xanex withdraws

i have been on 2mg xanex 3 time a day for over 12 years now. my doctor recently closed his practice now i have to find a new one. i am really scared that the new doctor is not going to give me what i need , and i do not know how to go about dealing with the withdraws. my wife says that i have an anxiety disorder and that they can not just take me off. any one know or may have any advice as to what i should do ? i am so nervous that i feel like i am going through withdraws now.

[emilyanne]

Hi There,
I don't know much about xanax, but what I DO know is that it's very dangerous to come off of cold turkey. Has your doc already left, and if so, how much of a supply do you have left? You need to find a new doc ASAP, since there will most likely be a waiting period. Who prescribes for you? Psych or Fam practitioner? If it's a psych, then call your family doc and explain the situation, and ask he/she to either give you a new referral and try to get you in before you run out of pills, or to give you a referral and give you enough pills to get you through until your appointment with new doc. Most docs should be understanding, esp with the dangers of going off xanax cold turkey or without supervision. Hope that helps, hun!

[sporty16]

thanks for your response. i am new to this and i do not know what to do.yes my doc has closed, he did give me a 3 month supply.my family doc was the one giving them to me. i have seen a psych. also and she knows what i am on but my insurance will not pay for me to see her but a couple of times, which i have used up. thanks for the info. maybe i am just over reacting.

[s0up]

Getting off of xanax in itself is not easy.  The reason that some benzodiazipine derivatives are more addictive than others is based on the individual substance's half-life(the time it takes to reach peak plasma levels in the bloodstream).  Even lowering the dose in a small amount can cause lots of withdrawal symptoms.

The best way of getting off of these substances is to switch the one you are addicted to with a similar compound that has a longer half life.

A good medication to move your addiction over to would be valium(diazepam).

10mg of valium is a rough equivalent to 1MG of xanax.  Slowly lowering your dosage on xanax with a valium substitution is very easy.  

Once you are completely switched over to valium, you can gradually decrease your dose without getting severe withdrawal symptoms.


Getting your xanax or valium is extremely easy.  It is very low scheduled(even though it should be classified with the more addictive substances).  This means it is very easy to get a script or to purchase offshore online.

My brother used this method to break an addiction from a similar drug known as ativan.


Hope that helps!

[s0up]

one more thing, benzodizipines like xanax arent meant for long term use.  If you are getting treatment for chronic anxiety symptoms, you should be taking a selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor such as prozac(fluoxetine).  

For your doctor to give you xanax for 12 years continuously is erroneous on his part, and partially the pharmacies fault for allowing you to get it for that long.

[TimH2]

It is addictive if taken in large doses. It is more of a stimulate to me and I have never abused it. It did make the w/d's easier. I would take them (if I had any) for one week to help me throug the w/d's. They are addicting (I hear) and be very conservative with them.

[TimH2]

I was referring to Ultram.

[sporty16]

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVICE AND COMMENTS. HAVING OTHER PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE SEEMS TO HELP A LITTLE,EVEN THOUGH I AM NEW HERE. JUST FOR THE RECORD I HAVE OVER THE LAST MONTH GONE FROM THE 6mg A DAY TO AN AVERAGE OF 4 A DAY. I WOULD LOVE NOT TO BE ON THESE THINGS , BUT AFTER 12 YEARS I AM SCARED TO DEATH OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND I DO NOT WANT MY SON OR WIFE TO HAVE TO WATCH OR DEAL WITH MY WITHDRAWS. JUST NOT SURE WHAT ROAD TO TAKE AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

[sporty16]

BUY THE WAY, I DONT FEEL THAT I ABUSE THEM ,I NEVER RUN OUT ,BUT I DO WANT OFF OF THEM AND THAT AND THE WITHDRAWS ARE JUST SCARY

[LadySundown]

Hello,

I'm taking 1mg xanax 4x's a day and taking an antidepressant, also. There are no plans of taking me off of these meds. I have never abused them or ran out early. However, years ago I went through a 13 yr. valium w/d and it was hell. Benzo's are very hard to kick. If stopped abruptly it can cause seizure and even death. You will need to taper very slow if you want to stop them. If you want to continue taking them you need to find a Dr. before your script runs out.

I wish you the best and please keep posting....hugs.....LS

[sporty16]

just out of curiosity , how would you recommend tapering off ? as far as how much to take , when to take, and how long to go before trying to taper any lower ? and also how much should i try to taper off at a time? thanks for any advice

[LadySundown]

HI,

I would recommend a very slow taper. You have been on xanax for 12 years so going too  fast will bring on too many w/d symptoms. Start by shaving just a little off the pill and then taking the tablet. You're on the 2mg?? If so, you have the bars with score marks which is easy to work with. When you feel ready cut away one block and only for one dose. Take the whole bar for your second dose. There will be some w/d symptoms but the key is going slow.to avoid as many as possible. There is no hurry. I will check the forum every day to see if you have posted. I'll post back and help you all I can. There's a possibility you really might have GAD (general anxiety disorder) and if that's the case you'll know when the mental part of the w/d hits. Benzo's are hard to come off of but I think it's great that you want to try. Still try to find a Dr. you can trust. In detox they usually give people librium to make the whole thing easier, but it's a benzo, also.
Please keep posting and take care.....LS

[Pyramaze]

I went cold turkey off of Xanax 2 weeks ago and went through hell, I finally got my natural sleep back, pretty much got my whole self back except that I wasn't fully recovered yet so I went to my doctor yesterday for another prescription to taper off to. I thought I could do it cold turkey, and I DID, got through the worst part but now I know tapering off is the best way. I can't believe I put myself through this hell by trying to do it cold turkey. Take it from me, I took 12-18 pills of .05 Xanax for 8 months and I drank heavy alcohol along with it and I weigh at 110 pounds. Because I abused it, XANAX withdrawal is worse than alcohol, crack and heroin withdrawal. DON'T ABUSE IT, OR YOU'LL WILL PAY THE CONSEQUENCES! It's long and agonizing.

[Pyramaze]

You see, everyone, I used xanax for recreational purpose,not because I had aniexty or panic attacks, because it made me feel good and because I am an addict to begin with, I got hooked on it on the 3rd try. I started out with 3 pills of .05 a day(alot for a beginner)then uppered my dosage to 6 pills a day for 4 months and kept going up and up over the months. If I do a drug, I want it to mess me up, to do it's job and to get off on it, that's why I started with a large dose. It got to a point where I got 90 pills and finished them off in 7 days, that is when the painful withdrawal started.  Because I started out with 3 pills a day, I had to jump directly to 6 pills to get the same effect. Why 6 pills? What would 1 extra pill do fro the same effect? If I started out with 2 pills, I could of jumped to 4 pills. Get it anyone? So what I'm saying is I wish I would of started with the lowest dose. After my withdrawal, I got 30 pills to taper off to and I just took 1 pill today and it did it's job., the same effect when I use to pop 3 pills. I wish I would of known better, I would of saved myself from pill indulgence.

I hear everone talking about panic attacks, anxiety, and depression. DEAL WITH IT AND STOP COMPLAINING.

[serenitysaves]

If you've been dealing with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression for any lenght of time you know as well as I know it's hard if not imposible to "DEAL WITH"  without any help from medication and psycholist.  I myself am on both so I understand the horror that can go through your mind to think your prescribtion wont come.

I only take .5mg as needed, so not even daily, but after having two panic attacks and ending up in the hospital because I did'nt know what was going on.  I'm very thankful there there if I need them.

Anyway if you doctor left you your records or you have access to them.  There should be no reason a docotor would denie them.  Just make sure all your ducks are in order.

good luck, take care

[sporty16]

thanks for the input. i have been dealing with all of the above for years. been to psychologist , VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH.im okay as long as i am by myself, blocked from everything.i have only been here a few days and after reading up on these posts i think tapering is gonna have to be my route. i have decided to start a different way tomorrow. i think after reading all these posts i have been trying to go about it the wrong way.tomorrow is a new day and its time for a change, and i am willing, so here i go...probably hell...lol. THANKS TO ALL...WILL CHECK BACK  ...I AM SURE I WILL NEED YOU GUYS

[LadySundown]

We'll all be here for us if you need us. There is a chance you really do have GAD (general anxiety disorder) and if you do you may need meds for it. Coming off the xanax will tell you for sure.
Take Care....LS

[sporty16]

2ND DAY ON TRYING TO LOWER DOSAGE. STARTING TO FEEL SHAKY AND IRRATABLE. I CAN TELL THIS IS NOT GONNA BE EASY.JUST BEING HERE AND BEING ABLE T AT LEAST TALK TO MYSELF HELPS. SOUNDS STUPID, MAY BE, BUT I HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING.

[FLaddict]

Did a doc set up your taper?? How often are you dropping your dose?? Xanax has to be dropped very slowly..

[sporty16]

no i havent even talked to a doctor yet.i have been breking bars in half, trying to go the full eight hours. very hard. dont know what else to do. need to find a new doc. mine closed down, i have the records, but i asked him one time to help me get off and he refused. said he didnt want to be held responsible for anything. only doc i have seen in 12 years. now he is closed and i am lost. any recommendation greatly appreciated

[FLaddict]

With xanax withdrawl (withdrawal).. it has to be done very carefully.. and you should be making very tiny drops.. litterally only taking a small piece out at a time.. and only dropping that small piece every 2 weeks or so.. I really highly suggest you pick up the phone and get in with a doc as soon as possible.. Detoxing off of xanax can produce seizures and hallucinations.. please be very careful..
Please get on the phone first thing tommorrow morning and find someone you can see that can help you..

[notmenow!]

Look on line for behavoral health in your area they are more understanding than a primary care physician. I would ask to be changed over to klonopin which is a long acting benzo. and also clonodine as your blood pressure may shoot up like mine does when i run out of the bars early. But I do have a GAD diagnosis as well as PTSD. I also take lexapro which is for general anxiety disorder. this medication helps as well. My Dr. wants to switch me to (xanax er) which is a once a day dose. The mgs vary but it is very expensive when compared to the cost of alprolazam the generic for xanax. The klonopin is also about 3 times for $ than generic xanax. But I am not clear on what you want to do. You cannot come of 12yrs of anxiety maintenance even if you detox under medical supervision. Getting properly diagnosed is your first step, and your decision on treatment is yours if you have not been diagnosed with an addiction problem. I dont know what kind of insurance you have as that in it self is a major issue. But there are people at these Behavioral Health Centers that can assist you with financial aid on medication in most cases, If all else fails phenobarbital is the quickest way to safely detox and the cheapest. But I would be willing to bet that you have probally have the required diagnosis to get the necessary treatment. BUT FIRST YOU AND A PROFESSIONAL NEED TO COME UP WITH A TREATMENT PLAN. Just out of curiosity what made you think you needed xanax in the first place, and is there any mental illness in your family background? Be proactive instead of reactive. Good Luck , nonotme!

[sporty16]

my doctor put me on them for anxiety attacks and to help control my anger. ( my wife talked to him) i was always getting mad about stupid stuff and then i would just black out and go crazy. family was another reason,most of my family are alcoholics,which i have always refused alcohol for that reason, i grew up in it, im not living like that but now i feel i am just in a different way. with the xanex i stay calm, focused and can pretty much deal with life,but i have no social life. i work and stay at home, do not like to be around anyone or go anywhere.its like i have a fear of leaving my "safe haven".as for mentall illness, technically not sure,but i think most of them  do have mental illness. not sure about bio father, i was adopted and do not know about his family.  thanks

[sporty16]

i am almost at the first 30 day mark. i managed to have 31 pills left over this month. i found a new doc today, he is keeping me on them but also wants me start taking effexor xr one a day and the xanex when i feel i need one. does anyone know about effexoe xr ? i read some about it and it seems like this is also addicting . am i going from one to the other with the same addiction or could this be a way of getting off the xanex first? any info appreciated.

[jaydeeelbee]

Benzos are a serious substance I take a changing amount daily somtimes more sometimes less, rarely none @ all. I am a former opiate cocaine addict, ive not fell back into its trap since last october i am not clean in a sense that i still take benzos but if it werent for that id still be an addict so ill take the lesser of the two or three evils that being xanax, valium or klonopin.