When would I know its time to taper off Xanax!

[amber711]

Taking xanax over 2 months 4 times day .25 mg.  When would I know when to try to tell dr I want to taper off xanax for fear of tolerance.  I had no attacks and still feel anxious and the stress is always going to be in life.  Ive changed diet and talked to therapist (weekly).  Should I see if klonopin would be better for awile and then try to ween off that?  I've only had 2 panic attacks (one in Dec. and one in first week of Jan.)  All drs. want to do is push antidepressants.
I don't think they even care what I say its "just take this and you'll feel better" .  No they will feel better because they have me out of there hair and I feel all these dr. put everyone in these antidepressants no matter what I say.  Whats with these drs?

[ILADVOCATE]

I understand but I am on Klonopin and asked my psychopharmocologist (that was before my current recovery, I'd never do that now) if I could go off it once in 1998. I was granted permission but went ahead of his titration schedule and got full body withdrawal symptoms. Even when I started lowering it at his rate at first I felt "itchy" (some form of withdrawal) so I was stupid enough to think "Better to get it over all at once". Look if someone doesn't need it for anxiety fine but if you do there will be a return in anxiety at least. I didn't specifically have anxiety disorder but physically one does get some form of withdrawal symptoms when stopping a benzo. If you do it slowly its uncomfortable but quickly it is outright dangerous so its a difficult process. Some people I've ran into who had built up a tolerance to these meds were taken off them in a psych. hospital to check for signs of withdrawal symptoms. I'm not concerned by their use. I take Klonopin. And I know some people take Xanax. But the only way to lower it is at the exact rate your psychiatrist tells you and if you have problems at that rate stop and wait and call them and let them know and they will tell you to slow down.

[silverberg]

Them meds have helped THOUSANDS of people, but its up to you if you want off xanax, its up to you and you only, when I say that I mean, it's up to you if you want to stop med. NOW for stopping the med (as with most drugs, and esp. xanax I know ALWAYS ALWAYS DISCUSS WITH YOUR DR. on tapering off (period)
This round of Panic I had was for 5 months only (not like b4 7 yrs.) anyway see my open journals, I am very honest with what I right about xanax and weaning off. and remember some people wean the way I did and some use another med to wean off. BUT REMEMBER FIRST OF ALL weaning off xanax does not, I repeat does not have to be hard!!! I say this because I have heard all these horror stories and usually it comes from someone who has never been on xanax! xanax is a GREAT DRUG for panic /anxiety but is only for short term use. I wish you the best of luck and keep in touch with how your doing.

[ILADVOCATE]

Ask them what your diagnosis is. If you have depression anti-depressents are the correct medication for it. The website "Depression Central" has more information. As for anxiety disorder Klonopin has less of a potential for a person to build up a tolerance to than Xanax and is safer long term. I've taken Klonopin for 10 years. And if you feel you can do without any benzo speak to your psychiatrist first and ask for approval on exactly how to go off it and its best not to, to begin with. Withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous. Its true that psychiatrists just tell you you need to feel better and don't explain things often but my suggestion is find out about your treatment and have an informed conversation with them. An educated consumer gets the best response.