TERRIFIED!!!! HOW DO I WEAN OFF 6 MG XANAX per day?????

[newone58]

I am on 6 mg  of xanax per day in .5mg doses every two hours. my incompetent doctor approved this schedule to help me taper off duragesic/fentanyl patch. NOW I AM TERRIFIED as i have severe anxiety on the xanax taper meds, self neglect, cannot function- LIFE IS LIVING HELL!! Am confused all the time, and getting no support at home.
PLEASE PLEASE HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    
Terrified of detox facility- as it may take quite a while to get off- but, terrified of seizures and withdrawal if i do this on my own.
ANY HELP PLEASE, DEAR GOD !!!!!

[mommy1988love]

Just wanted to say the 2 times I was in detox (thank God the last one stuck, 2 yrs clean in Feb.) you could use a phone. Annonimity (sp?) is important, like not using last names, but you are not in lockdown! Yes, the main door to the detox dorm is locked but you are free to move around have a bed, roomates, bathrooms, showers, TV's, games, books, group sessions that will help you prepare yourself for the outside world and staying clean. And you keep saying your terrified of detox and w/ding but in detox you will be in a safe, medically supervised facility. The BEST place you could be while detoxing.

Just trying to get you to see that detox is a GOOD thing, not something to be terrified of. After the first say, 3, days it gets nothing but better each day. Like one of the above posts said this last time I didn't want to leave! The safety you feel there and the feeling that you can be completely honest with these people and they are there to help you is intoxicating in itself. You can do this and begin getting on w/ your life. Best of luck. You are stronger than you think. Lee

[nursegirl6572]

i am really desperate here. what should i do??? .



I say i need medical help.


Quit listening to people who have NO clue, and listen to yourself...you already know what you need to do.

[newone58]

i have two ignorant friends who say that i can just come off benzos one a week for next six weeks on my own. I say i need medical help. they also tell me that i am throwing myself a  pity party and can change at drop of hat. that i just need to try harder. I say this is serious and should be done by pros. i have NO support at all down here. spouse says same thing, that i dont need rehab and wont take me at all to get help. i am really desperate here. what should i do???

[nursegirl6572]

I know you're in a tough spot, but you have to make this happen.  It's the safest way, especially because you have other medical conditions to consider.  Your family may not understand, but after you get in there, they can speak to a doctor who can let them know that there are REAL risks coming off benzos.  It's not like an opiate where it is just uncomfortable...there is a real risk to your health.

I think you're reading a lot into everything.  Most likely, when you were told the nurses would give you Phenobarbital at their discretion, they are probably talkling about dosing schedules.  The nurses will give it to you when needed, but will be careful not to just medicate you if you don't need it.  They have protocols set up.  While it will probably not be a breeze, they will make you as comfortable as possible.

You can find a way to get there..I think you just need to get the ball rolling and get in there.  The longer you stay on your current dosing schedule, the worse it's going to be, dear!

Lots of luck...hope to read a good update from you after you come home!  You can do it!

[newone58]

i agree. Please PRAY for me. I do work myself up- because of the panic and fear. i have been taking xanax on/off for almost  20 years. But, NEVER at 6 mg per day and not every 2 hours. this is a hell existence. i am considering rehab as that is everyones suggestion.i am sure some is emotional- i need to get away from the 2 hour schedule, and am terrified to do it.it has been a way of life for last 3 plus months. I really, really need a good doctor, have called almost everyone in houston, and they are either booked or dont do detox off xanax. they give suboxone for the vicodin. i made at least 30 phone calls for help to no avail. there is only one rehab center i found that got the ball rolling at least, and i dont have a ride to get there far away. i also need the support of my family to go to rehab and they refuse to talk about my condition.

[newone58]

a lot of my problem is that i am on the 2 hours schedule 24/7. it is now a mental dependency as well as physical. the doc who gave me the patch in the first place should have weaned me off of the patch- he did not do ANYTHING. Now i am left with a vicodin/xanax addiction that my pcp said was ok- but, he is not a detox doc.
the rehab facility says they will pheno barb for anxiety, but cannot promise- saying it at the discretion of the "nurses"????? WT???i have asked a lot of questions , and no one seems to really want to answer. my spouse thinks that i should pull myself up by bootstraps- that is hard to do when you are paranoid, panic stricken, etc..... so, i have NO support at home on this . all here have been great. thank you. i feel so abandoned by medical community- no one is really supervising this- and the hospitals just say- go to the ER- and we'll take it from there. wondering what fresh hell will be waiting for me. and most hospitals here do not even DO DETOX. i am soo lost.