When will it stop?

Question

I stopped Xanax cold Turkey (had no choice) 4 days ago and I am so sick. When will it stop.

I am crawling out of my skin. I can't sit still or eat, yet I am exhaused.

My anxiety is banging hard too. This should have stopped by now. I was only taking 2.50Mgs a day for 5 months.

My doctor is a jerk. He will not refill me.

mammasisk · Answer

i have a friend that also was off for 4 days because he wanted to quit thought he was out of the danger zone and also had a seziure and had to have someone rush him to the hospital his dr said why would you do something that crazy. your dr can get in trouble for not helping you wean espicially with xnax that is one drug they know can cause seziours and even if you dont have insurance a hossy cant turn you away if you tell them you have a xanax problem they have to take you same with rehab. i hope you get help or have someone lend you some until you can see a dr.

Screwzoo · Answer

Hey there. I'm detoxing off subs right now so I feel your pain. About the xanex, I have been on it for a few yrs. for panic attacks. I take anywhere from 2-3mg a day. When I had my baby back last April I had complications with my c-section, anyways, wanted to breastfeed and didn't take xanex for like 14 days straight. I also forgot to take my thyroid med. I ended up having major pain in the right side of my head and started blacking out. They never could figure out what it was from. I decided not to breast feed and got back on them. Sometimes I wonder if it was the xanex, fact that I just had a baby, no thyroid meds or what that caused the prob.

I agree with everyone else. Tapper off. There has to be another dr you can go to. My friends husband is going through the same thing you are right now so I'll call her today and ask how he's doing and let you know. He should be on about day 13 himself but is prob still taking a lil a day.

swandive222 · Answer

i am so sorry that your doctor cut you off cold turkey and won't refill.  as mentioned, that was very wrong of your doctor to do.  abrupt withdrawal of xanax may cause tremors, and convulsions/seizures.  any properly trained medical professional knows this.  please call your doctor and explain to him that you are worried about having adverse effects from w/d associated with this medication and that you are aware that xanax should be tapered not stopped cold turkey for safety reasons.  if you feel "off" in a way that is not normal go to the er.  it is hard for me to tell you to stay calm and not think about seizures b/c i know that is all you are thinking about now but try to stay calm and breathe.  take a hot bath to relax yourself.  

-jess

SouthernLady458 · Answer

If you haven't already, you need to call your doctor's answering service and tell them it's an emergency.  You may already be feeling delirious and out of touch.  All the symptoms you have described sound like acute withdrawal, and you REALLY need to get someone to drive you to the hospital.  I had to call an ambulance when it happened to me, and they just got me to the er about 5 minutes before the grand mall seizure ocurred.  Please get help now.  Keep us posted when you can.  God bless, you're in our prayers.  Shere'

morganave · Answer

I do not take xanax, but from what I have read here, it is a med you should tapper off of the pills.  Listen to those who wrote above me and go to the hospital.  Perhaps the ER doc can talk to your doc and explain that he should tapper you off of the med.
Do not take chance with your health.  Get in the car and go go go...

Good luck to you,
Morganave

SouthernLady458 · Answer

How are you feeling now?  When I told you about my situation and the seizure I had, I wasn't trying to freak you out, but you really do need to go the er I think.  Please stay online and keep us all informed on how you are.  Do you have any family or friends who might have some xanax to get you through unitl tomorrow.  If they know your situation I'm sure they will help you out if they can.  Keep in touch.  Shere'

mojorisin64 · Answer

thats total malpractice right there,get to another dr as asap ...even i know you dont just stop benzos just like that what a jerk he is...just stay cool,youve already been thru 4 days ...and there is other anti anxiety you can take...

TysonRed · Answer

Yeah you need to be tapered down to a lower dose before you quit, jumping off at 2-3mgs is not safe. You probably should go to the ER and tell them your situation, any doctor knows that your not supposed to discontinue benzo's abruptly, it literally can be fatal. If you dont go to the hospital tonight I would call your doctor one last time and tell him the situation, tell him you want/need to taper before you quit. Im not sure how the laws work but I would think that he could be liable if anything were to happen because he wouldnt properly taper you off. Benzo's are very dangerous partly because of how addictive they are and also the fact that w/d's can lead to serious health concerns. Ive never tried it but there are some natural anti-anxiety products that you could try and get, the first is valerian root, other is the amino acid l-theanine. Did he give you a reason why he was cutting you off, did you run out early and **** him off or something. Otherwise this doctor is completely irresponsible, I mean I know of people who have c/t off high doses of benzo's and not had siezures, but they also had terrible w/d symptoms for months. There just one of those medications that has to be tapered down before you can safely quit. Like stated above you may want to go to the ER and tell them that your afraid you could have a siezure, they should be able to help, atleast give you an anti-convulsant or something. I wish you all the best, keep us posted on how things work out, good luck and take care.

dominosarah · Answer

I really dont know what to tell you about this.  I think it is terrible your doctor has left you hanging like this. I have a friend on here that is a nurse and i will send her a note.  Hopefully in the mean time someone will come on that knows something about this........try and stay calm..........sara

Hensley258 · Answer

I know I was shocked when I called his office and he just said no refill. He knew I was out.

Now I am scered I will have a sezure.

dominosarah · Answer

Does your doctor know you are completely out??  These should be tapered and i would think he should know that.  Did he give you a reason?

SouthernLady458 · Answer

hey, been there and done that....the danger is that you could have a seizure.  I had a grand mal seizure and was in the hospital for three days.  I had gone without for about 5-6 days when it happened.  Your doctor should know that you cannot go ct off benzos.  He is supposed to taper you down to a stop.  Hang in there and if you start to feel weird and forget things that you just did, you may be about to have a seizure.  Don't drive anywhere.  If the feelings get to uncomfortable go the emergency and tell them what's going on.  They should give you something to help.  Keep in touch.  I'll be online if you want to chat.  I'll be thinking about you.  Shere' (SouthernLady458)