taper off 0.25 mg xanax

[[ba...]]

My GP prescribed 0.25 mg xanax for panic and anxiety in Feb 07. The scrip says 1-2 tabs, twice daily. It worked and I felt better for a long time. Knowing that it is a narcotic, I took 1/2 pill in the AM and the other 1/2 in the evening only if I needed it. My prescription records show that I averaged 1/2 pill per day for the better part of a year. The most I have ever taken was 3 tabs/day (0.75 mg) for about a week in April 08. In mid May, after reducing dose, I woke to ringing in my ears. This was much reduced with more xanax. I began to wonder whether the xanax was helping me or whether I was experiencing wd.

 

My GP assured me that I was on such a small dose (baby dose, in his words) that any dependence was psychological, not physical, and that I could quit any time. I have spent the last three months trying to reduce my dose. I tried cold turkey once and had the following symptoms:

Ears ringing

Arms aching, as if both funny bones were stuck in the "on" position

Back of scalp feels sunburned

Joint pain in lower back and legs, crick in the neck

Upset stomach

 

I don't feel particularly panicked or anxious, except that I need to know why I feel so terrible on one day and fine on the next.

 

At 0.25 mg I have very few symptoms, but when I taper down to 0.125 mg one or more of these symptoms return. Often times I will be stable for several days and then I wake up in the middle of the night with symptoms. I usually then revert to 0.25 mg for relief.

 

Question 1: Is this typical for xanax withdrawal, given the "baby dose?" Or is it all in my head? Or is it likely unrelated to xanax?

 

Question 2: I have trouble splitting the pills smaller than quarters so titration seems best. can somebody give me a schedule?

Starting with 0.25 mg/day using 0.25 mg tablets

A reasonable taper, given 1.5 years of use.

100 mL cylinder with 1 ml graduations

 

Question 3: How long will the solution last? Can I make up solution from one pill and use it over several days?

 

Question 4: What do I do when symptoms return, tough it out or take more xanax?

 

Question 5: Why does nobody make a smaller dose tablet. Generics are available and it would seem that there is a market for smaller dose tablets.

 

Thanks for your patience with my long post.

[[Be...]]

Hi, babydose, and welcome to Benzo Buddies.  I think you found the greatest benzo withdrawal support group on the Internet. Of course, I am a bit biased. 

 

I probably won't be able to address all your questions but I can get the ball rolling. I did send a message to Colin who develops the titration schedules so he will probably be posting here soonish.  BTW, he will need to know what interval you choose for withdrawing, know that you can speed up or slow down depending on how you feel. An example would be to cut 10% every 10 days.

 

First, those symptoms you describe are classic benzo withdrawal symptoms.  I haven't met a doctor yet who believed how potent these drugs are.  Even though benzos are not actually narcotics, they are addictive and therein lies the problem. Xanax is one of the nastiest IMO because it has such a short half-life. We have one member, mal, who recently got directly off of xanax and two more who are in the process so I feel sure you will be able to do it, too.  I believe titration will make the whole thing easier and am glad you already know about it.

 

As far as what to do when symptoms crop up, you pretty much have to just tough it out unless they become unbearable rather than uncomfortable.  Otherwise, the benzo will suck you back in over and over again and eventually you will need to take more to reduce the symptoms.  It's the nature of the beast.  I"ve been off my benzo for a month and still have the ringing ears, for instance.  If you look around the forum a bit, you will see that symptoms come and go as our nervous system resets itself and eventually stay gone.  No one knows how long that will take, unfortunately, but having been on a low dose you should expect to heal fairly rapidly once you are off.

 

You have done your research and done a great job of getting to just .25 mg/day.  We will help you get off the rest of it, no doubt about it. 

[[Co...]]

My GP prescribed 0.25 mg xanax for panic and anxiety in Feb 07. The scrip says 1-2 tabs, twice daily. It worked and I felt better for a long time. Knowing that it is a narcotic, I took 1/2 pill in the AM and the other 1/2 in the evening only if I needed it. My prescription records show that I averaged 1/2 pill per day for the better part of a year. The most I have ever taken was 3 tabs/day (0.75 mg) for about a week in April 08. In mid May, after reducing dose, I woke to ringing in my ears. This was much reduced with more xanax. I began to wonder whether the xanax was helping me or whether I was experiencing wd.

 

Hi Babydose,

 

Welcome to BenzoBuddies.

 

You can experience withdrawal symptoms, even from a low dose of benzos.

 

My GP assured me that I was on such a small dose (baby dose, in his words) that any dependence was psychological, not physical, and that I could quit any time. I have spent the last three months trying to reduce my dose. I tried cold turkey once and had the following symptoms:

Ears ringing

Arms aching, as if both funny bones were stuck in the "on" position

Back of scalp feels sunburned

Joint pain in lower back and legs, crick in the neck

Upset stomach

 

Some people are far more prone to experience withdrawal symptoms than others when quitting benzos. All your symptoms have been reported here many times.

 

I don't feel particularly panicked or anxious, except that I need to know why I feel so terrible on one day and fine on the next.

 

This doesn't surprise me. Benzos tend to be useful in the treatment of anxiety of for a few months, so in all liklihood, the Xanx stopped being useful a long time ago. I short, you manage your anxiety without the benefit of benzos. Some people experience terrible anxiety when quitting benzos (a rebound reaction - a withdrawal effect), but you are luckier than some, at least in this regard.

 

At 0.25 mg I have very few symptoms, but when I taper down to 0.125 mg one or more of these symptoms return. Often times I will be stable for several days and then I wake up in the middle of the night with symptoms. I usually then revert to 0.25 mg for relief.

 

Even from a low dose, cutting half your prescription in one go is more than most can manage. Xanax is a potent benzo, so even a dose of 0.25mg is significant.

 

Question 1: Is this typical for xanax withdrawal, given the "baby dose?" Or is it all in my head? Or is it likely unrelated to xanax?

 

Well, probably not typical for all people that are prescribed your dose of Xanax, but common enough for significant numbers of people to search out help and support from places such as BenzoBuddies.

 

Question 2: I have trouble splitting the pills smaller than quarters so titration seems best. can somebody give me a schedule?

Starting with 0.25 mg/day using 0.25 mg tablets

A reasonable taper, given 1.5 years of use.

100 mL cylinder with 1 ml graduations

 

No problem, but at low doses, you can create your own schedule very easily. I suggest, with a 100ml cylinder and 1ml markings, you make up 100ml, and drink 2ml less each day. When down to 50ml, say, you might choose to reduce your dose by 1ml every day, but this may not be necessary. So, your withdrawal probably will take between 50-75 days, but you can easily alter the taper rate yourself, according to how you feel as the taper progresses.

 

Question 3: How long will the solution last? Can I make up solution from one pill and use it over several days?

 

Yes. If using milk, I would not keep it for more than three days though. Water might last longer, but I still wouldn't be tempted to keep it for more than three days.

 

Question 4: What do I do when symptoms return, tough it out or take more xanax?

 

If it begins to feel too tough, stabilise your dose for a few days, and then press forward again, but perhaps at a reduced rate.

 

Question 5: Why does nobody make a smaller dose tablet. Generics are available and it would seem that there is a market for smaller dose tablets.

 

Frankly, it is not in their interest. Since smaller doses have no therapetic value, there is no financial incentive to manufacture them. Personally, I think it probably goes further - manufacturers have a financial incentive to keep people on these drugs, so why would they produce pills in a size that makes quitting easier?

[[ba...]]

I finished my taper in early December 2008, reinstated briefly in January 2009, and have been off completely since mid January. All through my taper I had tingling in hands and feet, a burning sensation on my scalp, and ringing in my ears. I also have had back pain that may be unrelated to the xanax. The back doctor sent me to a neurologist, who prescribed Lyrica and sent me for a nerve conduction test. I held off taking the Lyrica until after the test, which showed no nerve damage.

 

The tingling in hands and feet are now almost entirely gone. The remaining complaint is a continued ringing in my ears, which is now noticable only in a quiet room. I have resisted taking the Neurontin prescribed by the back doctor or the Lyrica prescribed by the neurologist. I am not eager to get on another roller coaster.

[[Be...]]

I finished my taper in early December 2008, reinstated briefly in January 2009, and have been off completely since mid January. All through my taper I had tingling in hands and feet, a burning sensation on my scalp, and ringing in my ears. I also have had back pain that may be unrelated to the xanax. The back doctor sent me to a neurologist, who prescribed Lyrica and sent me for a nerve conduction test. I held off taking the Lyrica until after the test, which showed no nerve damage.

 

The tingling in hands and feet are now almost entirely gone. The remaining complaint is a continued ringing in my ears, which is now noticable only in a quiet room. I have resisted taking the Neurontin prescribed by the back doctor or the Lyrica prescribed by the neurologist. I am not eager to get on another roller coaster.

I wondered what happened to you, babydose.  I'm so glad to hear you are off the xanax and that you are mostly back to normal.  If you only notice the tinnitus in a quiet room, I'm pretty sure you can train your brain to ignore it.  Mine is much louder and sometimes interferes with my hearing people drugs. Isn't it amazing what those baby doses can cause when withdrawing.  Thanks for letting those who are wondering if they'll ever get back to normal that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 

[[Th...]]

The remaining complaint is a continued ringing in my ears, which is now noticable only in a quiet room. I have resisted taking the Neurontin prescribed by the back doctor or the Lyrica prescribed by the neurologist. I am not eager to get on another roller coaster.

 

I have heard others complain of tinnitus during and after tapering. Here is what Dr. Ashton says about tinnutis.....

 

One of the most distressing sensory symptoms is tinnitus, a constant ringing or hissing in the ears which has been noted in several studies of benzodiazepine withdrawal. One lady described her tinnitus as a "needle of sound" piercing deep inside her head. Tinnitus is often associated with a degree of hearing loss and is not uncommon in people with partial nerve deafness who have never taken benzodiazepines. Nevertheless, it often makes its first appearance during benzodiazepine withdrawal in people who have had hearing loss for years. Also, it may be unilateral or precisely localised, even in those with symmetrical bilateral hearing loss. Whether people who have taken long-term benzodiazepines are particularly prone to tinnitus and if so why, is not known. It can persist for years and does not always respond to the usual treatments for tinnitus (maskers, etc); nor is it always relieved by restarting benzodiazepines. However, people with persisting tinnitus after withdrawal should seek the advice of a hearing specialist and may be lucky enough to find a clinic which specialises in this symptom.

 

A number of unpleasant bodily sensations may persist after withdrawal including tingling, "pins and needles" or patches of numbness in the trunk, face, limbs and fingers. These may be accompanied by burning pain or aches that sometimes seem to originate deep in the muscles or bones. Some people complain of an "inner trembling" or a sense of vibration, and some have described bizarre sensations as of water or slime running over the body or a serpent-like writhing on the scalp. Motor symptoms that may persist include muscle tension, weakness, cramps, jerks, spasms and shaking attacks.

 

I would also suggest you do a forum search on Lyrica and Neurontin and other research before taking it. Just click "forum" at the top of the page and type in the search box at the right.

 

Hope your symptoms settle down for you soon!

 

T2

[[ba...]]

I did have some muscle twitches during the first few months of my taper. The muscle in the web of my thumb and another in my forarm would twitch about once per second for a few minutes and then stop. Just those two muscles at unpredictable times. That particular symptom seems to have subsided completely. Thanks for the support. It has been a comfort to me that others have traveled this road before.