Xanax withdrawl....

[Becky]

I have a few questions regarding withdrawl. I was taking Xanax for anxiety disoders for 8 months at .25mg -.5mg a day. For the past two months I upped my own dose to 1mg-1.5mg a day. I got scared that I wanted more and that I was taking it everyday...and had my doctor take me off of it (yesterday Feb. 14). I know these pretty low dosages- but I'm really nervous about the type of withdrawl I might go through. I'm a 28 year old 90 Lb woman (4 foot, 10 inches)- so these dosages may have affected me more because of my height and weight. I've been reading on the web that people with severe withdrawl were taking on average 4mg-6mg a day.  

Any ideas of how long the withdrawl might last?? How to deal with it?? My doctor gave me Paxil and a 15 days worth of some kind of low dosage sleeping pill (I guess so my system isn't shocked).

I'd like to know what to expect...if you have any advice- please let me know.  I'm really scared...this all happened yesterday.

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

Xanax is a benzo like Valium, Librium, Ativan, etc.  I believe Xanax is a "heavy hitter" among that type of drug.  There have been many threads here on Xanax in the past.  One is down below with some advice by Dr. Steve.  He recommends a tapering off schedule if I'm not mistaken.  He recommends this over inpatient detox treatment.  Never abruptly stop taking them without medical supervision!  J.B.

[Becky]

Thanks for your comment. Its been a week- and I feel fine. I have had some sleepless nights, and a little bit nausea (the first three days) but other than that I feel fine. They have me on Paxil now. I've read a lot of scary stuff about it. I don't know if I should stay on it. What are your thoughts and comments on Paxil.
I've heard horror stories about people having withdrawl from Paxil. What have you heard?
Thanks in advance!

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

Coincidentally, I just posted something about Paxil to Brighty up above under Depression from opiate withdrawal. There are a lot of horror stories about Paxil but for the majority, it is probably a good drug.  One of the worst side effects for me was impotence and that is very depressing in it's own right.  All I can say is try it for several weeks and see what happens.  There are other AD's that can work for you.  After screwing around with different AD's for over two years, I decided they weren't worth all the trouble!  I've come to accept depression as a natural part of my mental state. It's better than walking around like a Zombie all the time.  J.B.

[spook]

Xanax is a "Triazolo"-benzodiazepine and it effects are typical of other benzo`s except that it appears to possess a moderate antidepressant effect also,in the case of Valium for example it will deplete Catecholamines and cause depression.It must bind to some different receptors (areas of the brain)containing the Benzodiazepine receptor GABA supramolecular complex.
I took 5mg per day for 8 months then stopped abruptly(DO NOT DO THIS EXPERIMENT)and I found withdrawals start at about 36hrs peak on day 5 and subside rapidly and completely over the next 2 weeks.I became delusional(trans dimensional excursions,alien entities,communication-DMT like stuff),manic(positive experience),felt like I was dying(literally)anyway it was much worse than say Heroin withdrawals,but their was also an incredible expansion of consciousness and perceptions of sound etc were augmented,I was Paranoid,psychotic had stomach cramps(many Autonomic symptoms) etc etc etc.I was on a bad trip.
Experiment 2,I tapered from same regime(2 years later,after not using any xanax or other benzo) at a rate of 0.5mg per 4 days until I got to 1mg,then dropped 0.125mg per 4 day s to end point,I experienced only very mild anxiety,It was real easy and pain free experience.There does not appear to be any craving like Opioids cause after the withdrawal.The abuse potential of Xanax is about equal to Rohypnol,but not as great as Halcion.So take care if you have a predisposition to Altering emotional states usind Psychotropics.Rohypnol is still available in /Australia, not now avail in USA,but Halcion is! (what gives?)Don`t let the cat out of the bag...........

[Brighty]

Hi there friend !! Did you ever try the Celexa ?? I have never tried any but someone just told me that they too had tried all of them.... my son's girlfriend actually... and finally the Celexa worked. She said it worked right away in a week and with no side effects like the others. She also said they only prescribe it up to 20mg max. I don't know if she's right. Apparently she found something that worked. I think it's one of the newer ones. I agree that physical conditions like yours cause depression and JB... you've been to the depths. You do deserve to feel better. I pray that it happens for you. Love, Brighty

[Brighty]

When my daughter was arrested and on other occasions when she was hospitalized, she was on lots of Xanax... same stuff you mention... psychosis of the n-th degree and limited  recall of what was going on, vague recall of the arrest and total distortion of reality !! I thought she would die tapering off the stuff. She was in a locked ward strapped to a bed sometimes she was so crazy and violent. They did the whole titering thing and it took at least two weeks... she was like a computer with missing files for about 2 months after that. While I have very compassionate and liberal opinions regarding the decriminilization of drugs I really draw the line with benzos. I think they need to be ultra controlled ... they are powerful amnesiacs and halcion does not seem to have much productive use other than in anesthesia. Isn't it used for that ?? Why would you do these experiments on yourself anyway ?? Would you mind sharing about yourself with us? I am curious. Love, Brighty

[spook]

WHY?, WHY NOT?,LOTS of people "Experiment" with drugs,in my case I am a very intellectual AND inquisitive person and get off on learning about the human brain and its byproduct the `MIND`,others may be more inclined to experiment in order to change an emotional(Mood) state,When I was younger about 20 years ago(17) my friends would always ask why I closed my eyes when on an LSD experience and it was because I was learning about myself,something they treated with condemnation,"look at the Patterns and colours Man"they would say,anyway they are all heroin addicts now or dead from overdose,even though the ones surviving are married with Children THEY ARE HEROIN ADDICTS,because they failed to know themselves and accept and like themselves BEFORE they found another mother(wife)to make everything all right,well they will grow up one day.I am not angry with them or anybody else,I only have to suffer from my empathy.Something most only experience on MDMA.

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

No, I haven't tried Celexa.  I'm almost afraid to bring AD's up again with my doctor!  Oh, my latest med is nitroglycerin for angina pain.  I haven't had to use them yet thank God.  So now I'm sitting here with thirteen bottles of pills to keep me company. It's a wonderful life!

Twelve of the thirteen keep me alive and then there's one actually makes me feel good.  It's the opiate.  We have been having a real good together for some time.  A real live love/hate relationship.  This probably sounds like BS to all but those who have been in my shoes.  J.B.

[Bonnie]

Hi ,My name is Bonnie and I am a 35 yr old mother of three.I have been on xanax now for about 10 years.My dosage has increased but not much in the 10 years.I am also on it for anxiety/Panick dissorder.I was hoping I could get some feed back on what you think about being om xanax for the rest of your life if needed medically.I feel it is similar to a Diabetic needing their insulin.I am not familiar with any long termconditions that xanax may have,if any.Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.
               Sincerely ,Bonnie

[spook]

Their are no toxic damaging effects to worry about,except possible liver enzyme changes that are reversed upon cessation,so get periodic liver function tests.It is generally accepted that tolerance to the antianxiety effect does not occur in some people and at worst is maintained for 8 months,whereas sedative effects are very susceptable to tolerance.You may have a congenital chemical inbalance that is corrected by Xanax and therefore are lucky to have found something that makes you feel normal,you have been on a steady dose for 10 years,so therefore show no sign at all of Addiction,although you will be very physically and mentally dependent and should reduce dose VERY slowly if you want to trial a Xanax free period to see if you still need it.Otherwise its about as bad as a bottle of beer everyday-NOTHING to worry about.Did you know that the human brain actually produces it own Valium(diazepine)and so we have systems to handle well this class of drugs that Xanax and Valium fall into(Benzodiazepines).

[Deene]

Regarding Xanax withdrawal..I don't remember any trouble with it using Depakote, Wellbutrin and Klonopin to get off it. I was taking it fot anxiety and headache, but found myself using more and more and more...now they want me off Klonopin..tapering down from four using 1/2 mg less every four days...So far I have a horrible headache..and am using Busbar and Inderal to ease withdrawal...which may all be in my mind. I am with you in not understanding why I need to come off something that I don't abuse. I was taking my usual four klonopin for years, but it turned off it seems. I started having panic again and my headache was getting worse. If I took five it didn't really change things. So I only did that once in a while. The doc says it is poison to my brain. I don't understand either.
Be kind to yourself.

[Bonnie]

Thank you for your comment.I am so affraid to get off this.The reason I was on it in the first place was for anxiety and from what I have read and heard numerous horror stories about is the withdrawl causes intense anxiety.Go figure! That is not my only battle I have to face .I also am on oxycontin which in all honesty i am abusing.I take it for a spinal disease but use it even when I dont need it because it covers all my pain mentally as it does physically.Good luck to you Dean .I wish you all the luck.
                   Sincerely ,Bonnie

[Thomas02]

I'd like to give you some input re Xanax, but not on this forum. If you can supply a private address, I had an experience you might find interesting.

[Bonnie]

My e-mail address is ***@**** ,any imformation would be great.Thank you ,Bonnie

[holly]

I should of said- I want some advice. This is my third day, of xanax withdrawl symptoms. I went to this web site to see what I could find out about it. When I read some of the letters, I did find out, that what I was expericing, is all the symptoms mentioned. I do, feel like I have the flu, all the muscles in my shoulders, chest, and jaws are all tightened. I just started having diahreeha. The bad gas in my stomache, And the squamishness, di not seem as bad as yesterday. I can not sleep
and am very restless. Is there anyone out there that can tell me, if there is any remedies that will help me? I would really appreciate the info. It seems like, I do not know how much more I can stand. you can cotact me at: h_wadden***@****
Thank you very much.

[Becky]

My doctor referred me to acupuncture. She said that many people have had success with relief from their withdrawl symptoms. It worth checking out.

[spook]

You have to reduce your dose much slower than you are.try reducing 0.25mg per week,and let us know how you go!.