Trying to wean off and having withdrawal (I think)

[[we...]]

ENT put me on Xanax .25 mg twice a day for two months, and then .25mg three times a day for two weeks thereafter...2.5 months in total.  Was originally prescribed to help relieve chronic throat pain, but didn't really help.  Started having stomach cramping and nausea which I thought was food borne, but it didn't go away.  Went to my GP who told me that Xanax was a bad choice due to tolerance and addiction issues and that I should stop.  I asked whether I should wean off, and he told me to just try to stop.

 

So, 24 hours after the last pill I was having chills and nausea and thought I was going to throw up.  I connected the dots and took a Xanax and felt better an hour later.  After calling my GP he told me to instead wean the dose.  I've been taking .25mg twice a day for 4 days now (.25mg reduction) and plan to do that for two weeks before reducing again.  Since then I've been feeling pretty bad...more nausea and not wanting to eat.  In fact, over the last few weeks I've lost 6 or 7 pounds, which has me concerned.

 

I'm assuming all of this is withdrawal symptoms, but the weight loss, fatigue and nausea have me a little freaked out since I was having many of these same symptoms before I started weaning.  So, what I'm wondering is this.  Were the original symptoms also withdrawal resulting from increased tolerance?  If so, do I have to look forward to essentially these same symptoms for the next 4 or 5 weeks as I wean off too?  And, for how long after eventually finish that last dose? 

 

Any thoughts or wisdom would be much appreciated.  At this point I waver between thinking it is just withdrawal versus thinking I have something else more serious wrong with me!  I've also got some work travel coming up and the thought of feeling like this while traveling is hard to imagine!

[[be...]]

Hi weaner  welcome. I am so glad you found us. Everything you describe are classic withdrawal symptoms. I think if you if you taper off carefully you can minimize the symptoms.  Symptoms often go past the taper.

 

You might like to check out The Ashton Manual it is an authoritative source on what to expect in withdrawal and recovery.  Dr. Ashton is an expert in the field.  She describes and explains withdrawal symptoms,.

 

Please feel free to post to any of the dedicated boards, we have a wonderful community of people here, who will give sound advice. Members have been through all aspects of benzodiazepine use and withdrawal and are more than willing to share their experiences.

 

Withdrawal Support (during your taper)

 

 

Please take the time to Create a Signature.  This will allow others to see where you are in the process so they can better support you.

 

Again Welcome! 

 

benzosrcruel

 

[[al...]]

Hi, you have come to the right place. You are never alone here. I have learned so much from the great folks here. 

[[we...]]

Thank you all for the warm welcome. I think the part that really astounds me is how quickly I gained tolerance and how difficult this is after such a short time. A few more questions....

 

Does is make sense that my initial GI symptoms were essentially withdrawal resulting from built up tolerance?

 

And following that logic, during the weaning it would seem that at each step it would get easier at some point once the tolerance exceeded the withdrawal symptoms. Does that make sense, or is it just wishful thinking?

 

I guess the ultimate question is whether you start to feel any be at some point following a step down, and how long that takes.

 

Right now I'm on day 5 of a .25mg step down to .25mg twice per day. I plan to continue at that pace for two weeks before the next step down.

 

Thanks again.