xanax withdrawal... sucks

[John 3:16]

Jennita,

Thanks for that little article- that was the point I was trying to make in my post- there is a difference between dependancy and addiction. I was addicted to pain killer- used them solely for the "euphoria" and had to take more and more in time. I am dependant on Xanax- use them solely for my medical needs and often take less than prescribed. I have no "euphoria" or desire to have "euphoria" from taking the Xanax- strictly medical reasons! Thanks for helping me make that point. Have a great night.

Michelle

[Jennita]

Your welcome. Just watch out for those benzos, as even on theraputic doses, one can eventually build tolerance, which brings on withdrawals and requires higher dosing. Sadly, this is not usually recognized by docs as they will say original conditon is "getting worse" and perhaps a new condition develops as well. But those symptoms are usually tolerance. The Ashton Manual is free online with some details.

Just a head's up for the future, just in case!

[leiana25]

im dying to take more xanax,i feel i cant function right without it...itsd teh hardest thing ive veer been through...

Originally Posted by hellokristi

had i known anything about xanax withdrawal before taking this medication i never would have taken it. i have a feeling the withdrawal period is going to be longer than the amount of time i spent on this drug.

i was prescribed xanax at the end of august because i was having several panic attacks a day for a couple days. it was very frightening, as i have not had a panic attack of that nature before. i dont have a real history of panic attacks, either.

my psychiatrist put me on 1mg of xanax a day. at first, i instantly noticed that it took the edge off my panic attacks. those first couple of days i would sort of feel a panic attack coming on but the xanax would keep it from becoming full blown, eventually i didnt have the panic sensation coming on at all. after awhile, i was noticing some unusual side effects (unusual in that i hadnt had them before, but they seemed to be usual xanax side effects)... i was feeling very tired... felt no real sense of time... had nightmares every night... didn't really "care" about things i used to care about. it was weird going from being a proactive, involoved person to being a "zombie"... after two months i realized something was not right. i noticed i had started withdrawing from the medication before it was time for my next dose each day. it became more intense each day... my mind would go blank/i'd having memory problems... i was feeling panicky. so i would take the dose a little earlier each day.

things got to the point where i was so zombie-like that i went to talk to my manager at work about the pattern i had noticed of my behavior over the time i had started the medication. it was effecting my performance at work on a huge scale, and at home i was basically sitting and staring at the walls until my brain switched back on and id get up and actually do something. but mostly i felt like i was out of my head and not myself.

i started reading about xanax withdrawal. initially i was trying to find information on how one might experience withdrawal symptoms even before the next daily dose. thank goodness i had looked for that information... although i didnt find any specifics on that scenario, i found a lot of information about how to withdraw off xanax and how one can't go cold turkey. i had no idea. my doctor was quick to write me the script so i figured it was like any other med he had prescribed me in the past (really lorazepam is the only one i have taken for anxiety stuff).

i took medical leave from work because i wanted to get off this medication. initially my doctor said it was "a bad time for me to start tapering off". at first i took his advice but about two days later at my therapy appointment i was telling my therapist my stories about being on the medication and really wanting to get of and she and i went in and talked to the doctor. he put me on a taper schedule but it sounded drastic. wasnt much of a taper at all.

so i took it upon myself to taper myself off. probably not the best idea in the world but my doctor does not seem too well-read in neuropharmocology... and while im not either... id rather do this myself as carefully as possible then pay him for more crappy advice. i wonder if he even realizes the side effects of withdrawal off benzos?

im in week 3-4 of tapering. im on a pretty low dose now (my pill cutter, my friend) and everyday is a bit of a battle mentally. im scared of going off the medication completely, but in the meantime i am "hanging in there". im back to work now and am feeling fewer side effects of xanax in terms of my memory but i am also writing everything down i encounter. i hit points in the day when i feel like panic is gonna come on or even like im going into a dreamlike state while awake. i sometimes feels like i am falling even when sitting down. sometimes i stare off into space with not a thought in my head. it's creepy but i know this process of tapering isn't easy. everyone's different.

not being "myself" on this medication and while withdrawing from it has been really frustrating. i am constantly putting a disclaimer on conversations with people that i don't feel like myself and i constantly obsess over how weird i am feeling. it's annoying. most people don't understand the sensations when i try to explain and i dont expect them to. but this whole experience has cost me a friendship. this medication has made me have a different personality and it's not me and i think some people just think i am using the medication as an excuse. it even confuses me when i am going through these feelings even for the tenth or twentieth time.

oh well just curious about any similar experiences or advice on this whole thing. im hanging in there but some days i feel like im gonna pass out, hallucinate or lose my mind. i hope this is over soon!

[FONT=Courier New]

[Jennita]

Yes, it can be a living hell, and sometimes the withdrawal is very long, however, you will get a break and feel better inbetween while recovering, so don't give up. In the long run, you will be glad you suffered through this. Many people recover from this but you have to be determined!! If you type benzo withdrawal in your search, you can find alot of websites and support groups. Also look up the free Ashton Manual online for some info on benzos.

[John 3:16]

Quick question-

To those who take lots of Xanax and the ones who are addicted to it, what does it make you feel like? If anyone has read my posts on this thread, you know I take anywhere from .5mgs-1.5mgs a day, but it just makes me feel calm after feeling completely nervous and anxious or sometimes I take it when I get the "shakes" when alot is going on around me. I just wondering how is Xanax abused? What is the feeling from it- I just feel normal when I take mine. Just wanted to be better informed I guess. Thanks for any replies. Take care all,

Michelle