Xanax Tapering Help

[[ar...]]

Hello All,

 

I was prescribed Alprazolam as needed for acute anxiety. The bottle contains 40 .25mg tablets. Starting in September I was going through a rough anxiety and sleeping period. I started using the bottle more frequently and used 31 of those tablets over a 75 day period. I averaged about .125mg per day. Some days .25mg.

 

I researched xanax to find out about withdrawals and dependency. Are these low doses anything to be concerned about? If so, does anyone have a recommendation for me about a tapering schedule? I am kind of having a panic attack as I type this...

[Guest [Mi...]]

Hi, arcade79.

 

Welcome to benzobuddies. Glad you found us. 

 

Yes, I would be concerned about long-term use even of low-dose amounts. We do have quite a few members who found themselves very dependent on low doses. I'm glad you are researching this because now is a great time to start a sensible taper and learn non-drug ways of coping with anxiety.

 

A good resource about benzodiazepines is the Ashton Manual. Here is a link to the manual: Professor Ashtons Manual  It’s great for learning about these meds and for taper plans. Ashton recommends reducing between 5 - 10% every 10/14 days.

 

You'll find a great community of people here who will support and encourage you. Feel free to check out the forum and to post to any of the dedicated boards.

 

In addition to the Ashton Manual, here are some other resources:

 

For tapering advice, post here: General Taper Plans

 

For support with any symptoms you may have, post here: Withdrawal Support

 

Please add a signature (history of medication/doses etc). It will help members give you relevant advice. This link will show you how to Create a signature

 

Please let us know if you have any questions.

 

~ Mind

[[Mo...]]

Hi arcade,

Benzos are serious business, they are meant for short term use. (2-3 weeks).

i am glad you've done some research on Xanax, i would advise you to start a sensible

taper and stay off this crap for good.

 

what is happening in the brain ? interesting.

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=66397.0

 

there is a Xanax support group.

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=96799.0

warm welcome from me too,

and all the best.

Claudia.

[[be...]]

Welcome  I would have to agree with everyone above, long term they do not work. They were meant for very short time use. It isn't difficult to develop dependency quickly. Personally, I would try to get off as quickly as I could. Low doses can become very problematic. If you continue to take them much longer you may have to do a longer taper than how long you even took them. Withdrawal symptoms may increase as well.

[[ca...]]

I'm new on here too. I was prescribed .25 mg and took 1 to 3 tablets a day for about a month. I started in July and in September tapered down over a 5 to 6 week period. From what I have been told I could tapered slower than I did. It's been Hell over the past 5 months, both being on Alprazolam and withdrawing from it. Your situation sounds very similar to mine. It became evident to me that once you are on this stuff for more than 2 weeks you become dependent. I think in my case I became dependent even earlier. I'm still working through this even though I have been off of it for over 5 weeks now but it's not as severe as I had experienced. Hopefully you will do better than me. Taper slowly!

[[ar...]]

All,

 

Thanks for the kind words and advice.  My psych doc switched me over directly to Diazepam starting at 8mg.  It was trial and error at first with a rapid taper but we learned my body can handle .5 cuts every 10 days.  As you can see in my sig I am at 5mg starting today.  At first the s/x sucked because of the trial and error rapid taper, but once we found out what suited my body I've been able to keep my job and work and focus on other things.  I still get s/x like minor migraines and dizziness. Lately I've been getting nerve ending shocks and muscle twitches but this has been annoying and manageable.  Looking forward to dropping at .5 or .25 and being benzo free.  I realize how challenging this has been in my life but doing my best.  I am also seeing a counselor to help me cope during the taper.  What is hitting me the hardest is that I was an athlete before this mess and now I cannot do that stuff anymore until I fully heal from this.  My psych doc and counselor and many of you on  here say there is a light at the end of the tunnel to be med free.  I have hope and it gets me through the day.  Need your support.  =)

[[ar...]]

I wanted to add this to my intro because I think BB saved my life and I want the moderators to see this.  I frequent the Ashton cut and hold forum and have some new friends there.  Thank you BB!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't think I ever told anyone in this thread but here is my benzo story.  This all started back in mid November.  When I was going through .25mg Xanax w/d's and not knowing it, I hadn't slept for 4 days straight.  I went to ER and they did not identify that I was having a benzo w/d and pumped me full of Ativan through an IV which then helped me sleep that night.  I am not sure how much Ativan they pumped into me and that was a Saturday night.  Monday morning my benzo w/d was off the wall.  The ER visit made things worse!  I finally identified that it was benzo w/d (Thank you BB!) and went to see a family doc.  The family doc called the psych doc on call and scheduled an appointment for Wednesday.  The family doc prescribed me klonopin and trazadone.  Since I had to wait until Wednesday to see the psych doc I was going through horrific benzo w/d for two nights.  I took one or two small .25 doses of klonopin to help me through until Wednesday.  I didn't want to go to ER because they were useless!!

 

When I met with my psych doc I didn't know about the Ashton method.  He then prescribed 15mgV for 3 days, 10mgV for 3days and 5mgV for 3 days and then stop.  WTH!!!  After that didn't work obviously, I couldn't get in for 8 days to see him but the w/d symptoms were tolerable( must ave been the V?).  He then started me on a V taper starting at 8mgV dropping 1mg every 7 days.  That didn't work when I dropped from 7mg to 6mg and I paid for that.  I found out about the Ashton method and brought it in for him to see.  He had said he met her at one of her seminars and I almost said " Why the hell didn't you start me on the Ashton method in the first place?" but I didn't.  Good news is now I'm on a good V taper schedule that my psych doc supports and that nightmare is over.  BB saved my life after I identified it was a benzo w/d.  It could have been a lot worse if I relied on the family docs to figure out.  I was able to keep my job during that nightmare.

 

 

[[Mo...]]

arcade.....terrible experience you had.....so glad to see you are on your

way to get your Life back, wish you well.

[[ar...]]

Morreweg,

 

Since they pumped me full of Ativan, while having .125 of X in me, then 3 days later I had to take a little bit of Klonopin to get me through the w/d until pdoc, does this mean I c/t'd all of those?  Since those were 1 doses, maybe not but the w/d two days after the ER were horrible.  Then the pdoc didn't do a propper crossover to Valium so I know I officially c/t's X while on Valium?

 

I only became dependent on the X.  Had I know I could have easily tapered off of that low does of X but the stupid ER docs and pdoc made things worse.  Wish I would have came here first.

[[Mo...]]

Morreweg,

 

Since they pumped me full of Ativan, while having .125 of X in me, then 3 days later I had to take a little bit of Klonopin to get me through the w/d until pdoc, does this mean I c/t'd all of those?  Since those were 1 doses, maybe not but the w/d two days after the ER were horrible.  Then the pdoc didn't do a direct crossover to Valium so I know I officially c/t's X while on Valium?

 

I only became dependent on the X.  Had I know I could have easily tapered off of

that low does of X but the stupid ER docs and pdoc made things worse.  Wish I would have came here first.

 

Hi arcade,

I wouldn't worry about those one doses, never heard of c/t while still

on Valium. Just stay positive and continue a sensible taper.....

 

I am sure you will be fine.

If i told you my Detox story you won't believe it.....those clowns in white

are comedians....no clue, no knowledge and call themselves Doctors.

God help us all.....this Forum was a Life-saver for many of us, its criminal.

take care.

 

[[ar...]]

Yep, the docs made things way worse for me.  I could have easily tapered from that low dose of X.  Now I'm stuck in a long Valium taper because of those clowns.

[[ar...]]

I wanted to add this to my intro because I think BB saved my life and I want the moderators to see this.  I frequent the Ashton cut and hold forum and have some new friends there.  Thank you BB!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't think I ever told anyone in this thread but here is my benzo story.  This all started back in mid November.  When I was going through .25mg Xanax w/d's and not knowing it, I hadn't slept for 4 days straight.  I went to ER and they did not identify that I was having a benzo w/d and pumped me full of Ativan through an IV which then helped me sleep that night.  I am not sure how much Ativan they pumped into me and that was a Saturday night.  Monday morning my benzo w/d was off the wall.  The ER visit made things worse!  I finally identified that it was benzo w/d (Thank you BB!) and went to see a family doc.  The family doc called the psych doc on call and scheduled an appointment for Wednesday.  The family doc prescribed me klonopin and trazadone.  Since I had to wait until Wednesday to see the psych doc I was going through horrific benzo w/d for two nights.  I took one or two small .25 doses of klonopin to help me through until Wednesday.  I didn't want to go to ER because they were useless!!

 

When I met with my psych doc I didn't know about the Ashton method.  He then prescribed 15mgV for 3 days, 10mgV for 3days and 5mgV for 3 days and then stop.  WTH!!!  After that didn't work obviously, I couldn't get in for 8 days to see him but the w/d symptoms were tolerable( must ave been the V?).  He then started me on a V taper starting at 8mgV dropping 1mg every 7 days.  That didn't work when I dropped from 7mg to 6mg and I paid for that.  I found out about the Ashton method and brought it in for him to see.  He had said he met her at one of her seminars and I almost said " Why the hell didn't you start me on the Ashton method in the first place?" but I didn't.  Good news is now I'm on a good V taper schedule that my psych doc supports and that nightmare is over.  BB saved my life after I identified it was a benzo w/d.  It could have been a lot worse if I relied on the family docs to figure out.  I was able to keep my job during that nightmare.

 

Based on this information, does this count as "kindling?"  I am learning so much new terminology.

[[Ch...]]

Anytime someone takes a benzo and goes off it (no matter how he or she goes off…taper or cold turkey) it begins to sensitize the CNS.  Each time on and off can make the CNS more sensitive.  Some people become sensitized faster than others, that part is hard to predict.

 

Most people who have trouble withdrawing from benzos can trace it back to previous withdrawals or on and off use at one time or another in our drug histories. 

 

The most important thing is to know about kindling so we're informed about the possibility for the future.

[[ar...]]

Not sure if I was kindled then but it doesn't matter now because I am tapering V, heading in the right direction and will hope for a decent recovery.  I don't recall how long I was off the X.  That whole time was a mess and I had no clue what was going on.  I was at the mercy of the doctors.