Time of Xanax dependence

[joe3500]

I asked a similar question yesterday, but the responses even though appreciated didn't really answer what I was asking.  Simply put I know Benzo withdrawl can be real bad.  My question is I haven't been taking xanax for 5 years or anything.  I started taking them 1 month ago.  I went through 120 .5mgs in about 22 days.  I didn't even realize I was taking so many a day,which doing the math since I have 6 left and started with 120 was about 7 or even 8 at a day, which is up to 4mg.  I guess my main question is this.  If only taking for less than 30 days, but I went through 120 .5mg pills, is withdrawl going to be bad.  I don't need to hear about needing to wean down ,and all that other stuff. Because I don't want to stay on this garbage and refill a script, just to prolong my usage.  Anyone with experience only taking them for one month, but like 4mgs a day for that month, and when stopping cold turkey is withdrawl bad at all?

[IwillDoThis]

Hellc - Your right, point taken about the tapering for such a short use period.  I took them not realizing how much they can mess with you even at a low dose and my withdrawal from 1mg was nasty.  

[hellc@mst]

I think you could come off (cold turkey) without having to taper. The chances of you feeling physical withdrawals are slim to none.  Afterall, 22 days is a very short time and not really long enough to develop a dependancy. In fact, a taper would probably have you consuming xanax 2-3 times longer (2-3 months) than the time you spent abusing it (22 days).

The duration of abuse is far more of a determining factor, regarding withdrawals, than the dose.  An approximate rule of thumb for a benzo taper  is 1 month for every year of abuse. 22 days doesnt even register if we apply this formula. Personally, I think a taper off a 3 week xanax binge is ludicrous but I am obliged to encourage you to consult a physician before you make any decisions on the matter.  

[LostNoMore]

Joe - I answered you yesterday. Sorry it wasn't helpful. I was taking valium
and/or xanax for a few months. i don't know how much, but it was every day for around 3 months. One of my street sources would "bonus" me some vals or
xanax or clonopin with my hydro or oxy order. I only tapered for a week off the
benzos, while trying to taper unsuccessfully off the opiates. I decided to go cold turkey
off everything on Jan. 16. The W/Ds were bad at first, but not unlike everyone else who posts here about their opiate detox experience. My point is that
I was taking the benzos for longer than you and I successfully got off without a long taper. I was extremely paranoid about seizures and all the other horror story stuff, so I went to my doc and told him what I has been taking. He prescribed a small amout of valium, .5 mgs 3 per day for five days. He said I was healthy and not at high risk for seizures. I only took the vals for 2 days, the 14th and 15th, and stopped taking the opiates on the 13th. I didn't suffer any unusual withdrawals. My sleep patterns are not back to normal yet but I am getting some sleep now. I think I went with no sleep for about 3 weeks, taking naps during the day and not sleeping at all at night. My body adjusted and although I was tired, I was and am able to function. The anxiety has gradually gotten better. I take a lot of vitamins and aminos and if I get really anxious I take Kava tea and L-theanine, another amino. I hope this helps. Also, here's a link to some detailed info about xanax. Here's a quote then the link. Good luck and take care.

Dependence and Withdrawal Reactions, Including Seizures: Physical dependence with withdrawal symptoms may occur with benzodiazepine discontinuation and can be severe (e.g., seizures) if benzodiazepines are suddenly discontinued. Even after relatively short-term use at the doses recommended for the treatment of transient anxiety and anxiety disorder (i.e., 0.75 to 3 mg/day), there is some risk of dependence. Post-marketing surveillance data suggest that the risk of dependence and its severity appear to be greater in patients treated with relatively high doses (above 4 mg/day) and for long periods (more than 8 to 12 weeks).

http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS-%20%28General%20Monographs-%20X%29/XANAX.html

[IwillDoThis]

You were taking a fairly high dose consistently for a month so yes I believe you are going to be quite uncomfortable coming off them and you probably already know this can be really dangerous, binging on xanax and then stopping can cause seizures and be life threatening.

I was only taking 1 mg per day and had to taper down very slowly to get off and the withdrawals were still awful.  Xanax has a short half life as it only stays in your system 3-6 hours, this is never a drug that should be done cold turkey.

I know you did't want advice about tapering but you are playing a dangerous game here and I think everyone with xanax experience would recommend tapering down this drug to safely stop rather than binging and running out. But in answer to your base question - YES I believe you have taken enough for a long enough period that you will withdraw.

I hope this more specifically answers your question.

[marycarmel]

I don't have any experience with Xanax but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be able to answer your question.  I've taken Ativan in the past and I think it's similar.  I did not have a problem coming off it.  There have been times I took it (as prescribed) 3 times a day for a month and then cut back or went off it if I felt it wasn't helping or I was on too many things.  I have also tried Valerian Root for anxiety.  It's all natural and not habit forming.  I read about it here and thought it's worth a try.  For me, it works nearly as good as the Ativan.  Good luck with coming off the Xanax.  I know you're anxious to come off but you have to do it safely.  So if those that have the experience with Xanax suggest something, it's worth listening to.