will spray with Floanase a little later.  Really tired but a little antsy.  'fraid I'll be sleepy when I have to get up at 6 to wake my daughter and take her to school having to take the detox meds.

[erin626]

Definitley talk to your doctor. I tapered off xanax last month and did it way too fast and went through an entire month of hell. I'm still not 100% yet. The plan I was given (I was on 1.5mg a day for 2 months) was first week 1mg a day second week .5mg a day then stay on that for the third week then 4th week .25 a day and then 5th week .25 every other day. I was impatient and condensed it into 2 weeks and really paid the price.