XANAX withdrawal

I too have been on Xanax that a psych doc put me on some 20 years ago, and he didn't say a word about not stopping the drug at once. After two weeks of being on 0.25 three times daily, I actually started having more gut rumbling( which I think was from the paxil he put me on as well), so he upped the Xanax to 0.5 mg. three times a day.

After two more weeks I just wasn't feeling well, so I dropped the paxil thinking there should be no problem with it, and after a few days I felt worse, so out of despair I chose to quit the Xanax. As you know, after about two days, the pounding headache and severe nausea started. Not knowing what else to do I called the doctor, let him know what symptoms I had and that I had also quit the meds.

Without delay, he said he would prescribe a 25mg suppositories Compazine to use for nausea, and a barbiturate with aspirin and caffeine. Parent got them from the pharmacy in about an hour, and after one Compazine and one tablet of the other, after an hour nausea was gone, and minor headache existed. After a few days my muscles felt limp, but I didn't need the Compazine or the pill anymore either, After a week or so, I went back on my Elavil that I was on when I first went to that psych doc.

I tried another psych doc my primary doctor suggested a couple months later because I just couldn't shake some nervousness I had. Now my pain management doc handles my klonopin which was tried for nerve pain since my psych doc already had me on 4mg, but now after 13 years of 6 mg. klonopin, I would like to try to get the klonopin to 5mg, and I just don't know how to really go about it without some help from other medications that are non-benzo and very little possibility of these other meds causing dependency.

Elavil would be a good choice, but my eyes are so dry, I couldn't take enough Elavil to make a difference. 16 to 17 years ago I was on a combo of using something like 3 mg. klonopin and 2-3 mg. Xanax (all at Night) and I felt like I had much more energy through the day than I do on this 6mg. klonopin. . I just don't feel like I can hold down a full time job and be on 6mg klonopin. Tried stimulants years ago, but my chest just can't tolerate them.

It would seem like an oral dose of Compazine would help with the tapering for a few weeks, but no idea how dry it would make me. I have ideas, but not sure if they're good ideas, and not sure if a doctor would go along with any of them.

I've been on 1mg of Alprazolam for 17 years, have never exceeded the dosage and many times needed only half a tab (.5 mg) at bedtime. My PCP has cancelled any refills, without warning, and has Rx'd 30mgs of Buspar daily. I was not able to tolerate a lower dose when we tried it years ago so I'm essentially going cold turkey. Also, my other meds have changed since then and a few don't play nicely with Buspar but apparently I'm the only one checking. The doc said that if I want to continue the xanax I'll have to get it from a psychiatrist but I know from past experience that they'd only push antidepressants and I had adverse reactions to all of them. Once I read that Buspar is very addictive, that did it! I don't need to trade one problem for another.

I have been taking Xanax for insomnia for about 14 years, 1.5 mg per night. I want to stop this medication because it can contribute to falls, especially in older individuals, & I am considered a high fall risk. I have tapered off to 1 mg per night, for one week without any side effects, thus far. The doctor who initially prescribed it, is deceased & I am currently looking for a new primary care physician. Please advise. Thank you.

I have been taking Xanax for insomnia for about 14 years, 1.5 mg per night. I want to stop this medication because it can contribute to falls, especially in older individuals, & I am considered a high fall risk. I have tapered off to 1 mg per night, for one week without any side effects, thus far. The doctor who initially prescribed it, is deceased & I am currently looking for a new primary care physician. Please advise. Thank you.

I have been taking Xanax for insomnia for about 14 years, 1.5 mg per night. I want to stop this medication because it can contribute to falls, especially in older individuals, & I am considered a high fall risk. I have tapered off to 1 mg per night, for one week without any side effects, thus far. The doctor who initially prescribed it, is deceased & I am currently looking for a new primary care physician. Please advise. Thank you.

I have been taking Xanax for insomnia for about 14 years, 1.5 mg per night. I want to stop this medication because it can contribute to falls, especially in older individuals, & I am considered a high fall risk. I have tapered off to 1 mg per night, for one week without any side effects, thus far. The doctor who initially prescribed it, is deceased & I am currently looking for a new primary care physician. Please advise. Thank you.

I have been taking Xanax for a long period of time for sleep as well and have no intentions of attempting a taper. As we age we are all High Fall Risk and being off of Xanax is not going to make that go away. You will also be a fall risk if you don't get the proper sleep and stumble around during the day! As a Director of Nurses I developed many individualized fall risk assessments and plans that certainly took medications into considerations. But there are so many more factors involved. Just my thoughts and opinion. Every sleep aid will pose as a fall risk medication. In fact, if you read the inserts on other medication that you may be on, dizziness is usually included. A physician could order a Therapy Consult from an Occupational Therapist to do a home assessment for fall risk if you feel that might help.