How do I tamper off Xanax safely?

[[ri...]]

Hi, So I'll probably be posting frequently as I'm new here and really don't know how to safely tamper off Xanax. I'm on 0.25mg (have been on for 4 years, only at bedtime) and have Valium prescribed by the doctor (still haven't taken any) and don't know where or how to start.

 

I'm having horrible symptoms as I started cutting my 0.25mg in half and I guess that's not the way to go.

 

I've read the Ashton manual and it's great but I'm on such a low dosage that I don't know where to start. If anyone can help me figure this out I'd really appreciate it.

[[Su...]]

Hi Rickatu and welcome to BB!!

I know an administrator will be here to help with things soon, but I wanted to chime in as a fellow Xanax user.

You are sensibly withdrawing from Xanax before you go up in dosage, which is what I did, and ended up using it for years.  arghhhhh... I too only used Xanax for sleep.

The guidelines here are to start with a 5-10% taper every 7-14 days.  Cutting that small a portion from .25 xanax pill is a bit tricky.  You might want to look at the threads that speak to dry cutting pills.

 

I am using a small amount of Valium to help with my taper, but would suggest you only start that if you  have w/d symptoms that are really unmanageable as it is starting another benzo.  There are many on this forum who have successfully tapered from xanax alone!  Really it's finding out what works for you and your body within the generally used guidelines.  The usual advice is that you cannot go too slowly....

 

It's great that you have a doc who is helping you with this process.

Good luck with the journey!

[[Ja...]]

Hi Rickatu!

I'm new here too, and like you, am hoping to taper off of Xanax.  (I don't have Valium though, just Xanax.)

 

I'm sure you'll hear from the pros, but you have options. I dry cut my tablets until I couldn't do it any longer. (The jump was too big of a dosage reduction & I started to feel super anxious, ....)

 

At that point, I switched over to a liquid taper, where I dissolve my tablets in vodka & mix with water to make a .1mg/1ml solution.  From there, it's pretty easy to control your amounts.

 

I'm doing 10% reductions every 2ish weeks, but I know others do micro tapers, where they take off tiny amounts per day. 

 

There's a lot of info here, (admitting that I'm still finding my way around), but there seem to be a lot of folks who want to help as well.

 

Welcome!  And good luck!

[[me...]]

Hi folks,

 

Just a reminder, Benzobudies is a peer support forum.  No one here is considered an expert (that may be the case on other forums, but definitely not this one), and moderators and administrators are certainly not experts in tapering or medical issues.  I'm certainly no expert on tapering, having only ever done fast tapers. Like everyone else here, we tend to post about our own experiences and what we've personally learned from this process, so we each have a different approach to all this.  Our primary job is to keep the forum running smoothly.

 

That said Rickatu, there are a few members who regularly post on this board who know about tapering and they may be able to help you with your taper.  Please be patient and they'll probably appear.  The key is to take all the suggestions you get, consider them, and then choose which is best for you.

 

[[Su...]]

Hi folks,

 

Just a reminder, Benzobudies is a peer support forum.  No one here is considered an expert (that may be the case on other forums, but definitely not this one), and moderators and administrators are certainly not experts in tapering or medical issues.  I'm certainly no expert on tapering, having only ever done fast tapers. Like everyone else here, we tend to post about our own experiences and what we've personally learned from this process, so we each have a different approach to all this.  Our primary job is to keep the forum running smoothly.

 

That said Rickatu, there are a few members who regularly post on this board who know about tapering and they may be able to help you with your taper.  Please be patient and they'll probably appear.  The key is to take all the suggestions you get, consider them, and then choose which is best for you.

 

 

Hi Megan,

I only meant that an administrator would be around to do the welcome thing that you always do, not that you are experts!  There are links that you provide etc. that I can't do..... Sorry for the  confusion anyone!

SS

[[me...]]

Hi folks,

 

Just a reminder, Benzobudies is a peer support forum.  No one here is considered an expert (that may be the case on other forums, but definitely not this one), and moderators and administrators are certainly not experts in tapering or medical issues.  I'm certainly no expert on tapering, having only ever done fast tapers. Like everyone else here, we tend to post about our own experiences and what we've personally learned from this process, so we each have a different approach to all this.  Our primary job is to keep the forum running smoothly.

 

That said Rickatu, there are a few members who regularly post on this board who know about tapering and they may be able to help you with your taper.  Please be patient and they'll probably appear.  The key is to take all the suggestions you get, consider them, and then choose which is best for you.

 

 

Hi Megan,

I only meant that an administrator would be around to do the welcome thing that you always do, not that you are experts!  There are links that you provide etc. that I can't do..... Sorry for the  confusion anyone!

SS

 

No problem, SS.  The official "welcomes" were done on the Introductions Board, by Magrita and Gardener99 earlier today.