March 20, 2009 - 1:55pm
Greetings from a new (10 minutes) member! I'm impressed by the words and knowledge of those who use this website, so now I'm onboard.. In less than an hour, I have an appointment with my neurologist to discuss my dilemma. I have been taking xanax for many years, and have, within the last month, decided to try to lessen the dosage and even eliminate it at some point rather than develop a tolerance for it. I am NOW taking 1 mg. ONLY at bedtime (10:00) and .5 when I awaken at 6:00, and that's it. The problem is the REST of the day, when I've developed dysphoria, which I'm sure is a withdrawal effect. The period from about 11:00 A.M. until I take the 1 mg. at 10:00 PM is TERRIBLE! I continue to be patient and accept the fact that it may take some TIME for my system to adjust, but my appointment today is to hopefully hear that there's SOMETHING I can take for the dysphoria, which is worse than ANYTHING I felt before I started taking XANAX for anxiety. I have a highly stressful job. Does anyone KNOW, or has had the EXPERIENCE of taking an anti-depressant to help handle the dysphoria (it feels like depression) while you're coming OFF xanax? Were you able to take an anti-depressant and xanax at the same time? Any and all help and recommendations would be appreciated.. Thanks! JohnGee
March 24, 2009 - 10:05pm
#2
withdrawal
If you've taken Xanax for that long, you've definitely developed a tolerance for the drug. A tolerance can develop within only a couple of weeks of continued use of Xanax. I am currently trying to stop taking this medication that I abused very badly for over a year and a half. I was taking at least 10mg/day during the week, and 20+mg/day on the weekends. I would also mix this with other things such as pot or alcohol(which can be deadly). I experienced horrible withdrawals and still am. A couple of weeks ago I had a seizure at school from my withdrawals. I was trying to stop cold turkey which is not recommended for this medication b/c of the serious withdrawal symptoms. I am only 18 and already have a serious drug addiction that I just can't seem to stop no matter what. I dont abuse the drug anymore taking only a few mg/week, but my withdrawals continue full force. There has been no decrease in my withdrawal symptoms which really scares me b/c I seriously want to get off this drug. I want to experience some form of sobriety. I was never prescribed this so I brought this upon myself, and it has only caused negative effects in my life(depression, anxiety, jail). Does anyone know some safe ways to withdraw from this drug. Tapering helps a little, but the craving is always still there. I currently am losing all hope in life and sobriety. Plz, anything would help. thanks
March 27, 2009 - 1:31pm
#3
I would recommend looking at
I would recommend looking at this site , it has tapering schedules for withdrawing from most benzos plus a lot more info. Good Luck
March 27, 2009 - 2:25pm
#4
Xanax is the most hardest
Xanax is the most hardest DRUG PERIOD to come off of-Methadone is the other,and these are the only two that can KILL you during withdrawl!!!! If you want to get off Benzos completely the best thing to due is get yourself to take .5 mg three times daily-then tell your doctor that you have gotten yourself down to that level. What then is needed is for your doctor to write you a Rx for Phenobarbitol-it is a mild barbituate that is used for seizures-get these and for the next week just take 2 .5mg-then next week take one-then none and take the Pheno 3 times a day for 4-5 days your system will be flushed out of benzos by then and you can stop taking the Pheno,and you will be fine. The other thing is if you actually need nerve pills then go with Klonopin-longer half life,but it is also used for seizures!!! I have been on Xanax for 7 yrs started out at 3mg a day and now I take 2mg in morning and 2mg after dinner.I ran out one time and couldnt get anymore for 5 days-and day 3 I had a Grand Mal seizure at work running a bandsaw-lucky to be alive!!!! Try doing what I suggested-it will work for you!!!!!! Good Luck!!!!
March 27, 2009 - 2:30pm
#5
on the same dose
but for a couple years more...sometimes I really feel the need for them...I keep 100 or so in reserve..rotate them monthly.
I have been taking xanax for many years, and have, within the last month, decided to try to lessen the dosage and even eliminate it at some point rather than develop a tolerance for it.
Well, if you have taken them on a regular scheme, means: daily, then you already have a tolerance for them,
or let's say for benzodiazepines in general. First let me tell you that nobody here can't give you a real advice
about what antidepressant could help you with the tapering, you have to discuss that with your doc.
What helped me on benzodiazepine withdrawals was Mirtazapine in the night for sleeping, this substance will
also develop antidepressive effects after a few weeks of daily taking. But Mirtazapine has a few bad side effects.
Another option could be Venlafaxine, but it also might make you feeling too nervous in the beginning. Venlafaxine
is an antidepressant, too. Please read the articles on wikipedia about these substances.
Then, when your withdrawal reaches the point where you feel you can't bear it anymore i would suggest taking
Clonidine, which is a substance against high blood pressure. It could be combined with Valproic Acid which acts
as an anti seizure medication (it works at the GABA receptors, but in another way that benzos do).
Tapering off Alprazolam with Alprazolam is very painfull and needs lots of self discipline. If you don't want to switch
to another benzo like diazepam (which would be the best thing to do), then take the Alprazolam every 4 - 6
hours. I don't know how the pharmacists work in your place, where i live the doc could fill a prescription that
tells the pharmacists to make capsules from pills in order to have smaller dosages per pill. If that is possible
in your place, ask your doc for 0.05 mg containing capsules when it comes to the end of your WD.
As mentioned above, i'd switch to Diazepam or Clonazepam, these are a bit easier to taper off, because of
their longer half-life. The craving that you feel because of the short lasting effects of Alprazolam causes
physical and psychic stress to your body every day which should and could be avoided.
Then try to change your food and drink habits, eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, low fat milk products
and take vitamine pills in addition. Go and walk in the evenings or go swimming in the next bath 3 or 4
times a week. Avoid MacDonalds and eat self made chicken and fish dishes instead.
You might visit the drugs-forum.com, where there are also a lot of threads dealing with the problem
that you experience at the moment.
Best wishes and good luck (and sorry for my not-so-perfect English),
chemik