Xanax Taper.......ryan..please

[msanxiety]

Hi, On Feb 7,08 I was put on 1mg. xanax 3 times a day.On april 23,08 dr added klonopin and 0.5 3 times a day and told me to cut back to 2 mg of xanax....and he added 30 mg. of cymbalta..i did that till may 8,08 when i went and seen my dr. he told me to now cut back to 1 mg. of xanax for 1 wek then stop it that is should be fine with the klonopin...i have been having fearful feelings and kinda wierd in the head and stiff neck i thought it was the cymbalta but then i remenbered how i felt last year when i stopped xanax cold turkey after being on it for years.......any advice on what i should do. I do have some 0.5 mg of xanax also. I fi need to taper more slowly. But i wouldnt think that being on it this few months the taper would not have to be to slow...........any ideas  Thanks

[MrGreen]

What your doctor appears to be doing is replacing the dosage using others tablets to make the withdrawls not as bad as they would normally be. I had this done before too. With zispin. Everytime I came down a notch off the addictive tablet, the zispin was upped a notch. The dr is probably just trying to balance things out so you won't feel the come down from the xanax. You might feel something. But anxiety you can manage. If he didn't do what he is doing I would imagine you would feel a lot worse. Just try and hang on in there. It is never easy. But you are doing good.

[nursegirl6572]

I agree with MrGreen's post.  Basically, your doc is switching you over to Klonopin, which is a longer acting benzo...it builds up in your system, compared to Xanax, which is usually gone after 4 hours.  Now, while this is a common treatment...you may not be COMPLETELY free of symptoms.  Sounds like what you have are pretty mild, and they will only continue to improve, so that's good.  Just give it some time.

If you really start having major w/d's...then you need to discuss this with your doc and maybe taper more slowly.  Usually though, once the Klonopin has had a chance to build up as you're coming down with the Xanax,  everything balances out quite nicely.

Keep an eye on things...and be sure to call your doc if you think you are starting to get some significant w/d's.  I think you will do just fine.

Good luck!