Abrupt cessation of Xanax

[drlmn622]

How long since last dosage of  prolonged heavy Xanax use can one still experience serious symptoms of withdrawl? If last use has been greater than a week or week is there no danger of withdrawl?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Paxiled has given you a correct answer. If you have stopped abruptly and it is a week later without withdrawal effects, you are home free. The biggest danger is seizures. Be careful.

[Paxiled]

The doctor won't look at a thread more than once.  If you want him to answer this you'll have to do it in a new post.  But you aren't addicted  to it, you don't have to be addicted to suffer withdrawal.  ssris aren't technically addictive, but they can pack a wallop of a withdrawal.  What you should do is taper off it slowly, at least over three weeks, and even then you might have some withdrawal.  Some of us are just more sensitive to certain meds than others are.  We have to go at the speed that suits us, not the one that someone sets out as a general rule.

[HelpmePlease12309]

I took .5 Xanax xr for 3 weeks and my md said I could stop cold turkey, I did and could not sleep at all for 3 days,  Md said not possible to be addicted so fast,  i took it one more day then stopped again , still cannot sleep , not even one hour, what should I do???

[Paxiled]

You didn't say if you're experiencing any symptoms of withdrawal.  Abrupt cessation is dangerous, but you've already gone there, though you don't say why.  As for withdrawal, it can last a long time, a short time, or no time.  Depends on the person, how long they were on the med, and how they quit.  There's no one size fits all.