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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Xanax XR Taper
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
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 XR Taper
by Losman, May 27, 2009 01:43PM
Hello,
I have seen questions related to the tapering of the withdrawal of regular Xanax tablets but have not seen answeres regarding the taper from Xanax XR. I am on Xanax XR (which I think is a wonderful drug which has helped me with my panic disorder and slight agoraphobia). When a patient tapers off this drug how does that work since the lowest dosage seems to be .5 mg? For a slow taper would a doctor use immediate release xanax? Is there an axample of a a schedule for taper say for a patient taking 1MG for 8 weeks?
Thank you in advance
I have seen questions related to the tapering of the withdrawal of regular Xanax tablets but have not seen answeres regarding the taper from Xanax XR. I am on Xanax XR (which I think is a wonderful drug which has helped me with my panic disorder and slight agoraphobia). When a patient tapers off this drug how does that work since the lowest dosage seems to be .5 mg? For a slow taper would a doctor use immediate release xanax? Is there an axample of a a schedule for taper say for a patient taking 1MG for 8 weeks?
Thank you in advance
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., May 27, 2009 07:12PM
, May 27, 2009 07:12PMTo: Losman
Xanax is a particularly difficult drug to get off, but if you are talking about 1 mg/day for 8 weeks, it should not be very hard..best and safest schedule is still over a three week period...take one half a mg for a week,; then same dose every other day for a week; then same dose or lower every third day, then stop. You should ask your doctor if you have any other condition that might predispose you to seizures, if so, the doctor should cover you with medication for the last week, and the week following.
Thanks for the info