Guys i have been on xanax for about 3 months i used to take it as needed and but for the past 3 weeks or so have been taking it daily what I take is 1/2 of a 0.5 pill 2x a day so basically i am on a 0.5mg pill a day ,

anyway i am trying to quit it since it makes my anxiety worst, how can i stop it cold turkey, today i only took the first half in the morning and now at 5pm my body is asking for it, i am sooo anxious i mean not the normal anxiety just an extreme kind of anxiety that is just not normal, also I feel a bit shaky inside i took my blood pressure and pulse and it was normal, i just feel weird inside, should i just come off it cold turkey or get off it slowly,

I don't think stopping cold turkey is ever a good idea...IMO weaning off slowly is the way to go.
But it's probably best to discuss it with your Doctor.

I took the same dose you do, but I took it everyday for 7 years...but unlike you I never had one single problem the whole time I was on it and I had no problems coming off when I no longer had panic/anxiety problems.

I could tell you how I did it, but I don't know how much help it would be since I took it longer, I only stopped because the anxiety/panic went away and I weaned slowly rather than just stopping.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help...but like I said I can tell you how I did it, but I'm not sure it would be helpful.

Hi gracie thanks for responding

anyway i also dont want to quit it cold turkey but how do i stop it should i cut the pill in 4 pieces and only take 2 pieces a day i have no idea, i actualy havent been on meds for a while i actually take them for a week and quit but with xanax i have continued to use but it just doenst do a thing anymore but get me very anxious, hopefully someone will give me insight, thanks for your advice though i do appreciate it.

Check with your doctor

.5mg a day is a very small amount.. i dont see why you would have to taper down from that small of a dose.. but your DR will let you know what will work best for you..

maybe you are just getting use to that small of a dose and need more to control your anxiety? i was only taking .25mg x2 a day at first but needed more after a few months..

I agree that the dose is so small that it s unlikely to help, ask doc about taking more

Please be cautious coming off this medication. .5mg of Xanax is equal to 10mg of Valium. About 70% of people on benzodiazapines have no difficulty stopping them but after 2 weeks of continuous use, your body is most likely dependent. I know, I have been on Ativan for 2.5 years and it's taken me 11 months to taper from 1mg down to 0.25mg.....

You want to go slowly, reducing each dose equally. This can be done with a water taper. Tapering this way will help eliminate many of the withdrawal symptoms are are likely to experience. Most physicians just tell you to cut your dose in half for a week and then go off. That may work but be prepared if you start to feel more anxiety, panic, insomnia, headaches, blurred vision, brain fog, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., etc., etc.....

Easy and slow is the best way..

Hi sttcher you are so right!

I was having major panic issues today a panic that doesnt go away, and super anxiety its just crazy, anyway i had to take a xanax, i guess i will hav eto start getting of them slowly, I am supposed to start celexa tonight but I a not sure if i should just wait and get off the xanax first, aghh

.5mg of xanax does not equal 10mg of valium.. it equals 5mg of valium.

Also, when comparing doses, it doesn't really mean anything...

They are similar, but you can't say that because .5mg of xanax=5mg of valium that .5mg automatically becomes a "high dose".

10mg of xanax per day is the maximum amount currently allowed to be prescribed by the FDA.

.5mg is less than 1/10 that amount.

It's better to compare the medicine's (that your taking.. so in this instance, Xanax) minimum and maximum doses when you're gauging what kind of dose you're taking --either small or large....

In Xanax's case. .5mg is on the lower side of dosing.

Always consult with a doctor or pharmacist.

Guys i took teh xanax about 3 hrs ago and am still super anxious i took a whole 0.5! what can be wrong i mean can this be a withdrawal symptom?

goodness this is why i hate these kind of meds, i a feeling such bad anxiety and i am tempted to take more but i am trying to hold off on it! aghh is this normal?

Just heading this off at the pass folks before this becomes "I'm right, you're wrong."
Opinions on this subject...as with anything... will vary.
Just agree to disagree and move on.

Guys i took teh xanax about 3 hrs ago and am still super anxious i took a whole 0.5! what can be wrong i mean can this be a withdrawal symptom?

goodness this is why i hate these kind of meds, i a feeling such bad anxiety and i am tempted to take more but i am trying to hold off on it! aghh is this normal?
V that is not a withdrawl symptom, normally withdrawls symptoms erupt when someone has cut back drastically on their meds or no longer taking them..so since you took it three hours ago its safe to say the meds are not doing the trick or you need something stronger.. :jester: later gator..

PLS do not stop on your own. You need to be titrated down. Stopping cold turkey can make you go into seizures..one reason i refused to take it every day. Pls see your dr and let him ease you off. Good luck and keep us updated.

Wow, low dose. I'm on THREE whole 0.5 mg pills a day for my anxiety and I still am always worried about my heart going too slow or maybe a little too fast, sound normal all for anxiety?! Thanks. :bouncing:

I believe every body reacts differently to a drug. I have been taking .5 mg of Xanax daily divided into two doses. For two days, I did not feel that I needed it so I stopped medication. On the third day, I started having anxiety and pins and needle sensations. I am convinced that it is related to the drug. I also take 50 mg of trazadone at night and did not take it for two nights due to stomach problems. I don't know if it is the trazadone or the xanax is causing these symptoms.