I am prescribed XANAX...I NEED HELP TO STOP TAKING THEM

[thrax4603]

ive been takin .5 mg xanax for close to 2 years now and have been trying to stop takin them for what seems like forever.  I had stopped taking them for a while but had a seizure in the same time.  I'm desperate to find a safe and effective way to stop taking them without all the withdrawal symptoms.  When i try to lower my dose from 2 mg a day (4x0.5mg) i start to get cold chills then feel like im running a fever. I also am very sensitive to light and loud noises. The thing that scares me the most is that my heat beats so hard that i feel like im goin to have a heat attack and make my temp go up to 100*.  I would really appreciate some advice on how to ween myself off of them without thinking that im goin to die the whole time. Thank you and PRAY FOR ME

[thrax4603]

ok so so far everything is goin well...i VERY SLOWLY tapered off the xanax goin down a quarter mg every other week...and when i got down to a half mg per 2 days i went to my GP and he told me that i should be able to stop taking them with no problem.  YEA, thats alot easier coming from someone who has never dealt with that problem himself.  Anywho, I said i was going to give this one last shot before i broke down n had to go to rehab.  Thanks to your kind words and prayer i was able  to quit and have been pill free for 11 LONG days.  Trust me its not easy and I did feel horrible for the 1st 5 or 6 days.  The w/d symptoms still bother me a little bit but are nothing compared to how u felt on day 3.  Luckily i didnt have any seizures and the worst part was the intense heart beats,muscle twitching, and insomia.  Yes its 530 in the mornin and im still up but thats all thats bothering me now.  So im not writing this to brag i just hope other people suffering from this will read my post and realize that it is possible to stop taking them and if you stop correctly YOU WONT DIE .  GOOD LUCK and I Will keep u up to date on my status.. THANKS U ALL

[dragonfly1026]

Not sure why I was flagged. If I said anything at all on my last post to upset anyone in anyway, please forgive me. Just found this post and it was nice to know I was not the only one. Again forgive me if I said ANYTHING to offend or upset anyone.

[dragonfly1026]

I know we were all prescribed zanaz for some type of anxiety disorder. Mine being PTSD and chronic anxiety disorder. Being on 5 1mg a day I know the only way is to wean yourself off. I know doctors give them to help with anxiety, we take them to stop or help with anxiety or symtoms of PTSD not really thinking at the time what the long term affects will be.

I myself can not take any antidepressant, talk about going loopy or feeling suisidal. Yes the withdrawels from them can be horrible. Even the Chantix I tried to quit smoking done me the same way.

I've told doctors for a while now, there should be a treatment center for nicotine withdrawel, I 've told many of them, why not just put someone to sleep for about 2-3 weeks,go on an IV drip, the worst of it will be out of your system.

I beleive with anything you really need to do your own research,even if you get a 2nd or 3rd doctors opinion, do your research.

Because of critical medical conditions and being to weak to even drive I would suggest to anyone going off of zanaz to research other ways of support in your area, maybe, cognitive behavioral therapy, a good counselor you feel comfortable with, mindful thinking,grief counseling etc.

After being on zanaz for so long myself, I have to wonder what the long term affects are on one's whole brain chemistry. They call it medical "Practice" for a reason because it is forever evolving and changing.

[MysticSoul9]

All anxiety drugs cause severe neuroadaptation and can cause long term withdrawal symptoms much worse than the original condition. You will need to change to a long acting benzo and taper off over many months -often over a year.

I would suggest you go to ************.com or BenzoUK - they know more than most doctors and can help you.

These drugs are the scourge of anxiety sufferers - they never lead to recovery and over time can make the condition much worse. I went through a hideous benzo and antidepressant withdrawal many years apart

[dragonfly1026]

Why were you flagged and deleted. I won't change one drug for another. I was on pain meds for RA, I went off those cold turkey, tough, I did it. The zanaz is much worse. I think tappering off is probably best I am doing that,but seriously these zanax's mess with your brain neurons like nothing else. Makes me wonder if my brain chemistry will ever be normal again.
Nicotine, well I hate it, have to have a mint in my mouth every time I lite up,can't stand the taste,yet I am addicted to them, they say it is similar to a heroin or cocaine addiction. I have the EC but it really isn't working.

Any suggestions

[Rich99]

Gosh,  I just got flagged and deleted recently for saying just how bad this one particular drug is and how they disrupt the brain's chemistry.     When I mentioned that nicotine can cause drug addiction of its own,  well glad you said it.    Xanax is a short half life and soons wears off leaving you with those symptoms.   You may want to ask your doctor for a longer term drug such as klonopin to help with a taper plan.    But remember,  you are substituting one addictive drug for the other so don't believe just because you're on the klonopin and now off the xanax that you're no longer addicted.     Smoking is another issue you certainly want to end.  

[dragonfly1026]

I was put on 1mg zanax  5 times a day for PTSD and Anxiety disorder. I have been trying to taper off. Hard to explain, but the neurons in my brain are crazy,can't sleep.can't think, confussed. In 2002 I was on them for 2 years,went off cold turkey, my brain after 2 years still was foggy. Does anyone know if a rapid detox center would work. My other addiction is nicotine. That is just as bad.

[dbi77]

Yes, plz ask your doc how to get thru this. Xanax w/d's are horrible. I was taking exactly the mg. you are taking and also for two years. I didn't know any better so I quit c/t a few years ago. Xanax was making me "stupid" lol. Anyway, about the 2nd or 3rd day the w/d's kicked in. I had visual and auditory hallucinations, my mind would race with thoughts so fast I couldn't grasp anything my mind was doing/saying....hard to explain, but very scary! i had restless body syndrome-not just leg. Strong rebound anxiety My body muscles hurt soooo bad like I had a horrible flu. Dry heaves. the runs, and did not sleep for nearly 3 weeks.I was constantly taking hot baths.They would bring a little relief for a few minutes. I did not have any seizures and am very surprised because I thought I was losing my mind. I was constantly talking and telling myself I was going to be ok. I had no one to help me either and its hard to even go to the bathroom or get some gatorade from the kitchen w/ no help. I lost 10 lbs in a week from being sick.I finally started feeling better about 5 days later. Not trying to scare you at all, just plz get doc supervision. O and dont plan to go to work or anywhere for awhile-even if its a taper unless  its a very sloooow taper. Good luck to you and I will say a prayer for you. You will be so glad when this is over tho and your off of xanax. :)

[boognell]

Maybe now is not the time to wean yourself. Also, you should be monitored by medical personnel if you are cutting the dose down. See your doctor or call him/her and tell them what is happening. God bless you and I will say a prayer for you.

[carmen802]

you need to contact your doctor and tell him you want to get off the Xanax. You have been taking them daily for 2 yrs?