xanax hell

[kittykat420]

I have 28 1mg pills left i want off how can I do it with what I have I usually take up to 8mg's a day please help ! I'm also on methadone mainttherreainance ( which I think causes the panic attacks) I go down a mg of methadone every two days so it's been a bumpy road. I think the xanax helps with the methadone withdrawl symptoms. I AM AN ADDICT therefore I cannot take any mood altering drugs. the anxiety got so bad it interferred with my work. I NEED 2 PAY BILLS sick or not. So my question to you sir or madam is how do I get off with what I have left. I can get a refill on the 1st so if you can tell me how until then. I have to function I work, go to school, and am a full time single mom.PLEASE PLEASE HELP!!!!   THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME Kathryn

[abby10]

The site is benzo.org and also benzobuddies

[abby10]

As all ready said, don't quit cold turkey! my first prescription in 1999 was for 8mg ativan for a year. They ruined my life. After that I was on 4mg klonopin, then in 2004 a doctor gave me 8mg xanax and 30mg temapazam, plus I kept the other doctor making it a grand total of 4mg klonopin, 8mg xanax and 30mg temapazam. I tried cold tukey trying to get off "went absolutly crazy" after 2 psyc wards and SS disability, I went into detox. They said I was "cured" after 9 days.  Most detox centers know less than the addicts.  I have been 'tappering' for over a year now and almost finished. 9 years of my life waisted in hell.  I did have a seizure and still have body pain.  I  shake and tremble, but the worst part in mental. You are probably having panic attacts because of  "tolerance withdrawal."

You know, before that first prescription I had a successful realestate carreer and owned my own home with a lot of equity. I just wanted something to help me sleep and calm down. Now I sleep 3 to 4 hours a night, thanks to this doctor induced addiction!

These pills must be outlawed!!!!

****.*** is the premier source for benzodiazipine withdrawal. Dr. Ashton is a God sent. **** is also a great web site. Most there don't know about high dose, long term use, but there are people there who are extremly knowledgeable about "tappering off." Also Valium is your best benzo to switch to when tappering. They will set you up with a plan.  Plus you will get lots and lots of support.

Let me know how you are doing.  I will help in any way I can. I know what it's like.

Hang in there and good luck

[Brenndy]

To BETH: "I believe all withdrawl syptoms are within your own mind" WRONG!  Abrupt stopping Xanax at ANY dose may result in SEIZURES: I'll show you the medical literature to back it up.

Cammy & Prizma:  Good sound information/advice.
BBY: ???? Still deliberating.
GREEN:  ALWAYS excellent advice/information. I'm in total agreement.
Last, but not least: TO: Kittykat:  See your doctor ASAP and follow Green's advice.  She is right on the money on this one.  Bonafide 100% correct.

[RubyWitch]

You CANNOT quit an 8mg a day Xanax habit with only 28mgs! You didn't say how long you've been on that dose, but it is a VERY high one and you MUST taper off Xanax very slowly. Going cold turkey with Xanax is stupid and dangerous! I don't care who says you can do it, or that withdrawl symptoms are just "in your head!" Ignorance. The w/d symptoms of Xanax are a VERY real nightmare if you don't taper and even if you DO taper, coming off 8mgs a day is going to be a b i t c h.
Speak with a doctor who is very familiar with w/d of benzos or your local pharmacist, who IS a DOCTOR OF PHARMACOLOGY. He/she will be able to help you devise the proper w/d schedule. The doc who put you on 8mg of Xanax a day should have their license revoked! Like you didn't have enough problems without getting you totally screwed up on one of the most difficult drugs to get off............
Please do not attempt this by yourself, you really need a professional to help you.
I am very happy for you that you are working so hard to get your life back together, and I wish you the very best on your journey. It won't be easy, but it will be so worth it in the end.
Please stay in touch and let us know how you're doing.
Peace
Greenlydia  

[uggghh]

i was taking anywhere from 6 to 8mg daily also...if i didn't have enuff to get me thru the month i would take a handful and snort the rest...for like 3 years i had done this...i was put in the hospital for detox.....DO NOT C/T if you have been taking 8mg/day...it is dangerous. i, myself could not have just cut them in half, quarters, etc..until i quit...i would never have quit that way....xanex to me, controlled my life....anyways..i am now 16 days xanex free...physically i'm ok...mentally...this blows...but i know if i can do it...you can do it.....see a doctor first though!!!

[bbygrl4u]

Hi I was taking 2mg 3xs a day I started taking vitamins and minerals and eating more veggies and panic attacks were less just in 6 months after going 4 years making my husband do the shopping I have slowly taken myself off the xanax and feel so much better.I was scared of everything I truly believe changing my diet and getting the vitamins I needed changed my life.

[Prizma]

bethaniet586: I have to disagree that withdrawal symptoms are all in your mind. It sounds like you were on a low dose of two pills a day. Kittykat's case is a little more extreme.  By the way, I was only on one pill a day for over a year and I had withdrawal symptoms.

Kittykat: Do NOT cut xanax cold turkey. It is one of the HARDEST drugs with the WORST side effects to do so. I had two doctors tell me this when I was getting off of my 1mg once a day. Cammy nailed it by saying you need to taper down the drug. If you have a detox facility in your area I would strongly recommend calling them and seeing what they suggest for your course of action. Do you have a local doctor that you can turn to? See if you can find a local support group.

In realizing you're an addict, that's half the battle. You acknowledge you're thinking/feeling you need the drug. I used to think I needed the Xanax to help me sleep and for panic attacks. It's been 6 months since I've had any and my sleep has improved. Hopefully you're able to accomplish the same!

[cammy111]

It is never a good idea to go cold turkey from a benzodiapene drug. While true that some people experience no symptoms, there are some real and documented dangers such as seizures. These drugs wreak havoc on the CNS and to quit after a period of time you should be tapering your dose down a little at a time. I think you could do it on what you have, but you need to be very diligent about cutting your doses back so that you just take less and less. Cut them in half, then quarters etc. Also you can check with benzo.org for a safe way to withdrawl. Also, I don't think withdrawl symptoms are in your mind. Everyone is wired differentley.  Good luck.