xanax and alcohol addiction

how can i get off xanax and alcohol???? i wanna stop so bad but the withdrawls are horrible! help im only 20
yes i know its a dangerous combo....

[tgtiffany]

Paying_it_forward is right.  We can tell you allll day that you can do this and stuff, but when you BELIEVE and have faith in yourself that is the main thing that will do it.  You and only you are in control of YOU...lol.  Remember that you are amazing and that you can do this!  Tell yourself in the mirror when you are feeling down, get on here and post.  Most of all keep your head up and SMILE...even when you feel like crap, look in the mirror and FORCE yourself to smile and tell yourself how amazing and wonderful you are.  It will help :)

[quitinoxys]

How much xanax are you taking per day as if it's alot you will need to taper down. Stopping xanax abrutly can be dangerous as far as the alcohol that you should stop immediatly unless you are drinking a bottle a day then that can be dangerous also.  

[my_mayberry]

i would stop the alcohol first, then work out a taper for the xanax with your doc.

[iwillwin91]

yeah im at about 3mgs a day sometimes 4 depending on the day...i just get cravings at night for alcohol....my nerves get all jacked up, and ill drink a glass of wine or two so i can fall asleep. ive been on xanax for about a yr and a half, jeez i remember when i could take .50 and crash out...i still struggle with sleep, but the alcohol helps me relax...is it honestly bad to stay on xanax for long term (without drinking) ive gone thru detox and programs several times and its just sooo damn hard! grrrrr any support would be great :)

[paying_it_forward]

Hey there :) yeah you're right it is a dangerous combination, they are both depressants and since you're taking them at night and going to sleep you run the risk of suppressing your breathing (so slow breathing and possibly stopping breathing) and possibly causing damage to your brain through lack of oxygen. Perhaps go see your doctor? or an Alcohol and other drugs worker (that's what i'm studying to be)...they are non judgmental and will help you lower or stop your use (which ever you decide) they can also help you in so many other ways :)

I'm on Xanax (was taking upto 4mg a day) too and was addicted to painkillers...and i'd also binge drink (while taking large amounts of painkillers). i still take xanax but only when needed.

So yeah i'd recommend finding a drug and alcohol worker because i feel they would be the best people to assist you.

[sudie58]

hi and welcome, i myself was an alcoholic and also addicted to benzos, in a strange way, the addictions were linked, i had to come off the alcohol first, for the obvious reason , the alcohol wouldnt make you think clearly and rationally . so i did a home detox , supervised by my dr. but stopped drinking immediately ,and tablets given to help on a sliding scale for a week,
next thing was coming off the benzo, my dr. put me on a taper , with valium, was quite quick but doable, so i would definately see a dr. for help, the strange bit was, when i stopped the drinking , i didnt want/need to take so many/any benzos ! i really wish you well, it is so worth it.

[Addict63]

In the exact same way, both Alcohol and Benzo interfere with the brain's natural ability to calm us down and allow natural sleep. Among other things, the two drugs block the GABA receptors and take over their function. Stopping the drugs too fast will cause chronic insomnia and the shakes, sometimes leading into convulsions. It also causes countless other symptoms. So, both drugs are complex and dangerous to get off of on yr own, especially if you're really hooked. It's a task best left to the experts, including what to get off of first.

When I was tapering from Ambien last summer, I found this graphic, which is a perfect description of what goes on in our systems when we block our GABA receptors:
http://www.neurogenesis.com/Neuroscience/alcohol-addictions.php

Wish you success in getting your life back. -Robert

[iwillwin91]

thanks everyone...im gonna slowly stop drinking 1 glass of wine then a half a glass until my sweating, agitation, and shakes go away...shouldnt take more than a week then slowly ween myself off the xanax and i mean slowwwwwly so it can be a comfortable detox...its going to be hard to get off 3mgs per day but it will be my biggest accomplishment in life, and will make me proud in the end....i have faith in myself that i can do it :) then im gonna start seeing a counselor so i can work on my stress, fears, and anxieties and go to the gym also before i sleep. OMG it helps sooo muchhh! TY ladies and gents.

[paying_it_forward]

Good one :) You can and will do it *nods*.....even if you go crumb by crumb (which is what i did when i got to the end of my Suboxone taper)...

The fact that you KNOW you can do it and have faith in yourself is just a big big boost for you...along with the support of everyone on here! They're fantastic, and really helped me over the last year and a half :)

[tgtiffany]

Paying_it_forward is right.  We can tell you allll day that you can do this and stuff, but when you BELIEVE and have faith in yourself that is the main thing that will do it.  You and only you are in control of YOU...lol.  Remember that you are amazing and that you can do this!  Tell yourself in the mirror when you are feeling down, get on here and post.  Most of all keep your head up and SMILE...even when you feel like crap, look in the mirror and FORCE yourself to smile and tell yourself how amazing and wonderful you are.  It will help :)

[iwillwin91]

wow...that just made me start balling...the withdrawl (withdrawal) is horrible...sometimes i will be walking around the mall and get all nauseated and sweaty and dizzy almost like i have to grab on to the stairs...i feel like im dying constantly. and most of all no body in the world really knows the severity...i try and hide it as best as i can. I just got into a relationship with a guy and i dont know how to bring this up to him fearing he wont accept me.

[sudie58]

if you are feeling that bad, you are tapering too quickly.i do know how hard it can be, but i dont want you to suffer more than you have to, the benzo withdrawal should be done very slowly, a little at a time, and when you feel comfortable with that, you lower a little more. that is how a dr. would have done it. i really am thinking only of your safety, your welfare and that this is a long term thing, you dont want to end up back there, you really get back what you put into getting clean and sober. you are doing well, and we do know the severity of it , having been there! i wish you well, god bless.  

[tgtiffany]

Sorry!  I didn't mean to make you cry!!  I think that if you are feeling that bad maybe try to stay home most of the days that you aren't doing too well, at least then you dont' have to pretend to be happy and fine in front of others on TOP of feeling like crap.  That can be really hard sometimes.  You say you just got into a relationship, does he have ANY idea that you've been taking anything?  Or is he clueless??  

[zeke1982]

From personal experience:

I dont if I got lucky, if I am unique, or what it was, but I was taking 2mg of xanax every day for 3 years coupled with suboxone and at times even cocaine and heroin.

One day I just stopped taking xanax completely, didnt think about it, didnt think about withdrawal, just went on with my life, its been six months now and I have 0 craving for them.

I dont know if I got lucky or what, but I have heard of people getting seizures and other horrible things from xanax detox, perhaps try going to a rehab if you cant do cold turkey, but yes, it is possible I did it.

[iwillwin91]

just got out of the hospital...

[ithurts1979]

I have been reading posts here on five day ct from hydrocodone. I know xanax is harder than Hell to detox off. If you don't mind me asking y did you go to the hospital are you ok did they help

[tgtiffany]

Are you okay? what happened???

[Cherry_Carver]

Withdrawal from benzos is always hell.  I've been there.  I went to rehab to get off Klonopin, but after one month off, I was back on it again.  Being off it made me a raving nymphomaniac.  I couldn't stand feeling turned on 24/7.  Try it sometime!  It *****.  

Anyone who gets off a benzo cold-turkey w/out side effects is lucky.  I had to change meds recently because after being on Klonopin for 16 years, they stopped giving the name brand anywhere in my town.  The generic doesn't work for me.  My doctor switched me to generic Xanax (Alprazolam), 1 mg/day.  It gives me a buzz before I go to sleep, esp. if I drink Bacardi 151 with it.  Hasn't killed me yet.  

I attempted suicide on Ativan (Lorazepam) and Restoril in 1995 and if my boyfriend hadn't called an ambulance I'd be six feet under.  I died in the ambulance and was brought back.  Man, that sucked--my life was so miserable, and it hasn't improved since.  I don't know if God is punishing me, but if I die now from my one mg. of Xanax (generic) and Bacardi, I will die happy.  

I would rather be sane than have to take anything, but unfortunately my panic disorder is so terrible that death is preferable.  Xanax is a blessing, and I hope they won't take it from me...because then, I would kill myself, and no one would wake me up this time.  

[onandoffuser]

hey i use to be the same way i really  was praying that i wouldn't wake up but i  did. after  like 2 years of being on downers i  got clean and  got help i would always go to the gym and run. and would reed alot and just be outdoors. it worked for me and can work for you life is to good to let go. be safe and good bless

[tgtiffany]

2 days sober is a big deal :)  Glad you're doing well keep us updated okay?!

[iwillwin91]

2 and a half days! but too much sleep cause ive been taking more xanax to tame the alchy wds...do u think my alchy wds will subside by tuesday am? day 6?

[Iwantanewlifenow]

All Benzos are extremely addicting and can be dangerous if stopped abruptly..Xanax is one of the worse known for "Re-Bound Anxiexty." Meaning once you stop taking it chances are high your anxiety and panic will go thru the roof...Klonopin..not so bad as it's more long acting...I used to work in the Mental Health field years ago with many Dr's and learned a lot....Ironic now that taking prescribed painkillers for a car accident that fractured my back would have me addicted...The brain doesn't know if you are abusing or not..These meds change the very chemistry of the brain so the 'want" becomes a "Need." That is why it is very hard not to relapse...It's like taking away the air we breathe..In some foolish way I thought by taking my meds as prescribed I would not become addicted...What a Rude Awakening. Whether you abuse them or not your brain chemistry still changes...Warmly, Anj.

[tgtiffany]

:)  I think that they might be better by then.  Why did you start taking more Xanax though? Was it the anxiety and everything? Or you just thought that it would help?  

Say hello to day 3!!! :)  

[iwillwin91]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh i screwed up and fell into temptation. dont know if its right or not to go out and have a little fun and get totally wasted, but i did! more than ever.

[iwillwin91]

guilt is what i feel. GUILT!!!

[Xhost]

Everyone is different, of course, but you need to get your use of Xanax and alcohol under control, and the best way to do that is to be under medical supervision when you attempt to do so. I know that some people talk about going cold turkey, but for most people, that isn't the wisest course of action.

The way to get off of any benzo after long term use is to go slowly, and taper down off of the drug over time. I understand the desire to be off, once and for all, but it's going to be so much easier for you if you do this the right way. And the right way is to go slow, and be smart.

My advice: print out a copy of the manual for benzo withdrawal that was written by Dr. Heather Ashton (Google for it) and take it to a doctor and explain what you are trying to do. If the that doctor won't help, go to another, then another and another, if need be, until you find one with the smarts and compassion to help you do this in the safest, most comfortable manner possible.

[atthebeach]

hey hun, everyone falls, but if you stay down you are beaten. get up dust yourself off and start again. you are a beautiful girl. same age as my daughter. at this point no you cant go out to a bar drink take xanax and have fun!!!!!! is blacking out fun???? you are playing with fire. i know you probably dont want to hear this but here goes. people,places and things that are involved in your destructive behavior have to end. my daughter got arrested for coke and pot. was on probation for 1 yr and went to an intensive outpatient program. it is 3 days a week for 3 hrs. each day there are many young people there. they work the 12 step program. i know it doesnt seem fun to not beable to drink and do drugs recreational when you are young but if this continues you might not be around much longer. i also have a son 25 who had addiction issues. he and my daughter both have lost a few friends to overdoses and some who are in jail. i have tears coming down my face. it is such a waste of young and promising lives. please get yourself into some intensive counseling, go to na/aa, go to church. can you talk to your parents and have them support you and help you ?
you will win!!!!!!!!!!! please stop the addiction merry go round now. you have so much ahead of you and life is so much sweeter,brighter,happier without pills and alcohol
sending you hugs and blessings
debbie

[tgtiffany]

It's alright, just so long as you get back up and learn from what you did, don't do it again.  That's usually how it goes though.  Guilt is what you will feel because you know that's not what you want.  You're mind is going to play all sorts of tricks on you so you will use.  Have you looked into any sort of aftercare? Meetings, therapy, anything like that?

[iwillwin91]

i cant find counseling....and theres more of an issue i have than alcohol and pills, id rather keep it private but if someone non judgemental would like to help or hear what i want to spill out then please private message me. :)

[Punkinhead75]

Addiction isn't easy and the beginning of recovery can be even less easy.  I drank and drugged for about 20yrs.  I knew what I was doing was no good for me and continued anyway.  There were many times I wanted to stop and found that I couldn't.  The urge was just too strong.  Other times I couldn't get over the hump of wd's and went back to using to feel "better".  The big change for me was when I became willing to do anything to be clean and sober.  It was an amazing change.  Looking back now at all the times I tried to stop I can see where I wasn't willing to do what was necessary no matter how much I wanted to be clean.  I think the hardest part was getting my butt kicked enough by my addiction to make me become totally willing.  As much as I wanted the suffering to end,  surrender did not come easily.
    Once I became willing it got much easier.  Yes it was still painful at times and required a great deal of effort but I also realized I wasn't alone.  I could lean on others while I was hurting.  Eventually I got through it and learned some good lessons as I went.  
    Thanks for posting on here.  Hearing what you are going through help remind me of what it was like when I wanted to stop.  I don't want to go back to that place.  Life for me is much better.  I am happier and more at peace with the world than I have ever been.  Getting cleaned up and learning to live a new way has been well worth it.  I sincerely believe there is tremendous hope for you and all other addicts.  Good luck and God Bless!!

[iwillwin91]

thanks for your insight and for sharing! at this point, i have no cravings at all for alcohol. I slipped up once in the last 8 days but it makes me sick thinking or looking at it. Now if i can just get off the xanax so i can perform a little better at work that would be great but im sure that will be sooooo difficult, esp not having family to fall back on.

[atthebeach]

are the xanax from a doctor or do you buy them on the street? my point is if they are prescribed you could ask for a taper plan. i

[iwillwin91]

im on them and i plan on starting something longer acting such as klonopin..and then taper from there? i have no idea. i have an hmo and they dont do things sch as tapering, they send u to an outpatient detox, but ive failed 3 times. i went 7 days in the beginning of my trial and errors. Now i can only imagine how hard itll be to get off this stuff. The thing is if they would be able to at least taper me down with another benzo id be able to take the detox a lot better but since there method is non-narcotic, they give me a little packet of pills a day which usually consists of a very high dose of phenobarbital and occasionally trazadone or seroquel or sleep if i have trouble. I think that with the mgs im taking a day, roughly 4mgs of xanax, it needs to be tapered or substituted with another benzo...but who am i a doctor? Its very frusturating because i work 45 hrs or more a week now dont have any family and have to support myself or else i will be on the streets. It would be much easier if i could have someone moniter me at home and drive me to my daily appointments. Thats a luxury I dont have but will have to figure out soon, cause i honestly dont think i have anxiety anymore, i think i have "rebound" anxiety from these pills i pop!

[iwillwin91]

by the way,my hmo Kaiser permenente took me off xanax right away i get my xanax from the local marijuana clinic.

[atthebeach]

hi. you said you take 3 or 4 mg a day. well can you try and  stick to 3mg  now.  you just got your new job and have to be cognitive and beable to perform your job. yes they do need to be tapered slowly there is risk of seizures. we cant offer taper plans here. but decease slow and steady. now that you are working in an office it wont be as easy to use.so that is a good thing.  yes the original reason that many start to use for,pain or anxiety has actually  subsided.but  they dont know it because .the symptoms pain or anxiety actually can get worse when they use. when they try to stop using (it) seems worse, but it is the rebound pain and the brain screaming for the drug that it is used to getting fed. in a few days, they realize that the pain or anxiety isnt that bad after all.
i am glad that you found this site and we have been able to help you if even in the slightest way. i am praying for you and hoping that it will all work out.
debbie

[tgtiffany]

How did the AA meeting go today?

[atthebeach]

how are you doing?

[iwillwin91]

been very rough latley. missed my meeting the other day cause i slept through my alarm. 1 beer turned into 3 or 4 last night. had a major anxiety attack while driving today out of nowhere and started screaming in fear at the top of my lungs on the freeway. had to pull over and take a mg of xanax wait 20 mins for it to kick in and continue. drinking a beer now. thought i was invincible with not drinking. going to a womens aa meeting in 3 hours. :(

[tgtiffany]

Hey, did you make the meeting?  I hope that you did.  You can do this girl, you just gotta keep your head up :) Let us know what's up okay?!

[iwillwin91]

im doing ok. just finding balance :)

[tgtiffany]

Did you end up going to the meeting?