XANAX withdrawal

Posted by dianrib @dianrib, Jul 16, 2018

I found out the hard way how difficult it is to get off Xanax. My MD never warned me of this . 3 days with no Xanax sent me to the ER with 300 BP.. horrid headache, nausea. I thought I was dying or having a stroke . ER team did a brain scan to check. People must be made more aware of this. Check with your Pharmacist. I did not have this problem with Prozac...quit easily.

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@flow65

May I ask you something? You have been on xanax for 25 yrs. How much xanax were you taking and how much now? We don’t know how much to reduce. Thank you for everything.

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I really can’t help. It’s very very difficult to taper straight off Xanax. I switched to Valium which has a long half life. This has been extremely helpful for me and thousands upon thousands if not millions of others. I don’t think I could have tapered comfortably without switching to Valium. Xanax is too potent and wears off too quickly. I was prescribed 3 mgs. per day. I use the Ashton method which allows you to hold for awhile until your brain adjusts to the last cut. It’s a patient led taper. I may hold for a few months, I may hold for 3 or four. I never ever cut more than once per month. As an example I held for quite sometime when my sister was dying and I was helping to care for her. My doctor is fine with this. Approves it whole heartedly. My doctor is also taking into consideration my age, the high amount I was taking and the number of years I took it. I’m now at 3.75 mgs of Valium per day. This would be equivalent to less than 1/4 mg. xanax per day. 1 mg. Xanax is equivalent to 20 mgs. Valium. I have not had any withdrawal symptoms I could not handle.

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@sears

I really can’t help. It’s very very difficult to taper straight off Xanax. I switched to Valium which has a long half life. This has been extremely helpful for me and thousands upon thousands if not millions of others. I don’t think I could have tapered comfortably without switching to Valium. Xanax is too potent and wears off too quickly. I was prescribed 3 mgs. per day. I use the Ashton method which allows you to hold for awhile until your brain adjusts to the last cut. It’s a patient led taper. I may hold for a few months, I may hold for 3 or four. I never ever cut more than once per month. As an example I held for quite sometime when my sister was dying and I was helping to care for her. My doctor is fine with this. Approves it whole heartedly. My doctor is also taking into consideration my age, the high amount I was taking and the number of years I took it. I’m now at 3.75 mgs of Valium per day. This would be equivalent to less than 1/4 mg. xanax per day. 1 mg. Xanax is equivalent to 20 mgs. Valium. I have not had any withdrawal symptoms I could not handle.

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I’m so sorry about your sister. I feel like I’m in a rut. I see a therapist too. My husband and I will have to talk about everything to her as well. Just so afraid of what to do next. Thank you again.

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@flow65

I’m so sorry about your sister. I feel like I’m in a rut. I see a therapist too. My husband and I will have to talk about everything to her as well. Just so afraid of what to do next. Thank you again.

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I’m sure you and your husband will figure this out. Again, let us know how you’re doing.

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@clutch

@flow65, I too am sorry for you having to endure this. I know because I’ve been there. .25mg per week reduction seems a fast pace to me. But there are others on this forum who are more knowledgeable than me, so let’s see what they say. The nausea was terrible for me, and thus lost 70 lbs. I did control it, finally by trying a myriad of OTC and Rx drugs. How are you doing with the nausea? I may be able to offer some suggestions to help. Hang in there…it can be done, but it can be a tough road, too. Think first about your weaning rate. Let us know how you’re doing.

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@flow65, what have you tried for nausea except ondansetron? I found the sub-lingual tabs are much better. Let me know…I may be able to help.

And yes @sears is right, The Ashton Method is the Gold Standard for tapering benzos. I agree, you are much too fast. Get you Dr. on board or else your journey can be pure hell!

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@clutch

@flow65, I too am sorry for you having to endure this. I know because I’ve been there. .25mg per week reduction seems a fast pace to me. But there are others on this forum who are more knowledgeable than me, so let’s see what they say. The nausea was terrible for me, and thus lost 70 lbs. I did control it, finally by trying a myriad of OTC and Rx drugs. How are you doing with the nausea? I may be able to offer some suggestions to help. Hang in there…it can be done, but it can be a tough road, too. Think first about your weaning rate. Let us know how you’re doing.

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I sent you a private message. Thank you.

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We need to start making these doctors and pharmaceutical companies accountable for the misery they have caused with these Benzos. What most of us go through is inhumane. Same goes for the antidepressants.

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@sears

We need to start making these doctors and pharmaceutical companies accountable for the misery they have caused with these Benzos. What most of us go through is inhumane. Same goes for the antidepressants.

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Please describe your issues with benzos?

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Long story short. My physchiatrist and GP thought it was fine for me to take Xanax for 25 years. Never once did I hear they would someday quit working(tolerance), never once did I hear the word addiction, withdrawal, nothing. Then at age 67 when I should be enjoying my life I’m tapering a benzodiazepine and antidepressant. This has been going on for 3 long years. I’ll be 70 soon. I’m angry.

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I will be starting my weaning off of Xanax due to being denied mental health med management that has worked for me for 20 years, very soon. I refuse to go in patient. I've spent a long and HARD 23 years living with my mental health issues and being a functional parent and adult. Never once having to go in patient during the mirage of medicine cocktails that it took in order to find what worked for me and my issues. Since I moved back to where some pharmaceutical companies are being sued and they cry victim about an opiate addiction/meth addiction issue. Yet they won't allow what has been proven to work for someone, because..it doesn't pay to, like it once did. So for that, I won't put myself into a detox hospital because my healthcare didn't pay the doctors to maintain. No thanks.

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@sears

Long story short. My physchiatrist and GP thought it was fine for me to take Xanax for 25 years. Never once did I hear they would someday quit working(tolerance), never once did I hear the word addiction, withdrawal, nothing. Then at age 67 when I should be enjoying my life I’m tapering a benzodiazepine and antidepressant. This has been going on for 3 long years. I’ll be 70 soon. I’m angry.

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@sears, Same here, my friend.

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