Aa
slave to the drug!!!
i am in the process of taking myself off of xanax with no professional help. I have only been on them for 2 months, and i have been taking 2mg twice daily. i am weaning myself, I am down to 1mg twice daily, sometimes less. the withdraws from xanax are awful and i wonder if there is anything herbal or over the counter that would help me through this. I am tired of being a "slave to this drug" and dont want to have to depend on it just to live and function normally. I am taking vitamin B complex, and st. Johns wort vitamins. These were reccommended by someone who has been taking xanax for 20 years and had to detox and stop taking them. any additionally info would be very helpful.
B vitamins and st. John's Wart can reve up the sensitive CNS while tapering off benzos.
Other supplements are not recommended either--Kava Kava and Garlic. Also don't drink grape fruit juice.
See site benzo.org.uk (Ashton Manual).
abby
Other supplements are not recommended either--Kava Kava and Garlic. Also don't drink grape fruit juice.
See site benzo.org.uk (Ashton Manual).
abby
when i at the hight of my barbiturate addiction, there were times i would run out...and when i did i would get extremely sick and end up in severe pain. i'm lucky i never went into convulsions from it...i didn't know then what i know now. i was taking about 500 to 750mg of the barbiturate daily...a rather high dose. barbiturates and benzo's are different drugs, but they do share some similarities...and one is that it's always a good idea to taper from a high dose like the one you're taking under supervision. to be honest...when i finally did do a taper, i don't remember ever really feeling urges to take more meds because it was so gradual. the hardest part was going from one tab daily to none...that stung. so what i'm getting at is if you were doing a good taper, then like others have said...its not going to be nearly as uncomfortable. even more, you need the support of a doctor who knows what you're going through and can be there in the tough times. thats important.
It can be dangerous to tapper too fast, and perhaps you should consult your Dr. abt. this too. Tappering too fast causes alot of problems ( head-rushes,noise, ect ) so decrease slowly and not too short of time period.
Ella
Ella
Just here to add my voice to nursegirls and Paxiled's. You should NEVER attempt to taper from a benzo on your own, especially a hefty dose like you were on. You are feeling awful because you are tapering way too fast. In a professionally supervised taper, there IS some discomfort, it just can't be totally avoided, but it can be managed and controlled so that you don't experience what you're going through now.
Personally, I don't think most GP's are qualified to supervise a taper. Actually I don't think they're qualified to prescribe them, but that's a very personal opinion. If you are not under the care of a psychiatrist, I would recommend you find a Psychiatric Medication Manager. They work out of most psychiatrists offices and clinics, and you do not have to be a patient there to make an appointment with them. They will work with you to set up a taper program that works for you.........one that is geared to make the w/d as "painless" as possible. They are also able to write scripts for a "rescue med" if you have any anxiety "break-throughs." You are always in control with the taper, they do not set timelines. If you need to stay at 1.5 mg for a month, or two months, before making your next cut, then that is where you stay. They will never pressure you to make a cut until YOU feel ready.
These professionals are a little known resource and could save so many people the agony of w/d and most often the defeat that goes with an unsupervised taper.
And yes, I am speaking from experience.
I wish you the very best and hope you get the help you need.
Peace
Greenlydia
Personally, I don't think most GP's are qualified to supervise a taper. Actually I don't think they're qualified to prescribe them, but that's a very personal opinion. If you are not under the care of a psychiatrist, I would recommend you find a Psychiatric Medication Manager. They work out of most psychiatrists offices and clinics, and you do not have to be a patient there to make an appointment with them. They will work with you to set up a taper program that works for you.........one that is geared to make the w/d as "painless" as possible. They are also able to write scripts for a "rescue med" if you have any anxiety "break-throughs." You are always in control with the taper, they do not set timelines. If you need to stay at 1.5 mg for a month, or two months, before making your next cut, then that is where you stay. They will never pressure you to make a cut until YOU feel ready.
These professionals are a little known resource and could save so many people the agony of w/d and most often the defeat that goes with an unsupervised taper.
And yes, I am speaking from experience.
I wish you the very best and hope you get the help you need.
Peace
Greenlydia
Second nursegirl. St. John's Wort is for depression, not anxiety unless it's caused by depression. The B complex is fine. But benzo withdrawal is difficult, and can be dangerous, so please do this with an experienced psychiatrist. Good luck, and don't be in a rush. It's a cliche, but better safe than sorry.
You were on a significantly HIGH daily dose of Xanax! I honestly don't recommend that you wean yourself without being under medical supervision.
Benzo w/d can be dangerous.
Benzo w/d can be dangerous.
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