What to do about my xanax addiction

I have been taking Xanax for more then 5 years. Really it has been more like 7 years, just in those first 2 years I stopped 2 times. The first time I stopped I had only been taken Xanax for 6 Mo. or so. The withdrawl (withdrawal) the first time was pretty tough but I did do it. The second time I stopped, I had been taking it for a year+ with dosages ranging from 10,15, to as much as 20 Mg a day ( Yes 10 full bars a night sometimes) That time I stopped there are no words to describe what I was feeling. I know that there were a few nights that I thought I needed to take myself to the hospital because I thought my breathing or my heart was going to stop. The second time I stopped I also slowly tappered down to a single bar a night. Now here I sit, back on Xanax AGAIN, only this time I have been on it so long I'm scared to even try to stop. My dosage right now 10-12 mg a day, every single day!!!!!! Is there anything I can take to detox off these things??? Keep in mind I have no Ins. or money for a true detox center. I know alot of people that are taking tons of pain meds, and they can use various meds to help with the withdrawl (withdrawal) symtoms (symptoms). I just have never heard of a detox med for Xanax. Any help would be great.  

[nursegirl6572]

Do NOT under ANY circumstance try to detox yourself off of Xanax, especially at the seriously HIGH daily dose you are taking.  Withdrawals fromk benzos can lead to seizures, and other very serious health complications, and can even be fatal.  Your BEST bet would be to confide in your doctor and find a safe INPATIENT detox/rehab program where you could be medically monitored while detoxing. No, unlike opiates, there is no type of substitution pill to stave off w/d's...or make w/d's easier.  Benzo w/d's are brutal, and dangerous.

Please, I'm not trying to frighten you....you were VERY lucky to have gotten thru cold turkey with a high dose of Xanax before without any bad outcomes...do NOT tempt fate again.  Please get yourself some help.

Please also check out our "Addiction:Substance Abuse" forum here at MH....wonderful wonderful people there who can support you and offer you suggestions.  Benzo w/d is very very tough....even the inpatient programs don't have too much to offer you to help ease the pain of w/d's....but they DO offer a safe environment, and a plan for long term sobriety.  After care is of utmost importance.  If you dont have an aftercare plan in place...relapse is more likely.

The very best to you.....please stop back and let us know how you are doing.

[urfn135]

We'll I sure could have used better news then that :) My main problem is the lack of money, Ins. and time to take off of work to do this. Do you have any idea how long I would have to be in a re-hab? Both my girlfriend and I are putting together a plan, per your post to help get me off these things. I have started to take myself down 1/4 of a bar a night. Ithought I would do that for a week or so, then drop another 1/4 and another and so on. I know I have a tough road ahead of me. Another month or 2 and I should be able to get on my girls Ins. at her work( she works at the hospital) and that should help pay for the re-hab. It is amazing how strong these bars are. I'm 38 and in my 20s I did al kinds of drugs and drinking. I had some addictions alchol, cocaine, extasy. Now that I have been dealing with these Xanax I have learned what a true "physical addiction" is.  nursegirl6572 is it ok if I send you a private message. It is a few pages about using Kolotopin and Tegretol that I got off of some site that says those 2 meds help with the WDs. Let me know if it's ok to send you a message to show you these pages that I found. Thank you so much for your post and information. No you didn't scare me. I knew alot if not all of it already. Thanks Nursegirl.

[nursegirl6572]

You are more than welcome to send me a PM anytime!

PLEASE do not attempt to do this yourself.  I'm not trying to scare you, but really....you don't want to do this without medical supervision (even if outpatient)...especially at those high doses.  There is a lot of information out there that will give you "home remedies" on how to w/d off these meds yourself...NOT adviseable and could be downright dangerous.  Of course this won't be the easiest thing you've ever done...but there are different protocols that a doctor could recommend to help the discomfort of the w/d's.

I commend you greatly for trying to make this very positive change in your life.  You'll be so glad you did!  Did you check out our addiction forum?  Don't get me wrong...I want you to stick around on our forum...but think you could also benefit a lot from that forum as well.  There are people that have lived it that can offer some (non-medical) suggestions.  Truly some awesome people over there.  

I'm glad you have support in your GF...that is so important also!!  Please just do yourself a favor and start researching different programs in your area....both in and outpatient (IP would be safer).  Start making some phone calls. Most major cities have a toll free addiction hotline that would be able to give you some resources.

Hang in there hon!!