Easing off of Xanax

[DeeCeeZee]

I am 52 years old,female,and due to the fact that I suddenly lost my job of 19 years,I went to my family doctor for a prescription for Xanax,due to extreme anxiety attacks.I knew this drug had a rebound effect within a very short time,and I was on it for about 4 and a half weeks.I tried to discontinue it slowly,reducing my dosage over a period of about a week.I should mention that I never,even at the height of my anxiety,took more than 3 of the .5 mg pills in any 24 hour period.My question is,today is the 6th day without any Xanax,and I still am suffering from what I believe to be withdrawal symptoms,such as extreme fatigue,inability to concentrate,dry mouth,the shakes,and occasional severe insomnia.How long should it take before these symptoms go away?

[DeeCeeZee]

Thank you for your good advice.I do have some Valium which I got from my family physician,to see if that would be better in some way than Xanax.So far,I have not taken very much of it at all,not wanting to go through the same **** again from a different drug,
Do you think there are some people out there who are just plain old resistant to any help that drugs can give them?

[bubbles1096]

I would say you will experience the w/ds for another week or more. Hang in there and you will get through this. Please make sure you wean yourself off this drug  gradually and if the w/d are real bad and serious, contact your prescribing doctor. Many docs will prescribe a substitute for you to take while you are gradually getting off the Xanax, Valium and Librium.

[DeeCeeZee]

Thank you so very much ....I had read that withdrawal could last up to two months,good Lord,that scared me,you have eased my mind.

[Jikan]

Namaste,

Xanax is a master at caausing all types of problems. It might be another week before you feel the side effects subside.  You may have already taken care of the physical withdrawal and may be just suffering from psychological withdrawal which mimics physical effects(which are real) , but sometimes hang on for a time, even at low dosages.

Hang in there and try not to think about it and your symptoms will pass.

Michael