xanax withdrawal?

hello, i have been diagnosed with panic disorder.  the doctor gave me xanax .5 3x a day and zoloft 150 mg.....about 2 months ago i was just taking the xanax constantly because it would help me sleep at night.  well i ran out of it and about 2-3 days later a numbing sensation went over my entire body.  i also didn't sleep, thought i was going crazy!  was this a reaction to the xanax?  also i started taking it again but at the normal dose originally prescribed.  i still get these numbing sensations,,,is this normal?  and how can i taper off it?  my doc. said just stop taking it you haven't been on it that long...but i'm afraid of what could happen...so my questions are:
1.  how can i taper off it safely without going on another drug?
2.  is the numbness normal?  is it symptom of the xanax?
3.  how long will the withdrawal last if thats what this is?

thank you!!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The symptoms are withdrawal symptoms, and if you continue on xanax they should go away quickly. The current numbing sensations are probably more a reflection of the underlying anxiety breaking through.  You can't just stop xanax...you have to wean for at least three or four weeks...go down to lowest dose you can tolerate..stay there for a week, then every other day for a week, then evey third day for two weeks, then stop.

[Paxiled]

I'm not the doctor, but do you have a psychiatrist or a pcp?  Because if you've been taking Xanax for two months you most certainly can't just stop taking it.  It can be dangerous.  So if you're doctor really said that, find another.  For a taper schedule, the doctor will recommend one, but I'd just add it should be as long as you need, since everyone's different.