Aa
xanax question
I have been taking benzo's for like 7 years now, and im trying to get off of them, i've slowly gone from 2mg of xanax a day, down to needing .25mg twice a day, and now the doctors are making me come off them completely, i was wondering if anyone cud tell me how long xanax stays in ur system, or at least how long the typical withdrawel symptoms last, the added anxiety caused by withdrawels is almost too unbearable and the insomnia doesnt help either, they have put me on cipralex a combo of generalized anxiety disorder medication and an anti depressant in one, it helps, but the side effects is a sore stomach, which doesnt help withdrawels at all.
Someone please give me a shout!
Someone please give me a shout!
I came off benzos because I had to! I got pregnant. It was very hard,,and it hurt but it didnt last that long and of course Im better off now!! Good luck!!!
For benzo questions> google benzodiazepine or www.ashtonbenzomanual.com
I have MedHelp permission twice to use this one>benzo.org.uk (ashton manual) anyway will get you there. Benzo's are not like any other drugs. Very misunderstood by many doctors, sorry to say.
abby
I have MedHelp permission twice to use this one>benzo.org.uk (ashton manual) anyway will get you there. Benzo's are not like any other drugs. Very misunderstood by many doctors, sorry to say.
abby
If I hear benzo's for life one more time I will scream. Benzo's for nothing.
Morganave> very good question. I really think some doctor's just don't know about the drugs they prescribe, certainally not benzo's. Yet, at least in my generation, we are not to ask our doctors questions about the drugs they want us to take. I hear about so many people taking xanax to relieve an opiate addiction. Don't do this!!! I would say if you absolutly must, then take 1mg valium for 2 weeks then stop. NO MORE. Xanax are the Oxycontin of the benzo world. A Xanax addiction is not even describable.
8mg xanax, 4mg klonopin and 30mg temazapam a day. Plus alcohol every day for 2 years and smaller amounts before that for 6 years. That's what I took, all prescribed. I was so addicted I just needed more and more to feel normal, but never did. They just stopped working. Why xanax is legal, I do not know, well I do know> MONEY. Benzo's are very good for 2 weeks then stop, use only intermintly and don't use if you have an addictive personality. Or, take low dose valium or klonopin and be prepared to do a long tapper and have withdrawals. And do not take with alcohol. They are alcohol in a bottle.
I had no idea about these pills, they made me relax and I liked that. I got addicted quick and they almost killed me. Coming back from the dead is not easy. It's all been so extremely painful. It just won't end. 17 months now and I still only get out for a few hours at a time. If my leg starts hurting I have to pull over and wait. My skull muscles are always constricted and also in my face. I haven't looked my self in a long time, no pun intended. I'm really tired of it guys. When I think I'm feeling better and I am in love with life and ready to move on, then the withdrawals come back bad in some form or another and I think I am doomed again. A person that wanted to live but the xanax destroyed her.
I took my last dose on Oct 29, 2008, but 2 weeks ago I had to start valium 3 mg a day, I just was not getting better. It's absolutly intolerable. No body could be stronger than me about these withdrawals, but after 2 or 3 days of having your head with a basketball pounding around in it at sonic speed and there is no sleep, well 9 hours in 3 days to be exact, and your eye balls are shaking and the nerves in your teeth are hurting like hell, sometimes I can't even talk because the vibration from talking hurts too much. Well frankly I imagine a 357 put right in the spot that keeps shaking my freaking head. And then after the head pain the body pain follows. The kind of pain where if I even look at TV and see something that's uncomfortable I get full body, muscle and bone pain. Even the phone ringing hurts. Also, restless body syndrome, But the mental withdrawals are the worst.
Just when I think I am getting better, I get a set back. I'm really getting tired. I miss my Grandson and want to take him out for the day, but just can't. He's still waiting for me.
A year ago I was being "electrocuted" on and off for 8 months when it went away it was only followed by something a tiny less painful and torturous. I only vent this all because there seems to be no end in site and I am tired and fear what the future might hold.
My last neurologist discharged me as a patient and said no neurologist on the east coast can help me and he referred me to John Hopkins. I have an appointment but the soonest is not till May 18. My target date for "getting back to life" was June 2009.
So little is know about benzo's in the medical establishment that there is a "society" or network of people helping other's addicted to benzo's do slow tappers. Most rehabs and doctors will do a rapid tapper and this will only further "shock" the brain and cause the real long term damage. This is what has happened to me. Oh, did I mention the seizure and seizure activity. I did not know how to come off. My doctor told me I must stay on them for life. Well doctor... I have a lawyer!
With the pain I have taken percocet 10mg. Very slowly at first. Most of the pain was too much for any pain killer to even touch anyway. But the leg and some migraine and muscle pain was helped by the percocet. So vicodin then percocet 5mg for a year then since June 2008 10mg percocet 1 time a day then sometimes 2 times a day. According to the posts I have read, this is plenty for a addiction. I knew this and was willing to pay the price for the pain relief. It would be a walk in the park compared to the xanax. I'm hearing 7 to 10 days of withdrawals then subsiding, and that's without a tapper. My doctor said demerol would be better for pain management. I go to stop the percocet but the pain starts and I cave... I've just had enough pain. It's time for it to end. But no such luck.
This is a benzo horror story, but the truth is it's much worse, it really is. Because at least now I feel "real" until around Dec I have not been feeling "real" hard to explain. All the senses are either hipper or numb. Slow motion, unreal, out of body or feelings like a tragedy will soon happen. These, btw, are all common withdrawal symptoms. A year ago I saw skeletons coming out of the closet, really!!! Mine really came out.
Anyway these pills are what nightmares are made of, more like a drug to torture the enemy with during a war. Yes, a benzo horror story. Yes, high dose, all prescribed. The point is small theraputic doses will drive you crazy also. And you won't even see it coming. My first prescription was for just one little Ativan a day. Would you want even a fraction of what I've gone through. They are not a magic bullet. Easy to get the patient out of the office and the doctor off to a good game of golf. In the end you are the "addict". You may even have to buy them on the street to keep from having a seizure.
I hope I've helped someone addicted to opiates to not become duel addicted.
abby
Morganave> very good question. I really think some doctor's just don't know about the drugs they prescribe, certainally not benzo's. Yet, at least in my generation, we are not to ask our doctors questions about the drugs they want us to take. I hear about so many people taking xanax to relieve an opiate addiction. Don't do this!!! I would say if you absolutly must, then take 1mg valium for 2 weeks then stop. NO MORE. Xanax are the Oxycontin of the benzo world. A Xanax addiction is not even describable.
8mg xanax, 4mg klonopin and 30mg temazapam a day. Plus alcohol every day for 2 years and smaller amounts before that for 6 years. That's what I took, all prescribed. I was so addicted I just needed more and more to feel normal, but never did. They just stopped working. Why xanax is legal, I do not know, well I do know> MONEY. Benzo's are very good for 2 weeks then stop, use only intermintly and don't use if you have an addictive personality. Or, take low dose valium or klonopin and be prepared to do a long tapper and have withdrawals. And do not take with alcohol. They are alcohol in a bottle.
I had no idea about these pills, they made me relax and I liked that. I got addicted quick and they almost killed me. Coming back from the dead is not easy. It's all been so extremely painful. It just won't end. 17 months now and I still only get out for a few hours at a time. If my leg starts hurting I have to pull over and wait. My skull muscles are always constricted and also in my face. I haven't looked my self in a long time, no pun intended. I'm really tired of it guys. When I think I'm feeling better and I am in love with life and ready to move on, then the withdrawals come back bad in some form or another and I think I am doomed again. A person that wanted to live but the xanax destroyed her.
I took my last dose on Oct 29, 2008, but 2 weeks ago I had to start valium 3 mg a day, I just was not getting better. It's absolutly intolerable. No body could be stronger than me about these withdrawals, but after 2 or 3 days of having your head with a basketball pounding around in it at sonic speed and there is no sleep, well 9 hours in 3 days to be exact, and your eye balls are shaking and the nerves in your teeth are hurting like hell, sometimes I can't even talk because the vibration from talking hurts too much. Well frankly I imagine a 357 put right in the spot that keeps shaking my freaking head. And then after the head pain the body pain follows. The kind of pain where if I even look at TV and see something that's uncomfortable I get full body, muscle and bone pain. Even the phone ringing hurts. Also, restless body syndrome, But the mental withdrawals are the worst.
Just when I think I am getting better, I get a set back. I'm really getting tired. I miss my Grandson and want to take him out for the day, but just can't. He's still waiting for me.
A year ago I was being "electrocuted" on and off for 8 months when it went away it was only followed by something a tiny less painful and torturous. I only vent this all because there seems to be no end in site and I am tired and fear what the future might hold.
My last neurologist discharged me as a patient and said no neurologist on the east coast can help me and he referred me to John Hopkins. I have an appointment but the soonest is not till May 18. My target date for "getting back to life" was June 2009.
So little is know about benzo's in the medical establishment that there is a "society" or network of people helping other's addicted to benzo's do slow tappers. Most rehabs and doctors will do a rapid tapper and this will only further "shock" the brain and cause the real long term damage. This is what has happened to me. Oh, did I mention the seizure and seizure activity. I did not know how to come off. My doctor told me I must stay on them for life. Well doctor... I have a lawyer!
With the pain I have taken percocet 10mg. Very slowly at first. Most of the pain was too much for any pain killer to even touch anyway. But the leg and some migraine and muscle pain was helped by the percocet. So vicodin then percocet 5mg for a year then since June 2008 10mg percocet 1 time a day then sometimes 2 times a day. According to the posts I have read, this is plenty for a addiction. I knew this and was willing to pay the price for the pain relief. It would be a walk in the park compared to the xanax. I'm hearing 7 to 10 days of withdrawals then subsiding, and that's without a tapper. My doctor said demerol would be better for pain management. I go to stop the percocet but the pain starts and I cave... I've just had enough pain. It's time for it to end. But no such luck.
This is a benzo horror story, but the truth is it's much worse, it really is. Because at least now I feel "real" until around Dec I have not been feeling "real" hard to explain. All the senses are either hipper or numb. Slow motion, unreal, out of body or feelings like a tragedy will soon happen. These, btw, are all common withdrawal symptoms. A year ago I saw skeletons coming out of the closet, really!!! Mine really came out.
Anyway these pills are what nightmares are made of, more like a drug to torture the enemy with during a war. Yes, a benzo horror story. Yes, high dose, all prescribed. The point is small theraputic doses will drive you crazy also. And you won't even see it coming. My first prescription was for just one little Ativan a day. Would you want even a fraction of what I've gone through. They are not a magic bullet. Easy to get the patient out of the office and the doctor off to a good game of golf. In the end you are the "addict". You may even have to buy them on the street to keep from having a seizure.
I hope I've helped someone addicted to opiates to not become duel addicted.
abby
I noticed alot of you are on xanax, my DOC is percs or oxys. I do not need help being down, I want to feel up and full of energy. I suffer from depression. My question here is why when you go to the DR and tell them you have sleep issues or anixety they right away put you on or at least offer you xanax if it is so addicting?
Just a thought and question
Just a thought and question
HOWDY, SNOWFLAKE IS RIGHT, BENZO'S ARE AWFUL TO COME OFF OF. I WAS ON 4 MGS ADAY AND SOMETIMES MORE, AND ON DEC 5TH I SAID ENOUGH WAS TIRED OF BEING ON THOSE LITTLE DEMONS CONTROLLING MY LIFE, SO I WENT DOWN TO .5 3 X ADAY AND THEN ON DEC 26TH I DROPPED ANOTHER HALF A MG SO THEN ON FEB 7TH I TOOK HALF MG AND THEN HALF AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, AND FROM THERE TO NOT TAKING ANY. BUT I DONT ADVISE ANYONE TO TAPER AS QUICK AS I DID ITS BEEN HE.. ! BE STRONG AND HANG IN THERE. JENNIFER I WAS ON THEM FOR 6 YRS
Hi,
Everything Snow said is completely true,
Benzos are very mean. I use them for over 9 years. 200mg of oxazepam and 40mg of tranxene. I'm tapering down for 9 month now and i'm about 80% off. The wd's are nasty and the lack of sleep a killer. Did you try melanin?
You can do it tho. hang in there and keep posting. A whole lot of people caring and willing to help here. I couldn't have make it this far without MedHelp.
Everything Snow said is completely true,
Benzos are very mean. I use them for over 9 years. 200mg of oxazepam and 40mg of tranxene. I'm tapering down for 9 month now and i'm about 80% off. The wd's are nasty and the lack of sleep a killer. Did you try melanin?
You can do it tho. hang in there and keep posting. A whole lot of people caring and willing to help here. I couldn't have make it this far without MedHelp.
I compliment you on your attempt to eliminate benzos from your life due to the adverse side effects and the subsequent withdrawal symptoms that can occur.
I've been taking 40 mg of valium per day for over 4 years and freak out ever time I try to reduce my dosage. Other benzos do not seem to have the same effect for me as valium, but you probably already know that some medications work better for some individuals than others.
The advise of snowflake620 is well founded. You're not reallly going to feel like yourself for a very long time, but try to hang in and maintain a positive attitude.
Thinking of positive things, meditation, talk theraphy ans soothing baths all have a positive effect and help minimize the withdrawal which is primarily psychological.
But don't think you have to be a hero and eliminate benzos from your life entriely. It's jjst a fact that some individuals will require maintenance theraphy all their life.
Good luck to you.
Michael
I've been taking 40 mg of valium per day for over 4 years and freak out ever time I try to reduce my dosage. Other benzos do not seem to have the same effect for me as valium, but you probably already know that some medications work better for some individuals than others.
The advise of snowflake620 is well founded. You're not reallly going to feel like yourself for a very long time, but try to hang in and maintain a positive attitude.
Thinking of positive things, meditation, talk theraphy ans soothing baths all have a positive effect and help minimize the withdrawal which is primarily psychological.
But don't think you have to be a hero and eliminate benzos from your life entriely. It's jjst a fact that some individuals will require maintenance theraphy all their life.
Good luck to you.
Michael
I am 93 days clean from xanax and not to scare you it has been a fight for my life. I took 0.5 mil once at night to help with sleep for about 6 months please go to the right of this page and look at the amino acid protocol it will help with the depression and anxiety also I don't know if your doctor mentioned it but your symptons will come and go for up to a year depending on how long and how much you took. like I said I'm not trying to scare you but you need to hear the truth google benzo addiction and see what is written there benzo's are one of the hardest drugs to come off of but hang in there you can do this
snowflake (p.m me if you want to talk more)
snowflake (p.m me if you want to talk more)
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
