Where to get FREE expert doctor or clinic help 4 Xanax addiction?

[CEMT22years]

Until I took off work  a few years ago,  to nurse my terminally ill mother.  I was a CA State Licensed EMT for 22 years!  I worked in an ER and then later Managed In-Home-Care Cases.  However, In 1994, (I started experiencing SEVERE Panic Attacks.  For quite awhile, I resisted my doctors suggestion that I take Xanax.  I do not like drugs and their side-effects.   However, my condition worsened, and, I finally gave in.  Sixteen years later, I am addicted to  Alprazolam 1mg. 2 X day AM & PM.  I deperately want to wean off this RX.  But, I have NO health Insurance, and have Thyroid disorder, and am still on HRT.  I need help, and don't know where to turn.  I have a disabled husband, and a father with Alzheimer's (who I also take care of).  I am having trouble with chronic stomach pain, and liver and kidney pain.  I think these are toxic side effects of 16 years of (Xanax) or Alprazolam.  Although I eat healthy, and take vitamins, etc., I can tell my body is trying to force me to UP my RX.  I refuse, and, I'm living with chronic stomach pain, among other symptoms.  I need help. But, again, I have no insurance, and live on a very tight budget.  Where does one go for help??

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

First of all I want you to take a big breath and try to relax. I know it is hard but you have a lot of thing going on here and Xanax addiction is not one of them. One mg of alprazolam in am in one mg in pm does not constitute an addiction; maybe a dependency.
However, given you stress level, diagnoses of anxiety and panic attacks; it is not the most inappropriate treatment.  How would you deal with your anxiety and panic attacks if you did wean off of the Xanax?  
First, you should probably talk to your prescribing physician about the reasons for your abdominal pains, because alprazolam is not known to cause those.  Each of those symptoms must be addressed, diagnosed and treated; not chucked up to "Xanax caused it".  
Second, your anxiety needs to also be addressed with some talk therapy, because it will not get resolved by itself. Only when therapy is successful will you be able to slowly wean off of Xanax.  
The only way the get off of any Benzodiazepine is to slowly and methodically wean it under supervision of a supportive physician.  However that can only be done when you are psychologically ready to do so.  I do not believe you are there yet. I hope that by following my advice you soon will be. Good luck to you and best wishes.

[CEMT22years]

Dear Kind Doctor Aharonov,
Thank you very much for responding to my request for help.  I agree with a lot of what you said. I
absolutely believe I need some psychotherapy to help me break the cycle of the Severe Panic
Attacks. And, yes, I do have a tremendous amount of stress, not having health insurance, a
disabled husband, and an 87 yr. old Father with Alzheimers, and no outside help or respite.
However, doctor, whenever I get switched by my Pharmacist from one generic RX manufacturer
to a brand new supplier, I DO INDEED experience some severe stomach pains.  It is like I
actually received one of those generic's from India, Pakistan, or China.  There was a special on
60 Minutes, and, my husband and I printed out the segment from the Drug Company Whistle Blower, who clearly stated there are many generic RX's that are counterfeit, and, the poor unsuspecting patient, feels the difference, and try's to report it to the doctor or pharmacist, only to be treated as if, its all in our minds (excuse the pun).  When, I was switched from a blue Alprazsolam 1 mg. pill to a very green pill...I took it home.  But, for three days straight I suffered terrible stomach pain, and other withdrawal very uncomfortable type symptom's.  It was my own
husband, who put the puzzle together.  He noticed the symptoms started with the NEW change in my generic Alprazolam.  When, Monday came, we both took the whole new Refill into the
pharmacist.  She took them back, and, said that others besides 'me' had complained.  Later,
about 2 weeks....that...program from 60 Minutes came on, and we printed the whole story out and took it into her!  So, doctor, sometimes the fillers, or ingrediants are Not the same, that our
body or brain is use to.  There are those patients (like myself) who hate taking drugs to masks others causes or imbalances in our symtem.  For instance, I have Hashimoto's Hypothyroid
Disease, and No Ovaries, and am on Natural Compounded HRT to help with Menopause.  But, even with taking Armour Thyroid and HRT....it seem's like....when my Stress levels go up, I have a much harder time sticking to my 1mg. AM and 1mg. PM regimen, and sometimes, need a little more on certain days?  This is a horrible condition to deal with.  I wish we had Universal Health care, because, millions of American's are stressed to the max, and have other health
condition's that exacerbate this Panic Attack disorder, and make it very, very difficult to manage!  I wish there was some Free help for people like me, who need talk therapy, psycho
therapy, along with blood work to help manage the whole situation.  I wish, the drug companies who convinced doctors to put their patients on this benzo-type RX would now HAVE to PAY
for the detox program for those of us who are now chemically dependant on this RX.  ANd, believe me...when one tried to cut back or wean off...the body does indeed go into withdrawal symptoms that are VERY unpleasant...forcing the patient to go right back to their same dosage.
The drug companies KNEW that XANAX had these very addictive side effects that can eventually alter one's brain chemistry...but...they failed to tell my doctor the truth, before I was
convinced to go on this RX...to help give me some kind of normalcy in my life.  If, I had KNOWN
the truth 16 years ago....I would have NEVER, EVER, gone on this RX.  Now, I feel hopeless
dispair.  This RX is toxic to the liver and kidneys, and does cause weight gain as well.  It is a
horrible RX....and...I would caution anyone having Panic attacks....to seek Alternative treatments and good nutrition, and psychotherapy, or do whatever they could to NEVER get on this type of medication.  If, this note can help just one person out there....then...it was worth my time to type this message.  I thank you very much, doctor, for taking the time out of your busy
schedule to give me your professional imput, much, of what I felt was true and helpful, and gives me pause to think.  Thank you again.  CEMT22years