Get me off of Xanex

[Morgan7]

I was out of my 2 mg. twice a day medicine.  The doctor wouldn't give me another prescription, so the next 3 to 4 days were awful.  I started haveing bad panic attacks.  So bad that I couldn't stop breathing hard.  It was like I had to control with my heart racing and the breathing got worse and worse.  My mind was thinking of 30 different things at once.  I found myself rushing to the hospital.  The doctor there gave me some and I was back to normal.  He gave me 10 days worth of Xanex to take until I see my regular doctor.  I want to be off of Xanex, I have been on it for 7 years.  So, I toke the 2 mg Xanex and to each one divided into 4's to make .50 each.  I am going to try to only take this at bed time and when needed.  Do you think I can wing myself off of this????  Help

[RubyWitch]

First of all, I'm going to strongly suggest you fire your moronic doctor and make damn sure you tell him WHY! I would then write a letter to your state medical board and lodge a formal compalint against him. If you have been on 4mg of Xanax for 7 years and this doctor KNEW this and refused to refill your prescription, he put your health, both physical and psycological, in danger. To abruptly stop that dose of Xanax, which is pretty hefty after 7 years, could have caused you to have seizures and you experienced first hand the hell that sudden withdrawal threw you into. That you ended up in an ER should tell you that this is serious stupidity on his part.
It is exactly for this reason I believe the VAST majority of PCPs have absolutely no business not only NOT diagnosing psychological disorders but for Gods sake, don't let them attempt to treat them! They simply are not qualified in my book to deal with issues and the psychiatric medications needed to treat them. This doctor would probably have no problem sending you to a specialist if he thought there was something wrong with your kidney, and they need to do the same thing if they suspect a psychological disorder. Why so many of them cannot accept that there are issues outside of their scope of practice is beyond me unless we play the ego card. GPs are responsible for getting so many of us into pharmaceutical nightmares, apparently as consumers we are going to have to be the ones who finally put our feet down. Just so I don't make a total sweeping judgement, there ARE many GPs who DO understand these issues and are up to date on the meds used and the dangers that come with those meds. But they are definitely in the minority.
I'll get off my soap box now and recommend that if you want ot correctly and safely get off Xanax, you need to find a PMM, a Psychiatric Medication Manager. These highly trained doctors can be found in many psychiatric clinics or on staff at most hospitals. They do nothing but help people manager psychiatric meds. And that includes working with patients to devise a taper program that fits YOUR needs. They understand that you must taper very slowly off these meds and they have many options to help you do that. They will make the w/d process as easy and comfortable as possible for you. They will never hurry you, you go at YOUR speed. They can write scripts for meds that will help you during this process. I honestly can't speak highly enough about these people who so few even know exist...........and it's these people your doctor should have referred you to!
Obviously everyone is different and some people can w/d much faster than others, but for a 4mg a day, 7 year "habit," I'd say you should plan on about 2 months to comfortably w/d from the Xanax. Like I said, you may be able to do it faster but you also may need longer and the only thing that matters is that you're doing it at a rate that is comfortable for you. I know I've repeated that, but Xanax is the very devil to get off and the hardest part will be that final 1mg, believe it or not. That is the one that will take you the longest and you will need to bring all your patience to the table with you. But when you are finally done with your taper, you will feel great, both physically AND emotionally.
I wish you the very best in the long road ahead of you, but you'll do it. And with a PMM, you'll do it right.
Peace
Greenlydia          

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Hi Morgan,

I had a hard time coming off them as well and something that really helped was exercise, I was having a bad reaction to anti depressants (launched me into mania for 4 months) and had to use Xanax extensively.  Very hard to come off until eventually I joined a Triathlon Squad and just exercised it off, started just swimming at first (which ends up being the best for me) and then added other stuff as I went along.  Makes a huge difference, also joining a squad helped as well with building confidence and keeping my mind off things.  Couldn't recommend it enough.

[MrGreen]

Your doctor will need to give you another script for xanax if you are to fully come off them. Stopping you the way he did orignally after seven years was stupid on his part. That could have caused you a lot of harm. It is a slow process. He must know that. It can take a few months. Depending on what you are willing to go through. The faster you drop the amounts the more you will feel withdrawls. Hence it done slowly. To allow the body time to adapt to the lesser amount. I have gone without too once after ten years on so I know what you went through. I described it as surreal. People seemed miles away from me. When they spoke it was an echo to me. My whole room seemed much bigger. Freaky stuff. But in my case I ended up in a psych hospital and switching over to a new med. I was hooked on the xanax. Simple as that. It was doing nothing for me at all. But the body still needs it. Hence the way you felt when you ran out of them. I only missed two doses and I was in bits. Worst nightmare ever. At best I can say to take it at a pace that suits you and will do you no harm at all. Make it clear to your doctor that you want off them and you know it takes time to come off them if done the right way. That just stopping is dangerous. Then kick him. Well. Bit of pay back. For the hell he put you through. Just hope things work out well for you. We are always here.