Anything I can do for Xanax withdrawals?

[lisa20020]

Does anyone know if there is anything I can do at home to ease the Xanax withdrawals that are starting to kick in?

[MrGreen]

You not put on anything else? To help ease the withdrawls? Been there before. It was a nightmare. Became less so once I had something else to take. To help me get off the xanax. Hope you're not just stopping.

[mjbrown]

Suddenly stopping xanax can be dangerous. You risk the potential for seizures. Are you working with your dr. to stop this drug, or are you doing it by yourself? What dosage are you coming off of and when did you stop taking it?

[mjbrown]

I'm sorry.. I just looked at your name, and I remember your situation from your previous post. You didn't have any luck getting in touch with your doc's replacement? What dosage of xanax were you on during the tapering? The withdrawal effects will depend largely on how much you are coming off of.

[lisa20020]

At one point i was taking 2mg 3 times daily.  Then for the last 3 months I tapered to 1mg 3 times daily.  Now I can get by with 1-2 if necessary.

I had some left for today but very little.  I have been cutting them into small doses and taking my clonidone (catapress) for my blood pressure, which I usually only take later in the day because of the side effects.  I looked up some Emergency Rooms here, I am new to Utah, and might have to resort to that instead of thinking I can tough it out.

The problem is, I have to be in full blown withdrawal or they just wont take me seriously.  

[Paxiled]

They have to!  Benzo discontinuation can cause seizures.  Some psychiatrists give an anti-seizure drug during discontinuation to prevent it.  How can they not recognize it?  As for the withdrawal, try fish oil and eleuthero and ashwagandha.  When you're off and if you're not switching to another med, try valerian or kava or passionflower or a combination for the anxiety.  

[lisa20020]

The biggest problem is i have no doctor here in Utah.  I just moved here a few months ago and have been searching and calling with no luck.  I have one mental health agency that i have an appointment with at the end of July.  All these "WE CAN HELP" places make me sick.  I am now out of my zoloft too because I have no money to fill the script.  My mom can help when she gets her check, though.  The problem is no insurance yet, and no money left.

[mjbrown]

It's great that you've been able to cut your xanax dosage in half, but 3mg a day is still too much to stop cold turkey. The withdrawal effects are likely to be pretty bad, and seizures are a real risk with stopping at that dosage. You should go to the ER before you in full-blown withdrawal. They will be able to give you some pills to cover you until you can sort everything out with the pharmacy. Not having any Zoloft to take is not good either. You are likely to go through xanax withdrawal and serotonin withdrawal at the same time. Please keep calling places or get down to the ER before this starts to happen.

Paxiled mentioned a lot of good herbs / supplements that you should check out. Also, I recently read a study that showed that yoga increased GABA levels an average of 37% in participants in that study. Xanax binds to GABA receptors, so there is some real potential that yoga (or other calming physical activity) can significantly help with anxiety . But you won't be able to do these (or much of anything) when you're in xanax withdrawal.

[Paxiled]

Don't see any reason why a person can't do yoga while in withdrawal.  It can only help.

[pgcc313]

I hate to see anyone sick and sickness from xanax is probably worse then opiates in addition it can make you have a seizure and kill you. You should probably go to the ER. But if not I have found the best way to come off xanax is by switching to kolonopin an doing a slow taper with the kolonopin. Also docs are more likely to prescribe kolonopin than xanax. If you can get even 30 1mg kolonopin you can detox yourself. Start with 1 kolonopin 4X a day for 3 days, then lower to 1mg 3 X a day for 3 days, then 1/2 mg 3x a day, then 1/4 mg three times  you can stay on 1/4 a mg 2X a day then 1X a day and then discontinue. The reason I know this works is I have done it  in the past and my girlfriend has done it with great results and you should be off and comfortable the whole time. I can not speak for you but it is worth a try. I tried using valium with little success and librium with even less success. It seems that the only way to get of xanax, esp. 6mgs a day, is with kolonopn. However I would ask a doc first to be safe but if you use the kolonopin correctly you should not have a problem.. Then if you need a benzo long term forget the xanax and go on kolonopin or valium they are much longer acting and less prone to abuse. Personally I love kolonopin and I just switche from 8mgs of xanax a day with no unwanted sides. Really, good luck from someone who knows how it is to feel sick from withdrawal and who also knows how getting the right prescription from some docs is like pulling teeth.

[pgcc313]

They have to treat you in the er. If they let you leave with a script is another story. I flew to Minnesota on business not too long ago and forgot my meds. I went to the local ER and told them the story. The doc was great and gave me 90 2mg xanax and my welbutrin. It all depends on the doc. Just present yourself correctly and be truthful, get a referral for a phych and you should get what you need. If you don't go thing are just going to get worse every day. Suck it up and GO.