Xanax dependent already?

[Jon_H]

Hello everyone... what a wonderful forum here. I hope I can find some answers...

Basically, I've been under a lot of stress due to life events the past couple of months. Maybe six weeks ago I started borrowing Xanax from a friend as needed, perhaps a couple of times a week. Not wanting to feel like a druggie, 10 days ago I went to a doctor and she prescribed me 1mg tablets every 6-8 hours as needed. I started taking them every 6 hours throughout the day. I quickly realized the benefits of the drug felt long gone before it was time for my next dose. Rather than take more than was suggested, I contacted my doctor and she switched me to 1mg of Ativan four days ago.

I realized yesterday that I've been so numbed by the medication, I've really let things drop with my work and social life. My anxiety without the drugs just doesn't justify the effects. I didn't take any today, and feel a little shaky and out of it.

My question is whether 3-4mg daily of Xanax for less than 2 weeks could already have caused some real dependence? I'm really afraid of having a week or two of withdrawal symptoms.

[charliecallie]

If you want to know what hell is like just continue taking these medications.  I mean no disrespect at all. I am saying this from experience.  Your  body can become dependent on benzos (valium, ativan, xanax, librium, etc) within a couple weeks.  If you have been on the pills for approx 2 months your body has probably become somewhat dependent on them to a point.  I would google "benzo.org" and learn as much as you can about tapering off the medication.  Right now you have a good chance of having a couple days of anxiety, some insomnia, inability to concentrate, etc.          If you stop now with a slight taper you should be fine.

[Jon_H]

Thank you for the reply...

Honestly, I think it's unfair to say I've been on them for about two months. I probably took somewhere between 10-15mg of Xanax over a month's time when borrowed from my friend, and 24mg of the 30mg prescribed to me two weeks ago. Over the last five days, I've taken about 15mg of Ativan.

With those specifics, I would assume it "safe" to quit cold turkey. I just want to know what I'm in for, if anything, and how long it might last....

[toxictome]

Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of help an dsupport here.
You should not stop xanax ct(coldturkey)...you can have seizures..maybe you should taper off of them since you were taking 3-4 mg./day

send lostmarbles a PM(private message) xanax was her DOC
Good luck and keep posting!!

[toxictome]

So you qiut the xanax  5 days ago?

[charliecallie]

Listen to toxictome.  Taper and also google "benzo.org".  You need to educate yourself.  We can give you some feedback but we are not docs.

[wowisallicansay]

I didnt even read but your question and Charlies answer. Im 10 days clean today off xanax , If you want to know and live in hell for a week take xanax , Read my day 9 message off  benzo/xanax . Its far worse than any drug ive ever known, and withdraw did cause a load of medical problems, including a day of nothing but seizures , Then 2 days of hallucinating and not sleeping . like I said thats just the tip of it .Every thing under my question you should read before you take another tablet of xanax.

[lostmarbles]

hello Jon, As toxic said my DOC  was xanax.. taken for anxiety for three years...I started taking 1mg every night and by the end of six weeks I self medicated to another half and then another and another simply because as you quite rightly stated, the effects wear off and you actually become more stressed, more anxious, more irritable... until you take another... this will keep happening for as long as you are on them. I have stated this before and I shall state it again.. A good doctor who knows their meds will NEVER prescribe the patient xanax for longer than a 4 week period. The least amount a doctor will prescribe is .25 and the most 1mg... anything else is basically a journey in to addiction. Xanax is highly addicted and taken regularly the person will become addicted. I suggest you start tapering.. lowering your dose by .25 week to week... DO NOT go c/d, this is of paramount importance... xanax is a benzo and to go c/d off of benzos after being a regular user, you are putting yourself in danger..Even using as 'little' as 1mg on a regular basis can STILL cause seizures..If I were you, I would do the taper, speak to a reputable doctor and see what he/she recommends...I am always here so if you ned any advice I will try and help you to the best of my ability... good luck, keep posting and let us know how you go..

[flmagi]

Xanax and Ativan are both Benzos, so you have just switched to a different brand.
DO NOT just stop taking them. Wean yourself off slowly, Or you may end up having seizures. I don't know if you are physically addicted to them at this point but if your feeling shakey and kinda of out of it, you may be. Again, do not just stop taking them. Taper off very slowly.