Need help getting off Xanax

[Joshd21]

I have an anixety disorder and was searching for something in order to help me curve it. In 2000 or 2001 the doctor placed me on a 0.25 tablet of Xanax (once a day) and over time my body has grown a tolerance to it. It came to the point where I been placed on 0.25 (Three times a day)

While I went to see a mental health doctor over the yeats it has been changed to 0.5 (Three times a day) and now currently I am on 1mg, three times a day. I am just 23 years of age. I am at the point in my life where I am needing to get a job and the xanax drains all the life out of me, leaves me foggy and in a daze and I no longer want to be like it. Seems my life is slipping away with not the enegry to do much of anything. I am desperartly wanting to get off Xanax.

However when I try I go through withdrawls, pupils dilated, cold sweats, slow reactions and feels like my heart is in my throat. The aniexty slowy rises to the point where I need to take a pill. Please help, I know 1 mg (three times a day) is alot for me, the doctors seem interested in seeing me once every six months and auto-maticly refilling my meds.

[Joshd21]

Thank you all for you're advice and help. Considering that everything that has been said. It's two options. A: I speak with my doctor and give me the information the doctor in this fourm suggested by a print out..or B: Go to a detox center which is expensive and stay there for a week or two.

I have say, just thought of going to a detox center for two weeks. Makes me want to give up and accept that Xanax a tiny blue pill has control over my life,...the other option going to my doctor is something I can and will do.

It's just when I do, I will not be able to go back it. That makes me nervous because I want to have a fall back and it's admiting to my doctor that I have an addiction..

But everyone here has been so warm and kind to my situation. Letting me know I am not alone, it gives me comfort. You may not be able to start to imagine. I apperciate everyone's comment's and knowing I'm on this with those who support me has been a massive help and I will coutinue to need you're support as I overcome biggest issue of my life.

I remember a time and this is just random. My family member told me one day on the phone while they were drinking, "they think its sad I take three pills a day to make me happy"

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

Unfortunately it takes a lot less time for a doctor to fill a script than for the doctor to help you get off the medication!

There is not easy way to stop benzodiazepines, including the medication you are taking.  They are terribly addicting for some people.  You CANNOT just stop taking Xanax;  the next thing to occur after the symptoms you described would be a seizure!  The proper way to taper benzos is to use a long-acting medication like clonazepam, and taper that instead.  Other medications can be used if there is too strong an addiction-- medications like phenobarb or depakote, which are anti-convulsants.

The problem with tapering is that the patient often uses all of the pills during the first three weeks without lowering the dose, leaving no pills for the last week-- in those cases I will prescribe a week supply with several refills.  If that doesn't work I prescribe a day's supply with 30 refills!  Whatever it takes, consider having a heart-to-heart with your doctor, or even find a different one who will listen and work with you.

I should also mention that the ideal treatment for anxiety is generally a serotonin or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake blocker (SSRI or SNRI).  Finally, when treating anxiety it is important to make sure that the patient actually is having anxiety, and not something else.  Sometimes patients interpret other feelings as anxiety-- feelings that are actually appropriate fear, or anger, or even boredom.

I wish you the best,

JJ