Just wanted to post my celebration & share it with the people that helped make it possible. If it weren't for the encouragement I received, I would never have taken that first step to start my taper & eventually have the monkey off my back. Especially when I had a doctor telling me to keep taking it, that I "needed" it. It was so hard to do.

You told me that it would be worth it, and you were so right.

I felt worse than I ever did, on some days - and still have some crappy days - but worth it. For sure!

Just being free, it is such a huge difference.

So - just wanted to say hi, tell people that it is possible, and most of all to say THANKS to all of you here. You really, truly made the difference for me - I would not have stopped, at least not yet - had it not been for you guys giving me that push that I needed.

Big hugs to everyone here!! Keep strong.. you are worth it. :angel:

Way to go Zoso! 3 months is a huge accomplishment. I am almost at 6 months clean now. Just a little word of caution: I noticed around month four or five having cravings occasionally and they caught me off guard. I'm very glad that I don't have access to any vic's because the overwhelming majority of the time I have no interest in taking them, but if they had been around on those few occasions when I felt weak ... let's just say I couldn't be certain I wouldn't have taken them. However, the last month has actually been great. I think I'm really feeling like myself again and the vic's seem like an old nightmare. Anyhow, I'm trying to say that I think it just continually gets better with time and you continue to improve even six months out - so keep going!!

Way to go Zoso! 3 months is a huge accomplishment. I am almost at 6 months clean now. Just a little word of caution: I noticed around month four or five having cravings occasionally and they caught me off guard. I'm very glad that I don't have access to any vic's because the overwhelming majority of the time I have no interest in taking them, but if they had been around on those few occasions when I felt weak ... let's just say I couldn't be certain I wouldn't have taken them. However, the last month has actually been great. I think I'm really feeling like myself again and the vic's seem like an old nightmare. Anyhow, I'm trying to say that I think it just continually gets better with time and you continue to improve even six months out - so keep going!!

6 months - way to go!! Thank you for the words of caution - I will be sure to stay extra strong in these coming months. Cravings come & go of course - but I just think about going through it all again & that's enough to stop me.

I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better & better - that is great news! Take care!

Hello Zoso

A huge round of applause from me on this accomplishment. I know what an extremely hard struggle it is to come off a benzo.

You know what I just finished doing? I spent the last fifty minutes going back over many of the threads you had started concerning your taper off Xanax. I am super amazed that you were able to do it so quickly. Wow!

I am trying so hard to learn all I can about this. We have talked on occasion. I went so far back in your threads that I never got to the pages where we talked. Hahaha. What is so great is that you kind of "journaled" your way through the taper and I want to thank you SO very much for the effort you put into that. To be able to "see" your journey is an incredible help to others.

I know you were at two tabs a day of Xanax.... could you help me remember the strenghth of the tabs? .025? .5? I know you told me at some point, but I have not reread enough yet to refind that info.

I have not officially started my own taper from Xanax yet. Just finished the taper from oxycodone and need a bit of a break to regroup and feel a bit stronger. Funny thing is, though, that I am down to two .5 tabs a day. Sometimes I would get so busy in my efforts to fight off the anxiety of the oxycodone taper that I would find I had passed my scheduled dose by so many hours that, after teeter-tottering back and forth, I was able to finally just stop it. Now it is one tab around noon and one tab around 10:00PM.

Sorry... this was supposed to be a CONGRATULATIONS posting. Please know that it IS... and additionally, it is a huge THANK YOU posting...

CONGRATULATIONS on your success
THANK YOU for sharing your story.

You are a "seed planter," ZOSO... planting seeds of hope, inspiration and knowledge.

God Bless you
reach

wow thats wonderfull im on 1 mg xanax 3 times a day and i dont know how to even start getting off i was put on mine for depression and panic attacks and my life is worse now then ever i also have thyriod trouble high levels but they are coming down do i do this on my own or do i need a dr to help me get off the xanax i never over take but i do take 3 a day im weening off the celexa the dr gave me so far this is my first week so how does one taper off and if so how bad are the side effects??? i want off all these meds because the only trouble i have is my thyriods.
and if you can do it im sure i can but a friend of mine told me he was a total mess he said getting off his was his worst nightmare .any advice for me would be very helpfull as im sick of drs putting me on xanax and all kinds of anti depressents and thinking im crazy yes im crazy because of the meds now my thyriod meds i have to take for life.i been on theses meds for 1 yr now.right after i had surgery.
thanks vickie45:wave:

Hey guys, well done on getting clean! It's a great accomplisment and it's nice to hear success stories that started on these boards.

One thing I'm like to add is that getting clean was only half the story for me; getting sober and into recovery was the whole picture. It's because I still had lots of character defects etc and after my 1st few weeks I relapsed because when the going got tough and someone hit a raw note, I just didn't know how to handle it other than getting drunk.

Bad memories will only keep us sober on a shoe string and over time we often get unhappy if that's all we have to keep us happy. For myself it was the 12 steps that helped me face these bad issues whithin myself and now I'm over 5 years sober! But I'm still only one drink from a drunk and it's one day at a time that I live my life. My mind hurts if I get lost in tommorow and the day after.

Best Wishes in the meantime

wow thats wonderfull im on 1 mg xanax 3 times a day and i dont know how to even start getting off i was put on mine for depression and panic attacks and my life is worse now then ever i also have thyriod trouble high levels but they are coming down do i do this on my own or do i need a dr to help me get off the xanax i never over take but i do take 3 a day im weening off the celexa the dr gave me so far this is my first week so how does one taper off and if so how bad are the side effects??? i want off all these meds because the only trouble i have is my thyriods.
and if you can do it im sure i can but a friend of mine told me he was a total mess he said getting off his was his worst nightmare .any advice for me would be very helpfull as im sick of drs putting me on xanax and all kinds of anti depressents and thinking im crazy yes im crazy because of the meds now my thyriod meds i have to take for life.i been on theses meds for 1 yr now.right after i had surgery.
thanks vickie45:wave:

Hi Vickie,

Xanax can be a great med for people who take it only very occasionally or for a very short period of time due to a major life event. Taking it every day sets us up for major trouble pretty quickly. Like you, I had a doctor who just gave me plenty of it for "anxeity". She didn't believe me when I said I was physically addicted.

Physical addiction happens with a few week or months. This stuff takes over quick.

First off, my recommendation is that you do a search for Professor Heather Ashton in the UK, and read her report on benzo tapering and withdrawal - if you haven't already. I learned so much from this, as well as the websites it directed me to.

But - a word of caution when reading all of the info: Do not let the horror stories freak you out, okay? I let them get to me at first & it made me feel a lot worse because of the anxiety it caused. None of the horrific things happened to me - and don't happen to most people. So please try to remember that first & foremost.

I started xanax due to a heart arrythmia that was freaking me out (because I could feel it) every day. At first it really helped - within about 8 months I felt worse & worse. It was due to the tolerance & daily withdrawals that come with benzo uses, unless you keep increasing & increasing. Eventually you will hit a bad place.

Many doctors do not recognize how bad Xanax (benzos) are. Most thought I could just stop taking them - bad idea! One said I should taper, so I listened to him.

He said to make very, very small cuts & only taper down when I felt ready. I tapered over a period of 9 weeks - which may have been a bit too fast in many opinions.

Some people taper with the aid of Valium (if you can get a doc to give it to you); others go to rehab & are given Depakote. I just wanted off & did my own taper.

It was very tough at times. But I'm a lot better now. It was worth the fight. If you do a search, you can find my posts which talk about my WD's & stuff. (Some people thought that I was having WD's assuming that I quit Cold Turkey - but I did not quit Cold Turkey.) Benzo WD are very different from other drugs for many people.

Be ready to take care of yourself. Not many people in your world are going to understand what you are feeling. Post on these boards, read Professor Ashtons manual - do everything you can to make it through.

Wean off the celexa & wait until you feel ready to start the xanax taper. I took Paxil years ago & weaned off over a month period. The only side effect I had from Paxil WD was headaches & head zaps. Not TOO bad, IMO.

I also have a thyroid problem - but for now it is just under watch by the MD's.

Good luck to you - you can do this. You are going to feel a LOT better eventually, once you get the Xanax out of your life on a daily basis!

Hello Zoso

A huge round of applause from me on this accomplishment. I know what an extremely hard struggle it is to come off a benzo.

You know what I just finished doing? I spent the last fifty minutes going back over many of the threads you had started concerning your taper off Xanax. I am super amazed that you were able to do it so quickly. Wow!

I am trying so hard to learn all I can about this. We have talked on occasion. I went so far back in your threads that I never got to the pages where we talked. Hahaha. What is so great is that you kind of "journaled" your way through the taper and I want to thank you SO very much for the effort you put into that. To be able to "see" your journey is an incredible help to others.

I know you were at two tabs a day of Xanax.... could you help me remember the strenghth of the tabs? .025? .5? I know you told me at some point, but I have not reread enough yet to refind that info.

I have not officially started my own taper from Xanax yet. Just finished the taper from oxycodone and need a bit of a break to regroup and feel a bit stronger. Funny thing is, though, that I am down to two .5 tabs a day. Sometimes I would get so bust in my efforts to fight off the anxiety of the oxycodone taper that I would find I had passed my scheduled dose by so many hours that, after teeter-tottering back and forth, I was able to finally just stop it. Now it is one tab around noon and one tab around 10:00PM.

Sorry... this was supposed to be a CONGRATULATIONS posting. Please know that it IS... and additionally, it is a huge THANK YOU posting...

CONGRATULATIONS on your success
THANK YOU for sharing your story.

You are a "seed planter," ZOSO... planting seeds of hope, inspiration and knowledge.

God Bless you
reach

Wow, thanks Reach - that really helped me feel good. I'm glad I'm helping some people out.

I totally remember our conversations here on the board :)

CONGRATS on your oxycodone taper! Yahoooo!! That is something to be super proud of, and to celebrate. Big hug to you!

Definitely just give yourself some time to regroup before starting your Xanax taper.

I was taking a total of .5 per day (2 tablets per day, .25 each).

Just remember to stay away from the horror stories as much as possible. They will make you feel 10,000 times worse... that's what I found out quickly.

I've been feeling reasonably "normal" for about a week. It rocks. I'm hoping its a sign of things to come - less symptoms as time goes on.

The most important bit of advice I can give about Xanax - remind yourself each & every day that eventually you will feel better.

Cheers & hugs!:wave:

CONGRATS!!!!:D I 100% agree with you to "NOT READ THE HORROR STORIES!!!!" and stay positive.Don't wake up in the morning and say "I'm withdrawling...I wonder how "crappy" my day is going to be"...instead say....."I'm going to be happy and have a great day!!"..."I'm healthy"....."I'm a strong person".....if you feel withdrawl symptoms say to your self..."I'm healing"....ok i'm done.......Congrats. again and don't be a stranger:wave:

Hi Vickie,

Xanax can be a great med for people who take it only very occasionally or for a very short period of time due to a major life event. Taking it every day sets us up for major trouble pretty quickly. Like you, I had a doctor who just gave me plenty of it for "anxeity". She didn't believe me when I said I was physically addicted.

Physical addiction happens with a few week or months. This stuff takes over quick.

First off, my recommendation is that you do a search for Professor Heather Ashton in the UK, and read her report on benzo tapering and withdrawal - if you haven't already. I learned so much from this, as well as the websites it directed me to.

But - a word of caution when reading all of the info: Do not let the horror stories freak you out, okay? I let them get to me at first & it made me feel a lot worse because of the anxiety it caused. None of the horrific things happened to me - and don't happen to most people. So please try to remember that first & foremost.

I started xanax due to a heart arrythmia that was freaking me out (because I could feel it) every day. At first it really helped - within about 8 months I felt worse & worse. It was due to the tolerance & daily withdrawals that come with benzo uses, unless you keep increasing & increasing. Eventually you will hit a bad place.

Many doctors do not recognize how bad Xanax (benzos) are. Most thought I could just stop taking them - bad idea! One said I should taper, so I listened to him.

He said to make very, very small cuts & only taper down when I felt ready. I tapered over a period of 9 weeks - which may have been a bit too fast in many opinions.

Some people taper with the aid of Valium (if you can get a doc to give it to you); others go to rehab & are given Depakote. I just wanted off & did my own taper.

It was very tough at times. But I'm a lot better now. It was worth the fight. If you do a search, you can find my posts which talk about my WD's & stuff. (Some people thought that I was having WD's assuming that I quit Cold Turkey - but I did not quit Cold Turkey.) Benzo WD are very different from other drugs for many people.

Be ready to take care of yourself. Not many people in your world are going to understand what you are feeling. Post on these boards, read Professor Ashtons manual - do everything you can to make it through.

Wean off the celexa & wait until you feel ready to start the xanax taper. I took Paxil years ago & weaned off over a month period. The only side effect I had from Paxil WD was headaches & head zaps. Not TOO bad, IMO.

I also have a thyroid problem - but for now it is just under watch by the MD's.

Good luck to you - you can do this. You are going to feel a LOT better eventually, once you get the Xanax out of your life on a daily basis!

yes i know it my friend told me when he went off he went cold turkey he went and stayed with his sister he told me it was his worst nightmare but hes now all better and yes im letting my dr ween me off my new dr that is my poor sister is addicted to hers shes been on hers for 13 yrs and she takes them like she will take one then 2 to 3 hrs later she will take another and yes im weening off celexa i was on 20 mg they were too much for me so i cut them in half and the drugstore told me take the half for 2 weeks then 1 every other day then stop for 1 week my new dr cant tell me on the celexa he said the dr who gave them to me had too and that was my psychatrist and he refuses to tell me how because he got mad cause i wanted off both celexa and xanax and so he termanated me oh well he done me a favor i didnt need a psychatrist or anti depressents mine was due from my thyriods went out of whack right after i had my left ovary and tube removed jan 2006 thats what happened to me .but i will get through it if it gets bad i dont know what i'll do cause i dont want another panic attack or the depression or the agraphobia i finally got my life back it only took me 7 weeks to start feeling good again but i want off the other meds if i dont need them and i dont think i need them but after i get the celexa out of my body first and i did hear xanax is worse to come off of but i only been taking mine for 1 yr so hopefully i'll get through it .god bless

im so happy for you now its my turn and im feeling pretty great now since my thyriods are better i think i have them under control now so next is getting off the xanax and im on the 1 mg 3 times a day somedays i dont need one for 15 hrs later so thats pretty good but im letting the dr help me i go to my new dr on march 23rd but i give you a BIG HI FIVE ON YOUR SUCESS. my sister tried to tell me if i have thyriod disoder id have to take them all my life but i dont shes hooked on hers though but her dr took her xanax away and gave her klonapin because she was abusing hers she was to take 2 1 mg xanax a day so they gave her 60 pills for a month well she allways ran out ,i never run out i allways alot left over at the time im due for a refill so i think im going to do just fine getting off them anyway thats how im feeling i got up today and wasnt near as shaky as i was either but i wanted to give you a BIG CONGRADULATIONS ON YOUR SUCESS .way to go .

HI, I am on a taper from Xanax and am down to three 0.5 mg per day. Its been relatively smooth, but i am having some anxiety now. Any suggestions please,
Thanks, Bruce

zoso good going. I trust you are now completely drug and alcohol free. Please don't mess around!