Xanax past and present users....

[[th...]]

Tell me how you felt after your jump....trying to get an idea of Xanax acute time frame. Not much on here...mostly K and V users. Just wondering as I will jump in a couple weeks.....

 

Grinch

[[th...]]

Hello??

[[Jo...]]

The first 2-4 weeks were really bad.  Massive anxiety, difficulty in thinking, tense, constant headache and sleep was problematic.  I made some big time mistakes at work the first couple of months.  I did anything to distract myself or focus on something else.  Sometimes it worked many times it didn't.  I got relief for an hour every few days. Then it was two hours. Then it was three and so on.  I started to feel better for days at a time in October.  In mid-November I got tinnitis big time.

 

Stupidly I listened to a friend who suggested restarting xanax.  Whatever you do, don't do that.  It just makes it worse later.  I've read here that it takes up to a year, sometimes more before you see real improvement.  What was really hard was that I had no one to talk to, so I had no idea if the symptoms were just me or what.

 

Maybe it's easier if you taper down as slowly as you did.  I don't know.  But that's what I went through. 

[[th...]]

The first 2-4 weeks were really bad.  Massive anxiety, difficulty in thinking, tense, constant headache and sleep was problematic.  I made some big time mistakes at work the first couple of months.  I did anything to distract myself or focus on something else.  Sometimes it worked many times it didn't.  I got relief for an hour every few days. Then it was two hours. Then it was three and so on.  I started to feel better for days at a time in October.  In mid-November I got tinnitis big time.

 

Stupidly I listened to a friend who suggested restarting xanax.  Whatever you do, don't do that.  It just makes it worse later.  I've read here that it takes up to a year, sometimes more before you see real improvement.  What was really hard was that I had no one to talk to, so I had no idea if the symptoms were just me or what.

 

Maybe it's easier if you taper down as slowly as you did.  I don't know.  But that's what I went through.

 

Thanks John. I hope the reason there aren't as many people on the post wd thread on Xanax is bc they don't have such a long term effect after they jump. It seems those who struggle for months and months after jumping from the longer acting benzos. It seems to me like the people wding from Xanax have a faster healing post jump. I guess I will see what my fate is. And ya, no way in hell will I take this crap again once I jump. No way!! Glad you are seeming to get better slowly!

 

Grinch

[[I ...]]

I took Xanax for 3.5 months.  After I c/t  I thought I had a brain tumor.  I had a numb tongue  for 2 days.  Felt like a pick in my head.  Tinnitus,  vision was severely  messed up.  Sick stomack, dizzy. Horrible anxiety  and panic.  Heart palps, chest pressure.  Metallic taste in mouth.  Pain and numbness in left arm. High blood pressure.  And much more.  Look at my old posts.  I really turned a corner at 8 months.  You will be in for a tough fight but you can do it.  Whatever you do, never that  hell in a pill again.  Feel free to ask anymore questions

[[th...]]

I took Xanax for 3.5 months.  After I c/t  I thought I had a brain tumor.  I had a numb tongue  for 2 days.  Felt like a pick in my head.  Tinnitus,  vision was severely  messed up.  Sick stomack, dizzy. Horrible anxiety  and panic.  Heart palps, chest pressure.  Metallic taste in mouth.  Pain and numbness in left arm. High blood pressure.  And much more.  Look at my old posts.  I really turned a corner at 8 months.  You will be in for a tough fight but you can do it.  Whatever you do, never that  hell in a pill again.  Feel free to ask anymore questions

 

I can't imagine ct Xanax. I think people who ct are in a league of their own. That would be brutal. I tapered slowly for a yr and it was debilitating. Can't imagine ct wd!! No wonder you had a rough time. I have had and still have all those syxs with a slow taper. Glad you are getting better. 

 

G

[[Be...]]

I took Xanax for 3.5 months.  After I c/t  I thought I had a brain tumor.  I had a numb tongue  for 2 days.  Felt like a pick in my head.  Tinnitus,  vision was severely  messed up.  Sick stomack, dizzy. Horrible anxiety  and panic.  Heart palps, chest pressure.  Metallic taste in mouth.  Pain and numbness in left arm. High blood pressure.  And much more.  Look at my old posts.  I really turned a corner at 8 months.  You will be in for a tough fight but you can do it.  Whatever you do, never that  hell in a pill again.  Feel free to ask anymore questions

 

I can't imagine ct Xanax. I think people who ct are in a league of their own. That would be brutal. I tapered slowly for a yr and it was debilitating. Can't imagine ct wd!! No wonder you had a rough time. I have had and still have all those syxs with a slow taper. Glad you are getting better. 

 

G

 

Yes, ct xanax was intense for me.  Long term, high dose brought me intense, non-stop symptoms for 3-4 months.  Ever so slowly it let off.

 

Your taper may have big benefits, but there's no guarantee from what I can tell reading here. 

 

Will be interesting to see how you do.  I expect your experiences with tapering will help you in acute.

 

I had a pretty good idea of what I was in for after dealing with daily interdose withdrawals for years.  Knowing helped.  I was familiar with the symptoms.

[[Bu...]]

I don't know how useful my experience will be since I'm 10 days from my jump but here's what I've been experiencing.  I was pretty nervous the week of my last taper.  I didn't know what to expect. 

 

My sleep isn't too bad, 5-6 hours, sometimes waking every couple of hours, and I wake up feeling a bit nauseated.  Might be lack of a good night's sleep.  I wake to the negative thoughts which I fight off like crazy.  Once I'm up I feel pretty lousy.  It subsides in a couple of hours.  I have to watch my coffee intake.  It seems to be some of the withdrawal symptoms I had through taper still lingers but no where as intense.  I try to lie down for a half hour or so during the day if possible.  That seems to help.  I just keep reminding myself it takes time and eventually I will feel better.  None of this is as bad as having a little tiny pill take over your life.  You will be fine. 

[[th...]]

I don't know how useful my experience will be since I'm 10 days from my jump but here's what I've been experiencing.  I was pretty nervous the week of my last taper.  I didn't know what to expect. 

 

My sleep isn't too bad, 5-6 hours, sometimes waking every couple of hours, and I wake up feeling a bit nauseated.  Might be lack of a good night's sleep.  I wake to the negative thoughts which I fight off like crazy.  Once I'm up I feel pretty lousy.  It subsides in a couple of hours.  I have to watch my coffee intake.  It seems to be some of the withdrawal symptoms I had through taper still lingers but no where as intense.  I try to lie down for a half hour or so during the day if possible.  That seems to help.  I just keep reminding myself it takes time and eventually I will feel better.  None of this is as bad as having a little tiny pill take over your life.  You will be fine.

 

Bunny!! Hi!! Yay, you jumped!! Glad to hear things aren't worse. I guess I am in, and was in, pretty bad shape thru this ordeal so I know I can handle whatever it is that gets thrown at me. I have so far. It's been hard to find a lot of post jump Xanax users on the forum though to answer questions. Maybe that's a good thing! Thanks for responding!

 

G

[[Ao...]]

Hi Grinch

 

As you have done a very good taper and well done on that  , I am unsure if I am able to help you as I was c/t by my doctor  at 1..5mgs of Xanax. I  was crossed over to Valium 9mgs at that time . Many BB moderators correctly told me it was an incorrect cross over too :'(. 

 

So , the whole truth is I suffered badly . I was already deeply suffering from January 2014.  In August 2014 ,when I did this C/t  -  my symptoms were : back and leg shoulder pain 10/10 , head tingling and pressure,  headaches,  crawling skin, some palpitations,  freezing cold,  balance issues, increased anxiety,  mood swings. My sleeping wasnt great for about a week. A lot of these symptoms have lessened since August .. so what I'm left with now is pain 5/10, tingling feet hands face and scalp,  Jaw aches , eyepain and twitches , My anxiety is definitely not as pronounced and I can drive again . Im able to get out to shops and my sensitivity to loud noises etc has decreased. I still need an awful lot of rest and I have been able to get back walking again which I coulnt do for months as exercise seemed to rev me up and I would feel crap and then I would crash for days.

Just to make it harder , in December 2014 I tapered off Ambien , so symptoms have increased a little bit more again.

And I still have the horror Valium 2mgs to get off .

 

Really hoping you will do well Grinch .I really wish you well. Its a horror drug and once I stabilise again  its the Valium gone.

 

Hopefully I helped you a wee bit.

[[th...]]

Hi Grinch

 

As you have done a very good taper and well done on that  , I am unsure if I am able to help you as I was c/t by my doctor  at 1..5mgs of Xanax. I  was crossed over to Valium 9mgs at that time . Many BB moderators correctly told me it was an incorrect cross over too :'(. 

 

So , the whole truth is I suffered badly . I was already deeply suffering from January 2014.  In August 2014 ,when I did this C/t  -  my symptoms were : back and leg shoulder pain 10/10 , head tingling and pressure,  headaches,  crawling skin, some palpitations,  freezing cold,  balance issues, increased anxiety,  mood swings. My sleeping wasnt great for about a week. A lot of these symptoms have lessened since August .. so what I'm left with now is pain 5/10, tingling feet hands face and scalp,  Jaw aches , eyepain and twitches , My anxiety is definitely not as pronounced and I can drive again . Im able to get out to shops and my sensitivity to loud noises etc has decreased. I still need an awful lot of rest and I have been able to get back walking again which I coulnt do for months as exercise seemed to rev me up and I would feel crap and then I would crash for days.

Just to make it harder , in December 2014 I tapered off Ambien , so symptoms have increased a little bit more again.

And I still have the horror Valium 2mgs to get off .

 

Really hoping you will do well Grinch .I really wish you well. Its a horror drug and once I stabilise again  its the Valium gone.

 

Hopefully I helped you a wee bit.

 

Aoibh,

Thanks!! I hope you find relief too soon and get off all your meds!

 

G 

[[Fr...]]

Dear Grinch,

 

I haven't been Xanax-free long enough to offer "expert" advice, but here's what I think, and I think it's logical. You tapered slowly enough that I would think your post-jump symptoms cannot be worse than your most acute w/d state; probably much better. At this point your body is well-aware it is being deprived of a benzo and is adjusting. I felt better after jumping, though my symptoms lingered for a bit, but continue to improve daily. I'm almost three weeks out and can honestly say that my symptoms are improving slowly, but my outlook is improving by leaps and bounds. I expect I'll have waves ... I'm prepared for it (I hope), but so far so good.

[[th...]]

Dear Grinch,

 

I haven't been Xanax-free long enough to offer "expert" advice, but here's what I think, and I think it's logical. You tapered slowly enough that I would think your post-jump symptoms cannot be worse than your most acute w/d state; probably much better. At this point your body is well-aware it is being deprived of a benzo and is adjusting. I felt better after jumping, though my symptoms lingered for a bit, but continue to improve daily. I'm almost three weeks out and can honestly say that my symptoms are improving slowly, but my outlook is improving by leaps and bounds. I expect I'll have waves ... I'm prepared for it (I hope), but so far so good.

 

[[Bu...]]

I don't know how useful my experience will be since I'm 10 days from my jump but here's what I've been experiencing.  I was pretty nervous the week of my last taper.  I didn't know what to expect. 

 

My sleep isn't too bad, 5-6 hours, sometimes waking every couple of hours, and I wake up feeling a bit nauseated.  Might be lack of a good night's sleep.  I wake to the negative thoughts which I fight off like crazy.  Once I'm up I feel pretty lousy.  It subsides in a couple of hours.  I have to watch my coffee intake.  It seems to be some of the withdrawal symptoms I had through taper still lingers but no where as intense.  I try to lie down for a half hour or so during the day if possible.  That seems to help.  I just keep reminding myself it takes time and eventually I will feel better.  None of this is as bad as having a little tiny pill take over your life.  You will be fine.

 

Bunny!! Hi!! Yay, you jumped!! Glad to hear things aren't worse. I guess I am in, and was in, pretty bad shape thru this ordeal so I know I can handle whatever it is that gets thrown at me. I have so far. It's been hard to find a lot of post jump Xanax users on the forum though to answer questions. Maybe that's a good thing! Thanks for responding!

 

G

 

Good idea, G, starting this thread.  I think it's needed.  I was feeling pretty lonely too, ha, ha. 

[[th...]]

I don't know how useful my experience will be since I'm 10 days from my jump but here's what I've been experiencing.  I was pretty nervous the week of my last taper.  I didn't know what to expect. 

 

My sleep isn't too bad, 5-6 hours, sometimes waking every couple of hours, and I wake up feeling a bit nauseated.  Might be lack of a good night's sleep.  I wake to the negative thoughts which I fight off like crazy.  Once I'm up I feel pretty lousy.  It subsides in a couple of hours.  I have to watch my coffee intake.  It seems to be some of the withdrawal symptoms I had through taper still lingers but no where as intense.  I try to lie down for a half hour or so during the day if possible.  That seems to help.  I just keep reminding myself it takes time and eventually I will feel better.  None of this is as bad as having a little tiny pill take over your life.  You will be fine.

 

Bunny!! Hi!! Yay, you jumped!! Glad to hear things aren't worse. I guess I am in, and was in, pretty bad shape thru this ordeal so I know I can handle whatever it is that gets thrown at me. I have so far. It's been hard to find a lot of post jump Xanax users on the forum though to answer questions. Maybe that's a good thing! Thanks for responding!

 

G

 

Good idea, G, starting this thread.  I think it's needed.  I was feeling pretty lonely too, ha, ha.

 

Did you feel better once you stop taking it? Just wondering what it was like for you like a day or two after your last dose?? I know my experience will be individual but it's nice to hear from others too.

 

G

[[Ao...]]

Thanks Grinch . Much healing to you too 

[[he...]]

20 months off rapid taper.  Still suffering pretty good but they come and go.  I am much better than I was.  I had acute for 3 months.....but I was a rapid taper.

[[Bu...]]

I don't know how useful my experience will be since I'm 10 days from my jump but here's what I've been experiencing.  I was pretty nervous the week of my last taper.  I didn't know what to expect. 

 

My sleep isn't too bad, 5-6 hours, sometimes waking every couple of hours, and I wake up feeling a bit nauseated.  Might be lack of a good night's sleep.  I wake to the negative thoughts which I fight off like crazy.  Once I'm up I feel pretty lousy.  It subsides in a couple of hours.  I have to watch my coffee intake.  It seems to be some of the withdrawal symptoms I had through taper still lingers but no where as intense.  I try to lie down for a half hour or so during the day if possible.  That seems to help.  I just keep reminding myself it takes time and eventually I will feel better.  None of this is as bad as having a little tiny pill take over your life.  You will be fine.

 

Bunny!! Hi!! Yay, you jumped!! Glad to hear things aren't worse. I guess I am in, and was in, pretty bad shape thru this ordeal so I know I can handle whatever it is that gets thrown at me. I have so far. It's been hard to find a lot of post jump Xanax users on the forum though to answer questions. Maybe that's a good thing! Thanks for responding!

 

G

 

Good idea, G, starting this thread.  I think it's needed.  I was feeling pretty lonely too, ha, ha.

 

Did you feel better once you stop taking it? Just wondering what it was like for you like a day or two after your last dose?? I know my experience will be individual but it's nice to hear from others too.

 

G

 

I expected the usual symptoms 4-6 days after jumping just as I had when tapering.  Just like clock work but not bad.  Mostly my sleep was disturbed and a couple of days of feeling blah, nothing terrible.  Now, it's two weeks and all symptoms have settled down (at least for today).  Anything that does crop up is less intense.  I had the muscle tension in my right arm during tapering.  I had it again since jumping but it didn't last long.  Not bad at all.  It's do-able. 

[[th...]]

I don't know how useful my experience will be since I'm 10 days from my jump but here's what I've been experiencing.  I was pretty nervous the week of my last taper.  I didn't know what to expect. 

 

My sleep isn't too bad, 5-6 hours, sometimes waking every couple of hours, and I wake up feeling a bit nauseated.  Might be lack of a good night's sleep.  I wake to the negative thoughts which I fight off like crazy.  Once I'm up I feel pretty lousy.  It subsides in a couple of hours.  I have to watch my coffee intake.  It seems to be some of the withdrawal symptoms I had through taper still lingers but no where as intense.  I try to lie down for a half hour or so during the day if possible.  That seems to help.  I just keep reminding myself it takes time and eventually I will feel better.  None of this is as bad as having a little tiny pill take over your life.  You will be fine.

 

Bunny!! Hi!! Yay, you jumped!! Glad to hear things aren't worse. I guess I am in, and was in, pretty bad shape thru this ordeal so I know I can handle whatever it is that gets thrown at me. I have so far. It's been hard to find a lot of post jump Xanax users on the forum though to answer questions. Maybe that's a good thing! Thanks for responding!

 

G

 

Good idea, G, starting this thread.  I think it's needed.  I was feeling pretty lonely too, ha, ha.

 

Did you feel better once you stop taking it? Just wondering what it was like for you like a day or two after your last dose?? I know my experience will be individual but it's nice to hear from others too.

 

G

 

I expected the usual symptoms 4-6 days after jumping just as I had when tapering.  Just like clock work but not bad.  Mostly my sleep was disturbed and a couple of days of feeling blah, nothing terrible.  Now, it's two weeks and all symptoms have settled down (at least for today).  Anything that does crop up is less intense.  I had the muscle tension in my right arm during tapering.  I had it again since jumping but it didn't last long.  Not bad at all.  It's do-able. 

 

Well my taper was freaking brutal, I was bedridden for most of it, hoping that it doesn't return to the worst of it when I jump. I feel like crap all the time so maybe I will just slowly feel better. All I can do is hope. Body pain has been a major syx, and tense neck and jaw. Headache, nausea, anxiety. Insomnia. When I get more than 2 hrs of sleep I can tell a difference in the day. Syxs are less intense. One night I slept like 6 hrs and felt like a whole new person for a day! But it didn't last. I am sure the lack of sleep for yrs has something to do with the syxs. Hopefully it will all work itself out soon. At least enough to give me some hope I will get better!  That's really all I want is some hope.  I jump next Fri if all stays steady.

[[th...]]

20 months off rapid taper.  Still suffering pretty good but they come and go.  I am much better than I was.  I had acute for 3 months.....but I was a rapid taper.

 

Yikes! Sorry you are still struggling! Maybe things will start to turn around soon!

 

Grinch

[[Bu...]]

I don't know how useful my experience will be since I'm 10 days from my jump but here's what I've been experiencing.  I was pretty nervous the week of my last taper.  I didn't know what to expect. 

 

My sleep isn't too bad, 5-6 hours, sometimes waking every couple of hours, and I wake up feeling a bit nauseated.  Might be lack of a good night's sleep.  I wake to the negative thoughts which I fight off like crazy.  Once I'm up I feel pretty lousy.  It subsides in a couple of hours.  I have to watch my coffee intake.  It seems to be some of the withdrawal symptoms I had through taper still lingers but no where as intense.  I try to lie down for a half hour or so during the day if possible.  That seems to help.  I just keep reminding myself it takes time and eventually I will feel better.  None of this is as bad as having a little tiny pill take over your life.  You will be fine.

 

Bunny!! Hi!! Yay, you jumped!! Glad to hear things aren't worse. I guess I am in, and was in, pretty bad shape thru this ordeal so I know I can handle whatever it is that gets thrown at me. I have so far. It's been hard to find a lot of post jump Xanax users on the forum though to answer questions. Maybe that's a good thing! Thanks for responding!

 

G

 

Good idea, G, starting this thread.  I think it's needed.  I was feeling pretty lonely too, ha, ha.

 

Did you feel better once you stop taking it? Just wondering what it was like for you like a day or two after your last dose?? I know my experience will be individual but it's nice to hear from others too.

 

G

 

I expected the usual symptoms 4-6 days after jumping just as I had when tapering.  Just like clock work but not bad.  Mostly my sleep was disturbed and a couple of days of feeling blah, nothing terrible.  Now, it's two weeks and all symptoms have settled down (at least for today).  Anything that does crop up is less intense.  I had the muscle tension in my right arm during tapering.  I had it again since jumping but it didn't last long.  Not bad at all.  It's do-able. 

 

Well my taper was freaking brutal, I was bedridden for most of it, hoping that it doesn't return to the worst of it when I jump. I feel like crap all the time so maybe I will just slowly feel better. All I can do is hope. Body pain has been a major syx, and tense neck and jaw. Headache, nausea, anxiety. Insomnia. When I get more than 2 hrs of sleep I can tell a difference in the day. Syxs are less intense. One night I slept like 6 hrs and felt like a whole new person for a day! But it didn't last. I am sure the lack of sleep for yrs has something to do with the syxs. Hopefully it will all work itself out soon. At least enough to give me some hope I will get better!  That's really all I want is some hope.  I jump next Fri if all stays steady.

 

G, I held my second to the last cut almost 16 days before jumping.  I figure it gave my body time to stabilize before I jumped.  What's a few more days when the end is in sight.

[[Ch...]]

Nothing changed at all for me except my perpetual headache went away within 24 hours.  After that it was just time...windows and waves, changing symptoms, etc but nothing ever was worse than the tapering time...especially the last half mg or so.

[[th...]]

Nothing changed at all for me except my perpetual headache went away within 24 hours.  After that it was just time...windows and waves, changing symptoms, etc but nothing ever was worse than the tapering time...especially the last half mg or so.

 

Ya, nothing is really worse with each cut. Kinda the same syxs I have always had. Some new though. Today is bad bc of the increased intense pain in my neck and inability to move it. Hopefully it will stay this way and get better from here.

 

G

[[Ch...]]

Nothing changed at all for me except my perpetual headache went away within 24 hours.  After that it was just time...windows and waves, changing symptoms, etc but nothing ever was worse than the tapering time...especially the last half mg or so.

 

Ya, nothing is really worse with each cut. Kinda the same syxs I have always had. Some new though. Today is bad bc of the increased intense pain in my neck and inability to move it. Hopefully it will stay this way and get better from here.

 

G

 

Your body thinks it's in the fight of its life at the moment...and losing.  Hang in there, girlie, I believe it's never going to be as bad again as it has been lately...

[[th...]]

Nothing changed at all for me except my perpetual headache went away within 24 hours.  After that it was just time...windows and waves, changing symptoms, etc but nothing ever was worse than the tapering time...especially the last half mg or so.

 

Ya, nothing is really worse with each cut. Kinda the same syxs I have always had. Some new though. Today is bad bc of the increased intense pain in my neck and inability to move it. Hopefully it will stay this way and get better from here.

 

G

 

Your body thinks it's in the fight of its life at the moment...and losing.  Hang in there, girlie, I believe it's never going to be as bad again as it has been lately...

 

Even a 50% improvement would feel like a freaking miracle! I don't know what I will do with myself if I actually improve 100%!! FLY!!!