Want to go off Xanax (low-dose)

[Jawny]

I was put on Xanax three weeks ago at .25mg twice each day. I took one in the morning, and one at night. Right away, my sleep suffered. I started waking up at 4:00 or 4:30am every morning. after two weeks, I went down to .25mg in the morning and .125mg at night. This past Saturday, I stopped taking a dose at night, and now take .25mg in the morning. My sleep is still horrible, it's probably gotten worse. I realize insomnia can carry with it a snowball effect, but sure that the Xanax started this off. I'm wondering at this low-dose, and now at a little over 3 weeks of use, what are the effects if I stop taking it now (.25mg each morning since Saturday morning)?

My MD has wanted me to replace my Xanax with Clonazepam (the low starting dose) as he says this will help my sleep. That was last Monday but I haven't switched yet. I'm worried about becoming dependant on drugs, and about simply switching over abruptly, too.

My illness is, what everybody tells me (from MD, to counsellor, to wife, family) is anxiety. It's causing crazy symptoms, though, and I have a hard time accepting that it's not something else (probably because of this excessive worry). I have shaky legs often, or wobbly, I have times where I feel totally nervous/on edge (like I've had tons of coffee but I don't drink coffee), insomnia, in the beginning I was feeling faint with exercise, and I generally just feel outside my body, detached...and I am really worried about my health. There has been a lot of stress in my life lately, too, that when I write it out, I realize how it seems like, yes, it is anxiety. New house, new baby, new job, new book coming out, grandma died in June, and some marital issues that I have caused....so, that's that.

Any help out there? Thank you.

[chickens740]

ive been on so many differant tabs none helped long term they made me worse long term because your body gets use to them then you have withdrawals coming off and going on something differant but im still in a constant state being sick the ***** chills panics im just hopeing it will get easier and my body will balance itself now the drugs have gone what other options have i got read all the books taken all the tabs

[Jawny]

Thanks for that! Part of this anxiety is constant worrying, so of course I'm worrying about the switch and what going off the xanax will do, even if it was a low dose. I, too, am taking one klonopin in the morning and one at night now. So, we'll see how that goes.

[ajg33]

sorry my last post was for u!!

[ajg33]

hey mystifiedchic
I too am new to the anxiety thing due to alot of major changes in a short period of time! I am on lexapro 10 mg's a day and heard it takes awhile to reach a theraputic level and hightened anxiety could happen at first,so my doc switched me from .025 mg of xanax to klonopin. It does have a longer half life so i take one in the morning and 1 before bed. I am just accepting the fact that the meds are my friend right now. It is a hard thing to do because I never had to surrender to medication before! I dont think u will have any withdrawl from xanax as long as u take the klonopin! keep me posted my friend!
Anthony

[Jawny]

Thanks...yes, when I look back on the past few months this all makes sense, but it's hard to be objective when you're in it, and you're feeling all the symptoms...so my mind goes off on these tangents of all the things it could be that's NOT anxiety...but, that's a symptom of anxiety. So....I need to work harder at accepting it.

I went on the Klonopin last night. Went to bed at 8, fell asleep very fast and woke up at 12. Then, might have slept off and on until 5. I'm wondering how long it takes to kick in, and if I'll have any Xanax withdrawal symptoms, even though I had tapered to .25mg per day in the morning. I've heard I shouldn't feel any withdrawal symptoms, especially if I'm taking the Klonopin in its place?

[mystifiedchic]

Wow, you have had so much on your plate this year!  Stress can definitely make the anxiety worse.  

I am glad you are in therapy and that you will see a psychiatrist sometime in the future.  I know that sometimes you have to wait a long time to see one, which stinks, but they seem to be very busy people.

Klonopin does last longer.  It helped me sleep for a while, actually.  If you're having trouble with sleep, though, you might want to talk to your doctor about a sleep aid.  Only you and your doctor can decide if that's a good idea, though, of course.  

I really hope things ease up for you and that your anxiety becomes less over time.

[Jawny]

I think counseling has helped. I mean, it has. At the least, because it's helped me to look at things from an outside perspective and consider facts, not worries. But the worries still often creep up on me: this isn't anxiety, this is something else...that sort of thing. I guess I'm just waiting to wake up one morning and feel better. :o/

I can't believe that anxiety can make you feel like this all the time...there's no break, really. I usually feel "better" at night. I feel okay in the morning, always the worst in the afternoon.

[MMahon]

Good for you. Try calling the Psych's office and see if he can push up your appointment and see you sooner.  Yes Clonazepam does stay in your system longer and you may find it works better for you.  But you're better off with an antidepressant and you may see an overall improvement in how you feel.  Your GP may prescribe one but the Psych is the best way to go in my book.  Has counseling helped at all?  

[Jawny]

Thanks for your response. I am actually waiting to see a psychiatrist right now, but apparently that will take a long time. I'm also seeing a counsellor once a week right now. I've heard that Clonazepam lasts longer than xanax so might work better for me? I feel somewhat okay with xanax but you're right, it doesn't seem to last very long. I wish I hadn't started taking it at all, actually, but maybe I need it in the short term and I don't realize it.

[MMahon]

Yes it may very well be anxiety and I'm sorry you are going thru what you are especially with all the good news in your life.  The 'good' things in life always seemed to impact me much harder then the 'bad' things when it came to anxiety/depression.  New baby, jobs, vacations, hard to believe they ca have such a negative impact but they do..I know it all too well.
It may be your symptoms are from anxiety/depression worsening rather then the xanax.  
Antidepressants are more effective with anxiety and insomnia over the long term and you may wish to discus this option with your doctor.  I find xanax helps with the anxiety but it only lasts for a few hours and it's not a great sleep aid although it'll put me to sleep.
Anxiety will cause excessive worry and just about any symptom you can imagine to worry about along with it.  If you really want to get this under control as quickly as possible i suggest you see a psychiatrist, specialists in treating this disorder.  He can guide you best in what medications you can take, if any, and what type of treatment you will benefit from.
Anxiety disorder is very treatable and it's not necessary for you to suffer with the symptoms you have so you can enjoy the good things happening in your life.  Take care.