What's the best way to get off Xanax if on it for years?

Posted by enrique5544 @enrique5544, Feb 6, 2022

Best method or treatment to eradicate this addiction

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@sears

This is the worst taper schedule I’ve ever seen. It would be dangerous for most.

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This is a cardiologist that has a very interesting website that I thought I would share.
https://www.benzoinfo.com/christy-huff/

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I cannot speak for other people, but I know that the taper schedule that you discussed would be way too fast of a taper for me. I had to take Klonopin (.50) and put it in a glass container of water at 150 milliliters. After it dissolved, I would use a syringe to extract 1 cc of that water into the sink every night, and then drink the rest of the water. I did that every night, until I got to the bottom of the container. It took months and I still had withdrawals but not as severe as a quick taper (cutting the pill.) Sometimes, I still think that I could have titrated slower. I guess that everyone has a different challenge with it, but I do think that the length of time that a person has taken the benzo matters a great deal, when it is time to wean off.

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@darren33764

Those taking lower (recommended) doses will usually experience only mild withdrawal if the medication is stopped abruptly. When benzodiazapines are take at much higher doses, it's necessary to cut the current dose by 25 to 50 percent and then reduce the remaining dose by 10 to 20 percent for one week to ten days and continue this schedule until the end. Of course this taper would be recommended to a healthy (mentally and physically) person but it can be stretched out longer if one chooses to do so. As for Xanax, once you taper down to about .25 mg or less, it's generally safe to just stop. Any withdrawal at all should be very mild and last no more than a few days. It's always best to discuss your plans for benzo discontinuations with your doctor. Good Luck.

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Please read the Aston Manual. I had convulsions when I was taken off of valium by a doctor that quickly. I could have died. Alcohol and Benzos are the only drugs you can die from coming off of too quickly. If you come off too quickly you are more likely to have a protracted withdrawal. I would go very slow.
Best of luck.

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@kathy5645

Please read the Aston Manual. I had convulsions when I was taken off of valium by a doctor that quickly. I could have died. Alcohol and Benzos are the only drugs you can die from coming off of too quickly. If you come off too quickly you are more likely to have a protracted withdrawal. I would go very slow.
Best of luck.

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I have been taking xanax since I was 16 and I am now 62. I have taken 4 mg of xanax on a daily basis. I know it is not the recommended drug for panic attacks but that's what I have. The attacks are paralyzing. If I didn't have xanax I don't know what would happen.
I have gone through one detox program for Xanax when I was 30. It was a 30 day program where they weaned me off with valium I think it started with 20 mg the first couple days then tapered off.
I find myself in the same predicament 30 years later taking 1mg tables 4 x a day. My dr dropped me down to 2 1 mg a day but I am panicky all day even with the 2 1 mg. Should he have dropped me off from 4 to 2 at one time? I just wonder if it was done properly. Thanks.

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Thank you for your advice.

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No. Your doctor has no idea what he’s doing. His just whacked your 45 year Xanax dose in half. That’s just so wrong. Google the Ashton Method. Good luck.

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@tleeworley

I have been taking xanax since I was 16 and I am now 62. I have taken 4 mg of xanax on a daily basis. I know it is not the recommended drug for panic attacks but that's what I have. The attacks are paralyzing. If I didn't have xanax I don't know what would happen.
I have gone through one detox program for Xanax when I was 30. It was a 30 day program where they weaned me off with valium I think it started with 20 mg the first couple days then tapered off.
I find myself in the same predicament 30 years later taking 1mg tables 4 x a day. My dr dropped me down to 2 1 mg a day but I am panicky all day even with the 2 1 mg. Should he have dropped me off from 4 to 2 at one time? I just wonder if it was done properly. Thanks.

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In my opinion, The Benzo coalition, and the Ashton manual that is extremely fast.

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@kathy5645

In my opinion, The Benzo coalition, and the Ashton manual that is extremely fast.

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With the Ashton Method you can cut and then hold that dose until you feel comfortable enough and are ready to make another cut. You just can’t go up in dose. It’s very flexible.

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I have been on Xanax 0.5 mg once a day for nearly five weeks until my psychiatrist put me on Hydroxyzine and asked me to stop taking Xanax daily and to tale it only when need it. For four days I was fine until the fifth day I experienced a panic attack and anxiety, then I took it. I want to taper off it. He refuses to give me a taper plan. What’s the safest way to get off it, since it only been five weeks?

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