Xanax withdrawal

I've been on Alprazolam (Xanax) 0.25mg once a day for about a year to calm down some anxiety-related symptoms and help me sleep, and now I feel better and want to stop.

I've been reading this forum a lot today and there are some fairly brutal accounts of Xanax withdrawals...I wonder if my relatively low dosage should be dealt the same way, i.e. I should avoid stopping "cold turkey" at all costs. I have never been over 0.25 mg a day.

Thanks for your response.

Morgan

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The chances are that at that low dose you won't have a problem but its really not worth the risk.  Just take the dose every other day for a week, then every third day for a week,then stop. Of course, ask your doctor to make sure he or she agrees.

[jimmycsayz]

I wouldn't worry about it.  0.25mg is a very very small dose....infact, the smallest dose prescribed.  There are people on 4mg's a day (16x that amount).  Wein but still use caution.  It really depends on your tolerence level.  Maybe you taking 0.25 is the same as me taking 1mg.  Stop taking it for a day or so and see how you feel.  Keep the bottle nearby though, for when and if you start feeling squirly again.

[jimmycsayz]

I forgot to add, that I am not an M.D. on this forum, nor in any other form.  Please do not take my advice as "professional".  You're doctor is the only real person that can help you with this with the least risk of withdrawl (withdrawal) hazard.

[Chuck333]

that is daily might I add

[Chuck333]

I have been taking xanax for about 2 1/2 weeks in doses .5mg to 1mg. Do I have to worry about withdrwal symptons if I stop now?
Thanks

[sicknthehead]

i have been on xanax for 3yrs. Taking 1mg. 3 times a day iam now on 3mg. xanax xr. iam wondering how bad of a withdrawal can i expect

[charlier]

1 mg everyday for 2 1/2 weeks may produce some addiction.  If possible I think you should taper off rather than stop cold, but you could probably taper fairly quickly.  You could try just stopping, and see how you feel.  You won't be at risk for seizure, but you may feel anxiety, insomnia, etc.  If that lasts and you can't deal, do the taper-off.

3 years on daily xanax and yes you'll have symptoms, possibly pretty bad, if you quit cold.  Slow taper, Klonopin, medical help are appropriate, do some searching on the net under "xanax addiction" to get some info.