How did I get here?

Question

I have been taking xanax for 7 years now. I was a meth user when a female friend first introduced me to blues. The first time I took one I was coming down from being on speed and I was in love with the relaxed calm I was feeling, and they(xanax) led to me kicking a drug I knew was going to kill me. I didn't know they were addictive until I had been taking them for a while and I ran out...fast forward to now and it's really difficult to be without but I am sick of leaning on a pill to function properly. If I run out of weed it's no big deal but this is a whole new ball game. I can't relax, my mouth has an "assy" taste, I have loose bowels, dehydrated, not wanting to sleep, can't eat, I startle easily, my heart is beating pretty hard, my hearing seems enhanced somehow(hard to explain) and my vision is....I don't know I feel like my eyes are huge and bugging out of my f@#$ing head. I need to know from anyone kind enough to respond..."When does the withdrawal symptoms stop?" I have been taking about 4 mgs a day for a loooong time now some days more, some days slightly less. I want out of this but I wanna feel "normal" as this really ***** and I am emotional as well. I am a pretty fit 210 lb blue collar sorta guy, so I consider myself to be a fairly strong person but this is ridiculous....any advice would be welcome.

atthebeach · Answer

Good move going to the er. Yea too bad the dr wasn't very sympathic or very knowledgable about benzos. I hope you are feeling better. 
Let us know how things are going.
Be safe
Debbie

sandstone27 · Answer

Hey Jason, I'm SO glad you got medical help right away.  I was concerned that you might have tried to "tough it out" which just doesn't work with benzo's.  Keep us updated on how you're doing.  Well wishes to you!...Sandy

overopiates · Answer

Smart move going to the ER+u do need2taper.Its still gonna suck BUT a lot less than c/t+not dangerous.U can do this listen2the Dr.

Jasondude · Answer

I really appreciate the feedback from all of you it is greatly appreciated. I went late last night to the er because I felt like my heart was beating incredibly hard, and not eating and still having nausea. The Doc saw me, an ekg later and a bunch of questions later He told me this was withdrawal and I just had to deal with it...I of course strongly disagreed after hearing from you guys, and follow up research of my own. I got a call this a.m. and was able to pick up a handful and will be seeing the other Doc soon and will do the slow taper that I believe is best for me, once again I really appreciate all of you taking the time to share and check on me it means a lot. I will update soon.

vicki595 · Answer

Jason,

It doesn't sound like you tapered off of the Xanax at all. You have to do that!  Check with us this morning;we concerned! And, I agree with Debbie. Get some Xanax on board and then call your doctor. Quite often you'll be switched over to a longer acting Benzo like Valium and then s l o w l y tapered over weeks. It's not a quick fix Jason. You'll feel terrible if you don't do this and you'll likely have a seizure very soon!!

Get in touch!

atthebeach · Answer

hey jjason.
do you have anymore xanax? i would take some if you do. are these prescribed from a doctor? if so he should give you a taper schedule. from the streets? you need to taper slowly. drop a bit and let your body adjust and then drop again. slow but sure. so glad for you that you want to be free from the bondage of a pill.definitely check into one on one counseling and also support groups.
GOD bless you
debbie

sandstone27 · Answer

I was weaned off of benzo's (klonopin specifically) over a fairly long period of time.  You can't just stop them cold turkey.  It is dangerous.  My doctor at  the time advised me about possible seizures which is why I couldn't just quit them all at once.  If I read your post correctly, you were taking 4 mg of xanax a day and you just completely stopped 3 days ago?  If this is correct you definitely need medical help and soon.  Post again if this is the case, so we can further advise you.

Jasondude · Answer

Thank you for the reply...I have been totally clean for almost 3 days now and about to flip my wig...it's Tuesday night and I haven't eaten since Sunday. I am drinking water like it's..well...water. I am thinking about going to the er but really wonder if they will help me out, but another night of this is gonna be horrible. I am having a really hard time focusing and I am sweating really badly....wish me luck people.

sandstone27 · Answer

Hi Jason, 
Everyone is definitely different when it comes to withdrawaling from benzo's.  I started seeing a therapist 5 years ago for anxiety, and we started with xanax and then he switched me to klonopin.  while on klonopin, we did biofeedback which helped me tremendously once i was weaned off all meds - you're basically learning how to deal with anxiety when it crops up, sans the medication.  You should find a good doctor who can help you through this.  My whole process took about 9 months, but that was because I started having severe anxiety/panic out of the blue and went to see a therapist for medication and the above mentioned therapy.   So my total treatment was a rather long, drawn out process, but in the end, it helped me avoid going back to meds for anxiety.  In your case, it may take weeks or it may take several months - it all depends on how you feel after each taper. And since you didn't have any underlying anxiety to start with, it obviously won't take you as long as it did for me.  Good luck and keep posting!  Sending you well wishes...Sandy

Rich99 · Answer

Maybe it might take weeks for some to be totally off their meds but it can certainly take months for the withdrawal symptoms to totally disappear.     That's why the meds are cut slowly and gradually so that you finally feel normal (as you said you wanted to feel in your initial post).    And because the withdrawals are uncomfortable,  its very hard to do it in just a matter of weeks at the dose you were taking and the length of time you were taking it.

overopiates · Answer

Jasondude
Sending u a friend.Wanna talk2u n private by the guy its the1st person sho sent u a message.HE DOESNT KNOW WHAT HES TALKING ABOUT SAYING ITS GONNA TAKE U MONTHS2TAPER.Its not easy but I came off8mg a day+it didnt take months.Everyones different but Im5'5"130lbs was taking them4years
(6EVERYDAY).I.will b happy2help u if u want it.

quadracersteve · Answer

Any type of benzo taken consistantly for over a week needs to be tapered off from very slowly. Like, months. The slower your detox, the less w/drawals you will feel. The detox will take longer than an opiate will. So being on them for months/years and trying to go CT is not only hard but dangerous. Your blood pressure is likely through the roof right now, giving you the feelings of super anxiety, known as "rebound anxiety". As the above poster said, a detox should be done with a longer acting BZ like Klonopin or Valium/Librium. Xanax has such a short half-life which makes detoxing real bad. I take Xanax, (6mg's/day), and years ago when I would abuse them, and run out early, I had the same w/drawals you are feeling right now. They're plenty safe to be on, (prescribed), but going CT brings on the possibility of seziures, especially short-acting benzos like Xanax or Ativan. Klonopin is actually prescribed for people who suffer from seziures, so that would most likely be your best option, but you're gonna need a script and help from a doctor if you want to do this right. K-pins may be safer than Xanax, but their detox is no walk in the park if you go down too quickly on them. Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to detoxing off these meds.

Rich99 · Answer

4 mgs a day of xanax for 7 years is a big dose and should never be stopped abruptly.   Is that what you did?   If so you need to see a doctor asap or even the ER and explain this.   You need a tapered plan which will take months at the minimum.    Probably a doctor will prescribe a long acting benzo to go forward from here.