Tapering Xanax - Addiction & Recovery Message Board

bcruth5 · 09-21-2005, 02:20 PM

I have been on 2mg of Xanax per day, prescribed by my doctor. I want to taper off of it simply because I am sick of being dependent on it and always having to make sure I have pills with me.

I take .5mg 4 times per day. I have been able to get down to (3) .5mg per day with few problems. Getting below 1.5mg is proving to be VERY difficult. I can't seem to shave .25mg without feeling very uncomfortable.

Can anyone with experience help me, please!? My doctor will not substitute klonopin or valium. He says tapering from Xanax is very possible even though it is uncomfortable.

Felicia65 · 09-21-2005, 05:26 PM

bcruth5 Hello, I was once on xanax given to me also by a doctor for panic attacks, I ened up on klonpin then to an non addictive med then I came off , Can I ask you how fast are You trying to do this? Also do you suffer from panic disorders or anxity? second of all I am not sure if I like the way that doctor is talking to you. Every one is different, He should be working with you. Some doctor are not trained in this at all, and he sounds like he just does not care. I had a doctor take me off old turkey one time. I did not know about addiction, and agreed okay I am off. Jesus that is a bad way to feel Know I know that doctor was crazy, or he just did not know any thing about coming off this stuff. I would try aleast 2 weeks at a time, then drop just a little then to more weeks than drop alittle alone with maybe a little bendral over the counter med, to help a little. But really I might even find me a doctor that deals with this, to help me. Let us know....................... Felicia

JJKoala · 09-21-2005, 05:49 PM

Hey there bcruth5, felicia65 is right. Sometimes you need to check around for the right doc for you. I found Xanax a real nasty shocker myself- but it is doable. I too was able to reduce to a certain point without any subs but then I hit a 'wall'- then in rehab, they used a combination of natural supplements, forced excercise, and vitamins plus valium which they transferred me over to before weaning me off them. Honestly, I do beleive you need to overcome some discomfort to kill any addiction, (that's how that little beast dies- a number of wounds inflicted by you ignoring it's pleas- everytime you hold out and win it gets weaker and you get stronger...) but there's no need to flog yourself extra! Definitely get another opnion!
Good luck- life without Xanax feels a whole lot nicer- seriously!
Hang in there,
JJKoala

bcruth5 · 09-22-2005, 06:34 AM

Thanks for the replies!!

May I ask how long you took Xanax before quitting and what your max dose was? As friend of mine works for a rehab center and she said they stop cold turkey with people on low-dose Xanax (less than 3mg/day). They usually use a tricyclic antidepressant as a substitute.

My doc and my rehab center friend say 1.5mg/day is a very very small dose. They assure me I can ween off it, but it will creat discomfort. Well.. not being able to sleep a wink is too uncomfortable for me. I keep feeling like I am going to jump out of my skin.

Chaswick · 09-22-2005, 01:07 PM

Hi bcruth,

Congratulations for making the decision to stop and for getting to the point that you are at now!!

First off, we are all different when it comes to how our bodies process medications. That is why there is such a variance when it comes to 1/2 lives.

The only person who knows how you feel (and isn't TELLING YOU how you should feel) is YOU. And when it comes to benzos, you can't go too slow. I've seen people take 18 months to come off of their meds. properly. Problems can come up and bite you for months after you stop. Have you check out w--dotbenz-sdotorgdotuk?
It is a fantastic site filled with information about these meds..

IMO, your Dr. is doing you a disservice by not switching you to Valium. Sure some have stopped without switching meds. but the success rate is much higher when somewhere along the line the switch was made to shorter acting Valium.

I'm far from an expert on medications, but a few things always stand out. One of them is that if you are feeling bad from tapering off of a benzo, you should increase your dose just a bit until you feel fine again. Then continue the taper. It isn't a race, particularly with this drug.

Good luck!!?/Chaz