Anyone Else Taking Xanax or Withdrawn

[Hope_Abounds]

Hello,

I took it on my own to quit cold turkey. I tod doctor after the fact.

In my opinion, please, understand that the withdrawal from xanax is ineviable. In other words in time, your tolerance will go up thus your intake for same effect will go up as well. Xanax tolerance due to halk life deems a dosage increase, and withdrawals manifest between doses.

Up to each, but in my opinion again, it is a drug that is not for long term panic, as the reasons being, which I just stated, and that is tolerance levels, and addiction followed by withdrawal syndrome.
HOPE

[MScontin]

Your name says it ALL!! Hope of overcoming dependency of alprazolam
I have SEVERE anxiety and was on 3-2mg xanax+3-2mg ativan and 2 7.5 Tranxene every day(been on one or the other for 7-8 yrs and i'm 27) I will be on klonopin for life. I just had mt doc switch me off the xanax to the k-pin's( xanies are too easy to abuse by accident, like forgetting you just took one!)The K-pin last much longer and work better, but i have to switch on occasions, usually for 3-4mo's, so I lose the tolerance to the K-pin.
I actually get scared by the 24-25 day of my 30 day scripts. i don't abuse them, it's part of my disorder to get anxious. I get 90 of ea/month, and just can't see not taking a benzo. i'm that far in.
But congrats to you!! Iknow the w/d's and never made it past 7 days( that was 4 yrs ago ) your posts give me hope, which really helps. keep us informed, as i am interested in your "TRIP"!!
A.C.

[SBacialli]

MS,
I take klonopin also. I've been taking it for 10 years from 0.5-1mg at night. It was prescribed in combination with an antidepressant and it helped my anxiety/panic attacks.

I have never abused them, or increased the dose, so for osme reason, I have not built up a tolerance to them. Like you, I have the option of quitting, but why? I'm probably on them for life. They've helped, they have no adverse affects and my Dr. of those many years feels I should stay on them.

My problem is with narcotics which I've written about somewhere here. That is a big problem.

I once tried to get into an inpatient detox treamtnet center to stop opiates; and they said they would have to withdraw me from klonopin as well. My Dr. called them, etc. but no dice. that's the rules. So, I found an outpaitnet place that did not have that requirement. I thought that was unfair especially when I was willing to go inpatient detox for help.

Sue

[housemum]

Hope-abounds...congratulations. Cold turkey is not easy to do and I'm glad you haven't had any serious w/d symtoms like seizures or worse.

Xanax does wonders for me, but yes you are right the "in-between" symptoms between doses can be brutal. Which keeps you popping the pills.

I've lowered about as much as I can .125 (half a .25) in the morning and the same in the evening. I do okay with that, but any less, or skipping a dose within 12 hours I'm feeling the panic anxiety, brainfog, headaches begin.

I've heard switching to valium can help, but haven't tried it yet.

I'm debating about going cold turkey, or staying on as my life is really good now and my panic attacks have been managed for 3 years. Some say why rock the boat (like dh). What I'm doing is working, but I worry about the long-term effect even though I have never increased or abused the drug.

I sometimes hate having to make these decisions. My Dr. tends to let me have my way with whatever I want.

I'm thinking I may need to switch to a benzo with a longer half-life, maybe it will be easier to go off...I just don't know.

[yinksy]

...

[This message has been edited by AddictionMod (edited 09-03-2003).]