How long did your withdrawal symptoms last after going off Xanax?

[off_the_xanax]

I was taking Xanax from Sep.2006 til Oct of 2009. My doctor decided I need to start weening from it in July. I decreased my dose gradually til I was completely off it it. But I do have to say it was possibly the most physically draning thing I ever did. When I first started taking xanax I started at a dose of .5mg 3x per day. Then my doctor increased me to 1mg 3x a day. I then after a few months increased my own dose here and there til I was up to 6 to 8mg per day. EVERYDAY!!  I was constantly "out of it". To be honest those 3 years are just simply all a little blurry to me. But anyhow my question is.........I have been having alot of twitching in my face since  I quit and also I was having terrible pain in my feet. They felt "tender" is the only word to describe it. Has anyone else had these syptoms of withdrawals with xanax???

If I can give any advoce to anyone I would like it to be if you dont need to Xanax to function dont ever get the habit started. Its one of the hardest things Ive ever had to quit in my life

[MillaJ]

I'm getting off 2 mg of Xanax a day right now. I've taken it for year after a doctor pushed me to take it. The doctor is now no longer allowed to prescribe Xanax because it ends up he was getting paid to do so. Being on Xanax is the worst! I had the best, happiest life. I was a little stressed. I loved Xanax at first. Now, I regret ever taking it. I'm so depressed. Anyone that is thinking about taking it or anyone that likes it, LOOK
UP GABA!!!! No one explained GABA to me. Taking Xanax will deplete the natural happiness in your brain. Please research GABA. This is why people taking Xanax get depressed. Hopefully my GABA will come back when I finally get off Xanax. I've never been suisidal until Xanax. My life is great and Xanax has taken any happy feeling from me.

[birdie0907]

If you would like someone to help you with your situation, you can always make yourself a new thread - i.e. make your own topic. Not that I care, but this one is so old and so many have posted about their own issues that there are a lot of things going on.

[DoNotTakeXanax]

I am stopping Xanax after years of use and 2 things are making me crazy and that is the twitching in my feet and legs and the tingling sensation from my knees on down. PLEASE everyone do not take this drug if you can help it. You think the doctor's are giving you a life saving answer, but someday you will realize that you should have never started it to begin with. Hindsight is 20/20 though and now I have to go through a living nightmare of little sleep and nothing to help it. I tried taking OTC meds to help me sleep, but it seems to interact with Xanax even worse. So I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and suffer. I come here to this web site and others to know I'm not alone and believe me it really helps. Thanks everyone!

[candy82983]

WOW. I'm having the exact same withdrawl symptoms. I got online hoping to find out that they wouldn't last more than a few weeks. I wish that were right. The only things you didn't list that I'm having are sleepless nights and loss of appetite. It's crazy. So I guess I'm looking at a few months or so? I've been clean for one week- after being on xanax for 6 years.

This is the worst drug I've ever taken in my life. I have also been addicted to meth and roxicodone (at different times). NEITHER were hard to come off of at all (for me) but the xanax has got me MESSED UP. It's horrible. I definitely have the same advice which is, if you don' t need the xanax don't touch them! You'll regret it big time when you're tired of taking them.

[StormBlade]

I was in a similar situation.  I took xanax for a few months at around the same dosage as yourself.  When I stopped taking them it was hell.  I became numb all over my body, could not think straight, sensitive to sound, ears ringing, one pupil larger than the other, extreme depression, and extreme anxiety.  The numbness was so bad that I could not even feel water in my mouth or feel things going down that I swallowed.  In my experience, everyone is different and symptoms will vary from person to person.  I have been off of xanax for about 3-4 months and I am still slightly numb.  My pupils are pretty much back to normal and my anxiety is getting better.  The numbness is what was the most scary, and still is pretty annoying.  Hopefully it will all go away eventually.  Withdrawals differ from person to person, and you never know when you will be the "odd" case....*****!

[castelfrontano]

I have been taking Xanax for about 20 years.  It worked for a number of years but the effects began to taper off.  Most xanax users develop tolerance in a much shorter period of time.  If your doctor substitutes Klonipin for Xanax, there should be no withdrawal.  The question is that they are both Benzo's and you could end up developing tolerance to  Klonipin as well.  There is no free lunch.  In my opinion, it is better to never take it in the first place.  However, we don't all have that luxury.

[mammo]

Well, that's a relief, at least you know what's causing it.  I guess just time will tell, hopefully it goes away real soon.  Take care...

[off_the_xanax]

I called the doctors office and did some looking online and the foot "tingling" or pain seems to be a rather common experience. I am just hoping it goes away soon

[mammo]

Four to six months is common with 2mg to 4mg.  Klonopin is often given to help one wean off the Xanax.  Withdrawal syndrome can last up to two years.  Because you upped your dosage on your own, you may be having a tougher time with this.  I don't know about the pain in your feet, but due to your long term use of Xanax, I would see your doctor and get evaluated to determine if is part of the withdrawal.  It's more about the length of time you take Xanax than the dosage when it comes to withdrawal, and from what I know, it can be hell.  So, I would think anything's possible, but best to check with your doctor on this.

[birdie0907]

If you quit in October, I imagine there are no physical effects from the med withdrawal occurring now, so I would either see the doctor or ask a pharmacist about the feet pain and the twitching.

Neither of these seems related to the med, especially the feet pain, but the pharmacist who filled your prescriptions will know for sure and can answer that for free.