Any positive stories about Benzo tapering? I need hope

How are you doing? Are things getting better for you?

Hi @sears I'm doing very well thanks. I guess I'm pretty lucky although I took 1-1.5 mg and once in a while 2mg for well over twenty years I haven't had any side effects yet tapering. It's easy to break 1 mg tablets in half and quarters with a Walgreens pill splitter the in between sizes I just file some off with a finger nail file. If you can get your dr. to write a lower dose generic alprazolam for you the price isn't that high cash price no insurance. Maybe get feeling better and start a slow taper. I also read that vigorous exercise is good for building Gabba in the brain so it helps lessen the effects of reducing your intake. I am up to doing about 180-200 minutes a week. trying to get my heart rate up to around 80% of max. Maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age. If you can't do it just start by doing what you can I am absolutely certain it helps the way I feel big-time. I do mine on a treadmill 3.5 degree incline 3.4 mph.Hope this helps in some way and I wish you all the best

So glad to hear you’re doing so well! I know exercise really helps. Thanks for the advice. Keep us posted. It’s stories like yours we’re all wanting to hear!

Hi all, thought members in this discussion might like to know that Mayo Clinic Connect has opened up a brand new group dedicated to COVID-19, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/covid-19/. The hope is to help members connect and cope during these unprecedented times.

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Update. I was able to jump off altogether on Easter Sunday. Tapering and exercise did work very well for me. I had a bunch of small pieces of xanax cut up and ready to keep tapering but I was feeling so good with no bad effects I decided to give a jump-off a try and just did it and have felt just fine every day. I realize I started from a pretty low dose but it was for over twenty years. I pray for everyone looking to quit and I wish all who post and read here the very very best. You can do it be patient and don't take giant steps.

Congratulations! I know you are so relieved!

Way to go, @jimk849 !! That is great news to hear. I am glad you didn't have any major side effects. How's the exercise going?

Thank you. The exercise is going great, the gym is closed for covid 19 it's going to be awhile in Illinois. I have a treadmill in the house I still do a lot of mins sometimes my legs get pretty tired and I take a few days off to recoop and get started again it keeps my BP in good shape. I also have a rescued dog from Hurricane Harvey and my wife and I take her out for a mile walk each day weather permitting on top of the bathroom breaks. At my age now it's use it or lose it so I'm trying to keep moving so I can have a good long retirement hopefully. Since the gym is closed I'm also trying to do some planks and push-ups to work upper body but that is uphill but gaining a little ground, that too is slow and steady, it seems that's a good approach to many things. At my age I'm finally learning to be patient it never was my strong suit. Good luck to all who read on this thread.

What dose were you on and how long did you taper?

I was on about 1.5 mg to occasionally 2mg per day for well over 20 years never got up there, had random drug testing where i worked and that probably was a blessing as far as going up the ladder. I'm thinking I started tapering sometime in Jan. this year and didn't take any thing on Easter Sunday and haven't since. I think tapering slowly not taking big cuts to derail yourself and as much exercise as you can safely tolerate helps a lot also gave up diet coke for lent and drank near a gallon of water a day and although I'm drinking diet coke again nothing like the amount I drank before I just don't crave it like I did before. Good luck to all on their own personal journey