Going off of Xanax

Posted by bvgrammy @bvgrammy, Nov 23, 2016

I have been taking Xanax for 25 years for Fibromyalgia and Anxiety. I am trying to wean myself off of it. Has anyone done this?

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Not trying to be a Smart Alec, but Xanax 0.5 mg is a next to nothing dose. If it has helped you all these years, why taper off of it? There a numerous mental status changes that occur as one ages......and not necessarily related to the Xanax. And Carolinlv, you're right....where do you go except to a .25 which is like a crumb and more than likely will not be accurate dosing by attempting to cut it. My guess would be your increase in anxiety/depression was probably due to your B/P meds and statins. Changes in mental status may simply be due to the aging process, "age related." Just my opinion! I am 75 and found that to be true. Getting older is not for wimps!

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I’m 66, take 20 of Lexapro and Bupropion 300 daily. I still get anxious and use .25 Xanax once daily. I told my Dr I’m concerned about using it due to its connection with memory loss. He always tells me not to worry (lol) Chronic worry is my problem. I also use 50 mg of Trazodone at night to sleep. Sometimes I just want to get off all of this

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I have. I was taking it for 40 years for Fibromyalgia and Anxiety and 3 years I decided it was time to go off of it with the help of my Dr. Yay! I did it but it took a year. I am so proud of myself but sometimes I do miss it.

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@bestgrammy

I have. I was taking it for 40 years for Fibromyalgia and Anxiety and 3 years I decided it was time to go off of it with the help of my Dr. Yay! I did it but it took a year. I am so proud of myself but sometimes I do miss it.

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By the way it was not easy.

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@kndaustin71

Not trying to be a Smart Alec, but Xanax 0.5 mg is a next to nothing dose. If it has helped you all these years, why taper off of it? There a numerous mental status changes that occur as one ages......and not necessarily related to the Xanax. And Carolinlv, you're right....where do you go except to a .25 which is like a crumb and more than likely will not be accurate dosing by attempting to cut it. My guess would be your increase in anxiety/depression was probably due to your B/P meds and statins. Changes in mental status may simply be due to the aging process, "age related." Just my opinion! I am 75 and found that to be true. Getting older is not for wimps!

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For sure!

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@kndaustin71

Not trying to be a Smart Alec, but Xanax 0.5 mg is a next to nothing dose. If it has helped you all these years, why taper off of it? There a numerous mental status changes that occur as one ages......and not necessarily related to the Xanax. And Carolinlv, you're right....where do you go except to a .25 which is like a crumb and more than likely will not be accurate dosing by attempting to cut it. My guess would be your increase in anxiety/depression was probably due to your B/P meds and statins. Changes in mental status may simply be due to the aging process, "age related." Just my opinion! I am 75 and found that to be true. Getting older is not for wimps!

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.5mg. Xanax is
equivalent to 10 mgs. Valium. Not really a small dose. You also have to keep in mind that at some point that .5 will
stop working and become ineffective.

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@kndaustin71

Not trying to be a Smart Alec, but Xanax 0.5 mg is a next to nothing dose. If it has helped you all these years, why taper off of it? There a numerous mental status changes that occur as one ages......and not necessarily related to the Xanax. And Carolinlv, you're right....where do you go except to a .25 which is like a crumb and more than likely will not be accurate dosing by attempting to cut it. My guess would be your increase in anxiety/depression was probably due to your B/P meds and statins. Changes in mental status may simply be due to the aging process, "age related." Just my opinion! I am 75 and found that to be true. Getting older is not for wimps!

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You mention BP meds and statins. I really started my anxiety I think when I started taking Crestor. I have read it can cause anxiety. Have been off it for 6 days. Maybe feel some better. Have you had this experience and if so when did side affects stop. My BP meds I have taken for years with no problem

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@alina23

Hi rascal1
I’m not sure if you still check this it’s been a while. I started at 1 2mg pill 11 Years ago. One each night along with Wellbutrin in the morning. At this point I’m taking 3 of them to go to sleep at night if not 4. Would you say in your exp if you had success doing Ashton method? Do you find your lifestyle has improved? I know it affects memory firsthand; I have a lot of shame for the amount I take. I’d be happy to come down by half my nightly dose ( 6mg) for a year since it’s been a while. Would you let me know if you had long-term success? I’d love to learn if it’s worth the pain. It’s definitely difficult maintaining the prescriptions, as when they run out doctors always give the strange eyes etc.(even when they are a long-term practitioner.) They are happy to increase your dose over the years but then when you go to refill your 3 month prescriptions, even if it’s over three months, I get the “popper” looks. I feel like in some ways it’s easier for doctors over the past 10 years to prescribe this the meds to me because I’m somewhat well spoken and well put together. I get a few generic questions but nobody suggesting we switch dose or Klonopin or assist with a taper. I know their not crack but they are still very real , very bad addictive drugs.

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I am wondering after the long period of time it’s been since your post if you were successful in weaning off this medication? If so, could you share how you did it? I’m in need of some support right now.

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@kndaustin71

Not trying to be a Smart Alec, but Xanax 0.5 mg is a next to nothing dose. If it has helped you all these years, why taper off of it? There a numerous mental status changes that occur as one ages......and not necessarily related to the Xanax. And Carolinlv, you're right....where do you go except to a .25 which is like a crumb and more than likely will not be accurate dosing by attempting to cut it. My guess would be your increase in anxiety/depression was probably due to your B/P meds and statins. Changes in mental status may simply be due to the aging process, "age related." Just my opinion! I am 75 and found that to be true. Getting older is not for wimps!

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I’m hoping it’s not age related because it came on so quickly and I would hate to think it’s my future. I went from taking trips and doing things with my family last December to a lump on the couch by March. I’m trying to stop my measly .5 mg of Xanax largely because I think it’s now responsible for a tremor in my hand, dry mouth, and leg and foot neuropathy. All these things have presented themselves within the last six months. I’ve had massive amounts of blood work done. I have excess B6 that’s unexplainable and too many red blood cells?? No Doctor can explain either of these because I don’t ingest anything to have them. Saw a rheumatologist for what could have been lupus. He did further bloodwork and it’s not. No auto immune thankfully. Now that I’ve stopped statins and beta blockers, I have nothing else to blame, so I’m really hoping it’s this drug. That amount may sound small, but if you’ve taken it for many years (and done everything you can not to increase it) trust me it’s not! I’m no longer getting any benefits from it – just the bad stuff, but my body physically wants it.

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@carolinlv

I am wondering after the long period of time it’s been since your post if you were successful in weaning off this medication? If so, could you share how you did it? I’m in need of some support right now.

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I can't remember the name of the methodology but basically you decrease your amount by 25% every two weeks. So if you're taking 4 mg you would slowly try to wean back to 3 mg after 2 -3 wks - time. Stay there for another two or three weeks and then try to go down again, the rule is 25% but anything less is a step in the right direction. I've been 1 mg for a year now. I'm OK with that. I don't take antidepressants I very rarely drink and I take silica magnesium vitamin C And zinc Daily. (Alongside my Collagen and green tea of course. It's a turkey time of year when the seasons change especially fall. Fall was difficult for me I would always feel a little blue and want to 'up' my medication.
While you're trying to drop this 25% over this next two weeks/18 days, try to look into some different methodologies like tapping cognitive behavior. Deep breathing. It sounds overrated but maybe you can join something or watch a YouTube online. Finally if you can check out Instagram there's a Doctor @nickortner founder of @ thetappingsolution. Remember there is no one size fits all. As long as you're doing better four days out of seven you are winning. Again my experience was for 1 mg tablets per night. After two weeks not only did I go down to 3.5 mg, I substituted one pill for clonazepam Which was about the equivalent dose of Xanax - per pill . The next day I felt a little bit fidgety but I knew the physical part was helping to let go of the addiction. it took me two months almost 3.

I will say that Xanax does not feel the same anymore. I don't immediately feel relaxation anymore. It just helps me sleep..:) Feel free to contact me anytime. I am usually up around now (eu)

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