anxiety or withdrawal?

[erin626]

I was on xanax 1.5mg and tapered down to .25 and stopped taking it 4 days ago. I've been feeling weird since then..lightheaded, dizzy, nauseau, anxious. I've been preoccupied with withdrawal since I stopped taking it and its all I can think about. Could this just be my anxiety making me think that I'm going through withdrawal? All I've been doing is looking it up online and thinking about it. Its been 4 days since my last dose and I can't imagine after tapering that I should still feel any physical symptoms. But I have no idea.

[janet_douleb]

i am now withdrawing from paxil the doctor advised me to take one tablet every other day for 3 weeks then one tablet every 3 days for 2 weeks then one tablet a week for 2 weeks before stopping it
you just stopped like a cold turkey which is wrong
follow up with your doctor

[erin626]

Its been 5 days since my last dose. I don't really want to start taking it again which is what my doctor wants me to do. How long do the withdrawals generally last? I REALLY don't want to go back on it and have to taper all over again. My only other option so far has been inpatient detox at a drug rehab which I don't want to do because they want me there for 28 days for rehabilitation. I'm not a drug addict...I was prescribed it. I don't even drink let alone have a desire to do drugs.

[Bipolar1957]

Hi,

I don't know how slowly you tampered off of it but the withdrawals from xanax can definitely cause the physical symptoms  you described. It's a very difficult drug to come off of and the "weening off" process should be VERY slow and under doctors supervision. If you were taking it for anxiety and have stopped you are probably getting a double whammy, in that you would have "normal"  anxiety combined with the withdrawal symptoms. I would suggest you go to your doctor and tell him or her what you're experiencing. Coming off of xanax too quickly can cause many problems.  Hope you feel better soon.