Detoxing from Xanax and Carisoprodal

[desperate15]

My husband has been on Xanax and Carisoprodal for about 15 years.  As often happens, he upped the doses himself and would often run out before it was time for a refill.  Recently he upped them considerably (taking double prescriptions for about a month or two) and ran out and that's it - now he's out and the doctor knows he was abusing it and he's not taking it anymore (except for the last stages of weaning from the carisoprodal, down to about 1/2 a day instead of 6-8.  

The symptoms are bad, the worst being racing heart, panic, and extreme weakness in his legs and burning muscles.  He walks like a very old man and his words are a bit slurry, though that's gotten better faster than the strength.

It's been two or three weeks of this now.  Are these normal physical symptoms of withdrawal?  How long might we expect them to last?

[desperate15]

Yup, he's on an antidepressant, thank goodness.

Thanks so much to all!

[vicki595]

Hey...15 years is a long time for Xanax and Soma.  When I said "forever" it was about a month of barely leaving the house. I was lower than low...then I kicked my butt into gear.

No, rehab is not an answer here,in my opinion. He's already detoxed and is better off at home.  He might need some short term antidepressant therapy; that would be my next step.

The healing is not linear. There will be good and bad days. Mostly good as time goes on...
But,honestly,it can take 90 days to see vast improvement. See about an antidepressant
for now. That's what I would do.

[trdofbeingtrd]

Sorry, I meant bye bye.

[trdofbeingtrd]

The ER doctor I saw weeks ago said Soma is going by by in the USA.

[desperate15]

I'm cooking and concentrating on protein - that was my instinct on this - and some whole grains.  He is eating, though not enjoying, but sometimes he even gets seconds so that's good.

Seen two docs a week and a half apart and both seem to concur that he doesn't need additional attention (testing, whatever).  But what you're saying, Vicki, is resonating here.  So when you say you sat around "forever", do you have any idea how long it was?   He is getting up to shuffle around the house (we're talking around the hallways) for about 5-10 minutes at a time, but he's doing it.  Has lost weight but that seems to make sense given the lack of weight bearing exercize and so on.

The other thing is, we have really crappy insurance.  Self-employed, so it's bad, and where a lot of people will say "get him into rehab" or "get counseling" etc., those things are not financially possible for us.

So I wonder if this really is the road to healing, and if there might (please!) be a sudden unexpected turn for the better at any given point, or is this all slowly incremental?

Thanks so much for your help, by the way. Everyone.  Amazing to reach out into the dark like this and feel a hand!

[vicki595]

Yes...Gaba returns to normal in time.     I took a drug for YEARS that totally interferes with GABA. It was all I could do to walk to the mailbox when I stopped!  I sat around forever!  That didn't help!  I got sick of that and just forced myself and it about killed me but I got my energy back.  Is he eating? Especially protein?

If he's not better,even slightly,within a week,check back with the doctor just to be sure nothing else is going on here.

[desperate15]

Will the  GABA renew itself then?

Vicki, so this sounds normal to you, the EXTREME weakness and needing to sit after five minutes of walking?  And it will come back to normal in, hopefully, a matter of weeks?

He's walking little bits at a time frequently throughout the day but feeling like he's getting weaker, not stronger.  However, that might be because the doctor put him on an antidepressant that makes you tired at first (it's a low level to calm the anxiety, NOT in the Xanax family!)

[vicki595]

He needs to eat and continue to force those fluids. This kind of withdrawal can take a few weeks to a month to feel much better!  Some minerals will help: calcium,potassium,magnesium,and zinc.   Also,trying a little soft exercise like walking
can help jump start the process. "What you don't use,you lose!".

Hope he feels better soon!

[quitinoxys]

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is called an inhibitory neurotransmitter because it tends to make cells less excitable. It helps control muscle activity and is an important part of the visual system. Drugs that increase GABA levels in the brain are used to treat epileptic seizures and tremors in patients with Huntington’s disease.  It is also the brains built-in valium to control anxiety. Having a decreased amount of GABA can cause muscle cramps and fatigue.

I hope this helps---Rick

[desperate15]

What is GABA?

The main thing now seems to be the muscle weakness.  Very hard for him to get up and walk around though everything else seems on a good track to normal.  Any idea how long the weakness lasts or if there's a way to amp it up?

[my_mayberry]

it depends. for some people, CT on xanax will leave horrible withdrawal syptoms for a long long time. in this case, NO it's not too late. if those have passed, then you're correct...there would be no point. if they haven't and they are still severe, then the time for a taper has NOT passed as they will probably persist for a very long time from now. it's all individual to the person. if he is only left with mild physical symptoms, then there would be no point at all in a taper. if...as some people experience...he is still having major anxiety, sleeplessness, and other mental problems along with twitching, etc....then the time for a taper has obviously NOT passed. why on earth should one endure these symptoms just because they've already done 3 weeks cold turkey? it makes no difference. it's all about the fact that benzo's reduce the body's ability to USE GABA correctly...getting it back takes longer for some than it does for others. for some, 3 weeks into a cold turkey will still feel like they've quit yesterday as their body has not regained its own ability to use GABA...for others, the worst will have passed. its all individual to the person.

[atthebeach]

Yes too late for a taper.give him a congrats on his clean time from me. Check out the Health pages on the top right of this page. There is a lot of useful info.there. your support is so important. I am sure he appreciates that you are standing by your man. Vitamins protein shakes epsom salt baths. Time time time
Blessings
Debbie

[desperate15]

well, he's been off everything for 2-3 weeks now, so the time for a taper is past, correct?  It feels like there would be no point in starting anything again in order to stop, but maybe I'm wrong.

The biggest problem seems to be muscle weakness now.  Hard to get up and walk around.  Is there any way to make that come back faster?  Surely there won't be months of that! (I hope!)

[my_mayberry]

to be clear, i commented on this. infact it was originally around a 6 paragraph comment that took about a half hour to type...then when i hit submit, i got "MEDHELP IS CURRENTLY UPDATING..."  gotta love it!!!!!!!!

well anyway, i'll keep this one shorter than my first for fear that it too will be a wasted effort. soma and xanax BOTH need to be tapered....with benzo withdrawal and the length of time he was addicted, his withdrawal symptoms will doubtfully go away anytime soon. they could last MONTHS if he didn't do a taper. if it were me and i were still experiencing w/d syptoms of significant value, i would find another doc and do a taper...i would ask about using valium for the taper due to its long half life. it makes it easier and safer to taper. however long he's been off these meds, if he has seen only say a 10% improvement in w/d symptoms, then that should give you an idea of just how long they are going to last. he needs to see a doc for this merely to keep his sanity. he was on this drug for a very long time and in high doses...the taper at this point would not be to reduce seizure risk, but rather just to keep him sane and relieve many of the physical symptoms. if he has abused benzo's in the past, YOU may need to be in charge of his taper and give him his daily dose of meds every day so he doesn't take more than he should. its very important to stick to the taper if you are going to be successful with it. if his doc took him off these meds without a proper taper, then this is not a doc i would see to be getting a taper from. odds are he is an ignorant doctor who doesn't know what the heck he's doing when it comes to benzo's.

[gnarly_1]

hi dont know what up with the doctor but he should have been tapered off the xanex its not safe to just go off that you can wind up in seizures both meds he is taking sould be taper off of and I agree it going to be a wile b/4 things are back to normal....if he truly wants his life back then aftercare is the answer you just cant opt out and expect to get well recovery takes woork afyer 14 yr of abuse keep posting for support good luck and God bless.......Gnarly

[desperate15]

OMG, Debie, thank you so much!  I was losing hope here!

He is not into "aftercare" but his doctor - the one who prescribed this #)(*% for all those years - indicated it would only be a couple of weeks to "get over it".  Since it has been longer, he's sure it's something else, something fatal, whatever.

Thank you for answering and giving the real scoop!

[atthebeach]

hi yes depending on how much xanax he was taking and considering the years and the other muscle relaxer the symptoms can last for months. you and he both have to remember he put poisons and toxins in his body for 14 years and they will definitely take time to be totally gone. my husband used methadone and xanax for 14yrs and it really took him about 9 months to be clear. his strength, the sleep , foggy, fatigue, anxiety , bathroom issues, restless legs , red eyes, forgetful it returns slowly day by day. check out the health pages at the top of this page on the right side. have him try to walk, exercise,a little at a time, try to keep himself busy and he should really get into some type of aftercare. they will always be addicts but have to chose active or recovering. there is addiction counselors, na/aa, church, pastor, he needs support so he doesn't relapse. have him read other peoples post for support also.
blessings,
debie