xanax help now

[bubby110604]

okay i really need help quick.. my husband has been on xanax for almost 4 years.  where we use to live he tried going off of them and had a seizure and went back on.  what are the with drawl's and how bad.  he was filling it too early and now the doctor stopped his refills.  at the beginning of a script he takes at least 20 blues and then at least 6-8 a day.  need to know how bad they are .  i have a daughter with a seizure disorder now i am going to have my husband having them too.  is there anything too help.

thanks

[bubby110604]

thanks everyone.. he tried seeing the doctor he wont see him. he said that my husband was taking too many.  and my husband tried to explain that he wants to go off of them and not get more.  we have 30 blues left.  he has to look for another doctor because the other wont see him at all .  he wrote a letter and mailed it to us saying that my husband needs to find a new doctor.  good luck troubleinohio.  and thanks.  prayers are with everyone

[hydro4life]

You are not suppose to stop xanax c/t and life threatening seizures is one of the reasons. Find a new doctor to help him. Good luck and lots of prayers!!!!

H4L

[troubleinohio]

Im tapering my xanax right now. my doctor said no more refills after this script runs out. I am not doing well with it, my panic is getting worse just from the fact that I know i wont get anymore. I can hardly breathe from  the panic attacks. I do have an appt with a psych on Jan 2, and see if they will give me a proper taper at least. This new year is going to be very hard for me.....going through WD from hydrocodone, WD from xanax and quitting smoking all at once. God help me.

good luck to your husband

[mike59]

He needs to taper off them slowly, as someone mentioned and via the Ashton Manual method. That's really the only way to do it. Cold turkey is not something you want him to go through as it can cause seizures and worse. Detox is not an option either because it is basically a controlled cold turkey that leaves the person using benzodiazepines in rough shape after the detox. People addicted to benzodiazepines refer to detox as "dietox" and for good reason. They've been through it. I'd search for a psychiatrist that knows about these drugs and tapers people off of them.

[bubby110604]

he talked to the doctor today and he wont even see him to decuss about going off of them.  he is an ***.  i have the pills but there is only 22 left.  so valium will help him.  i am really concerned about this with the seizures.  thank you to everyone that has helped

[Summer123]

Your hubby should not go off xanex cold turkey.  It is NOT like opiates or even heroin.  It can cause permanent brain injury if going cold turkey and even death.  He needs to be put on a taper schedule (someone will probably have to hold his medicine).  Going into a detox place is the very worst for someone with a xanex addiction - they get you off of it too quickly and he can suffer from protracted withdrawal syndrome for a very long time afterwards.  An Addictionologist can help provide him with a slow taper schedule.  Some doctors recommend substituting valium for xanex. The equivalency is about 20 mg of valium for each 1 mg of xanex and then a slow withdrawal on the valium (which has a longer half life).  Go to Benzobuddies and see The Ashton Manual  by a doctor in the UK who helped lots of people off of tranquilizers.  Good luck.

[bubby110604]

thank you everyone.. xanax is for his anxiety.  he is very addicted.  we only have 30 pills left.  so he is trying to cut himself down quick.  i told him that he is going to have to talk to the doctor that is cutting him off.  he is talking to her thursday.  he might have to go to a hospital to get off of them because of the seizure. i mean he got off heroine 5 years ago.  and picked up a new habit with xanax 4 years ago.  thanks

[u812]

i heard xanax is harder to get off of then opiates. i would call a dr. or go to the e.r

[Zurich42]

You've come to the right place - you'll get the advice and support you need here.  Welcome.
However, I'd really encourage you to talk to your doctor - and if he/she doesn't know the risks of cold-turkeying Xanax, remind them (this should not be anything 'new' to them).  If anything, you might want to look at a tapering regime for your husband (prescribed by your physician).  
Good luck to you.  

[xyborx]

Coming off xanax quickly is really something one should definately not do - it is a living nightmare, literally. Please come off this as gradually as you possibly can.

[m_i_strongenuf]

Hi~ welcome. You're in the right place for advice, everyone here is awesome!

Symptoms can include fatigue, depression, nausea, vomiting, "the runs", cold sweats, etc., it can feel like a very bad flu. All of us here are going through some sort of w/d's, however, it's different for everyone, some have an easier time, others have a very hard time. There are people here who are going c/t (cold turkey), where your hubby will be if he's out of his rx. Others, like me, are tapering, and then there is of course detox programs he can talk to his doctor about.

So, your husband went off xanax and then had a seizure? what is the xanax for? if he has seizures (I do as well), he should be on anti-seizure meds~I take Keppra which has been awsome.

Good luck to you both, you'll be in my prayers.
~shel~

[allaboutmary]

I don't think he should be going cold turkey off xanax. I am not sure of this, but hopefully others that know will respond. Just wanted to get your post back to the top.