My Xanax detox

[tropicalsoul]

6 weeks ago I decided to go cold turkey from xanax.  I was taking anywhere from .25 to .5mgs a day for 1.5 years but not constantly...there would be a week or so during this time that I would not take a pill.  One mornng I looked in the mirror and did not recognize the person looking back at me so I decided to quit.  Below is the week by week account of symptoms and problems.  I am hoping someone out there can relate and tell me this is all normal.  THere are days that I think there is really something wrong with me...not just w/d's.

Week 1;  Not too bad really.  Outside of weight loss and a little fuzzy thinking I though I was home free.

Week 2: This is when the problems began: Out of body experience, mental fog, anger, pain in feet and hands, anxiety, body shakes, flushing of the face, electric shock on the bottom of my feet.

Week 3:  Symptoms seemed to be every other day and lessen in severity.

Week 4: All the typical symptoms but a new one started.  I could not concentrate at all.  I would read a sentence in a book and have to go back over the same sentence several times.  Then I could not comprehend what I just read.  Symptoms seem to be a little better and the good days are not outnumbering the bad days.

Week 5: Every other day I feel pretty good.  I've been taking suppliments but stopped because I read on other sites that suppliments will delay the healing process.  Not sure about that one.  The odd thing is...on the bad days the symptoms seem to be increasing in severity and duration just on every other day.

Week 6: Have felt horrible every day.  Cant seem to tollerate food very well.  A new problem started which is severe abdominal cramps and gas.  The cramps are so bad they keep me up at night.  Both feet sting/burn and ache.  Pain in both elbows and my eyes are always blood shot and dry.  WILL THIS EVER END!  Just when I think I'm out of the woods something else comes along and knocks me down.  

THe body aches and pain are pretty bad along with the abdominal cramps is more than I can stand.  I do see a pain mgmt doctor who is kind enough to understand what I am going through and is giving me pain meds.  I'm not able to take Ibuprofen or Asprin as I am allergic to both items.  Yes..I'm addicted to the pain meds but I NEVER take more than prescribed and my script never runs out ahead of time.

What ***** about this is I did it to myself.  I should have researched the side effects and withdrawals before I ever took my first pill.  A lesson from the school of hard knocks.  2009 is not starting off too good.  Thanks for listening.  

[lynn57]

I know where you are coming from.  I was on 1mg of klonopin 2x a day.  I am now down to one mg a day.  I want to get off the med but I will not at the risk of constant anxiety and panic attacks.  Anyone who says the side-effects or trouble outweighs their benefits has a very mild case of anxiety.  If you have no option but a benzo for relief it's definitely worth it.  They are not for everyone but in some cases they give you back a meaningful life.  You can spend every day miserable and dysfunctional or one little pill can relieve all your symptoms.  If you don't mind endless trips to the ER and no sleep then by all means fight it on your own. If your anxiety is bad enough you have no choice but meds.

[dealpleas]

I'm sorry for your discomfort but I am sure you will pull through if you just keep working hard!

What I was wondering...
My doctor wrote prescriptions for xanax as well brought up many other drugs that could be taken.  I usually do not take drugs unless truly needed but now that my anxiety has been getting progressively worse the idea has always same to my mind.

with this said do you think all the horrible side effects are not worth this constant discomfort and pretty much torture?? I would like your opinions as well as many others because this is very serious to me..

I wouldn't want to get myself into trouble if not needed.

Thank you so much and best wishes

[aheart]

Sorry for your discomfort! Have you had your blood sugar checked lately? A couple of the symtoms sounded like diabetes to me. Just to be safe. I kicked xanax in a detox facility and it wasn't a picnic in there either, Always taper!!!!!!! Never cold turkey anything
if you can help it.  good luck  aheart:)

[lyerhc]

.Alot of the symptoms you mentioned I also experienced when  went off cold turkey since you said you went weeks at a time without taking any xanax I find it hard to believe all these side effects are from the xanax but I am not a doctor either you are on a very low dose but you should never go off cold turkey since there is always the risk of sezure with xanax orany other anti anxiety medication,   I takr 4 mg a day any without 3 ai have severe anxiety attacks that make me not want to leave my room.   you should be off the rough patch but you should always check to find out where those leg symptoms are coming from it really dosen't seem like xanax withdrawl but more like restless leg syndrome if thats what it is then the xanax would have been one of the meds the doctor would have prescribed let me know how your doing.lyerhc

[remar]

I'm sorry to hear your going through this. You were on a pretty low dose and you said you went up to a week  without taking any. I would'nt think you would still be having so many problems but all people are different. What does your dr. say? I'm wondering if you should do a taper program which would mean starting the xanax again and slowly tapering. It's really not a good idea to quit this med cold turkey even if you were on a very low dose. Try to get into see your dr. Take care. Remar