Cut 5 days ago, still symptomatic

[[bl...]]

Quick question since I'm new to this.

 

I'm almost half a month into my taper from Xanax. So far, I've been able to cut every five days a little and then hold. Each time, I feel worst on the first and second day, but then it's improved.

 

I cut five days ago, just a small cut. I'm still just as symptomatic as I was then. Is it normal to hold for this long? Or should I make the next cut and figure that it's better to get it over with because it's not going to improve?

 

In other words, do you normally feel improvement between your cuts before cutting again, or is it all just horrible?

 

I'm having a pretty hefty withdrawal. It was light at first. Now, it's pretty rotten. I'm coming off a high dose. I'm not open to a Valium taper, btw, so please don't mention that. I'm just trying to figure out if it's better to hold, or will I wind up holding for too long, or if it's better to cut despite still feeling wretched. It's not even a fully subjective kind of wretched: my teeth are chattering and my nose is running and I'm covered in goosebumps. Anyone can see that I am unwell. I have like twenty additional symptoms here and am gritting my teeth through this. This is about as fun as being on a bad drug trip that won't go away while being hit with the flu.

 

Thanks for explaining how to proceed. Cut, or wait? If I wait, will I just wait "forever" and prolong my agony? When do you know to make another cut if you keep feeling like death on toast?

 

I'm water titrating, which is working out pretty well.

[[os...]]

I would say hold, any more cutting will surely make matters worse, i held for 6 days recently, hang in there OK? Maybe some other suggestions will follow, i am sorry you are feeling bad, i hope it passes soon, one idea would be to make a minor dose correction to a cut or two before? That sometimes works.

 

Oscar

[[bl...]]

Hi Oscar,

 

What's a minor dose correction? I don't know that term, sorry!

 

Also, is six days a long hold? That's what I'm trying to figure out. How long most people hold at each cut and is it normal to feel symptoms through them or do they wait until they feel alright before cutting first? How long does that usually take? I know everyone's different, so just looking for a range. Also, I'd like to know if I'm going to feel this crummy for the next six months (how long my taper is planned for). If so, I'm not sure I can do it. I have too many life obligations: a full-time teaching job and a child who I can barely pick up from school. It's freaking me out. The first week of taper was easier.

 

What's pretty normal look like here?

[[Ti...]]

I am having flu like sx too and can't imagine feeling this badly for 6 more months of a taper. Hope we both stabilize soon.