PLEASE HELP

[ambergia]

Hello. I have been on xanax for 5 years. I am a 30 year old woman who was prescribed a low dose to begin with and now as of this year was prescribed 9 mg a day. I was advised a few monthes ago to stop taking xanax cold turkey and put on a 3 mg klopnopin taper for 2 weeks and then advised to quit that cold turkey in which I did. Now two monthes later I am sicker than ever. I am unable to work, drive my car etc. Little taks are daunting. Such as, showering, getting dressed etc. I am on 2 seizure meds and heart meds due to my racing heart rate. I feel lethargic, confusion, depersonalization, insomia, numbness in parts of my body and an extreme loss of equillibrum in my body. This has ruined my life. I feel like a prisoner in my own mind and body. No one around me can comprehend what I am going through and thinks that I have gone MAD/ CRAZY. Dr's have told me that the withdrawl is definetley over after two monthes. I am terrified of whats going on. Should I go back on xanax and taper off slowly? Everyone thinks that the more time that I am off of it the better I should be when it is the exact opposite. Please somebody help:(

[Ben727]

Hi. I have been through pretty severe anxiety disorder, have been prescribed BZDs (benzodiazepines, the drug family of Xanax, Klonipine), and I know what a horrible thing what you're going through is. I really feel for you and hope you take the excellent advice in the preceding posts.

What you're saying is scary: CT is not recommended for BZDs be because it can lead to more severe and long lasting WD (and can be fatal). At 9 mg, you should have been tapered off the Xanax first, at a minimum. Please find a new MD, I'd recommend a psychiatrist who is very familiar with BZD use and withdrawl. With the right diagnosis and care I think your quality of life will improve rapidly!

[Clong45]

Benzos out of your system 3 to 5 days?  Wrong, benzos can stay in your system up to 40 days sometimes longer.  Depends on the dose and how long using,  Considering she said she was at 9mg a day, that is ALOT!

Ambergia, you need to change doctors if this information is accurate.  What you said they put you through is not good.  I suggest doing this asap considering your symptoms.  Hyper-anxiety is a symptom of benzo withdrawl it seems like this is part of what is going on with you.  Plus you are on seizure medicine.  Not to be taken lightly...change doctors

[GarbageAddict360]

Xanax is out of your system in 3 to 5 days.  The fact that you are experiencing such extreme symptoms leads me to believe that there is something else going on here.  You should really seek the clinical advice of a psychiatrist. A lot of the time, our own psyche can cause us to experience physical symptoms like you are describing. I was put on Xanax at a very young age for anxiety issues, and once I started abusing them I made the decision to speak with a psychiatrist about alternative options.  I am now on a antihistamine, an anti-depressant, and I take a low dose of over the counter Valerian Root. I know how debilitating these symptoms may seem, but I can find peace of mind again.  

[bahamamama13165]

Who advised you to quit the Xanax cold turkey?  I can't imagine a doctor suggesting that. I have quit Xanax CT before but that's because I wasn't getting them prescribed.  I had 2 weeks of severe anxiety and then I started to get back to normal. Your symptoms seem extreme. Did you start taking the Xanax for an anxiety disorder? The symptoms from that are probably returning.  There are non addictive things that can be prescribed for anxiety. You would also benefit from behavioral therapy.

[waterLilly7]

Hey Friend,
I don't have experience with xanax. I am ansering here to bump your question up so someone with more experience can answer it.

I do know one thing, no way should you go back on them now, no way, it will only set you back. Have your symptoms been constantly bad, or have there been any periods of relief?

I would absolutely seek some professioinal help from an addiction doctor. You may be facing soemthing else, something going on, maybe not, it's good to get the right kind of help. A doctor who knows addiction is the way to go.

I wish you the best, will say prayers for you tonight for sure, and hopefully someone else will chime in soon here.

stay tuned and keep posting,
Hugs,
Lily