xanax withdrawls

[Artie385]

     I swould like to get off xnanax slowly. How do I do it ?

[bilmo2008]

this is a slight correction of my previous post. is anybody out there?

>>>he switched me to pristiq when the patent was gong to run out on effexor.
I attribute my increased anxiety to the fact that pristiq does not work. any feedback
is much appreciated. so, can a doctor just cut a patient off cold turkey if that doctor feels the patient is using too much xanax?<<>>my doctorthinks I am using too much<<<

here is the correction:

I am trying to go down to 3.5mgs per day. I wrote 7.5 mgs, but I was thinking
and tying too fast. it's 8 pills per day .5 each allowed. I usually take 9. am going
to try to get down to 7 per day, to get this doctor out of my face and not get cut
off and have to do cold turkey. so, it would be 3.5 mgs per day instead of 4.
does this sound possible? anybody? I will let you know how it goes. again,
thanks much for any and all feedback

Bill

[bilmo2008]

how are you doing getting off the xanax? the last post I can find by you is
from April of 2008. does anybody know what the maximum dose allowable is?
as in legally and of course ethically from the doctors point of view? I am taking
4mg per day. I thought that was a lot. but I see posts from people who were up to
6 or 7 mgs per day. I sometimes end up taking 4.5 mgs per day and have to go
back early for my med check. my doctor gets persnickety and has me start coming in once a month and I was up to every 4 months. he switched me to pristiq when the
patent was gong to run out on effexor. I attribute my increased anxiety to the fact that
pristiq does not work. any feedback is much appreciated. so, can a doctor just
cut a patient off cold turkey if that doctor feels the patient is using too much xanax?
my guy apparently thinks I am. I am trying to go to 7.5 a day, so I have extras
for really bad days. trouble is, they're all really bad days lately. thanks agin for
any help...........Bill

[bucfan]

I was once hooked on Xanax and I know the anxiety that goes along with quitting. I tried tapering off but remember that there is no shame in going into a treatment facility followed up by an addiction psychiatrist. He will give you the necessary meds to help you continue your slow taper. Xanax withdrawals are very dangerous. I was heavily abusing them after my mother committed suicide and one day I checked myself in and I am glad to say that I have been Xanax free for 2 years now. Don't be afraid to seek the necessary help. Hang in there

[kimmieb]

yes, if you go s-l-o-w-l-y there shouldn't be much of a fuss....i'm currently seeing a doctor who will be weaning be off of ativan (almost harder to get off of because of the way ativan is made and dosed)....but it's going to go so slowly and with help from some other medication that my body isn't supposed to really even feel anything super out of the ordinary....that is, if it's done right, slowly, and under a doctor's supervision....if you can do that, you'll be great!!  good luck to you!!!  p.s.  about a year ago, after i had major surgery, and before i knew much at all about the benzos and the ativan i was taking, i ran out, was still post-surgical, so I figured I'd be ok until i saw my doctor in about a week or two....was i wrong!....almost dead wrong!....and i'm not kidding about the dead part!....those wd's can be fatal.....it's not like going off of narcotics (where you may FEEL like you're dying, but you really aren't), so PLEASE be careful....i wouldn't wish what happened to  me upon ANYone....again, best of luck....

[sadinmichigan]

Congratulations for going slow..because I guarantee you that you would have huge problems especially suddenly stopping..You only have taken 1 1/2 mg a day and because your dr has weaned you over the last year is why you are feeling fine. Your not the exception because your dr. did it right from the sounds of it..

[avisg]

If you are weened slowly .Then there isn't a fuss many people not realize you cant cold turkey off of it .That is very dangerous .

[smooth13]

I have been on Xanax for over 10 years (.5 mg 3 times a day).  I have always respected the drug and it has always been a life saver with my anxiety / panic problems!  In the last year my psych. put me on 400 mg of Seroquel and began weening me off Xanax.  Im down to one pill a day and have never experienced the slightest problem regarding withdrawl.  Maybe Im an exception to the norm but I just dont understand all the fuss over Xanax

[Sondra1952]

I was on Xanax 25 yrs. ago for about a year, and then put on Klonopin to ease me off the Xanax, and now, 25 yrs. later, I'm addicted to the Klonopin (actually the generic of clonazepam), 3 mg. daily.  So they're both the same family of benzo's, and I'll be curious to see what everyone has to say in response to your question.  From everything I've read and heard, VERY slowly would be the key, but I guess we'll both find out.
Just wanted to wish you good luck.  I don't know about you, but I'm absolutely terrified to even begin the withdrawal, but I feel so awful on the benzo family, and have developed such severe depression, that as much as I'm dreading the withdrawal, it's got to work, doesn't it?
Good luck on your withdrawal!

[sadinmichigan]

Thanks everyone for reminding me..I too decided to flush my xanax and ended up in the hospital...SLOW   these w/ds can be fatal

[dove3053]

A few years ago I stopped taking xanax suddenly and I had a major seizure. So slow is the way to go;

Dove

[Chi_Chi_Lover]

As Avisg says you never should go C/T off a Benzo like xanax it is very dangerous and Benzos are a hard drug to get off of. If you want some good information and a site just for Benzo addiction and Withdrawal PM me and I'll give it to you. They tell you how to switch to valium for tappering and there are print outs to take to your doctor

Chi Chi

[sadinmichigan]

welcome to the forum! i weaned off of @7mg/daily..You must do it very slowly..I literally took away 1/4 mg about every 10 days..sometimes 2 weeks..it does go slow but i had very little ..if any w/d's. I got put back on it and only take 1mg a day and will never nor do i want to abuse it..Very nasty w/ds from that tiny thing..Just take your time..Don't be in a rush..Hope this helps..

[feohmoon]

Congratulations on your decision to get off xanax and welcome to the forum!  This place is amazing and you will find so much support, compassion and information!
You must be aware of the dangers of stopping xanax ct since you mentioned a slow detox.  Some drugs can be stopped ct but xanax is very dangerous as the chance for siezure is likely.  You will need to taper...how many do you have left?  How many do you take, etc.?
The input here will help you so much and the support will make the entire journey easier.
Best of luck and continue posting.
Peace

[avisg]

artie,
you have to be very careful with detoxing off of xanax ,I would suggest you talk to you doctor ,they can set y up with a taper plan .normally they use a longer lasting benzo like valium to step you down .there is a risk of seizure when coming off of benzos so PLZ talk to your doctor .




****** never CT off of a benzo there is a risk of sezuire or death******