Xanax xr taper

[ladybugs33]

Hi,
I am having a lot of anxiety about coming off my xanax xr, but it does not seem to be working anymore, and I do not have medical insurance due to pre-existing condition of PTSD. I want to be completely off medications, because I'm receiving LENS neurofeedback as well as Jungian therapy, and my stress levels are low (part-time job, no significant life changes right now). Maybe in the future, if needed, I'm thinking Valium would be safer. I've been on forms of anti-anxiety medications since fourteen years old, and I wonder if it has contributed to the GAD (tight throat, racing thoughts, heart palpitations, tremor). However, I also have a history of trauma, and am hoping to resolve that with therapy. What is the best way for me to come off of the 1mg BID xanax xr (1mg in am and 1mg at 3:30pm) I've been taking for 3 months now. Prior I had been on Klonopin .5mg TID for about three years. I have already discontinued the xanax immed. release .5 mg to sleep at night (but I took it as intermittently as possible) and I've been taking benadryl 50mg (I wake up a little depressed though) to sleep which helps me a little. I just want to feel healthy, but I'm terrified of the withdrawal; I've been through other withdrawals in the past (effexor was the worst). How can I do this in a way that is safest, and what can I expect so I don't run to my regular xanax when having withdrawal? Any advice would be super appreciated. I have been given .5 mg xanax xr (90 pills) and have1mg xanax xr (34 pills) left from my previous prescription to taper at "my discretion" by my pdoc. My pdoc does not seem concerned about withdrawal, and because of the way I was switched from klonopin (.5 tid) to xanax xr (at first just 1mg q day stopping klonopin right away), I question his understanding of benzos (it was very rough). Also, since I've been on it for three months, how long should I expect to feel withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation and while titrating down. Thank you.

[ladybugs33]

Thank you! I ran into that problem when I was first starting the process of tapering. I couldn't find the end to the stories...I thought it might helps someone to find a complete account. :)

[nursegirl6572]

Thanks so much for coming back to post an update.  Much too often, we never know how these stories end...and people are less inclined to post a positive outcome simply b/c they don't need as much support anymore.

Way to go, I'm glad things seem to be going so well for you!

Thanks again!

[ladybugs33]

Just an update. I did make it through my tapering schedule and have been doing great. I used a notepad to track daily withdrawal symptoms and would put a little smiley face each day of the week I made it through. I took my time and tapered over three months (I believe). I tracked everyday. It was worth it. :) For anxiety, I do not need anything during the day anymore. I only take an ativan to help me sleep at night. My anxiety worsens then, naturally, and is aggravated by chronic pain I am currently trying to get help for. So, for anybody going through what I did, keep it up. You will get through it.

[ladybugs33]

Thanks for the advice. I will keep that in mind if I start to have any stronger reactions to the withdrawel, especially when I drop the one I take in the afternoon. I'm a little anxious about that one, because night is not a good time for me. Last night I tried to sleep without taking the two benardryl, and before I knew it I had been lying awake for two hours in a half-sleep state. Very uncomfortable and weird. My mind was just going going going. So I took the benadryl, and that never fails to make me pass out, because I'm uber-sensitive to medications. I appreciate the feedback.

[cornyguy]

Best of luck in your efforts.But it is easier if you switch to an equal dose of Klonopin and try to taper from that under your doctor's guidance.

[ladybugs33]

I am on day four of withdrawal, and for information purposes, I'm finding it manageable. I make sure I sleep, take hot baths, and take care of myself. Here's the schedule: I was taking 1mg xanax xr 2x/day. On week one I am taking .5mg in the am and my normal 1mg in the afternoon. On week two, if I feel ready, I will take .5mg in the am and .5mg in the afternoon. Week three: Nothing in the morning and .5mg in the evening. Week four, begin taking .5mg every other day in the afternoon (my worst anxiety is in the evening). Week 5, begin taking .5mg every three days in the aftnernoon. Then evaluate how I'm doing and consider stopping. That's the plan. Finally, toss all remaining xanax in the trash. I can't wait to be free. For others out there going through this, coming down slowly (on no other medications except two benadryl to help me sleep at night) I have noticed the worst was day three with some sweating, hypersensitivity to light and noise, hyper-alert, and tension. In general, I have experienced irritability and difficulty handling stress. The solution has been to take care of myself more, limit stressors, take lots of hot baths, talking to my therapist for support once/week, having my fiance understand my needs, limiting driving in the car due to hypersensitivity, and limiting exposure to loud noises. So, that's it. Wish me luck, and anyone out there trying to get off xanax, you can do it. Find the pace that's right for you, and accept it may take time and patience. Good wishes.

[ladybugs33]

You are right about the psychiatrist, I'm just a little crunched for money, and first time appointments run around $200 around here. I've been searching for sliding fee, but no luck so far, I actually started taking a .5mg this am and I've have definitely already begun to feel uncomfortable (everything seems to overstimulate me, and I had to run out of a store this afternoon). Lights and noise are aggravating, and it's weird, because I've always already been a little sensitive to lights and noise ( I get nauseated usually). It feels a little foggy and only day one. I'm trying not to catastrophize though. I will keep looking for the doc and look into the forum's you suggested. Thank you for the support. Thanks for the suggestion cornyguy, too. I think if it gets bad enough I might ask my doctor to take me the route of valium to get off. I read an article from the UK where that's what they use consistently because of the super-long half-life. I'll keep updated. I hope to be able to give people a straight answer on how long the worst of the withdrawal lasts. I know it starts to get bad around day three, but from there I haven't been able to find anything. Peace.

[cornyguy]

You should try to go off the Xanax by  switching to Klonipin which is easier to get off.

[Paxiled]

First, I would personally find another psychiatrist who understands withdrawal -- that's the most important thing.  The taper off should be at the speed that suits you -- if it goes easily, great, if it's hard, slow down.  You also might want to read some of the posts on the mental health forum; Dr. Gould has posted often on how he does it, though he uses a set three week taper and I think it should depend on the person.  For more detail, look in the archives for some of Ryan's posts describing tapering schedules.