Frustrated w/ Benzo Taper- need advice please

[Kbusymom]

Hi everyone,
I'm on day 17 CD from opiates.  I just saw a new dr yesterday and I disclosed my addiction to her and needed her to help me taper off Xanax.  I've been on Xanax  for 5 years and she's got me on a 1 month taper.  Does that sound right?  I'm now on Ativan 1 mg.  Supposed to take 1 2x per day for 10 days, then 1 for 10 days, then 1 every other day.  She said to prepare for a rough month and I'm already feeling it.  I took 1 ativan when I got up; I am still shaking and sore (have to get through work) so I just took the other one.  I figure it would be easier to be miserable at home.  
Is this a reasonable time to taper or is this the addict in me just wanting pills.  I don't feel strong enough to stop both the opiates and benzos at the same time, so I was hoping she'd give me a little longer.  Part of me wants to call her and tell her it's not enough, and then part of me thinks I need to just suck it up and get it over with.
Any advice and suggestions are welcome.  Thanks!  Sending lots of prayers and hugs to all!  

[spider6]

Hey girl,

I feel for ya.....I was addicted to xanax for 13yrs.  at the end I was taking 54 of them a day.  I had to go c/t because I got caught "doctor jumping"...it was without a doubt the WORSE nightmare of my life.  I wasn't the same for at least a year.   It's a horrible drug that would definitely be better tapering slow on.

All the info above is great, I just wanted to chirp and give you support.
I hope you get what you need from your doctor.
hope and hugs.

[OxyTired]

About 10 years ago I was taken off a Xanax high dose that I had been on for a long time. The doctor was a rural one and ignorant of the dangers involved, as was I.
He put me on a one week Ativan taper, low dose. I don't mean to scare you, but I was miserable for two years. We all are different, so could be different for you.
My wife cared for a zombie for those two years. I could not even eat in public, would choke on the food when the panic waves hit.
Please read up on this, things like the GABA network in the brain, etc. Educate yourself. Don't stay with ignorant doctors. They are not worth any amount of money, now matter how affordable they might be.

[tooter212]

Busymom, I agree with Hippise .I pray you will get some sleep tonight, Let God give you comfort. Bless you

[hlpplse]

Im so sorry to hear about your problems, I think normal family practice if that is what you saw just don't understand. Is there anyway that you can go see a psychiatrist? I really think they would put you on a better plan, and agree that your taper is way to fast...5 years is a long time, and what if you have underlying anxiety issues that have not resolved? I think if you can go see a shrink. Im praying for you to find some peace.

[Kbusymom]

Thanks for all of your help.  The dr. didn't call me back today, so I have to wait until tomorrow.  I called my sponsor and she told me to take a 3rd pill and tell the dr I need slower taper.  She said I have to get her to understand that I can be uncomfortable, but I have to be functional due to work and my daughter.  If I was in treatment, I could shake all day long.  
I really appreciate all the support so much.  Bigs hugs and love to you all!!!

[clean_in_ks]

Good idea...the more you share...the more equipped your dr will be to help you and make reasonable decisions.  Some people in my family would say there is such a thing as TMI (too much information)...LOL  BUT...BUT....
in this case...the more factual, real, and detailed you are the better!

Hope you'll let us know what happens after you talk to her~

[VICourageous]

I agree with you..You must tell her it all..And be a bit firm..Read all you can like Clean said so you have some back up.
See..I wen into a Treatment..When I got there the Dr there could not take me becasue of my Methadone being to high, so I had to drive from there to a dr about 2 hours away..he knew about my 3 meds but did not think of the other 2. Just the Methadone..he wanted me to do Subs..Well shoot I could of stayed home and did them. SO I did not get anything addressed due to the Benzo..My Anxiety was on the Moon for a really long time and when I got home 40days later I still rocked back and fourth in a chair. I had NO CLUE until I had almost 3 months in and joined here how bad a benzo w/d could be..Now I do not want to scare you, it can be done and you will survive. It is just that a nice and easy taper is in order here..You must let her know that you are still detoxing from the Opiates. That there is bad enough..So I would do some research and back your play..OK. We are here for you all the way.
PS I meant you will be OK becasue she can work with you on the Benzo..I did not know about seizures and such..I just think my God I did not have one..lol
Bless

[Kbusymom]

Thank you so much for your comment!!  I put a call into the dr. already.  I don't think I talked enough about the opiate addiction.  I didn't tell her how long I'd been off, just that I was off and how my previous dr cut me off both scripts because I sought another dr for the pain pills.  I thought I made it obvious that I'm an addict, but in hindsight; maybe I didn't say enough.  I was so nervous about the apt. and I was a mess
I am def in a panic now because I've already taken my 2 pills for the day.  I knew the Ativan was slower acting so I waited a few hours before I took the second one.  I couldn't feel anything and I was shaking so bad; I didn't want to be shaking at work.  I am now though; thank God it's almost 5.  
  

[VICourageous]

LMAO!!! Clean_in_ks to the rescue..lol

[clean_in_ks]

Yeah!!!!!

[clean_in_ks]

And for some dang reason, I'm not being allowed to share a very good resource...I got *** out above, so we'll try it this way:  
b e n z o b u d d i e s

[clean_in_ks]

Gonna chime in here.....I agree with Jenelle...the taper is too fast and not long enough...you've been on xanax for FIVE YEARS and only been off opiates 17 DAYS.  It isn't unreasonable for a person who has been on a benzo for 5 yrs to take as long as 8-9 months to taper off.  Good info available online if you wanna bing/google ************ or Professor Ashton Trials, and even xanax vs. ativan.

This new dr more than likely switched you from xanax to ativan because ativan is longer acting and has a different sedating type affect that would help you during this taper.  Xanax is much faster acting but also has the shortest half life of all the benzos.  So, while the Ativan will take longer to "work", you may do better once you adjust to this switch.
Just don't "panic" because you don't feel the effects as fast....and take another one too soon...cause then you'll run out or low and find yourself in trouble again with yet another dr.

I personally would be proactive here...and just call and talk to your dr (or revisit if she requires).  You don't have to "complain"....just ask her if she would please consider a slower taper over a longer period of time since you have only been off opiates just over 2 weeks.  After you gather some info, you'll be able to express you concerns about such a fast taper when you've been on the benzo 5 yrs.  One step at a time....one drug at a time.
You will be much more successful if you take little steps and do each drug individually.  Your AA friends mean well, I'm sure, but how many of them understand opiate and benzo addiction?  I personally believe that opiate AND benzo addictions are two of the VERY hardest to w/draw, recover from and STAY off of.
So, guess there's probably a way I could have said all that shorter...LOL...but I understand your conflict; I think the taper is not only too fast, but not long enough...and not reasonable with you only being just over 2 weeks off opiates.
Congrats on your 17 days!!!!!  Hang on.....it will get better and better!
  

[Kbusymom]

If day 1 is any indication; it is not going well.  Would you consider a month a slow taper; it doesn't seem like it to me.  I left a message for the dr. to call me, so I guess I'm waiting.  
Thanks for the encouragement; I sure do need it.  I am so shaky, don't feel like I'm with it, and anxious.  

[VICourageous]

Yes..This is Sad becasue you are still healing from the opiates..The physical can be over soon but the Mental takes time as the Brain has to adjust back..Just maybe do what she wants as long as you have the Ativan. I went c/t from my Dones and 2other ones..One being the Benzo..You can do it, but it just takes more time then the opiates..Take it day by day and use the Ativan to help..BUT make sure she does a nice slow taper from the Ativan..Like I said you can jump and get her done, BUT I would not want you to go as long as I did becasue of my Jumping off the Benzo. Just keep feeding your Body with a good diet and vit/min and things we have suggested..Lots of water to keep pushing the poisons out..You can do it..Cheering for You..Let us know how the taper goes on the Ativan??

[Kbusymom]

I'm on day 17 off the opiates.  The new dr.  told me she never puts people on Xanax, so I guess that's why she took me off and substituted the Ativan.
I have been tapering on my own for 2 weeks because my previous dr. cancelled my prescription and cut me off of everything.  When I got to my apt yesterday, I had taken my last Xanax.  
I've heard mixed things about tapering- I agree with you both that I need a slow taper, but this dr. didn't seem to think so.  I am on very limited resources financially, so I don't know if I can change drs or if I should call her and complain about the fast taper.  My AA friends seem to think the faster I'm off everything the better; no surprise there.  
I just don't know what the heck to do.   Maybe I just have to accept the discomfort of this WD the same way I did the opiates????  

[VICourageous]

Hi G..I have to Ditto with you. I found out that is why mine took almost a year..Benzo need a nice SLOW taper..I think you should be tapered from the one you are on..BUT you know how the Drs are..lol

[Jenelle2020]

Hi there, this is just my opinion but I feel that you are being tapered off your Xanax too fast. I am on Clonazepam which is also a benzo and a few months ago I told an addiction specialist I was cutting it out because I thought it wasn't working for me anymore. She told me to do it VERY SLOWLY like a half a pill once every two months, she told me that benzo detox can take up to a year sometimes, this may sound a little overboard but I am passing on what she told me. You have been on Xanax for 5 years and I think that coming off in one month is way too fast. I actually was advised to stay on Clonazepam because I suffer severe anxiety, I am not telling you to stay on your Xanax though, this is just me. I was also on opiates and a few other things, all of which I have stopped but I can tell you that when I cut my Clonazepam to less than half within 2 months I got sick from it. We are all different and react differently to withdrawal. I can't tell you what to do, I just really think your taper is too fast and you may have a longer withdrawal. Either way, whatever  you choose to do, I support your decision, just thought I would pass on some information. Good luck and take care and congrats on the opiate free days! Take care.

[VICourageous]

How many days now do you have off the opiates?? They use Ativan alot for Alcohol and Benzo w/ds..She is just stepping you down on that Benzo. It is too bad she did not just use the one you are on..But they have there reasons in Addiction..Let us know how it is going..I would like to know your days off the other..lol
Bless

[Whollymolythathurt]

HI Busymom...i'm with Rosy and suggest facing this beast now.  However, and i have no experience with Xanax but depending on how your doing with the opiate w/d you may want to taper the Xanax.  

Getting off one at a time seems better than failing at both over the long haul.

[tooter212]

Sorry your having such a hard time. I don't know anything about Xanax but mamaw (sp) is having a rough time with it also. All I can do is pray for you. You know He's the Great Healer  

[ROSYouralright]

Does your doctor know your entire situation? If so I would say better now than never! It won't be easy because you are so accustomed to them but you will ok! You will learn to rely on yourself instead of the pills! I'm rooting for you!