20 year xanax addiction, wish to taper off safely

[dani_cali]

Right. I have taken xanax, which was originally prescribed me by a doctor for anxiety, 20 years ago. I still take it, but I want to stop. I've quit twice in my life, the first time in hospital, cold turkey, which was h*ll and I would never recommend cold turkey to anyone (symptoms i will never forget - feeling like youre gonna have a seizure, a constant knot in the bottom of your foot, spasms, water burning your eyes, your chest feeling like its gonna explode, total hyper feeling, cannot sleep at all first two weeks, bowel trouble, aches, nightmares, and just absolute misery.

The other time I tapered off gradually, by cutting the dose very very slowly over time. This worked far, far better. No real bad symptoms.

But as ive been taking this so long now, i am very scared tapering off now. scared of a seizure, mainly, or heart attack, or brain problem, or something horrid. Can anyone reassure me???

Can anyone tell me the safe way to taper off this when I've taken this med so very long???

Thanks x

[dani_cali]

thanks for your reply. problem is, i live in a country that does not know xanax and does not prescribe it. so they wouldnt have clue how to taper me off it. and i was given anti seizure meds in hospital, but those made me feel like a zombie but at least made me less scared of seizure.

so, i need a doctor from the states to help me out and send me a tapering off plan because i am in the UK.

thanks x

[mammo]

Yes....contact your prescribing doctor for a tapering schedule, this isn't something you want to tackle on your own.  There are medications they can prescribe to prevent seizures while you wean off of it.  Good luck and best wishes.