How much is too much?

[[al...]]

Hello,

 

I was placed on Xanax due to severe tinnitus that has dramatically impaired my life. I have taken .5 mg for at least a week. Since I have been reading about bento horror stories, I stopped taking them as of today and substituted with alcohol. When does one need to properly withdraw from benzos? I'm scared.

 

Thanks,

 

Albert

[[Ch...]]

Hi Albert.  Welcome to BenzoBuddies.

 

No need to be scared, we can answer your questions and help you do this correctly. 

 

If you've only been taking .5mg for a week, then it is fine to just stop taking it.  If you've been on them awhile you may find that .5mg is too high of a dose to suddenly stop.  In either case, I would not use alcohol as a substitute.  It might work temporarily to help with withdrawal symptoms, but it isn't the right solution as far as coming off Xanax.

 

I tried to stop taking Xanax at .25mg, which is half your dose.  I was not able to and had to go back on and taper due to extreme symptoms.  If you have pills, you might want to find out how to taper off safely.

 

General Taper Plans 

Withdrawal Support 

 

Here is a link to the Ashton Manual simply for information about the withdrawal process.  It does provide a lot of good information and is written by an expert in the field.

 

Please take some time to Create a Signature. This will help other members understand your history so they will be better able to support you.

Go to the top of the page and select Profile, then choose Forum Profile, insert drug history/timelines into the text box and click Change Profile.

 

~Challis

[[ti...]]

Welcome to BB. Challis told you correctly.  No need to worry if you quit now should have no problems.  Good luck.

[[al...]]

Thanks,

 

My problems are 1) my tinnitus is so loud I cannot mask it (so I hear it over everything including showers), and Xanax is the only way I can cope with such an acute situation, and 2) I am on day 8 of celexa (citalopram) for anxiety and depression and it seems to be making me very depressed. While the depression may also be from the fact that tinnitus has taken over my life, I feel he celexa has something to do with it. Needless to say, I am contemplating how long I can cope by 1) cutting xanax, 2) cutting celexa, 3) cutting both. These were prescribed by a psychiatrist when I had my first panic attack and mentioned suicide. I did take xanax a week before the tinnitus onset, but was recreationally (probably 2x in that week). I have never been scared for my life like I am now (mainly because of the tinnitus anxiety). Sorry to ramble.

[[Ch...]]

Thanks,

 

My problems are 1) my tinnitus is so loud I cannot mask it (so I hear it over everything including showers), and Xanax is the only way I can cope with such an acute situation, and 2) I am on day 8 of celexa (citalopram) for anxiety and depression and it seems to be making me very depressed. While the depression may also be from the fact that tinnitus has taken over my life, I feel he celexa has something to do with it. Needless to say, I am contemplating how long I can cope by 1) cutting xanax, 2) cutting celexa, 3) cutting both. These were prescribed by a psychiatrist when I had my first panic attack and mentioned suicide. I did take xanax a week before the tinnitus onset, but was recreationally (probably 2x in that week). I have never been scared for my life like I am now (mainly because of the tinnitus anxiety). Sorry to ramble.

 

I've only tried two anti-depressants, Celexa and Lexapro.  I only made it two days into Celexa and seriously thought I was going crazy or having a nervous breakdown.  Lexapro was no problem in the start-up period.

 

You may actually be feeling withdrawal.  Fear and anxiety are symptoms.  I still can't tell from your answer how long you've been taking Xanax.  Sorry!  Can you tell me how many weeks or months or years and what your highest dose was?

 

Try to relax, we're here to help.

 

[[be...]]

Thanks,

 

My problems are 1) my tinnitus is so loud I cannot mask it (so I hear it over everything including showers), and Xanax is the only way I can cope with such an acute situation, and 2) I am on day 8 of celexa (citalopram) for anxiety and depression and it seems to be making me very depressed. While the depression may also be from the fact that tinnitus has taken over my life, I feel he celexa has something to do with it. Needless to say, I am contemplating how long I can cope by 1) cutting xanax, 2) cutting celexa, 3) cutting both. These were prescribed by a psychiatrist when I had my first panic attack and mentioned suicide. I did take xanax a week before the tinnitus onset, but was recreationally (probably 2x in that week). I have never been scared for my life like I am now (mainly because of the tinnitus anxiety). Sorry to ramble.

 

I am so sorry you have tinnitus. It actually is  fairly common symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal. You say you were put on Xanax for the tinnitus but you started taking it prior to developing it? I am confused.

[[al...]]

I used benzos recreationally before the onset of sever tinnitus, but it was only .5 mg once here and there. It was never an everyday thing. After the tinnitus kicked in, I took .5 to 1mg for a week straight before researching the risks. Here is the thing: my tinnitus is SEVERE and I am in a continuous state of anxiety because of it. I don't know what else to do.

[[Ch...]]

I used benzos recreationally before the onset of sever tinnitus, but it was only .5 mg once here and there. It was never an everyday thing. After the tinnitus kicked in, I took .5 to 1mg for a week straight before researching the risks. Here is the thing: my tinnitus is SEVERE and I am in a continuous state of anxiety because of it. I don't know what else to do.

 

So your use of Xanax is pretty limited.  In that case, there shouldn't be any need to taper if you haven't been using them regularly. 

 

I certainly understand anxiety about having tinnitus, it must be terribly annoying and distracting.  If you haven't yet done so, I'd have my doc refer me to a good ENT for evaluation.  Tinnitus is a fairly common symptom of withdrawal from Xanax, so if it were me, I wouldn't take any more Xanax or any other benzodiazepine for fear of making it worse.

[[al...]]

Is the withdrawal tinnitus temporary or permaneant?