Getting off the benzos

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I'm on .5 zopax (generic of xanax) tried coming off by splitting in half.

Was prescribed .5 mg twice a day but am taking .25 3 times a day and seems like I need more.

Don't want to up the dose as I want to get off them .

Suffer series pan nick attacks

[[Mi...]]

He Deon and welcome to Benzo Buddies.

 

How long have you been taking the Xanax?  Is your doctor willing to help you with a taper plan?

 

Since Xanax is short acting, some members choose to switch to loner acting benzos such as Valium or Klonopin.  This makes reductions a little more tolerable.  If your doctor prefers to taper you directly from Xanax, we can try and help with a taper plan that you can present to him.

 

We're glad you found us, and feel free to ask questions.

[Guest [Si...]]

Deon,

 

Welcoming you to BenzoBuddies.

 

You will find plenty of support here.

 

Sigma.

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Been on them about 4 years only took them when I had an attack then was told to rather take every day to prevent an attack .

Now I take 3. X .25 per day but it's getting worse seems like I have reached my tolerance

Discussed it with my doc to help me taper but wouldn't even listen to me said it's the best stuff , I must continue .

I've done research and my symptoms seem more like withdrawal and addiction hence the need to get off this poison.

 

 

 

[[Ni...]]

Welcome to Benzo Buddies, Deon. I take Xanax as well and I had an experience much like you. I was on a low dose for years, then there was an increase after about 5-6 years. At the time, I was unaware that I hit tolerance, now in retrospect I realize that is what happened.

 

I'm glad you found BB, I'm learning a lot from all the great people here.

[[Mi...]]

You very well may have reached tolerance.  When this happens, the only two options you have are to either increase your dose, or start a slow, safe taper.

 

I'm sorry your doctor is not willing to work with you.  Many of us have found ourselves in the same situation.

 

Have you thought about finding a new doctor who will help you?  It took me quite a bit of searching to find a doctor who was willing to listen to me and safely taper me off using Valium and the Ashton Manual. I will give you a link in case you would like to read it.  There is a wealth of information about what benzos do, withdrawal symptoms, and how to safely taper off of them.  http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm 

 

There were times I almost gave up the search, but I am so fortunate to have found him.

 

If you would like us to help you with a taper plan, please post in the "Planning Your Taper" area of the forum, and someone should get back to you within a day or two.

[[...]]

Yeah I found the Ashton manual even have it laminated on my wall (desperado) haha

But need a doc to work with me ,

They all just dish out the benzo,s like sweets and we must suffer .

I have just about every withdrawal symptom there is , even bought the panic away program,

The worst is the sound sensitivity and the tinitus in the ears it's driving me crazy.

 

 

 

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Is it better to take smaller doses more frequently or larger doses less frequently?..

[[Mi...]]

Are you referring to tapering? Different people will swear by both methods.

 

For me personally, I once tried the tiny reduction every day, and it made me worse.  I finally settled on reducing every 2 weeks or so, and that seemed to help.  It's like it gave my body time to adjust.

[[...]]

So do you skip a dose or take less of a dose or try extend the periods between dossis

[[Mi...]]

If you can post your question in this part of the forum, someone can get back to you with a plan http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?board=56.0

 

For me personally, I made a small reduction off of one dose at a time.  I took mine twice per day, and eliminated the morning dose first.  However, that was with Valium and it has a much longer halflife than Xanax, so it's comparing apples to oranges, in a way.

 

Some people on Xanax who take it three times per day, will make a reduction to one of their doses, hold for 1-2 weeks, then make the same reduction to a different dose and hold, etc.  This makes it a little more even.

 

Again, if you would post in the link I gave you, someone will be along soon to assist you.

[[Ni...]]

Hi Deon, I have found that what Missy said about dosing with Xanax is what has worked for me while I am tapering. The three times a day, makes it smoother for me since Xanax wears off fast.

 

I ask questions in the taper section too.