Trying to wean off Alprazolam

[Duflacci]

I was first prescribed Zolft for Depression then was switched to Paxil, then Effexor and now on 40 mg Celexa 1 x a day. I had panics due to stress and was prescribed Alprazolam along with the Celexa. I was gradually increased to 2mg Alprazolam 3 x day over 4 years and now having no insurance or vehicle my Dr. refused to see me due to missing 2 appts. I had severe withdrawels and ended up in the emergency room. I now have another Dr. who prescribed .5mg Alprazolam 2 x a day along with Buspar 15 mg 2 a day the buspar does not help I want to get off Benzos but it is difficult, Sleeping is hard and have been up for 5 days and feeling miserble. My New Dr. cannot understand my agony and my old Dr. never told me all the info about Alprazolam, if I had known I would never have taken it. Is there something I can take to help wean off this? Ambien is too expensive. I want to be normal again. Right now I cannot afford to go to the Dr. I think my old Dr. was wrong for not helping me get off Alprazolam properly. Please help I would like to know if there is something over the counter that would help me sleep till my nightmare is over.

[Duflacci]

Thanks for the info I weaned myself down to .25mg 2 x day while taking 15mg of buspar 2 x day the only thing is which I think is related to the Xanax is  a humming noise and a noise that sounds like Cicada's in a field in my head plus insomnia and wierd sounds like a radio playing music in the distance and faint sounds like people talking, I just wonder how long it will take to go away. But at first when I went cold turkey off xanax I was having hallucinations plus insomnia and all the noises I hear now, plus my hearing is more acute and my brain can think more clearly,

Paxiled I know never to trust a Dr. before I begin medication I now refer to the PDR. if I had know what the withdrawel of xanax would be like I would have been hesitant to take it.

[cornyguy]

You need to switch to klonopin and taper from there.Please tell your new doctor about Klonopin.

[Paxiled]

Malatonin might help.  The proper dosage to start would be 1mg.  A homeopathic remedy called Calm's Forte can also be helpful.  There are a lot of herbal sleep remedies as well, most featuring valerian or California poppy.  On the other hand, you're not clear on what you're still taking.  I don't think the melatonin or any homeopathic remedy would interact adversely with the meds you've mentioned, but the herbs might. Because I also had my life ruined by a bad shrink that never told me what I was in for nor what happened, I also advise people now to ask new shrinks before they start treatment their understanding of withdrawal and quitting meds.  Important stuff to know before trusting any shrink or doc, since most don't take this seriously.  Also hope you're exercising regularly, as it helps make the body tired.