Been on Xanax for 34 days, how do I quit without withdrawal?

[dmbfan07cb]

I have been taking one 0.5 mg xanax each day (usually in the morning) to help my anxiety for the past 34 days.  Some days I only took half that and for a day or two I didn't take one at all. (i've probably taken about 30, 0.5mg pills)  Now if I don't have xanax once in a 24 hour period I start to feel really strange. light this feeling in my throat like i'm going to vomit and this weird feeling in my head. I want to get off this medication but am worried my body is accustomed to it.

How should I taper this to avoid any kind of withdrawal?   I don't want to have a seizure.

Should I take half the pill twice a day for a while to keep it in my system, or should I stick with one pill a day and just half it.

thanks

[xanweaner]

Thanks for your feedback...and yes, the emotional part is very rough. It can get a bit scary because you begin to think that you can't function without the xanax. You also worry that you're having a worsening of your depression. It is just a function of the withdrawal. Many times, the physician will then increase a dosage or add another drug to deal with the reaction, when in reality, it is just a temporary part of the process.

Thankfully, I read a lot of xanax withdrawal so I was prepared for what was going to take place. It doesn't necessarily take away the painful withdrawal, but it just keeps me going forward...knowing that this is all a part of the process. I also learned not to rush it....if it was necessary to even wait beyond 28 days before I started weaning again, I did that. My goal has always been to just keep reducing until I was off of it completely.

I'm nearly there now, but it truly has been one, very long, process...

[nursegirl6572]

Very interesting w/d pattern, xan...thanks for sharing.  Reading in the SA forum...what you describe seems pretty typical for a lot of people...especially the emotional part...I bet that's rough.  You're doing a wonderful job..and your experience is prolly helping so many people.  I know I've learned from it.

dmb...like xan said....your w/d won't most likely be like hers....and also like you said...more of it will prolly be psychological.  Keep up the good work.

[xanweaner]

Actually, the withdrawal process is rather interesting...as least in my personal experience. In my weaning, I find that days 3, 4, 5, can begin to ramp up. Sometimes around day 8, 9, it gets tough again. I get very emotional - sometimes the psychological pain is very uncomfortable; the smallest things make me cry. I reflect on the past - think about people who I've known who passed away and get very teary. Can get irritability; tend to overeat to self-medicate. I don't know about the insomnia part because I take 1/2 of 10 mg. Ambien for sleep, so this probably carries me through any withdrawal that might take place during the night.

For me, the length of time between my dosage reductions is a minimum of 14 days. Sometimes, I had to wait longer - this last time, I waited for 28 days until I felt that I was ready to start all over again.

My situation won't apply to you, DM, because I was taking higher dosages and for 6 months...you are going to have a much smoother time of it.

Keep at it...you're doing great...

[dmbfan07cb]

well i took .25mg yesterday morning at 11:30 and i felt generally ok the whole day but I could not go to sleep until almost 5am and when I finally when to sleep only slept for 4 hours and woke up all energized.  I managed to wait until 11:30 even though I was getting really jittery before taking my .25mg dose for the day.  and now it's 8pm and I feel generally ok with just a few brain zaps right now.  I think any withdrawal i'm going to go through is purely psychological and maybe some insomnia.  Isn't the 24 hour mark without xanax supposed to be almost the peak of the withdrawal phase or am I wrong?

because at 24 hours after my last dose I really don't feel too bad, just a little jittery and anxious.

[xanweaner]

I use a pill cutter. But, I also split my pills in half, too. I think it's fine it you're a bit off. In fact, when I'm feeling particularly "off", I tend to reach for the bigger half. Then, at the end of the day, I take the smaller half. It all depends upon when you're most in need of that teeny little bit.

I hope it's going well for you...
xan

[dmbfan07cb]

One question, i'm splitting my pill in half, but whenever i try to use a knife or razor it just crumbles so i've just been breaking them in half by hand but they arent split perfectly it's just a little off, should i invest in a pill splitter or am i getting close enough?

[xanweaner]

That's great news!! I'm so glad to hear that you've gotten some help and direction. I'm particularly interested in the reduction that includes every other day...I think I'll incorporate that method in my final weaning. Leave it to Ryan to provide some great medical advice...I always learn something.

Don't be surprised if you do feel some psychological effects from this, but remind yourself that it's only temporary. Let your brain readjust to the reduction of the xanax. The important thing is that you have conirmation that your dosage wasn't high enough to cause seizure or serious withdrawal symptoms.

I hope that all goes smoothly over the next week or so...

All my very best to you,
xan ♫

[dmbfan07cb]

Ryan actually contacted me personally and explained that I was most definitely not physically dependent on this drug at that dosage level for that duration.  He told me to half my dose to 0.25mg for a week and then take 0.25 every other day the next week and I would be fine.  I contacted my pharmacist this morning as soon as he opened and he agreed with that plan.  My pharmacist said I could just quit it all together and probably not notice any withdrawal, but I am going to use that taper method just to be safe.  I took my 0.25 mg at around 11am today and I'm feeling pretty weird right now, but i know it's just in my head, I don't think that dosage is high enough to cause me a seizure or any other serious withdrawal symptoms especially when I'm tapering?  thanks guys for the help

[barfer]

Great answer.  Too bad Ryan isn't here to add to this important topic.

Barfer

[xanweaner]

You need to contact your prescribing physician to ask his/her advice on the best way to set up your tapering schedule. You can also contact the pharmacist who fills your prescription and ask for some direction.

It's important that you do not stop taking a dose altogether, because many times you can feel rebound anxiety and other uncomfortable side effects. My advice to you is to follow the advice of your treating physician. Please don't take this into your own hands - both for you physical safety as well as psychological comfort.

Good luck to you...
xan

[something]

I was doing XANAX by prescription from my doctor , But I was doing it 3 times a day plus SEROTINE,. so when  finished these tablets after 2 months, I could not get them in London so I needed to finish, but I think I did not experience any withdrawl. DO not know why u experience it.  By the way where are You living , where from I can get prescription for XANAX in London? Here they are dump they do not prescribe it here as they say it is addictive. I do not know from where to get the doctor here to prescribe it...as I can not go each time to Lithuania to take it!

[dmbfan07cb]

Also, my pills are scored.  but could I cut them into 1/4's   -  would that be accurate, or is it kinda guess work how many mg's are in the half of the half.  you see what im saying?

So would it be .125 for the 1/4 or would it just be random