How to wean off xanax

[casey28]

I have been taking 3mg of xanax now for about a year and a half.  I am trying to wean off of because my husband and I would like to start trying for another baby.  I tried taking half of the 3mg but I could not take it.  I had really bad withdrawal symptoms.  Is there any advice that someone could give me on the best way to get off xanax.  How long will I experience the symptoms.  I am a stay at home mom with 2 younger children and I can not have those type of withdrawal symptoms when dealing with them or driving.  Thanks

[Kelly1944]

I liked your article and due to other physical problems was given 3mg a day.  Today I cut one down to ,05mg, half a pill, I am going to try this on my  morning dose or mid afternoon until I get to 2mg.  Then maybe with a miricle down just when needed.  I am also taking at bedtime 7.5mg of Remeron for sleep.  Any   ideas for me, have been on it for many years, but just when needed.

[bubbles1096]

You have to wean yourself off of it VERY SLOWLY, I can't stress this enough. I hope you are still under the prescribing doctor's care? Although Xanax is a widely presribed pill, many docs don't inform their patients that discontinuing Xanax needs much thought and care put into it to avoid harsh w/ds and possibly death.  It can't be cut off cold turkey and since you've been on it for a long time, you will have w/d symptoms no matter what, but they will subside. Each person will have different w/s symptoms than others and it might take 2-3 weeks to 6 months. I know this is what you dont' want to hear, but I'm being honest. Her eis a link to one of my posts earlier regarding Xanax. You are taking the first step though in being informed. Congrats! Here's the link:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/624150?personal_page_id=5902&post_id=post_3392761

[bayougirl2008]

I was taking 4 mg of xanax daily. when i decided to get off of it, i did it on my own and it was HARD. i started by slowly tapering down my dosage. i would reduce my pills by 1/2 mg a week until i was finally down to 1/2 mg a day. after that, i broke the 1/2 into 1/4 and took that for a week. 1/4 mg a day. at that point i quit taking it all together. I experienced withdrawls for 4 days. My symptoms were shaking. I would shake (entire body) uncontrollably and had trouble sleeping because of it. I was too embarassed to even go out in public because the shaking was obvious. HOWEVER, those 4 days of hell freed me from the xanax addiction. Once the shaking stopped i was done - FREE. I do have to take a pill every now and then for anxiety attacks but i don't take it everyday and i never will again. Xanax is a very dangerous drug and i personally think it should be removed from the market. If you need any help/guidence feel free to send me a message. I've been there, and I did it. I'd be more than happy to offer you some encouragement. Good luck, and you're doing a good thing for yourself.

[uggghh]

i detoxed in a hospital off of xanex, i was in there for 3 days and they put me on tranxene when i was in there...that's all i had...3 days of tranxene. i'm 28 days clean now but am still struggling with the xanex addiction...i don't think my weaning period was near long enough....i had been taking them for 3 years, anywhere from 6-7mg per day.....i honestly don't no what the best way to get off of benzo's is...it stinks!