1. < Depression & Anxiety
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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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ellerchim | @ellerchim | Mar 2, 2025
In reply to @dorothy1914 "To @ellerchim Hello, the Ativan did calm my palpitations for a short while. I also had..." + (show)
Profile picture for dorothy1914 @dorothy1914

To @ellerchim
Hello, the Ativan did calm my palpitations for a short while. I also had some Nighty Night tea. I checked our pantry and my husband has been buying an assortment of teas that are supposed to promote sleep. Thank you so much for your recommendation. I have a dental appointment on Wednesday and I hope I can sit still long enough for the hygienist to complete the work. I had to cancel my two previous appointments with her as I wasn’t able to leave the house. I won’t take an Ativan. Thank you so much for your concern.
Claudia

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Your husband is smart buying those!! There was also a tea out with melatonin in it also. I wish you luck at the dentist. I put that off for a whole year while I was taping again maybe drink some tea before you go in. All this tea does is just relax you it doesn’t make you fall asleep really fast. I’m glad to hear you didn’t have any kind of bad reaction from taking out Ativan again.. hope you’re feeling better tomorrow✨✨

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dorothy1914 | @dorothy1914 | Mar 2, 2025
In reply to @flowergirl9317 "Actually my bio is my question, I was told if I try to come off xanex..." + (show)
Profile picture for flowergirl9317 @flowergirl9317

Actually my bio is my question, I was told if I try to come off xanex I'd die , I was put on it at age 15 and now I'm 54 I didn't know any better or what the med was or what it could do to my body over time , all in all honesty I wish I could sue tge makers of this drug, not only am I addicted, the state of Indiana whwre qe bought a home wont write tge perception so wvery 3 months i drive 14 hours 1 way to get it , i cant hardly take tgis ride anymore as i have other issues like deteriorating bones and more , help please . Thank you 🙏

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@ellerchim

Thank you so much. I appreciate your concern. As you can see I am still awake. I have developed a serious phobia due to a letter we received in Sept. 2024, from the IRS about someone trying to possibly use my social security number to gain employment. It triggered something in my brain and I developed an obsessive/ compulsive disorder. I know it sounds ridiculous but I truly feel this is what happened.

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ellerchim | @ellerchim | Mar 2, 2025
In reply to @dorothy1914 "@ellerchim I have been off anti depressants for about a month but may have to go..." + (show)
Profile picture for dorothy1914 @dorothy1914

@ellerchim
I have been off anti depressants for about a month but may have to go back on something for a while. I fell off the wagon last week and took Ativan. I am trying not to do it again but when your legs feel like they can’t hold you up and your hands are trembling, it’s hard to just feel that way. I know the Ativan isn’t effective anymore. Today, I had some bills to pay and my right hand was in a spasm. I printed out the checks and just used cursive to sign them. My husband was helping me with the bills but he’s shaky too from stress and the Parkinson’s.
Please take care of yourself as well.

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Benzo Recovery and existence on Facebook is what you need to be on. You will find many many people with similar problems like yours and you also WILL find help. That was my last resort and the best thing I ever did. I got so much help on there and so many people I could relate to because they were having the same issues as myself. If you need more help, they will let you know what other benzo site to go to. I hope and pray you go on there that site is what saved my life and many others that are having serious side effects.If you have questions. Your questions are answered. . I never would’ve made it had I not gone on there, just a wealth of information. Please just check it out.

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ellerchim | @ellerchim | Mar 2, 2025
In reply to @dorothy1914 "@ellerchim Thank you so much. I appreciate your concern. As you can see I am still..." + (show)
Profile picture for dorothy1914 @dorothy1914

@ellerchim

Thank you so much. I appreciate your concern. As you can see I am still awake. I have developed a serious phobia due to a letter we received in Sept. 2024, from the IRS about someone trying to possibly use my social security number to gain employment. It triggered something in my brain and I developed an obsessive/ compulsive disorder. I know it sounds ridiculous but I truly feel this is what happened.

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Nothing ridiculous about what happened to you. These benzos cause not only physical but mental symptoms when you get off it destroys the gabba receptors in your brain and takes a long time to rebuild again and that also goes for antidepressants. All these feel good drugs should be banned. They’re only good for 4 to 6 weeks and even then you can become dependent on them

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kb2014 | @kb2014 | Mar 2, 2025
In reply to @flowergirl9317 "Actually my bio is my question, I was told if I try to come off xanex..." + (show)
Profile picture for flowergirl9317 @flowergirl9317

Actually my bio is my question, I was told if I try to come off xanex I'd die , I was put on it at age 15 and now I'm 54 I didn't know any better or what the med was or what it could do to my body over time , all in all honesty I wish I could sue tge makers of this drug, not only am I addicted, the state of Indiana whwre qe bought a home wont write tge perception so wvery 3 months i drive 14 hours 1 way to get it , i cant hardly take tgis ride anymore as i have other issues like deteriorating bones and more , help please . Thank you 🙏

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Mad in Americs was a resource I checked out. I did not medical advice from this site but harm from psychiatric meds is real

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wm60 | @wm60 | Mar 4, 2025
In reply to @flowergirl9317 "Actually my bio is my question, I was told if I try to come off xanex..." + (show)
Profile picture for flowergirl9317 @flowergirl9317

Actually my bio is my question, I was told if I try to come off xanex I'd die , I was put on it at age 15 and now I'm 54 I didn't know any better or what the med was or what it could do to my body over time , all in all honesty I wish I could sue tge makers of this drug, not only am I addicted, the state of Indiana whwre qe bought a home wont write tge perception so wvery 3 months i drive 14 hours 1 way to get it , i cant hardly take tgis ride anymore as i have other issues like deteriorating bones and more , help please . Thank you 🙏

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So sorry to hear, I’m afraid it’s going to worse with the current administration. People refuse to understand depression and anxiety. I hope you feel better.

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wm60 | @wm60 | Mar 4, 2025
In reply to @kb2014 "Mad in Americs was a resource I checked out. I did not medical advice from this..." + (show)
Profile picture for kb2014 @kb2014

Mad in Americs was a resource I checked out. I did not medical advice from this site but harm from psychiatric meds is real

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Agreed if taken in extreme doses. For some people taken properly are a great help, problem is a lot are over prescribed.

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aminahbacha60 | @aminahbacha60 | Aug 18, 2025
In reply to @anestis "Helo! I'm new in this online gathering and I have questions about Xanax. I am 74..." + (show)
Profile picture for anestis @anestis

Helo! I'm new in this online gathering and I have questions about Xanax. I am 74 years old and I take 0.5 Xanax occasionally to control anxiety and depression. I developed ME/CSF in 2022 and the struggle with this monster cannot be described adequately. A number of doctors threw their hands up once they took my history and recognized ME/CFS. I live in Greece and my current local doctor prescribe 0.5 Xanax for occasional use because I have suffered a terrible family incident in 2019 when I was separated from my family in the US (long sad terrible story). ME/CFS is almost unknown in this country and the go-to solution is to feed you depression medications by the bushel which I HATE ( and threw away completely after a 10-week withdrawal odyssey that thankfully succeeded). Xanax, however, has had decent success in controlling my disintegrated mood and, recently, my increasing difficulty walking. Sleeping is a struggle but Night Ade serotonin does a decent job, although I wake up a bit "drunk." Occasionally, I bypass the serotonin and take one 0.5 Xanax which delivers a bit more shuteye.

Does anybody in this helpful gathering have similar circumstances and impressions? Should I be concerned abt getting addicted to Xanax? My doctor says Not to worry. But my experiences with psychiatric drugs is AWFUL. Xanax, however, does the job without any discernible trouble, at least for now.

Any ideas/personal stories re Xanax will be highly appreciated. And I wish good health and happiness to all in a world that seems to go awry by the DAY!!!!

Cheers, Anestis

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Hi, I am a 60 year old woman who started Xanax due to high anxiety and panic attack. I’ve been on it for almost a year unknown that it was very addictive. I would not suggest that you rely on Zanax cause rather you use one milligram once a week as I did, you still fire yourself with bad withdrawals my whole body ache and I’m in five days as we speak into withdrawals and the older we are with medical issues. It will be harder to wean off this drug. I would not recommend it to anyone for any reason.

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kdalda75 | @kndaustin71 | Aug 19, 2025

I'm sorry that I do not agree with you! That has been your experience and yours alone. Benzodiazipines have been extremely helpful to a large number of patients with varying symptoms that indicate it's usage. I suggest that the patient and his/her physician discuss signs/symptoms and make a decision on a treatment plan which may include Xanax!

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jaj7 | @jaj7 | Aug 19, 2025

Xanax is extremely difficult to get off of. You can die from trying to get off by yourself.
If you choose to stay on it, and I understand why, just know its one of those drugs that will cause memory problems the older you get.

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