:confused:
My husband has been sporadicaly taking Alprazolom (generic Xanax) since June about one every three or four days, sometimes one a day or one every other day... He was on .5mg. Since around the end of Aug. he has been lightheaded and off-balance, went thru a couple weeks of fatigue, and has a continued off-balance feeling when he wakes until he sleeps.. he says it feels as if you are buzzed all day. We have been to many Dr.s - ENT, got an MRI done and everything is normal. The last thing we thought of was his Xanax. So, just two and a half weeks ago, he got off of it real quick and it seems as though this week he is more dizzy/lightheaded and is experiencing shock sensations. The Dr. did put him on Lexapro for a month and he ended that this past weekend cold turkey too. Could all of his strange feelings be from Xanax side effects or constant withdrawal symptoms? If so, when will he get over it? This has been something that we have been struggling w/for 6 months trying to find out what is wrong with him. Anyone else gone through something like this w/Xanax? We just hope this goes away soon :( :( :(

To PaulsWife,
I have been on Xanax 20 yrs..started on .25mgs which is the smallest dose and just the last 5 yrs been on 0.5 the next dose up. I am on Xanax because of panic disorder. May I ask why he was put on Xanax? It doesn't seem to me that your husband took a lot of xanax to have severe withdrawal symtoms. I take up to at least 3 a day. I would have to most likely, after 20 yrs have to go to a rehab to get off my Xanax as it is additive if taken for a long time, everyday. Xanax itself if not taken all the time can cause some feeling of being dizzy, make you sleepy, fatigued and lightheaded if your not used to it. It could be that he did have some withdrawal symtoms if he went off it cold turkey. I don't know what this other drug is, the Lexapro. I am not a doctor and so I am only making suggestions and going from my own experiences with many different meds. First he should never go off a narcotic or anti-depressant drug ( if that is what Lexapro is... cold turkey ever, unless approved by a Dr.) He should talk to the Dr. who put him on the meds and work out a schedule to work down off the medicines. I myself can't take anti-depressants because they really bother me. But my sister had taken several and when worked down off them did experience shock like sensations in her head for awhile. As have some others who have gone off anti-depressants. I am wondering since you didn't say the reason for your husband being on Xanax if he might be having anxiety attacks or panic. They can cause many weird feelings in the body...dizzyness, lightheadness are common with anxiety. The shocking sensations are not , anyway I've not heard of that with anxiety/panic people.
Please go back to your doctor and talk to him about what he feels, but never just drop off those kind of meds without medical supervision and gradual reduction. I also am on generic xanax. I hope this has helped.
cjean