Painful xanax withdrawl

[Mary]

Hi, I was just released from a 4day detox from xanax's.The doctors in the center used valium to help with the withdrawl symptoms and I really felt pretty good throughout the 4 day stay.Well I have been home for 3 days and let me tell you...this is NO WALK IN THE PARK. I am very shaky, nervous and I have this very uncomfortable burning feeling in my legs and feet.Whats that about?????...I thought the worst was over. I without a doubt do not want to take a xanax ever again..I was never prescribed them, I just knew where to get them and never took over 3 purple ones a day, for a little over a year. I'm just wondering,,,when will i feel the least bit normal again. I understand that I didn't become addicted to them over night so I don't expect to feel 100% over night either, I'm just looking for some answers...could someone PLEASE GIVE ME SOME INSIGHT!!!???THANKS

[Sithtiger]

Wow, I've taken Xanex before and I never take meds right unfortunately.  Anyway I was given it because I was going off Vicodin....well I was actually off of it for a couple months and then given Xanex.  Well it was different (for me) with the Xanex.  I ran out in a couple weeks and it didn't seem to do that much for me.  When I started getting w/d symptoms it was worse for me than Vicodin that I took for 14 years straight and then went off CT!

It was weird, I wasn't craving the Xanex, but my body sure missed it....I felt awful and didn't even start to feel good until after 2 weeks!  Vicodin is bad but I've got to say Xanex is just evil.  I'd get memory loss from Xanex and it would really sedate me.  I can't stand taking any benzo's now and I won't.  I won't go through that again!

[bran1976]

I take 1 milligram at bedtime but i noticed i feel sweaty disorientaded and i will take a half and be fine i was prescribed this for anxiety. I have been on this for a year should i be concerned? My doctor is a great doctor i have to call every month for refill

[topshelf248]

I was prescribed xanax about 11 years ago and have always taken it as needed only. Typically a bottle 30 (.25mg) would last around 3-4 months and usually 5-6 months. It was never really a daily habit and I was careful to not abuse it.

Anyway, recently I have taken a fairly stressful job about 8 months ago and have needed to take the drug a bit more often. A  25 mg bottle will now last about 7 weeks. So roughly 1 pill every other day on average.

Anyway, for the past 3-4 months I have noticed an increase in anxiety, some dizziness, mood swings, etc which usually get a bit better if I take a dose of the xanax.
My question is.....is it possible that these are withdrawl effects even though I have never really been dependent on them or never noticed these symptoms in the past 11 years until recently?
Thanks

[Asher27]

I must say when i read your paragraph claiming that
Clonazepam (Klonopin) is highly addictive, i say this; I agree %100.
But when claiming that Klonopin is "stronger" than Zanax, i felt i must tell you  in no way shape or form is Clonazepam stronger than
Alprazolam (xanax). Firstly i would like to say with all respect i dont write this on a whim or a guess, i write because i happen to know.
I have been taking Zanax for over 13 years now & i am sure you can just imagine the abuse & disraspect this drug desreves as far as long term damage. See, i started taking benzo's 15 years age when Flunitrazipam (Rohypnol) was still on the market and was still available in 2mg tablets, of course as far as that drug is concerned, something had to be done about the "date rape drug" if you will. And it has been done, (only available in 1mg XR' or extended release tablets now under the the name Hypnodorm).
Sorry for getting a little off the track but basically in no uncertain terms Xanax 2mg tablets are almost exactly 1 and half times stronger or more potent if one looks at it that way to a 2mg tablet of Klonopin. I am 27 but come from a medical family starting with my father and pretty much not ending. So when i was 12-13 years old, instead of reading books about wizards and teen books, i would and still do STUDY not only read every addition of the MIMS Catalogue (book for doctors to have in their offices in case they need to know anything about ANY drug or it's dosages if they are either somewhat hesitant or unsure of a certain medication) and for that reason i can tell you from personal experience at one stage taking up to 30 to 40 mg of zanax daily (I know, i should be officially braindead, i guess i am just extremely lucky). But my point is that Rivatril (Clonazepam,Klonopin), from personal experience again is really not stronger than Zanax.
But on a seperate note, I would like to say that from my short time on this earth & therefor my seemingly limited experience lifewise, i do not believe that there are any bad medications out there. I mainly speak of every benzodiazepine ever made by multi-billion dollar drug companies because they all have a valid and therefor very necessary purpose, it's just the way the governments around the world choose to make how easy it is to access these drugs and therefor contribute to there abuse. I live in Australia and it has only been in the last 2 years that a doctor will even think twice about prescribing Zanax or ANY Benzo for that matter with an authority script (repeats) to go with it without blinking an eye. If used propery & and more importantly for the right purpose the abuse of benzo's would decrease tremendasly!!! Stay Well & all the best!!! From a young man growing up.

[cathy5841]

hi michael and welcome to the forum...you have posted on a very old thread that dont get much traffic...go to the top of the page and hit post a question and start your on thread...there is lots of support here on the forummi did want to mention that going cold turkey from xanax is not recommended.  there is a high chance for seizures...anyway post a thread, and we will help you.

[Michael1205]

I just now quit cold turkey with Xanax after having used it for like 3 months now. I started off using 0,5mg a day but later on got addicted to it due to the 'normal' non-anxiety feeling I get from it. Past 3 weeks I've greatly abused the dosage, but I'm not gonna worry too much about any withdrawel symptoms. I expect it, if it'll ever be my experience as well, to be a fun warpzone with a good destination. at least!

God bless

[SophieShine]

Hi Rhonda and welcome to the forum!
This is a very old post, I almost missed your question, next time start your own by clicking on "post a question" it's easier for us to give you a more accurate answer to your problem.
Now, you are absolutely right xanax is a benzo and it cannot be stopped CT in any circumstances, the risk of seizure is way too high. I think you should go see the dr that Rx you the meds and talk about your problem, establish a tapering plan and go from there.
Here is the link to a site which is the reference for benzos :  http://www.benzo.org.uk/
and here are some examples of tapering plan, to give you an idea, mostly your dr would switch you to a long acting benzo and taper you from there. the examples are from a much higher dosage than yours tho...
http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm#s7
Best of luck to you. sophie

[Rhonda153]

I don't know how any of you can go cold turkey off of xanax.  I only take .25 mg a day.  Have been for about 4 years now.  If I so much as take a slither less than my regular dosage, I get a migraine and can't function most of the day.  I started taking them because of panic attacks that felt like I was having a heart attack.  I have had one mini stroke before starting the medication.

Help.

[Calzy]

If you want more answers than you need to start a NEW POST, you are adding on to a post from the yr 2000 and most ppl will miss it.

[juelie]

i am wondering if there are long term affects from taking zanax? I have taken them for about a year one blue one a day ,and i quit taking them 3 days ago and i am having some freaky withdrawl symptoms. I don't know how long this will go on for?

[shannon]

Hi. I just want to say that I've been on a regular dose of zanax, nothing unusual. One blue a night. I sleep through the night, which is a great improvement from no sleep at all. I don't increase my dosage. I don't have any strange side effects....except for those sensitive pains in my feet. In the mornings I wake up with very tender or sore feet. The pain goes away, but it only comes after the night I've taken a zanex. There is definately a corallation. Please advise. No spell check, so forgive me any errors.

[I've been there too]

I also was in a detox program for xanax amoung other things.  The five days in the hospital was pretty bad, but you're right, it's afterward that you really feel the effect that these drugs have had on your body.  I was taking 8 blue (1mg) xanax a day and it took a while for me to feel like I really had my head screwed on straight again.  About two weeks after detox I felt like I could finally go back to work, but it was really about 3 months later that I noticed a big improvment, and in 6 months I felt a drastic improvment.  When I was going through it, I really never thought I would feel normal ever again, but time goes by faster than you think it will.  It takes time but don't get discouraged, you will feel normal again faster than you think. I hope what I've had to say will help you.

[Brian to Sick and Scared]

I am very sorry to hear about the trouble you are having withdrawing from Xanax.  Try taking the .25 mg every other day for two weeks, then every third day for two weeks and see how you feel.  You may then be able to withdraw the medication entirely with less symptoms.  The other thing to keep in mind is that the symptoms will go away eventually once you withdraw the medication entirely, but they may persist for a few months.  Good luck to you.

[Kapil Mehta]

Dear Brian and Mary,

I am 23 and am suffering very painful withdrawl symptoms such as rebound anxiety and insomnia and typical headache. I do not like socialising and even keep totally immobile throughout the day. So I am compelled to again go for .25mg, my daily dose. This gives me discomfort of diffrent type. I have come down from 1.5mg per day a couple of months back to .25mg per day now. Unfortunatly in India most of psychiatrists just advise me to go off Alprax(trade name of xanax in india) suddenly. Only one advised for tappering off. But my goodness how difficult! Please advise, any youngperson who has gone through this ordial. I had been on Alprax during my college for an year or so in 1997, but was able to come out of it by means of some homeopathic medicines. But due to repeat advise of a psychiatrist I am again got hooked on to it since March last. My productive years for career planning and computer studies have come to standstill. My friends have joined software companies with huge salaries and here I am fighting a loosing battle. Will someone please help me?
Kapil Mehta, E-mail:***@****

[Kapil Mehta]

Dear Brian and Mary,

I am 23 and am suffering very painful withdrawl symptoms such as rebound anxiety and insomnia and typical headache. I do not like socialising and even keep totally immobile throughout the day. So I am compelled to again go for .25mg, my daily dose. This gives me discomfort of diffrent type. I have come down from 1.5mg per day a couple of months back to .25mg per day now. Unfortunatly in India most of psychiatrists just advise me to go off Alprax(trade name of xanax in india) suddenly. Only one advised for tappering off. But my goodness how difficult! Please advise, any youngperson who has gone through this ordial. I had been on Alprax during my college for an year or so in 1997, but was able to come out of it by means of some homeopathic medicines. But due to repeat advise of a psychiatrist I am again got hooked on to it since March last. My productive years for career planning and computer studies have come to standstill. My friends have joined software companies with huge salaries and here I am fighting a loosing battle. Will someone please help me?
Kapil Mehta, E-mail:***@****

[michele]

I have been off of Xanax for one week now (cold turkey).  Only problemn is insomnia.  Someone mentioned taking Clonzepam for sleep and was told it is also addicting.  What can you use for sleep that is not addicting?  When does the insomnia go away?

[Brian to Sick and Scared]

Clonazepam is an addictive benzodiazepine.  It is not a good choice for you.  I presume you did not suffer from insomnia prior to the Xanax withdrawal, and it will go away after the withdrawal ends.  This may take a few weeks or a month.  Non-addictive sleep aids I would recommend you trying would be herbal remedies such as Valerian or Kava which you can find at the drugstore.  Melatonin works for some people.  If these don't work, your physician could prescribe trazodone which is an antidepressant that induces sleep.  The nice thing about trazodone is it is not addictive and generally leaves one feeling less hung over in the morning than sleeping pills.

[Mary]

I have been on xanax for 3 months. The most I ever took was 1& 1/2. I am down to one and am taking Buspar. The first week I took 1/2 xanax and 1/2 Buspar twice a day for one week. Second week I was supposed to increase the Buspar to two and xanax to 1/2 a day. Sounds good except the Buspar is making me very anxious. Any ideas

[Mary]

I have been on xanax for 3 months. The most I ever took was 1& 1/2. I am down to one and am taking Buspar. The first week I took 1/2 xanax and 1/2 Buspar twice a day for one week. Second week I was supposed to increase the Buspar to two and xanax to 1/2 a day. Sounds good except the Buspar is making me very anxious. Any ideas

[barbara to pain and lortab]

Watch out for the (clonazapam)Klonopin, it's just like the xanax!!!!!Highly addictive and stronger than xanax.

[Cold Turkey]

I was prescribed Xanax for about 9 months 4 mg. daily and Abused it along the way.  I told my Doc about the abuse and he sent me to a detox Center where I was given phenolbarbital for three days.  The withdrawl was OK under the phenol for the first three days; however, like you when I came home I felt awful my head was feeling weird and I had bizzar feelings throughout my body.  I never thought I would feel good again.  The only way I found relief was through intense exercise, dring plenty of water and taking 1 mg tablet of clonzepam for sleep at night.  I did not feel better until day 7 off Xanax.  Most all my symptoms were gone.  Hang in there, I belive Xanax withdrawl is all relative, considering the amount I took my Withdrawl sympyoms were far less severe than some of the stories I've read.  I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO TAKING XANAX IT SHOULD BE OUTLAWED AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY ADDICTIVE.

[Brian to Sick and Scared]

If you are feeling pressure in the skull you should seek medical attention as soon as possible, especially with your history of hypertension.

[Craig]

I have a problem with high blood pressure due to being overweight and stress at my job.  My doctor prescribed Xanax in addition to my anti-hypertensive medications to help relieve the stress.  I was drinking almost every night after work to relax, and that contributed to a weight gain.  The doctor felt that it was better to take Xanax instead of drinking.  I was on the starting dose of .25 mg 3 times a day for 4 months and never inceased the dosage.  After the first month or so, the Xanax no longer seemed to relax me, so I went back to the cocktails along with the Xanax.  My daily dosages are Hydroclorathiazide 25 mg, Zestril 40 mg, and Atenolol 50 mg all once a day along with the Xanax.  Three weeks ago I went to see a nurse and had my blood pressure checked, and it was 160/110.  I told her what drugs I was taking as above, and she told me to stop taking Xanax as it is dangerous (according to her).  The next day I went out to Montana for a vacation to try and relax in the mountains and get away from work.  I quit taking the Xanax while on vacation in Montana.  I started getting the shakes in my legs and just drank beer each day until it stopped.  That lasted about a week and went away.  I stopped the heavy drinking after the shakes went away.  When I returned home 10 days later, I had my blood pressure checked again and it was 120/94.  Now I'm into the middle of the 3rd week without the Xanax and I have a feeling like pressure on the top of my head.  I've felt that way for about 4 days now.  I don't think it is my blood pressure and am wondering if this could be a side effect of Xanax withdrawl.  Has anyone experienced this?

[Craig]

I have a problem with high blood pressure due to being overweight and stress at my job.  My doctor prescribed Xanax in addition to my anti-hypertensive medications to help relieve the stress.  I was drinking almost every night after work to relax, and that contributed to a weight gain.  The doctor felt that it was better to take Xanax instead of drinking.  I was on the starting dose of .25 mg 3 times a day for 4 months and never inceased the dosage.  After the first month or so, the Xanax no longer seemed to relax me, so I went back to the cocktails along with the Xanax.  My daily dosages are Hydroclorathiazide 25 mg, Zestril 40 mg, and Atenolol 50 mg all once a day along with the Xanax.  Three weeks ago I went to see a nurse and had my blood pressure checked, and it was 160/110.  I told her what drugs I was taking as above, and she told me to stop taking Xanax as it is dangerous (according to her).  The next day I went out to Montana for a vacation to try and relax in the mountains and get away from work.  I quit taking the Xanax while on vacation in Montana.  I started getting the shakes in my legs and just drank beer each day until it stopped.  That lasted about a week and went away.  I stopped the heavy drinking after the shakes went away.  When I returned home 10 days later, I had my blood pressure checked again and it was 120/94.  Now I'm into the middle of the 3rd week without the Xanax and I have a feeling like pressure on the top of my head.  I've felt that way for about 4 days now.  I don't think it is my blood pressure and am wondering if this could be a side effect of Xanax withdrawl.  Has anyone experienced this?