Help I Need To Get Off Xanax!!!!

[diabolik74]

Help!! I Need To Get Off Xanax!!!!!!!

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i have been on at least 4 mgs of xanax per day for 6 yrs. i cant take this anymore i have to stop them. i know not to go cold turkey but the side effects from even going down to 3 mgs per day are killing me. i feel like its hard to talk right, im shakey, i startle easily, i cant concentrate, everything seems surreal to me. i stutter when i try to put a sentence together, its so noticable that i dont want to be around people so when i feel this stuff coming on i take my xanax. i just started a new job and i know that ill have these same symptoms even tappering off slowly but i am a grad student and work in customer service and i dont know what to do. can someone help me with some ideas of how to stop them more easily? currently i am prescribed 120 pills of .5's per month, i take them in the morning all at once or 2 in the am and maybe 2 more a little later when i feel withdrawals. sometimes now that ive started working, ive found myself feeling these withdrawals badly after work and have to even take more last few days been taking 5-6mgs/per day. please help someone!

[kim4074]

I dont have much experience with the benzo but I know alot of people hear swear by the Dr Heather Ashton's taper with the benzo. I think you can search her and it will bring you to her manual. I heard they are absolute hell to get of off and it can last months with the w/d's but I dont want to scare you with that maybe instead of cutting down a whole pill start with just a 1/2 of pill cut back and go on from there. I would look up her detox manual for xanax hopefully that will help some. I'm sure someone will come on real quick and give maybe some more advice. Good luck. Kim

[Mari526]

You need to have your doctor help you, can you call and make an appointment? Starting a new job is very stressful so in a way that's working against you. I would definitely concentrate on your diet and making sure you are getting enough sleep. Poor diet and sleep deprivation will make things worse. If you're drinking caffeinated drinks then try to stop or limit them to one a day. Do things that will help you to relax....like long warm baths, drinking chamomile tea, aromatherapy or yoga. It may take awhile before you feel better. I hope I've been helpful.

[kim4074]

On page 4 of this board there is a posting Dr gave valium for Heather Ashton tapper. Alot of good advice on there and also a little about the tapper program for benzo. Hopes that helps. Kim

[benzogirl]

i can't stress enough how important it is for you to do a google search on Professor Heather Ashton Manual (or just type in benzo). it's all about benzodiazepenes. you are on a very short-acting benzo, and you are suffering from interdose-withdrawals. that's why you are having to take more and more. your body is now used to the 4mg. dose, and it is going into withdrawal between doses. this nightmare can get worse beyond your wildest dreams, and i speak from experience. 4mg. per day of xanax is equal to 80mg. of valium! you need to switch over to a longer-acting benzo(preferably valium) so that you can taper down. it is almost impossible to wean off of xanax, especially after 6 years. it doesn't stay in the body long enough for you to be able to taper smoothly. valium has a much longer half-life, so it stays in the body longer. this enables you to taper off of the valium and not suffer such bad withdrawals. i am currently on valium from oxazepam(another very short-acting benzo). please take this seriously. benzos(xanax, klonopin, oxazepam, etc.) are the worst drugs to come off of. to give you hope, i am doing much better on the valium. now that i have stabalized on the valium(meaning manageable withdrawal symptoms), i will begin my taper tomorrow(monday). this is very doable. i went cold turkey from 200+ mg. oxaz(100mg. valium equivalent) for 5-6 days but i had to reinstate due to seizures and severe hallunications(you will not get these symtoms with a slow taper from valium, i promise). i didn't even know it was a benzo. i went through pure hell! i wouldn't wish that experience on my worst enemy. you will be okay, but you have to do the research on benzos. also, make an appt. with your dr. right away, so that you can start your switch asap. most drs. know it is very hard to come off of xanax, and they will put you on a longer-acting benzo to taper from, but it is very important for you to have the knowledge about benzos(once again, Heather Ashton) so that you know how to approach your dr. about it. i only speak from experience here, you definitely need your drs. help. please post back with any questions you have about the ashton manual. i will help you all i can.