xanax withdrawal

Hi, I have a friend who has been on Xanax for almost 20 years.  Recently, about the past year or so the use has been quite excessive, I believe about .5mg 6-8 times a day.  Also hydrocodone is a bit of a problem too.  She has recently stopped cold turkey with the Xanax and I am pretty sure the other as well.  Her behavior is very worrisome.  She has a lot of the physical symptoms but she is like a different person.  Very angry, saying and doing things that make no sense but do to her.  Can someone tell me what I can do to help her.  Thanks

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Yes, get her to a rehab program or a psychiatrist who can treat her appropriately, there are many dangers of going off that dose like that, including seizures.