Alprazolam side-effects

[mike4949]

I'm suffering from anxiety disorder. I've been taking alprazolam for almost nine years now.  My dose is only 0.25mg at night. The first four years I took 0.5 at night and 0.25 morning. I'm also taking aurorix and has now been increased to 300 mg twice a day. The doctors advised me to stop taking alprazolam if I can because aurorix can cover up. However, I still need alprazolam at night because without it, I feel some palpitation and my mind cannot focus well at day time. Am I dependent on it? Is it safe to take it for a long period of time? Won't it affect memory as we grow older? Please share.
Thank you.

[scrooge45]

I took xanax for five years and the doctor cut me off without no warning I did have several side effects from it but they did pass in time...if you do have to stop taking them I would recommend lowering the dose gradually to even smaller than 0.25 before completely stopping.

[cnote]

I'm the benzo nerd.

I went through ativan withdrawal about 2.5 years ago. Ativan is like Xanax, maybe a bit stronger.

I had to see a specialist who believed I was actually going through w/d.

He actually said it was easier to come off something at a higher dose vs. little amount for some reason. So he upped me from 1mg a day to 2mg a day for 1 week, then I started reducing my benzo 10% every week. I just took my sweet time with the withdrawal, and was completely off of ativan after 2 months of weening.

I was on it for a total of 4 years before coming off, however I didnt take it every day. But it didnt matter, I was still getting tolerance withdrawals.

Just remember, everyone is different when it comes to coming off benzos. You might be just fine b/c you have been able to stay on such a low low dose for years. Most people would have built tolerance over those years. You are on such a low dose.

But, if you do decide to come off, go slow, let your Dr. know.

I don't personally believe in the "take it every other day" then "once every 3 days" etc. weening regiment. Benzos are different.

My Dr. made me keep it in my system every day when I was weening (which is not how i used to take it. Again, I only took it as needed for 4 years), but this helped keep it in my blood stream all day, while taking it out SLOWLY.

Basically I took 2mg daily, but would spread it throughout the day in small increments. Then week 2, I would take out my 1st morning dose, cutting it down to 1.75mg a day vs. 2mg a day, for a week.

Does that make sense? Kind of made for a "soft landing" if you will.

I also was put on Remeron (aka Mirtazapine) to help cover up some of the insomnia withdrawals that Ativan withdrawal gave me. Remeron helped. I then weened off Remeron and was great! Got my life back, but still suffer from anxiety from time to time, but it's not near as bad as while i was on benzos.

Good luck to you. :)

[mike4949]

Is there any suggestions how I should taper off my xanax dose? The doctor did ask me to try taking 0.25mg alternate night but I did not feel good during the day when I didn't take it that particular night. I have also tried taking 0.125mg but it was okay for only one week. The following week I felt so bad so I had go back to 0.25mg until now. Or should I take 0.125 and 0.25 alternately for some time at first? My appointment dates at the gov't clinic are fixed which is every 3 months. Most of the time I see assistant doctors and very difficult to see the specialist. My another question is, is there anyone you know have stopped xanax completely after taking it for a long time like in my case? Thank you.

[nursegirl6572]

Ditto Paxiled's advice.

You can definitely expect some rebound anxiety, possibly some insomnia, when coming off the Xanax, especially considering that you've been on it for such a long time.  Actually, you're quite lucky that you were able to continue to be maintained on such a small dose for so long, that's pretty uncommon.  Usually after that many years, a person would have required several dosage increases to maintain the same level of effectiveness.

The BEST way to discontinue a benzo is with a slow taper.  You've got an advantage on one hand of being on such a low dose, but that also may make tapering a tad more difficult.  It's hard to decrease doses at such small increments, but it can be done.

Just express to your doctor that you would like to be slowly weaned off the Xanax.  Once you accomplish your taper, you're going to have to give yourself time to readjust to being without the Xanax.  It's common for people who have come off a benzo to prematurely start treating their "anxiety" more aggressively, when in reality, their increase in anxiety symptoms is usually related to coming off the anxiolytic.  It's a process for sure.

Please let us know how you're doing!

[mike4949]

Thank you.

[Paxiled]

Alprazolam is a benzo, and all benzos are classifed as addictive drugs when taken daily, as you've been doing.  That doesn't necessarily mean anything regarding you particularly, but generally it means it causes dependency and has already caused dependency.  The most important thing to know about this is that it can be very hard to stop taking, so you should do so slowly if you decide to do that.  Unfortunately, since aurorix isn't approved for use in the US, I can't tell you much about any interactions.  This drug is used mostly in Australia.  Cheaper drugs in the same class are used in other countries, but again, not in the US, so I don't know how taking the two will affect you.  If you feel you need the benzo, why not get a second opinion and see if the second doc agrees that these two meds don't go well together?  From my basic googling I don't see this listed as contraindicated.