xanax detox with ativan

[melbatoast64]

Hello all,

I have been taking xanax for over 4 years. Currently, I am up to about 2 mg's a day. When I called a detox hotline, they told me that i would die if I didn't get into an inpatient facility. I'm not sure I believe that. I see a lot of people on here who have detoxed using Klonipin. Will Ativan be as useful? It is a longer acting benzo than xanax. At this point, my plan is to reduce the amount of Ativan I take by 0.25 mg every week. Does that sound too risky? I cannot get an appointment with my doctor till February 20th so I need some feedback. Thank you.

[greenlydia]

That detox hotline is full of BS and should be shut down for a number of reasons. The first being the use of horrible scare tactics to get people to sign on the dotted line. I'm glad you were smart enough not to buy into it. You will NOT die if you don't show up on their doorstep tonight, or next week or next month.......so don't let that thought ever cross your mind again!
Second, don't EVER try a taper from Xanax without the advice and supervision of a doctor! I can't stress that enough.
As you have seen on this forum, people have gotten off Xanax in all sorts of ways and what worked for them may or may not work for you. A Xanax taper must be designed on a very individualized schedule. Your doctor MUST be willing to work with you and be flexable about the step-down process. In fact, YOU are the one who should be in charge of your taper, your doctor being there to offer support and encouragement.........not to hand out some "one size fits all taper," which most of them do because they just don't understand enough about benzos and how they affect everyone differently. I would advise you to seek out the help of a psychiatric medication manager to work with you on your taper. You can find such a person in almost any psychiatric clinic. These people are highly trained to help you find the best and most comfortable taper for YOU. This is their job. They understand the w/d process far better than the vast majority of GPs. Understand that you are NOT signing up for sessions with a pyschiatrist, rather, you are meeting with someone who will discuss your situation with you, ask how YOU want your taper to proceed (i.e. do you want to get off as soon as possible, are you wanting to take it slow and easy, they will offer you options which you can discuss in detail, you will have ample opportunity to talk about what you have heard or read, what other's have used and if that might be something you'd like to try. Because they are so knowledgable about these types of meds, they can, and will, give you highly qualified advice.) But in the end, it will be YOU who decides what to try and you will have their full support during your taper. If you feel it's not working, then the two of you will sit down and rework your plan, perhaps with a different med or a different schedule........whatever it takes. Can you see your GP having the time (or knowledge) to do this? Didn't think so.
That is the best advice I can give you. Continue to take your meds as directed by your doctor until you either see him or a PMM. Whatever you do, do not start messing around with your dosage! That get's us nowhere except into trouble! I know of what I speak.
I wish you the very best and hope you let us know how things go. There are many, many people on this forum who would be very interested to learn what your taper was like. I hope you stick around and help those who are still fighting the battle to get off this rather evil drug.
Pay it forward.
Peace
Greenlydia

  

[silverberg]

1) only a Doctor can tell you how to lower your medication PERIOD.
2)  I would call that detox line? and ask for a supervisor, I find it hard to believe a trained professional would say that, but since you brought it up, it would be good for your piece of mind to follow up on this statement. there may of been some miscomunication, but I would advise you to follow up and find the person that told you this, if there is a miscomunication then it is corrected, if not then then a supervisor would be able to address this issue.

[mwp_41]

Ativan is what I was on. I have been on 6 mg of xanax a day and 30 mg of temazepam at night for years. I dropped the Temazepam and have been trying to get off the xanax but I have racing thoufgts and they started coming back. Ativan is what the use to get you off Xanax. Klonipen is not strong at all. I am going back to doctor to have him place me on Ativan. It is dangerous to just stop taking them without being under a doctors care. It can be done if your inpatient so they can watch you.

[abby10]

Sir,

You need to learn a whole lot more about benzo's and doctors, and detox (dietox) centers...PERIOD.

abby

[abby10]

If you really want to tapper off xanax using a longer acting benzo is how you can do it with a LOT less pain. A klonopin or valium crossover is the best option, they are longer acting benzo's, simply put...the drug stays in the blood system longer.  Ativan is short acting.  See site benzo.org.uk (Ashton manual).

abby

[melbatoast64]

Thank you so much for the confirmation that I'm not going to DIE lol. I have been kind of all over the place with my dosage of xanax for the last couple of months. I really have been exceeding my psychiatrist's recommendations. I would like to at least taper off slowly down to his recommendations. I think I may try to do that until I have my appointment with him in February. Thank you again for your advice.

[melbatoast64]

Thank you so much for the link.

[lynn57]

Why did you jump all over Silverberg?  There wasn't anything controversial in the comment.  It could have been a misunderstanding about what the person on the hotline meant.  Perhaps they were saying if you try to stop benzos abruptly you could die.  That is true.  If that is not what they meant, the issue SHOULD be addressed because it was truly bad advice. You make people afraid to reach out to someone or to give an opinion.  Please take it easy on other posters.

[abby10]

Quote - Only a doctor can tell you how to lower your medication PERIOD!

I don't think so!!!  I responded to that... read carefully what I wrote! The benzo addiction is no game. Get the message >MOST DOCTOR'S DON'T UNDERSTAND BENZO'S. Can you understand that?  People's lives are at stake here.

Too many times I have seen people leave a detox after their insurance ran out only to have a seizure on the sidewalk out side of the detox facility!!!  My self included!!!

abby

[lilyberry]

How did you end up taking that much daily to start with? was it prescribed or off the street? Don't take that the wrong way please. if you are serious about "detoxing" i would say you need to call and ask to speak to your doctors nurse, believe me they can get you in alot sooner than you think. The nurse has much more pull when you speak to them directly and give your true reason for the appointment. Believe me I work for a doctor.