PANIC WHILE PREGNANT & TRYING TO GET OFF XANAX

I have had severe panic attacks for 8 years and been on xanax for 9 years. I took a pregnancy test Mar. 3rd and it was positive. Wen't to ob/gyn Mar. 7th and found out that I am now 7 weeks pregnant. I have been trying to get off of 1mg xanax that I was taking 4 a day. 1mg is the blue xanax. This might be confusing but I need to ask because I feel that I am the only person in the world dealing with getting off xanax, the withdrawls and being pregnant at the same time. Ok... Mar. 4th I called my doctor and told him I was pregnant and he told me to get on a regimin. So... Mar. 4th I was at (3) 1mg a day and as of today I am at 1/2 of 1mg. Which is good but I feel extremely weird. I feel like an ice cube, like im in some sort of doom, feels like I am being smoothered and alot of other crazy feelings. Does anyone know of anyone that is pregnant and trying to get off xanax???????????????? And am I suppost to feel like a damn ice cube??????????????

[greenlydia]

In my very humble opinion, you should RUN AWAY from this doctor you're seeing IMMEDIATELY and find one who can and will help you withdraw CORRECTLY from Xanax! It is an INCREDIBLY difficult med to come off,  and you have, with the apparent approval of a doctor TOTALLY ignorant of the world of benzos, attempted a w/d that is way too fast! I should repeat that so you REALLY hear me..........the w/d schedule you are on is so fast it is frightening!
You have been on 4mg of Xanax for 9 years? That's a pretty hefty dose.
You said that on March 4th you told your doc you were pregnant and he said to get on a regime. So on that day you went from 4mg a day down to 3mg a day? And now, in just TWO WEEKS, you're down to 1/2mg? Is that all you're taking or do you mean 1/2 mg 4X a day (which would equal a total of 1mg per day) Gawd, either way, it doesn't matter! For someone to wean that fast is insane and I simply can't believe your doctor OK'd this for you. Normally it would take someone on 4mg a day of Xanax at least a few MONTHS to taper to the level you're at! And you did it in two weeks and wonder why you are feeling the way you do!!!!! It's a bloody miracle you've not had a seizure. People check in to hospital rehab centers to withdraw as quickly as you did!
I don't have any idea what Xanax does to a fetus. I don't know if it crosses the placenta.
What I DO know is that you need to see another doctor as soon as possible and figure all of this out..........for the sake of you AND your baby.
Please, see someone tomorrow!
Keep us posted.
Peace
Greenlydia

[laurel94]

i would also try addiction forum as there are more people that can probably help you and they are really nice.
good luck!

[tisa1029]

This is exactly how I have been taking them.  Alot of time on my hands.
Mar. 4th                             3 a day            
Mar. 5th                             3 a day
Mar. 6th                             3 a day
Mar. 7th                             2 1/2 a day
Mar. 8th                             2 a day
Mar. 9th                             1 1/2 a day
Mar. 10th                           1 1/2 a day
Mar. 11th                           1 a day
Mar. 12th                           1 a day
Mar. 13th                           1 1/2 a day
Mar. 14th                           1 a day
Mar. 15th                           1/2 a day
Mar. 16th                           1/2 a day
Mar. 17th                           1 a day
Mar. 18th                           1 a day
Mar. 19th                           1/2 a day
Mar. 20th                           so far b/c of me freakin out I have taken 1/2 of a 1 mg. (1/2 a blue xanax)

[greenlydia]

So..........it's the day AFTER you wrote your post and you said nothing about having seen anyone! Did you? If not..........WHY NOT?
This little list of yours only proves, in writing, that your taper was dangerously fast.
I have tapered off Xanax a time or two so I do speak with a modicum of experience. My doctor would reduce my dose by 1/2mg and keep me there sometimes for a month, sometimes longer until my body and my mind fully adjusted to the lower dose. The I would drop down another 1/2mg and maintaine on that until both my doctor and I agreed it was time to slice off some more.
You have, according to your list, dropped your dosage down approximatley every other day since you began! I can imagine that you would be taking them "on your hands" as you said. I'm surprise you're not taking them from the hospital!
Why did you not call someone? If you can't get in to see your doctor, PLEASE call a pharmacist.............ANY PHARMACIST! These folks are some of the best resources in the world. They can tell you why you are feeling the way you are, but more importantly, they can tell you what Xanax is doing to your baby. They are not allowed by law to change your dosage, but if you were prescribed 4mg and have now weaned (and I use that term loosely) down to 1/2mg, they can, I BELIEVE, tell you, for your own safety and sanity, to go BACK UP to a certain level.........I am not 100% sure of this, but pick up the phone right now and talk to them! I don't know where you live, but even if your in Backwater, Idaho, there must be a 24 hour pharmacy in some city nearby. Or call the hospital. All hospitals have 24/7 pharmacies.
Please do something and do it now.
And keep posting so we know you're OK!
Peace
Greenlydia











  

[tisa1029]

I talked to the pharmacist and said that I should not be taking xanax at all while I am pregnant. I also talked to my dr.'s nurse and she said the same thing.

[xanweaner]

I just wanted to reinforce greenldyia's advice about the weaning/tapering.

I, too, just did it little by little, and only moving down when I felt stable and discussed it with my Dr. There were times that I could move down at 14 days, then others, it took me over 40 days. Each step was different.

However, your situation is very delicate and has a sense of time urgency with your pregnancy. You also could call the pharmaceutical company that makes xanax and ask to speak to their Medical Affairs Dept. for some advice. They typically have a medical support staff - with a Medical Director overseeing the calls.

What does your OB/GYN say??

I'm sorry that you're in this dilemma - I hope that you can get the help that you need right away...

[tisa1029]

Thank you Thank you. Yea I thought the message that Greenlydia made was kind of scary. When I read it I started shaking and freakin out. I do want to know peoples thoughts and suggestions, that one was just wild. Plus like you said I need to get off of them fast, because of the baby. Otherwise I would try to get off of them in 5 months. lol

[BabyHardiman]

Think of the health of your child BEFORE yourself.  The mind is a powerful thing!

[tisa1029]

omg. I have thought of that. That is the reason I told my doctor in the first place. If I WAS NOT THINKING OF THE BABY... I WOULD STILL BE TAKING THEM AND NOT GOING THROUGH THESE HORRIBLE WITHDRAWLS. I WOULD ALSO NEVER HAD CALLED MY DOCTOR AND TOLD HIM.

[xanweaner]

Please be gentle..as someone who is currently weaning off of xanax as I write this and feeling very, very sad, tearful, and in pain, just imagine how that can be MAGNIFIED with pregnancy hormones. Those alone can be very difficult for a new pregnant woman to endure and understand...

Tisa needs out support and gentle guidance right now, as it's obvious that she's frightened and doing the best that she can can...

We all need to give her a huge group hug...

[tisa1029]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. :) IF IT WAS SO EASY LIKE PEOPLE THINK, i WOULD HAVE NEVER POSTED ANY QUESTIONS

[wenholdjane]

May i suggest people with anxiety and depression go for hypnotherapy. At least ten or more sessions while pregnant! It has helped me a lot and i have been able to have a drug free pregnancy. It is not a cure but it has made me see life in a different way. Don't be conned into thinking it will take 1 or 2 sessions. Like any therapy it takes time. Insist on going for lots of sessions even if the hypnotherapist thinks you are 'cured' after one or two sessions. In the past I have emailed the therapist before a session explaining ALL(bad and good) of my problems from birth right up until present day. This allows the therapist to understand you as a whole and where you need the help.Try not to hold back even if your past is embarrassing or you think (or have) done something wrong

[StarCrawford]

Hi, I just wanted to tell you that you're not alone. I just found out I'm pregnant about an hr ago and I'm freaking out. I've had awful anxiety since I was about 7 and it got progressively worse.  By 14 I was on 1mg of klonapins/day. I'm 29 now & have been on 4mg of xanax/day for the past 6yrs. I obviously haven't consulted a doctor yet since it's 9pm & I just found out. I almost immediately started searching the web for answers/advice about to get of benzos while pregnant. I know a girl who just had a baby w birth defects caused by using benzos thru her whole pregnancy. I know I need to detox before I'm too far along but I don't know how to do it or how quickly to cut back. I've been on them so long and withdrawling too quickly can cause seizures & miscarriages. I'm sorry if I'm making you feel worse. I'm just still in panic mode. I just wanted to let you know you're not alone and reading your post made me feel like I'm not in this alone. Just knowing that someone else is going thru the same thing has calmed me down a bit. How are you doing now? Did you keep up with the schedule or did you slow down your detox? Either way, how are you feeling now? I hope you're doing well. Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thnx for listenin-Bethann