Xanax taper feedback please....

[[...]]

Hi buds...

 

If you read my into recent intro you will see that I have been on xanax for 28 years.

Mostly at the 3mg level and in the past months, i self tapered down to 2mg (not knowing any better.)

 

However, I am now following the 5-10% cut suggestion from Ashton and other friends I've made along the way..

 

I'm still anxious.

I'm still agoraphobic

I still have all kinds of negative thoughts.

I'm still having irrational fears.

I'm still not well.

I did not have expectations that I would, I'm not that hopeful. 

 

That being said...I get that getting off these meds is gonna make me more vulnerable to feeling crappy but

....I WANT OFF.

 

My main question is...

How do I know when it is time to cut again?

I've been on this 1.875mg cut for 1 week.

 

Thank you...

      xo Baci

[[Ch...]]

Hi Baci.

 

I was on a benzodiazepine for the best part of 30 years, the last ten or so on Xanax.  I got up to 2mg daily, then began to taper.  I was rather haphazard about my taper, cutting here and there, going back up, finally finding this forum and finishing my taper in a more reasonable way.

 

If you have .25mg tablets, this can be relatively easy to dry cut.  If not, I'd ask the doctor to prescribe .25mg tablets the next refill.  I found .0625mg cuts (1/4 of a .25mg tablet) the easiest to tolerate. 

 

The symptoms you've listed are par for the course, unfortunately.  But fortunately, they will go away with time.  It's important not to make any big cuts, those can bring on some lingering symptoms.

 

I was able to cut every week or so, but I wouldn't cut more than .0625mg.  With Xanax, you can correct a cut quickly, but it's best to stick to small cuts.

[[...]]

Hi Challis99...

Thank you for your reply.

Unfortunately, my insurance will not give .25mg of xanax in the quantity I need until I am at 1mg./day

They set the .50mg quantity to 2mg/day so I need to stay on those till I get low enough.

 

It's hard enough to get off these meds and now I have to deal with splitting these pills like a drug addict to get the amount I need to taper properly.

Who comes up with these arbitrary amounts and rules does not even understand that as we come down off these meds we need to cut.

The bigger the pill, the less accurate, the more chance for error.

 

I know there are other ways to taper, but I started with this poison in pill form and dammit, I'm gonna get off it the same way.

 

          xo Baci

[[ly...]]

 

I'd wait 2 weeks (at least) between cuts.  When I got lower I waited 30 days between.  I know you want to get off as fast as you can but please mind your symptoms and go at the pace your brain can adjust to.  Some can go faster than others but let your body guide you.