I've just now realized the effects of quitting cold turkey from Xanax. I've been taking 2mg 3x a day for about a year and ran out about a week ago. For the past few days I've been feeling so awkward with the symptoms that I could not figure out were coming from.
It doesn't help that I started Testosterone replacement therapy about a week and a half ago. I was thinking the symptoms were caused by the temporary adjustment of my body to the increased Testosterone levels that I never considered the Xanax at all.
I finally researched Xanax withdrawals and it suddenly hit me that this was the cause. I took one of my pills (new Rx) and within an hour was feeling much better. I'm surely glad that I researched this and recognized my symptoms for what they were.
I think I'm in for a difficult process weaning off of the Xanax, but I'll get there and never allow myself to get to this point again.
I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences as It gives me hope that sometime in the future, however long it takes that I can rid myself of this medication
Thank you so much.
BTW, my screen name was given to me by an ex. I chose the change in spelling (in case you were wondering)
Hi there to everyone that has taken something from all of us bloody xanax!!!!!! To Last401k,my heart goes out to you,and i'd do the same thing,you are so very brave. I to was an addict of xanax,was on it for 6years started taking 1mg 3 times a day ended up taking 20 1mg xanax a day,plus handfulls of codein just to feel normal!!!!!! I was many years ago a user of speed couldn;t get enough,untill my then boyfriend now fiancee,took me away,i got clean and had a precious child..I first started taking xanax as i saw a fatalaty car accident young child,then after 5 years im eating them like smarties..Doc shopping chemist shopping,fought constantly with my partner,tryed to hide it from my 7year old,she new,it was devastating.Lieing to mates.family,work collegues.My life was one huge lie.I had enough id become this desspred ,liar.So stupid me you would think i would have learnt went cold turkey again.i was at work fainted split the back of my head open awoke at the hospital...Then at the age of 32 i thought i need to do something now,incase i don't wake up..The world is full of judgmental barstads,no xanax for you,try meditade..YER RIGHT..Finally the godds sent me the best doc i told the whole truth im taking 20 1mg tabs of xanax and coedine to reach that high.Doc said your lucky to be alive,but lets work together and get you off this drug..I was given .5mg xanax and 150 tabs of 5mg valium.Four the first 3 weeks i was taking 18mg of valium a day.But i kissed that xanax good bye,it was so hard but not that bad as you guys no xanax has a half life so when your out you want more,valium takes a good 40 mins to hit your system xanax straight away.Valium stays in your system up to a day with me it did it was good,it also stopped the codeine withdrawals.I was on valium for it least 7 months long time yer!!!!But now i don't need anything,i always have valium in the draw but dont use it.......Theres hope at the end of this nightmare,never go cold turkey,find a bloody good doc thats going to help,don't lie to them and never ever ever let anyone judge you,this is not your fault,we are all equel human's......I now have the same partner whos now my fiancee,been together four 12 years,and a beautifull girl that nows mummy's mum not a mummy.They love me.My family juged me and we don't speak,but there the one's missing out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thankyou if you read this. much appreciated...............NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!! mimxo
I have been on xanax for over 10 years now about 1 to 2 mg per day. One day I got curious and asked my psychiatrist, M.D., Ph.D., how long can I be on xanax, and he replied "for the rest of your life". Shortly after that visit I had to have a Whipple Procedure for my Pancreatic Cancer and 5 year survival rate for the disease is about 30%. So I think I'll keep on taking it until I die. It does help me with the existential anxiety that does creep up at middle of the night.
Crystal, I'm a mom too. I know you are ashamed about your xanax use but you can kick this and you can recover from what the drug has done to your body so far. As an RN it won't be easy because you think you should have known better and people will look down on you. Screw that, you made a mistake and now you are going to fix it. I started taking xanax because I hated my job. I was overwhelmed and too scared to face quitting without some kind of sleep aid. I asked my Dr. for xanax to take for a month, just .25 mg at night to help me sleep. Well after that month I did it again, and again, until I started to go in withdrawal during the day. I thought I was dying, I thought I had a brain tumor! I spent so much money going to Dr.s because I had quit my job so no health ins. Last week I realized I was addicted and I quit. I think you really need to just go, see a Dr. you trust and tell them everything. If they try to tell you to keep taking it, go to a rehab. Take 30 days and get through this. Crystal, I'm xanax free now, i was only addicted for about 5 months, but if I could do it, you can do it. There is nothing to fear but fear itself. Keep focused on how you will feel as a mom once you are free from this drug.
I don't know what to do. I have taken as much as 7mg a day now for months. I am able to tolerate much less when I am on Soma or Darvocet, but none of this is where I want to be anymore. I suppose since our loss of business and income due to mainly the economy has made me "check out", but believe it or not I'm an over achiever and function at a high level while I'm on these things. I take it to calm my nerves and "forget" about the upcoming financial burdens approaching. I'm a good Mom and have a GREAT husband that knows, but isn't involved in this mess. All my husband sees is the clean house, and things "appear" to be fine. I never act "strange" it levels me and yet I know I'm a 40 year old that this is taking a toll on. I see a different person when I look at myself. I'm too ashamed to go ask for help because I am a RN. This began after my son was born 7 years ago and I've been a stay at home Mom. I'M SO AFRAID OF WHAT I'VE DONE TO MY BODY. The main thing is my son is my world and I'm so afraid that I'm going to miss out on these great years due to the fog this stuff puts me in. I don't put my son in harms way I SWEAR!!! I don't drive him or do anything to possibly put him at risk. I'm actually able to not do it when I'm involved with "Mom" stuff. I know I sound in denial. Where do I start? I love my family and this can't continue.
The best way to quit Xanax is to reduce the Xanax by 1/2 a 0.25 mg tablet (0.125 mg) a week right till the end.This was suggested to me by my Psychiatrist.I have reduced my Xanax dose from 1.5 mg to 1.25 mg and it will take me another 10 weeks more.