Tapering from Xanax, Having Issues, Do I need to updose?

[Guest [Bu...]]

I was on 30mg of temazepam for 1 year, 15mg for 2 years and I steadily tapered down to 4 or 5 mg. At which point, my doctor suggested switching to Xanax to 2.5mg. This was in January. After 2 weeks on 2.5, I cut the pill in half and have been on half of a 2.5 Xanax for around 3.5 weeks now.

 

Im at college and Im about ready to go through midterms next week, the week thereafter is spring break. I was planning to make the final cut during spring break. I wanted to do it sooner but Im scared Ill derail my grades and all the hard work Ive put into school. However, Ive been sleeping terribly for the past week which is making me feel very desperate to updose (i only take xanax at night). I feel like Im burning myself out and am a wreck physically and mentally by the end of the day...and that end of the day seems to get earlier and earlier.

 

I thought before I updosed, I would come here and try to get some support and advice. I dont want to undo the hard work Ive put into getting off benzos but I dont want to mess with all the hard work Ive put into school- its my last semester. Please help!

[Guest [...]]

Hey just commenting I dont know anything really but what I do know is that xanax has a very short half life you may want to visit the doc and ask to switch to valium which has a longer life.

 

good luck must be stuff with school and all but good on you for not giving up.

 

Lizzy

[Guest [Bu...]]

Thanks so much for your kind words, input and support, Lizzy!

[Guest [Bu...]]

Another question.. did I taper too fast? Did I wait too long for next cut?

[Guest [...]]

Bug you know its the blind leading the blind here.  I if I was sensible which I wasnt would abide by the 10% cut rule I just did a 20% and feel bad.  I would definately go and see a doctor it looks like what you did was fast to me who told you to cut like that.  Was it the beginning of Jan or the end.

 

Lizzy

[Guest [Bu...]]

Hey Lizzy,

 

It was end. My doc told me to cut like that. She actually wanted to do it much faster. 2 days on xanax and then, off but I couldnt do it. She wasnt the original prescriber, she has just carried the prescription on from this idiot of a doctor that I first saw at the onset of my insomnia. My current doctor would never prescribed benzos. She's against them, which is good but she's also probably unknowledgeable about them because she thinks the withdrawals are just in my head at this point. She said, you could just quite right now-just do it.

 

I cant! and I know its not just in my head! (outside of the symptoms that are, of course, doing my head in.)

 

I hate these PILLS! I hate this addiction and helplessness. I hate not being able to depend on my body.

 

Sorry to hear about your issues, as well. GRRR! XANAX!

[Guest [Bu...]]

Lizzy-

 

Have you had muscle problems and muscle pain? I am in agony the past two weeks!

[[sh...]]

Your final dose on Xanax, before switching over, was 2.5mg? If so, you deducted by .5mg, which can be a big cut for some.

 

If you feel stable enough, I'd suggest holding until you felt safe enough to start tapering again, but instead of cutting by .5mg, you could do your first cut at .125mg.

 

What size pills do you have?

[Guest [...]]

Hey Bug I hate doctors and their prescriptions.  All i had was a bad reaction to blood pressure medication and couldnt sleep then it all started zyprexa this that and the other and now this.  Hate that you are young and going through this want to give you a big hug.  You will be ok promise.  I didnt have the muscle pain my is more anxiety horrific and very very sad.  What other symptoms are you having?

 

 

Lizzy

[Guest [Bu...]]

Your final dose on Xanax, before switching over, was 2.5mg? If so, you deducted by .5mg, which can be a big cut for some.

 

If you feel stable enough, I'd suggest holding until you felt safe enough to start tapering again, but instead of cutting by .5mg, you could do your first cut at .125mg.

 

What size pills do you have?

 

Hi Shane,

 

Thanks for your response. I was on 4-5 mg of Temazepam, switched to Xananx 2.5 mg and then I take half of a 2.5mg pill now. I have 2.5mg pill. Sorry if this sounds ineloquent.. symptoms seem to be worsening as the night goes on.

 

So you think it was too big of a cut?

[Guest [Bu...]]

Hey Bug I hate doctors and their prescriptions.  All i had was a bad reaction to blood pressure medication and couldnt sleep then it all started zyprexa this that and the other and now this.  Hate that you are young and going through this want to give you a big hug.  You will be ok promise.  I didnt have the muscle pain my is more anxiety horrific and very very sad.  What other symptoms are you having???

 

Hey Lizzy,

 

Thank you. Wish you could give me a big hug, My hubby will be home soon and Ill finally get one. Thank goodness for Benzo Buddies and my dogs tonight. I am not in a good way tonight. So weird how its been getting progressively worse. I thought I was out of teh woods until this week and was looking forward to making next and what I thought would be final cut. Knew it wouldnt be fun but it wasnt as terrible as the time (at the beginning) the docs suggested I go from 30mg Temazepam to 15mg Temazepam. That was HORRIFIC!

 

Moderate to severe Muscle cramps and pain, migraines, tinnitus, extreme fatigue, brain fog, unpredictable swinging from exhaustion to almost hyper activity (like one day slow, next day hyper-not usually within a single day), sometimes anxiety, sometimes mild depression, wacky dreams and sleep (feel like a hot dog on spit, turning all night long). dont know what else but those are main issues.

[Guest [Bu...]]

almost forgot: hot flashes, memory stuff (ironically!).

 

what about you Lizzy?

[Guest [...]]

I just took a point five cut from 2.5mg of valium down to 2mg bad bad mistake because it caused this benzo depression just when i was getting well.  However i have very bad pmt at the moment just hoping thats why im feeling the sadness.  I just feel totally strange.  Have really bad anxiety in the early hours of the morning and have a burning sensation in my lower right leg.  Physically im not to bad its the mental stuff that is getting to me oh and Im going through a marriage breakup with a totally unsupportive person.  Plus i have so much anger towards my parents who supported the doctors in making me take this stuff in the first place.  Dont know if i will ever find happiness again.  When i cut i get very bad aching teeth as well.  not fun hey.

 

 

Lizzy

[Guest [Bu...]]

Lizzy,

 

sorry to hear all of this. what a time to to be tapering. how brave you are. Hope you have some goods friends and is that your pup in the picture?

 

it will get better and you will find happiness again. when I was incredibly desperate with temazepam taper, I updosed just a little bi to get stable and it helped me get to the next step. you dont have to be a superwoman if it gets too hard. best to keep it on a slow one liek everyone says.. I may have gone too fast...but I haev other non-related health issues so I wonder sometimes if its not that. Im having desperate moments tonight after a bad week but Im feelng a bit better after being on here and having ahot cocoa. do something nice for yourself, you deserve it. also exercise if you can, i cant because of teh muscle stuff right now but I know if I could it would help. even 20 min of cardio a few times a week will help.

 

hang in there lady! sending you a huge hug too! you will get through this and find happiness!

[Guest [...]]

Thanks bug

 

Love how many amazing people im meeting on this site.  I have a blog if you ever want to visit called Down but not Out lord knows where you will find it and I dont know how to post the link lol so dumb atm.  Yes that is my beautiful dog Ty he is devine and very supportive of me haha.  Well you are right about the exercise what is really funny is that I felt like crying and then went out into the world down to the supermarket and ran into a girl i havent spoken to for ages and i felt the depression just disappear I think staying in the house focussing on how bad i am and how much ive been through is not good for me.  Im feeling like i want to be back at work but seriously dont think i could right now.

 

Lizzyx

[[sh...]]

Are you taking the bars? I haven't heard of Xanax coming in anything higher than 2mg pills. Either way, .5mg can be a big cut for some. It might do you better to cut by .125mg, if you don't think that's too small of a cut. Let me know, I'd be glad to fix a taper chart for you.