I need help with Xanax.

I have taken Xanax 16 years. I have taken one .5 mg. in the morning and one .5 mg. in the evening. I am trying to stop. Today, at 11:00 a.m. I will complete 3 days without any Xanax. I feel horrible, I did not sleep at all last night. My anxiety level is horrible. AM I GAINING ANY GROUND? I feel like taking a Xanax right now.  

[greenlydia]

PLEASE tell us you did not just stop the Xanax cold turkey after 16 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Call your doctor IMMEDIATELY NOW DO NOT WAIT
You need to get back on it and then get in front of your doc and/or a therapist and taper yourself off this drug VERY SLOWLY!
I would actually put your situation in the EMERGENCY category.............an abrupt stop of Xanax after that many years, even at the low dose you were taking, could cause you to have seizures.
MAKE THE CALL RIGHT NOW
And make sure you post us back and let us know how you are, OK?
CALL
Peace
Greenlydia

[CHIPMUNK63]

Please forgive me, but, do you really know what you are talking about? Is this good advice? Should I take a .5 mg. now to help? I am so confused.

[Summer123]

Please listen to Greenlydia.  You should not stop xanex cold turkey.  It needs to be gradually reduced over a period of months.  I've seen it recommended at a 20% reduction every 2 weeks.  If, however, you are not doing too bad, can you reinstate at a lower dosage, say .25 mg twice a day and see how you do?  

[CHIPMUNK63]

Thank You. Your kind manner was taken seriously. I am trying very hard to do the right thing. As stated at 11 am I have gone 3 days without Xanax. They say Xanax withdrawals usually peak at 72 hours. I keep thinking I am there. That's why I don't know to continue what I am doing or go back on dosage.

[PAHonyock]

I too have been on Xanax at .5 mg twice a day for 17 years.  My dosage has never changed in all of the years that I've been on them.  I do decrease the dosage in the summer time to one at night, but even then I know to ween myself off of that morning dose.  I will start by taking just a half of a Xanax for a few weeks, and then go to a half every other day until I know that I'm doing okay with out the panic feeling.  You have to remember at this point you really can't access whether what you are feeling is from the actual panic disorder or from the withdrawal of the medication.  I too would strongly advise you don't abruptly stop taking them.  Please believe what others have posted, as you could seriously be putting your life in jeopardy by having seisures.

I learned this from abruptly stopping Effexor XR, not knowing that you had to ween yourself off of those too.  While I didn't get to an actual seizure, I was close to it.  I think my doctor wanted to kill me for stopping them like that.

At least call your doctor...........

[Heather3418]

Greenlydia is a nurse and MORE than knowledgeable about these things.  

[CHIPMUNK63]

You bring up a very good point......that of...I am wondering if what I am feeling is withdrawal or just the same feelings I had when I went on Xanax 16 years ago. It was interesting to hear from someone who was identical to myself. I am not trying to rationlize, but I wonder, if I shouldn't be on Xanax. Thank You.

[CHIPMUNK63]

I was not aware she is a nurse. LVN?  RN?  

[Heather3418]

I'm not sure about that one.  But she offers you some sound advice.  When I was on Xanax many years ago, I went off of it very, very gradually and had no withdrawal symptoms.  I did it under a doctor's supervision, so I knew that I was doing it correctly.  I had no trouble with any panic or anxiety from going off of Xanax.

I hope you do well, also.  I would take a dose now then call your doctor for his advice about how he wants to gradually withdraw, so you know that you are doing it safely.  Your health is most important here.  

Please let us know how it goes, okay.  I wish you only the best,
Heather  

[CHIPMUNK63]

Thank you for the kind manner in which you replied. Personal testimonies carry a lot of help. I believe there is "safety in a multitude of counselors" and the multitude seem to be saying the same thing to me.  

[greenlydia]

I'm sorry if my post did not come across in a "kind manner." I didn't mean to sound harsh, but what you told us scared the hell out of me!
Xanax is NOT a long term medication. It's efficacy (the time is will actually do what it's suppose to) is VERY short. Most doctors will only prescribe it for a few MONTHS at the very most. And you've been on it 16 years! It has LONG since stopped doing anything for your anxiety and what you have now is a full blown addiction/dependency. What you are feeling now is not a return of the old anxiety, but rather, your brain totally freaking out because you've taken away what IT needs. It's exactly what people trying to quit smoking go through..........take away the nicotine and the brains receptors will go crazy. Take away the meth addicts pipe, the alcoholics bottle...whatever.....when you take your Xanax every day, all you are doing is feeding your addiction, keeping the withdrawl (withdrawal) at bay.
I would suggest you take your usual dose of Xanax now and call your doctor as soon as possible.

And the initials after MY name aren't "MD," and right now, those are the ONLY ones you should be concerned about.

Again, I apologize if I came across as mean, which I have a bit of a reputation for on this forum, but I care that you were risking your life, and even tho I don't know you, I DO care. It's why I'm here and it's why I do what I do for a living.

Let us know how you're doing, OK?
Peace
Greenlydia  

[xanweaner]

OK - have you contacted your Dr. by now and set up a proper taper schedule? Greenlydia responded appropriately because she is all too familiar with how potentially dangerous your abrupt withdrawal can be.

Her advice is not to be taken lightly. You will need to set up a tapering schedule that your Dr. is involved in so he/she is prepared for any unexpected medical events. We're not trying to frighten you - we just want to make sure you're getting the proper medical care.

I also encourage you to read up on xanax withdrawal so you're aware of some of the potential side effects that may occur. Also, you'll find that there are different approaches to the tapering. Some involve klonopin, valium, etc. Others involve dosage reductions without using other drugs as a replacement.

It's important to be aware that the process will be a gradual one...do not rush it so you can get the best results and not have to deal with too much anxiety and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Good luck to you...this forum has been a huge help for me as I've been weaning down on my xanax since October.

Let us know what your Dr. says, too.
Best,
-xan-