Going off of Xanax

Unfortunately one can become very dependent on gabapentin. Another drug that can require a long taper.

Hi Sears, thank you for reaching out to me, I posted a rather lengthy message but it came from the heart combined with undo stress. When I said that he put me in the care of the pharmacy it meant that he didn’t want to deal with me regarding my benzodiazepine, so now he provides me with the allotted amount I’m given and the pharmacy will advise me when I’m permitted to pick up my prescription. I truly feel demeaned by this process but at least I’m not having to get into ongoing arguments about my dosage and how long I have to wait for a refill. In the long run it’s less stressful for both of us, he’s not abandoning me as my doctor which is more than I can say for others who were. I have issues with some of the staff at the pharmacy who are often too vocal about my situation and I don’t need this, frankly it’s none of their business, I get my therapy from those who are experienced in this field.

Taking a benzodiazepine nowadays is not for the feint of heart. It’s getting worse everyday. I am so happy I am no longer dependent on a benzo. It wasn’t easy getting off but totally worth it. There’s absolutely no way I could live not knowing if or when a doctor was going to yank my script. I now use propanolol as needed for anxiety, and must say it’s been very helpful.

@sears, I totally relate to you, it’s a ball and chain that I drag around and totally limits my life. I am in therapy and working hard to get better control over myself, I didn’t just seek help with my addiction, I went much deeper into the event that started this whole situation. It’s slow going but I feel confident that once I put the negative stuff away once and for all, only then will I be able to gain control over the physical condition. I am very happy for you that you’re free of this stress and it gives me hope that I too can do this, thank you.

@sears, I just wanted to add that I’m unable to take proponolol due to it being a beta blocker, I’m asthmatic so this med would be dangerous to use in my case, I have also tried Gabapentin and the side effects were profound, Buspar didn’t agree with me due to adverse stomach pain so long story short, there were some attempts made to wean me off benzos to no avail. A few months ago the pharmacy filled my prescription and gave me Ativan which I take but it was a different brand, they were confident I would be fine but I wasn’t, perhaps they used different fillers in the drug but when I took it my symptoms were like I was having a coronary event. Unfortunately I couldn’t take them and it took the better part of a week to get the right ones. It was truly horrible to experience what full withdrawal felt like not to mention how powerful these meds are.

When my doctor abandoned me years ago and I wound up on the psychiatric ward of the hospital at age 67 I knew I had to stop with the Benzos. I had to find an alternative and I did. Thank God. We can’t depend on these doctors prescribing controlled substances long term, they’re afraid of losing their licenses and we can’t blame them.

I was on some form of benzos from my mid 20s until 2018. I was 57. Under medical supervision- 3 doctors one who was neurologist I completed a successful withdrawal that took 7 months. I had a seizure risk at the time from a craniotomy done in 2014. I remained seizure and in the fall of 2018 had my first eeg showing no seizure risk. I have a breach rhythm now which is abnormal from the skull defect created by the craniotomy but is non epileptic. I still remember to this day the taper. Fear excitement. My cognition critical thinking skills improved. Psychiatry engaged in extreme over medication when the answers were behavior change dealing with our trauna hard Boundary setting. I am so sorry this happened to you. You will not die if you get help and begin a supervised taper.I am appalled someone told you this.

My family doctor of 24 years is semi retired, I think that next year he’ll probably stop working. I am obviously nervous about this because he’s the one who fills my prescription, he did assure me that he will have another doctor take over his practice however as much as this is a comfort to me living in Canada where doctors are very scarce, it won’t guarantee me that a new doctor will do the same thing for me. I’m trying not to get ahead of myself, I’ve been trying to get used to living life in the moment but the mind is often hard to control. Perhaps on a positive note the new doctor will be more experienced in helping me out with the benzodiazepine. I never realized that you were abandoned by your doctor, I had and still have nightmares about that, it’s so good to hear that you’re past this horrible experience and living your life without these meds, it really gives me hope to carry on trying.

Please stay ahead of the game and don’t get yourself in the position of being force tapered or fast tapered. Tapering goes more smoothly when we’re in control and not the doctor. I found a doctor( not easy) that let me be completely in control of the taper process. He prescribed, I determined when I was going to cut my dose and how much I was going to cut. I was never pressured and it worked out well. In retrospect I feel I could have tapered off faster. I don’t think I actually needed to drag it out for 5 years. I was only several months into my taper when the pandemic and lockdown came about and that definitely set me back. That was a stressful time for everyone and something we’d never experienced. Not a good time to taper a benzo that’s for sure! I also experienced the loss of my only sibling, my dog died, my son’s house burnt down, etc. It was a mess! I made it though!

You’re a survivor for sure and strong because you went through hell. I agree with what you’re saying and I sincerely hope to do exactly what you’re saying, I have gotten down several times to 0.5 per day, I was so proud. I then went into the pandemic and tried to stay strong but six months later I got a lung cancer diagnosis and it knocked me for a loop. I’m a two time survivor and in remission for two years now so once again I’m challenging myself to stop being afraid all the time and fight back. I don’t know how long God will let me live but I don’t want to give up on myself and I definitely don’t want pity from the doctor because that will only weaken my resolve. I’m glad we had a chance to connect, it really means a lot to me, take care, Frouke.