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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
XANAX
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
XANAX
by Carol, Jan 23, 2000 12:00AM
I WAS ON 0.5MG OF XANAX FOR 18 MONTHS. I JUST TAPERED OFF IN 2 WEEKS. YES IM SURE THIS WAS WAY TO FAST! I AM ALSO ON 600 MG OF SERZONE DAILY, AND 150 MG OF WELBUTRIN. I WAS ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT THE MIXING OF XANAX AND SERZONE BUT WAS AFRAID TO STOP. I AM EXPERINCING SOME WITHDRAWL SYMPTOMS TODAY BUT I NEED TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION. AND I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO XANAX EVERY DAY. WHAT ABOUT BUSPAR OR WOULD THAT NOT HELP?
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS MD - RG, Jan 24, 2000 12:00AM
I am not aware of any interactions between Xanax and Serzone.
Another strategy other than discontinuing Xanax abruptly is to take another benzodiazepine prior to complete discontinuance.
I usually taper Xanax off slowly while introducing another Benzodiazepine like Klonopin. After being off Xanax completely, then you can wean yourself off Klonopin, provided you are not experiencing any withdrawal effects from Xanax.
For some reason it is harder to discontinue Xanax abruptly as compared to other benzodiazepines.
You can try Buspar but its action, similar to Serzone and Wellbutrin, takes awhile, as it needs to be built up in your system.
Most importantly, consult your pyshciatrist and discuss these options with him/her.
Another strategy other than discontinuing Xanax abruptly is to take another benzodiazepine prior to complete discontinuance.
I usually taper Xanax off slowly while introducing another Benzodiazepine like Klonopin. After being off Xanax completely, then you can wean yourself off Klonopin, provided you are not experiencing any withdrawal effects from Xanax.
For some reason it is harder to discontinue Xanax abruptly as compared to other benzodiazepines.
You can try Buspar but its action, similar to Serzone and Wellbutrin, takes awhile, as it needs to be built up in your system.
Most importantly, consult your pyshciatrist and discuss these options with him/her.
