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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I've been on alprazolam for probably 30 years, for GAD. I have never upped past the therapeutic dose of 4 mgs. Per day.
I now remove part of each pill. I do not ever want to go off, as GAD runs in my family, & I've been on valium or xanax most of my life. It helps me. Right now going through pudendal nerve entrapment extremely difficult and painful. I couldn't even imagine going off of it, never has made me depressed, and still helps with panic. I do not experience the calming effects, but I can tell if if it is time to take, and still works for me. I think we are each different, and have to do
what is good for us.

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@olivedog

I've been on alprazolam for probably 30 years, for GAD. I have never upped past the therapeutic dose of 4 mgs. Per day.
I now remove part of each pill. I do not ever want to go off, as GAD runs in my family, & I've been on valium or xanax most of my life. It helps me. Right now going through pudendal nerve entrapment extremely difficult and painful. I couldn't even imagine going off of it, never has made me depressed, and still helps with panic. I do not experience the calming effects, but I can tell if if it is time to take, and still works for me. I think we are each different, and have to do
what is good for us.

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I started using a nail file to shave off a small portion of pills to reduce intake.

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@lindasmith1222

I started using a nail file to shave off a small portion of pills to reduce intake.

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I just cut the top off with nai scissors. I keep all little pieces. Eventually there is another pill.

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@olivedog

I just cut the top off with nai scissors. I keep all little pieces. Eventually there is another pill.

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That's nail scissors, lol

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@joylin

Wow congratulations, I am on ativan, I have been wanting off but been on them over 10 yrs. I'm scared, I did cut a 1/2 off of .5 mg and now 6 months later, I'm depressed, sick cant eat. I know I'm not taking a large dose, but I'm very sensitive to drugs and everyone is different. Do you think the depression is from the Ativan withdraw or am I maybe just depressed ????

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Hello! @joylin, Chances are it's due to Ativan and you've probably built up tolerance. You need a proper taper plan. I can direct you to a great online support group. One of the main administrators, who has years of experience, could help you by making you a tailor-made taper plan. I am tapering off Ativan. I know exactly how you feel. I wish you the best of luck.

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I've been on Xanax for probably about 5 years now. I have had times where I forgot to order my prescription or forgot to pick it up and just going 24 hours without it will physically mess with me. I get body tingles and major brain fog and feel like my heart's going to beat out of my chest and I'm going to totally lose it.
I suffer from major insomnia, depression, bipolar 2, anxiety, OCD and body dysmorphic disorder, which are the worst ones. I take Xanax for anxiety attacks, panic attacks and to sleep.
My doctor tried to put me on numerous other medications for sleep and I would have some major side effects but mainly they just didn't work and I would be awake for 2 days to 4 days my brain just would not stop. If it weren't for the Xanax I don't know where I'd be, so I guess I'm a bad one to ask when it comes to how to get off it because that terrifies me. I wish you luck because I know I know what a struggle it is to come off of a medication you've been on for decades.

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@lesbatts

I'll be taking the plunge and weaning myself off the Benzos soon. I can't decide If I want to do the taper before or after the holidays. I think one of the best reasons to get off from Benzos is not only are they addicting they also cause depression. So, you take something for anxiety and end up being depressed. I saw my new Psych. Doc yesterday. She will be helping me with my taper. I really like her, she had some new ideas for my medications which I thought would be impossible as I've taken everything out there. She was also willing to listen to all my ideas so at least I had some say in my mental health. Okay here I go again. Look at the Ashton Manual on Benzos.org for a slow taper. I have done this taper in the past and it was fairly easy to do. Good luck!

Take care and have a Happy Thanksgiving

Leslie

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I had no idea there was a website for Ashton Manual, I had printed out 100 pages to get the info on tapering. This is the only other place I have seen a reference to it. I wish my Psychiatrist had used the tapering outlined instead of just putting me on Klonopin for now going into my 9th month. I have read its possible to never be able to stop Benzodiazepines.

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@laurine7

I had no idea there was a website for Ashton Manual, I had printed out 100 pages to get the info on tapering. This is the only other place I have seen a reference to it. I wish my Psychiatrist had used the tapering outlined instead of just putting me on Klonopin for now going into my 9th month. I have read its possible to never be able to stop Benzodiazepines.

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Please don’t allow this to define your journey,
it took me a year to finally be free from anxiety meds…
after my healthcare provider told me that I wouldn’t be able to stop.
I did stop…
it was not easy
had to start over and over…
but I didn’t give up
Please ! I’m in your corner.
I’ll end with repeating what I said at the beginning…
Do NOT allow anyone else define your journey!
NEVER give up♥️

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I have been taking Paxil for 34 years. My shrink has abruptly ceased it with no allowance for tapering off resulting in anxiety. Any recommendations for something to help me deal with the resulting anxiety?

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