Does quitting Xanax cold turkey always lead to a seizure?

[Shetlen]

I have been taking 1mg. Xanax 2xday for over 3 years now as prescribed by my primary care physician. I have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and OCD. I've never taken more than needed or abused them but I feel I can find other ways to cope with my issues as I've matured...I'm 33, so I want to quit cold turkey. I don't want to drag it out, I just want them completely out of my system. I didn't realize the withdrawal effects that would lead to a state of severe uncomfortable ness until I quit cold turkey 1 day ago. I started feeling nauseous, light headed, rapid heart beat, suicidal thoughts, terrible insomnia, headaches, brain fog, restlessness, among others. My question is, since I was not taking a very high dose all these years, would I still need to worry about the seizures if I quit cold turkey? Because I can handle all of the other withdrawal symptoms in order to get my life back, just AFRAID of having seizures. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Jinx_777]

valium is benzo too.  you should seek a doctors as we are not doctors.  valium is better than cold turkey

[danglin39]

I abuse xanax. I have been taking them Sim 1993. First started off with .25 2x a day. Well being on them for so long, my body grew to need more. I am prescribed 6  mlgs a day & that's bthe highest a Dr can prescribe in my state by law. Well, like I said, I take anywhere between 10-12 a day. Running so low, my question is if I take Valium until I get my prescription filled (4 days) will I be OK. Need help with some who abuses xanax and has run short. I don't want to take a seizure. Any information would be very helpful. Thanks

[danglin39]

I abuse xanax. I have been taking them Sim 1993. First started off with .25 2x a day. Well being on them for so long, my body grew to need more. I am prescribed 6  mlgs a day & that's bthe highest a Dr can prescribe in my state by law. Well, like I said, I take anywhere between 10-12 a day. Running so low, my question is if I take Valium until I get my prescription filled (4 days) will I be OK. Need help with some who abuses xanax and has run short. I don't want to take a seizure. Any information would be very helpful. Thanks

[kathyp821]

I am also taking xanax, I take 2mg once a day.I also tries quiting COLD TURKEY for 2 days the first day wasn't that bad but the second was a nightmare. So bad that i had to take some just to get myself calmed down. I DO NOT RECOMMENDING ANYONE  trying to just stop. It seriously is the worst thing I have ever gone through and would n t wish this on my worse enemy. So Please I know how you feel you just want this over with they were my thoughts exactly but take it from me it s not worth it. Do it the right way.

[Padge1978]

I didn't notice ur last post that u had quit and was doing good.  I was just wondering if ur still off xanax and how do u feel.

[Padge1978]

I was taking the same dose for anxiety issues after my head injury.  My doctor took me off of the xanax to fast according to everything I've read.  But I did have a seizure after I stopped completely so be very careful.  My head injury could of also played a major factor in my case. Never the less I'm back on xanax only 1 mg a day and also take lamictal 200 mg a day because I had that seizure.  So in my case it was a lose lose!

[Shetlen]

I do want to let everyone know who responded to question about quitting Xanax cold turkey that I really appreciate your responses. Just a quick update on me. I did quit cold turkey 9 days ago and feel 110% better. I only suffered withdrawal symptoms for about 3 days. I did not have seizures, thankGod!

[vicki595]

Definitely taper down slowly! You're only going to feel worse as the days go by and it's likely you'll seize. You've been taking that dose for a while and, I agree with Mayberry, 2mg is not a little dose when it comes to Xanax.

Give your doctor a call or check out Dr. Ashton on the Internet. I'm so glad you posted here and hope you're doing okay tonight.  Good luck!

[hiwpew523]

I understand that you just want to be done, but I'm going to go with the "taper" crowd too.

I'm finishing up a slow taper off butalbital - a barbituate. At first it seemed to stretch out in front of me like I'd never be done with it, but it soon became routine to just take the pills as a means to an end, which is freedom from them.  

Good luck.

[my_mayberry]

um...that was a high dose. 1mg twice daily is high. i took HALF of a .25mg tab three times daily and still had nasty problems with cold turkey.

taper or you'll really be hurting.

[Margot49]

Yikes!  I've been onlow dose Xanax for over 4 years and would like to quit.  Enen trying to skip my 1/2 of a .05 mg tablet gives me problems.  No way would I quit without tapering off. Best to talk to your doctor to get on a reduction schedule

[eagle101]

Yes - you may be subject to siezures....the Ashton Manual is available for free as an online read - its the lifelong work of a British doc and is considered to be the Bible of benzo's.....check it out for comprehensive information. And good luck to you!

[ImDONENoMore]

Have you talked to your Dr. about this?  You need to do that and get yourself on a safe tapering schedule.  Benzos should not be stopped abruptly - I made that stupid mistake almost two years ago - and although I'm clean almost two years, if I had known then how dangerous it was to quit like that, I would have tapered in a safe way.

Talk to the Dr. if you haven't already and get a good plan in place.  And congrats for deciding to quit and good luck to you!