xanax withdrawal

[cindyherman]

Has anyone here ever experienced success in the detox of xanax.....no tapering......Thanks

[MomOf4VA]

Nope, but what I did hear was that it's very dangerous. Can cause seizure, even lead to death. Read up on it. Please get help if you have run out. We are here for you if you need us.

~Kim

[dwp512]

Probably not what you want to hear, but I think it is STRONGLY recommended to come off a xanax addication under medical supervision. I do know it can be and has been fatal, under the right (wrong) circumstances. From my understanding, this process transcends 'buy some ensure shakes and suck it up for a few days'.

There is book Ashton's something that discussed the differetn benzos and how to taper and switch from one to another appropriately and safely. Abruptly stopping without tapering from a heavy benzo addiction is going to have some serious psychotic potential...ever see that movie with Jill someone...dancing as fast as I can. Didn't look fun.

[Ellnyc]

Discontinuing xanax abruptly is definitely not recommended. I detoxed in rehab (Hazelden, in 1988). For 21 days I was given Serax a milder (longer acting) form of benzo, slowly tapering off that. I never knew what doses i was given. Even with the 3 week taper it was the hardest thing I ever had to do. In addition, the post accute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) continues for many, many months. I found support by attending meetings. Please seek medical advise/supervision before attempting this. The severity of my wd from this (benzo's) has kept me from ever wanting to take another! Almost 17 years! Thank G-d!
Wishing you the best,
Ell

[cindyherman]

Thanks for the responses.....Yes I'm in an outpatient program and I spent the first week inpatient ...was given phenobarbitol, and now Trilectol ?? (anti-seisure) I will be entering my 3rd week of this nightmare today.
I had nooooooo idea about how hard this detox would be........or I too, would have never taken the first one.
I have a painful....very stiff ...left neck......with numbness in practically the whole right side of my body......I keep screaming at the doctors.....that this sounds like a stroke.....but they say it is the withdrawal......How long am I going to feel like this..????? ITs getting very hard to bare..........I have never felt so bad in all my life.......nauseaus, tingling, can hardly walk,,,,,,face is totally swollen.......sweating profusely at times, can't sleep, nervous......cannot taste anything.....
Oh Yeah., and on the 4th day into this recovery......2 of my teeth became abyssesd....then the day after, I broke out into hives......then 3 days later I had an asthma attack....had to take prednisone to breathe.........seems like any part of my body that has ever malfunctioned..is repeating it all at once......
Anyone else out there who can identify with this........please comment.....especially if you finally did recover completely.............I need to hear a good ending ..............Thanks C.H. :