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Tapering off Xanax
I just got out of the hospital for a major depression episode that lasted weeks. I am now in an IOP that is insisting I come off my xanax (been on for 6 years). Last week, they took me down from 2mg to 1mg. Now they want me to go down again to .5mg. I'm having a REALLY hard time tapering off & experiencing many emotions & mood swings. Are they tapering too fast? Isn't it dangerous?
I was just kicked out of the IOP for taking more than my "prescribed" dose of .5mg of xanax. Just wanted to let you know. These people are f*ing fanatical about benzos - they treated me like a junkie & said "if you can't stay sober..." SOBER? SERIOUSLY? WTF do they think NOTSOBER is??? I'm so furious, I cried the whole way home. I was honest & told them I had a freakout situation yesterday & I couldn't calm down. They themselves diagnosed me with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. What am I supposed to do?? I've been on Xanax for 6 years, 2 mg a day - then to just practically STOP over the course of 10 days? There's something seriously wrong with those people - they made me feel like **** & like a total failure. Parting words were 'after detox, you're more than welcome to come back'. My ***, I'm coming back. You and the rest of you self-righteous ******* can take you program & shove it up your *****!!! LOL BTW, I'm starting a new IOP Thursday night, with an on-site psychiatrist, not theses APNs or whatever they're called. Oh and the ones making these judgment calls are social workers, not doctors. Can you tell I'm off the wall right now? I can't handle my anxiety by myself!! I'm not ready to come off of the xanax yet, but when I am I'll be sure to contact theses a**holes. LOL Thanks again for all your help!
Wow thanks so much for the info!! Yeah, I'm not feeling so great - I'm so edgy & irritable & angry - even at the IOP therapists. I'm angry at the drs for making me a prescription addict & I'm angry at myself for taking all this crap! But I've read enough to know that I am been tapered way too fast - and now they're putting me at risk. They are hellbent on getting people off benzos, I even have to participate in the Addiction part of IOP because of them. But I also don't want this to take forever, either. IDK but thank you all for the facts & the advice! I'll be sure to say something to the nurses on Monday. :)
This is from dr heather Ashton she is an expert with benzodiazepine withdrawal I have alot more of her info if you want it let me know I will PM it to you .
(1) Dosage tapering. There is absolutely no doubt that anyone withdrawing from long-term benzodiazepines must reduce the dosage slowly. Abrupt or over-rapid withdrawal, especially from high dosage, can give rise to severe symptoms (convulsions, psychotic reactions, acute anxiety states) and may increase the risk of protracted withdrawal symptoms (see Chapter III). Slow withdrawal means tapering dosage gradually, usually over a period of some months. The aim is to obtain a smooth, steady and slow decline in blood and tissue concentrations of benzodiazepines so that the natural systems in the brain can recover their normal state. As explained in Chapter I, long-term benzodiazepines take over many of the functions of the body's natural tranquilliser system, mediated by the neurotransmitter GABA. As a result, GABA receptors in the brain reduce in numbers and GABA function decreases. Sudden withdrawal from benzodiazepines leaves the brain in a state of GABA-underactivity, resulting in hyperexcitability of the nervous system. This hyperexcitability is the root cause of most of the withdrawal symptoms discussed in the next chapter. However, a sufficiently slow, and smooth, departure of benzodiazepines from the body permits the natural systems to regain control of the functions which have been damped down by their presence. There is scientific evidence that reinstatement of brain function takes a long time. Recovery after long-term benzodiazepine use is not unlike the gradual recuperation of the body after a major surgical operation. Healing, of body or mind, is a slow process.
The precise rate of withdrawal is an individual matter. It depends on many factors including the dose and type of benzodiazepine used, duration of use, personality, lifestyle, previous experience, specific vulnerabilities, and the (perhaps genetically determined) speed of your recovery systems. Usually the best judge is you, yourself; you must be in control and must proceed at the pace that is comfortable for you. You may need to resist attempts from outsiders (clinics, doctors) to persuade you into a rapid withdrawal. The classic six weeks withdrawal period adopted by many clinics and doctors is much too fast for many long-term users. Actually, the rate of withdrawal, as long as it is slow enough, is not critical. Whether it takes 6 months, 12 months or 18 months is of little significance if you have taken benzodiazepines for a matter of years.
It is sometimes claimed that very slow withdrawal from benzodiazepines "merely prolongs the agony" and it is better to get it over with as quickly as possible. However, the experience of most patients is that slow withdrawal is greatly preferable, especially when the subject dictates the pace. Indeed, many patients find that there is little or no "agony" involved. Nevertheless there is no magic rate of withdrawal and each person must find the pace that suits him best. People who have been on low doses of benzodiazepine for a relatively short time (less than a year) can usually withdraw fairly rapidly. Those who have been on high doses of potent benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Klonopin are likely to need more time.
(1) Dosage tapering. There is absolutely no doubt that anyone withdrawing from long-term benzodiazepines must reduce the dosage slowly. Abrupt or over-rapid withdrawal, especially from high dosage, can give rise to severe symptoms (convulsions, psychotic reactions, acute anxiety states) and may increase the risk of protracted withdrawal symptoms (see Chapter III). Slow withdrawal means tapering dosage gradually, usually over a period of some months. The aim is to obtain a smooth, steady and slow decline in blood and tissue concentrations of benzodiazepines so that the natural systems in the brain can recover their normal state. As explained in Chapter I, long-term benzodiazepines take over many of the functions of the body's natural tranquilliser system, mediated by the neurotransmitter GABA. As a result, GABA receptors in the brain reduce in numbers and GABA function decreases. Sudden withdrawal from benzodiazepines leaves the brain in a state of GABA-underactivity, resulting in hyperexcitability of the nervous system. This hyperexcitability is the root cause of most of the withdrawal symptoms discussed in the next chapter. However, a sufficiently slow, and smooth, departure of benzodiazepines from the body permits the natural systems to regain control of the functions which have been damped down by their presence. There is scientific evidence that reinstatement of brain function takes a long time. Recovery after long-term benzodiazepine use is not unlike the gradual recuperation of the body after a major surgical operation. Healing, of body or mind, is a slow process.
The precise rate of withdrawal is an individual matter. It depends on many factors including the dose and type of benzodiazepine used, duration of use, personality, lifestyle, previous experience, specific vulnerabilities, and the (perhaps genetically determined) speed of your recovery systems. Usually the best judge is you, yourself; you must be in control and must proceed at the pace that is comfortable for you. You may need to resist attempts from outsiders (clinics, doctors) to persuade you into a rapid withdrawal. The classic six weeks withdrawal period adopted by many clinics and doctors is much too fast for many long-term users. Actually, the rate of withdrawal, as long as it is slow enough, is not critical. Whether it takes 6 months, 12 months or 18 months is of little significance if you have taken benzodiazepines for a matter of years.
It is sometimes claimed that very slow withdrawal from benzodiazepines "merely prolongs the agony" and it is better to get it over with as quickly as possible. However, the experience of most patients is that slow withdrawal is greatly preferable, especially when the subject dictates the pace. Indeed, many patients find that there is little or no "agony" involved. Nevertheless there is no magic rate of withdrawal and each person must find the pace that suits him best. People who have been on low doses of benzodiazepine for a relatively short time (less than a year) can usually withdraw fairly rapidly. Those who have been on high doses of potent benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Klonopin are likely to need more time.
That is way to fast and dangerous it could cause seizures I believe you are only supposed to cut down 20% every 14 days let me see what I can find. It I can find you some info can you print it out and show it to them?
Hi~ In my opinion this is very fast. They're trying to cut you 50% in 2 weeks. I'm sure you don't feel well. There are other ways to do this but it's hard to say not knowing what else you take etc...You need to talk with them and tell them it needs to be slower.
Tell them you don't feel well. Ask them for a different taper.
Good luck~
Vicki
Tell them you don't feel well. Ask them for a different taper.
Good luck~
Vicki
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