The Xanax Club, Let Us Know How You Are Feeling Today

[[an...]]

Hi all,

I am 43 years old and i am diagnosed with anxiety/panic attacks.

 

I am on my third therapy with SSRI (1,5 months) but it is working very slowly, so i am now on my third (3rd) month of xanax with daily use of 0.5mg (in two doses).

 

In previous therapies i only needed to take xanax for a month (0.5mg), and had no problem stopping it cold turkey (i didn’t even knew then that there is a problem with withdrawals).

 

So now i am looking the best way to stop it, by minimizing doses. My doctor told me to visit him again in 20/9 but i dont want to keep taking xanax till that day.

 

I am trying past 4 days to take 0.25mg (once a day), and only one day  i needed badly to take +0.25mg but I am not feeling very well this past 4 days.

 

Also i cant recognize if the symptoms are withdrawals from taking xanax only once per day and lower dose or the problem is that for my for anxiety/panic attacks the dose is small.

 

Thanks

 

[[hr...]]

Hi everyone. It's so nice to see encouraging posts. I finally found a dry cut reduction rate that's working quite well for me; thankfully my Dr. is very supportive. I'm at a reduction of 5% every 10 days and I'm down from 2mg of xanax to 1.09mg. Withdrawal symptoms the 1st three days after the cut are mild; slight ringing in the ears, headache, and anxiousness, but nothing I can't handle. Once I hit 1mg, I'm holding for a month. I'm really hoping the remainder of my reduction schedule goes relatively smoothly. Being I only take xanax at night, I'm already feeling anxious about how I'm going to sleep at night when I'm completely off of it.

[[wo...]]

I have come offa Xanax twice.

 

First time was after five years. Just took real slow and had regular acupuncture at same time. Doing regular exercise especially swimming would of helped to

 

SE ond time I donne a diazepam switch. Doctor messed up and had me off in ten days when I had been on 3.6 mg daily. I never slept for three weeks although mood was fine and no withdrawal. Watched a lot of tv repeats late nite of I Love Lucy 

 

So yeah you can do it. Be patient.

[[La...]]

I have “reinstated” to .75 mg of Xanax per day. I take .25 every 8. I feel like I’m still in withdrawal. My body got so whacked by super fast conversion to K and step down immediately to .25 mg per day. It was brutal. I feel like there’s a tiger inside my body beating up on each and every organ and my good times are when I just feel sore from the last beating. I assume it’s a healing process. I want to step back up to  a 1.0 mg dose every day until I’m back to what I considered “normal”. Is that cowardly?  I need to find normal again before I step off the taper ledge. I know gabapentine is considered potentially problematic. I have a prescription. Can it help?  Is it worth a try?  Does anyone have info??  Also doctor prescribed buspirone. Should I be diligent to take it. Will it help?  Hurt?  Does nothing right now. Hard to remember to even take it.

[[Pa...]]

I have “reinstated” to .75 mg of Xanax per day. I take .25 every 8. I feel like I’m still in withdrawal. My body got so whacked by super fast conversion to K and step down immediately to .25 mg per day. It was brutal. I feel like there’s a tiger inside my body beating up on each and every organ and my good times are when I just feel sore from the last beating. I assume it’s a healing process. I want to step back up to  a 1.0 mg dose every day until I’m back to what I considered “normal”. Is that cowardly?  I need to find normal again before I step off the taper ledge. I know gabapentine is considered potentially problematic. I have a prescription. Can it help?  Is it worth a try?  Does anyone have info??  Also doctor prescribed buspirone. Should I be diligent to take it. Will it help?  Hurt?  Does nothing right now. Hard to remember to even take it.

 

There has been a great deal of discussion on this thread about Gabapentin, you might look there for some answers.  http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=84267.0

 

Going back up in dose isn't cowardly, we all have to do what we can to survive this nightmare. 

 

I'm wondering, if you're thinking about raising your dose to 1 mg Xanax, it might be better to do that before adding other medications into the mix.  While some find them helpful, others have regrets because a. they're now on another drug that must be tapered or b. they don't react well and are hit with increased symptoms.  We just never know how we're going to react to supplements and medications because our central nervous system is so sensitive.

[[an...]]

Hi all,

I am 43 years old and i am diagnosed with anxiety/panic attacks.

 

I am on my third therapy with SSRI (1,5 months) but it is working very slowly, so i am now on my third (3rd) month of xanax with daily use of 0.5mg (in two doses).

 

In previous therapies i only needed to take xanax for a month (0.5mg), and had no problem stopping it cold turkey (i didn’t even knew then that there is a problem with withdrawals).

 

So now i am looking the best way to stop it, by minimizing doses. My doctor told me to visit him again in 20/9 but i dont want to keep taking xanax till that day.

 

I am trying past 4 days to take 0.25mg (once a day), and only one day  i needed badly to take +0.25mg but I am not feeling very well this past 4 days.

 

Also i cant recognize if the symptoms are withdrawals from taking xanax only once per day and lower dose or the problem is that for my for anxiety/panic attacks the dose is small.

 

Thanks

 

I am successfuly at 0.25 last month (50% reduction)

 

I struggled some days and took 0.5 but now I am fine at this dose

 

The problem is that my anxiety problems are not better (2.5 months of ssri) so I can't go down from 0.25 or dry cut atm.

 

I am programming to go to 0.125 in two weeks if I am better

[[Pa...]]

Hi all,

I am 43 years old and i am diagnosed with anxiety/panic attacks.

 

I am on my third therapy with SSRI (1,5 months) but it is working very slowly, so i am now on my third (3rd) month of xanax with daily use of 0.5mg (in two doses).

 

In previous therapies i only needed to take xanax for a month (0.5mg), and had no problem stopping it cold turkey (i didn’t even knew then that there is a problem with withdrawals).

 

So now i am looking the best way to stop it, by minimizing doses. My doctor told me to visit him again in 20/9 but i dont want to keep taking xanax till that day.

 

I am trying past 4 days to take 0.25mg (once a day), and only one day  i needed badly to take +0.25mg but I am not feeling very well this past 4 days.

 

Also i cant recognize if the symptoms are withdrawals from taking xanax only once per day and lower dose or the problem is that for my for anxiety/panic attacks the dose is small.

 

Thanks

 

I am successfuly at 0.25 last month (50% reduction)

 

I struggled some days and took 0.5 but now I am fine at this dose

 

The problem is that my anxiety problems are not better (2.5 months of ssri) so I can't go down from 0.25 or dry cut atm.

 

I am programming to go to 0.125 in two weeks if I am better

 

I hate to see you cut another 50%, is there a reason why you're trying to taper so quickly, are you running out of pills?  I'm not sure what you mean about the SSRI, are you expecting it to fix your anxiety, I don't think its possible. Your anxiety is most likely caused by your 50% reduction, perhaps reducing less next time will help it be more manageable. 

[[an...]]

Hi all,

I am 43 years old and i am diagnosed with anxiety/panic attacks.

 

I am on my third therapy with SSRI (1,5 months) but it is working very slowly, so i am now on my third (3rd) month of xanax with daily use of 0.5mg (in two doses).

 

In previous therapies i only needed to take xanax for a month (0.5mg), and had no problem stopping it cold turkey (i didn’t even knew then that there is a problem with withdrawals).

 

So now i am looking the best way to stop it, by minimizing doses. My doctor told me to visit him again in 20/9 but i dont want to keep taking xanax till that day.

 

I am trying past 4 days to take 0.25mg (once a day), and only one day  i needed badly to take +0.25mg but I am not feeling very well this past 4 days.

 

Also i cant recognize if the symptoms are withdrawals from taking xanax only once per day and lower dose or the problem is that for my for anxiety/panic attacks the dose is small.

 

Thanks

 

I am successfuly at 0.25 last month (50% reduction)

 

I struggled some days and took 0.5 but now I am fine at this dose

 

The problem is that my anxiety problems are not better (2.5 months of ssri) so I can't go down from 0.25 or dry cut atm.

 

I am programming to go to 0.125 in two weeks if I am better

 

I hate to see you cut another 50%, is there a reason why you're trying to taper so quickly, are you running out of pills?  I'm not sure what you mean about the SSRI, are you expecting it to fix your anxiety, I don't think its possible. Your anxiety is most likely caused by your 50% reduction, perhaps reducing less next time will help it be more manageable.

 

I have anxiety disorder that's why I take SSRI.

 

It's my 3rd treatment with SSRI in 4 years.

 

I am now taking Lexapro (ESCITALOPRAM)

 

In my first two treatments I tooked celexa (citalopram)

 

I only tooked Xanax for one month and dry cut in my first two treatments, until the SSRI start working.

 

Now I am in my 4 month of Xanax , so I try to quit as soon as  possible. I don't want to be more addicted to Xanax, while my treatment is the SSRI.

 

My anxiety and panic disorders started before starting taking Xanax 4 months ago. Tooked Xanax for 1.5 months and then started SSRI. Now I am at 4month of Xanax and 2.5 month of SSRI.

 

My doctor is aware for both. He was saying from start to not take Xanax daily but only when I have panic attacks. But I have still everyday if I don't take.

 

I am better than I was 4 months ago, but still not ok, so I still need Xanax

[[Pa...]]

Hi all,

I am 43 years old and i am diagnosed with anxiety/panic attacks.

 

I am on my third therapy with SSRI (1,5 months) but it is working very slowly, so i am now on my third (3rd) month of xanax with daily use of 0.5mg (in two doses).

 

In previous therapies i only needed to take xanax for a month (0.5mg), and had no problem stopping it cold turkey (i didn’t even knew then that there is a problem with withdrawals).

 

So now i am looking the best way to stop it, by minimizing doses. My doctor told me to visit him again in 20/9 but i dont want to keep taking xanax till that day.

 

I am trying past 4 days to take 0.25mg (once a day), and only one day  i needed badly to take +0.25mg but I am not feeling very well this past 4 days.

 

Also i cant recognize if the symptoms are withdrawals from taking xanax only once per day and lower dose or the problem is that for my for anxiety/panic attacks the dose is small.

 

Thanks

 

I am successfuly at 0.25 last month (50% reduction)

 

I struggled some days and took 0.5 but now I am fine at this dose

 

The problem is that my anxiety problems are not better (2.5 months of ssri) so I can't go down from 0.25 or dry cut atm.

 

I am programming to go to 0.125 in two weeks if I am better

 

I hate to see you cut another 50%, is there a reason why you're trying to taper so quickly, are you running out of pills?  I'm not sure what you mean about the SSRI, are you expecting it to fix your anxiety, I don't think its possible. Your anxiety is most likely caused by your 50% reduction, perhaps reducing less next time will help it be more manageable.

 

I have anxiety disorder that's why I take SSRI.

 

It's my 3rd treatment with SSRI in 4 years.

 

I am now taking Lexapro (ESCITALOPRAM)

 

In my first two treatments I tooked celexa (citalopram)

 

I only tooked Xanax for one month and dry cut in my first two treatments, until the SSRI start working.

 

Now I am in my 4 month of Xanax , so I try to quit as soon as  possible. I don't want to be more addicted to Xanax, while my treatment is the SSRI.

 

My anxiety and panic disorders started before starting taking Xanax 4 months ago. Tooked Xanax for 1.5 months and then started SSRI. Now I am at 4month of Xanax and 2.5 month of SSRI.

 

My doctor is aware for both. He was saying from start to not take Xanax daily but only when I have panic attacks. But I have still everyday if I don't take.

 

I am better than I was 4 months ago, but still not ok, so I still need Xanax

 

Thank you for explaining your situation, I hope the Lexepro proves to be helpful so you can work on discontinuing the Xanax.

[[mr...]]

I am looking for a support group for the benzo taper and to speak with others going thru it.

Edit: Removed personal information

[[La...]]

Trying to consolidate an X support group. Need help. This thread is a little daunting and was started almost 10 years ago. Are things still relevant?  Why not start a new. We still have access to this older wisdoms but need to identify people who are doing it now.

[[...]]

 

      Yes, I agree also. I've been on X since 2015 and I've put the taper off so many times I've lost count. I want to start a plan soon and would also like to be in communication with people doing it. Thanks.

[[Br...]]

I'm not sure how to taper. I've been taking 1.5 mg of Alprazolam for over 10 years. Never increased it. Now my Dr decides it's too dangerous to prescribe me anymore and I'm on my own. Not good. Need advice.

 

[[Pa...]]

I'm not sure how to taper. I've been taking 1.5 mg of Alprazolam for over 10 years. Never increased it. Now my Dr decides it's too dangerous to prescribe me anymore and I'm on my own. Not good. Need advice.

 

Will your doctor keep prescribing the Alprazolam long enough for you to do a slow taper? 

[[se...]]

How irresponsible of your doctor to just cut you off.  There is countless literature on this everywhere about the dangers of just stopping the medication.

 

Maybe see another doctor and express your plans to taper safely?

 

Best of luck, you can do this, and you will feel better once you are off.

[[Th...]]

glad I found this group and hoping to find others going through this hell, I am sorry that we are.

I have been on daily Xanax for years now, and twice daily for a year and a half and recently developed a tolerance to it which is making me have withdrawal symptoms while still on it and it's been awful.

I feel angry and upset that this is happening even before I have begun to taper, which I am meeting with my doc on Monday about.

I want off this! I know that it will be a long process but wow, it feels so frustrating and horribly consuming already.

 

[[se...]]

I am 20 months post.  It was a long taper but well worth it.  My health is much, much better now.  I also hit tolerance 30 days after starting.  I was lucky to recognize (thanks to this site).

 

Hang in there, remember a slow taper is best…

[[Re...]]

Tapering is so hard for me.  My withdrawal symptoms start at about 2am, horrible muscle aches and headache.  I lie there hoping to fall asleep again…sometimes I can but then have a scary nightmare and wake with the same symptoms.  The only thing that helps is getting up and moving around.  I then wonder what kind of day I’m going to have.  Yesterday I felt pretty good.  So far today my skin is on fire and bad neck pain.  I’m supposed to reduce my dose again in a week.  I take Xanax Xr and my doctor has instructed me to cut the pill in half.  Of course I’ve been on google and it says never to do that.  But my doctor insists it’s safe.  So now in addition to my withdrawal symptoms I am experiencing added anxiety about that.

[[se...]]

I am so sorry to hear you are struggling.  It will be uncomfortable as you taper.  I can not express how important it is to do a safe low reduction taper. 

 

The cuts compound over time and will hit at different times.  It’s best to hold the taper until the body adjusts and then start again when it is more tolerable.

 

Most doctors lack the knowledge about the dangers of reducing at such a large reduction.  I was told the same, reduced 1/4 of a pill and landed in the ER two days later unable to sit still.  I have never been so uncomfortable and frightened.

 

 

My suggestion is, if you have been on this drug in excess of 90 days, it is important to reduce slowly to avoid major symptoms.  You may be lucky and tolerate the large reduction, everyone is different.

 

Either way, please do what feels best for you.  Utilize the site for support.

 

Best of luck to you.

[[Bo...]]

Posting here if this is helpful….

 

I have talked with Total Town pharmacist Justin and had a 20min convo. They work with many patients and have done compounds for Ativan, Klonopin, Librium, and Xanax. They haven’t done any for Valium thus far…

 

-they are PCAB accredited which is highest and most reputable you can get, only 2% are in the US.

-they also are PCCA which sources pure ingredients from manufacturers instead of crushing pills to make their formulations….. which can have variations regarding dose amounts given filler and binders are included in pill format. My compounder in Arlington Pharmacy Solutions is also the same, sources pure K powder and doesn’t crush the pills giving a more exact amount of the specific benzo dose needed.

-they can get as low as .005mg capsule increments for Ativan and Librium

-they can get as low as .001mg capsule increments for Klonopin and Xanax

 

Many with the Ativan, K and Xanax prescriptions will have Dr write out prescription filling it with .1mg capsules, .05mg capsules and .005 or .001mg capsules enabling the person to make the reductions they need as such to get say to the .005mg or the .001mg reduction.

 

Wanted to pass this along bc I know it’s a struggle finding people who understand and can get small reductions as many of us need and most Drs don’t even know compounding options are out there for psychotropic meds. If you find a compound pharmacist in your state , these guys are willing to talk with them to discuss questions you or the pharmacist has.

 

If you have a prescriber in NY….

Total Town Compounding - Justin ( pharmacist)

Syosset NY

516-249-7436

 

If you have a prescriber in TX

Pharmacy Solutions- Nick (pharmacist I use)

Arlington TX

817-274-0050

[[se...]]

This is wonderful news!  I wish I had known this when I was tapering.  For all of you still on this journey, please know things are so much better once you get on the other side of this.

 

Prayers for all.

[[an...]]

ok here is an update on my Xanax tapper

 

(europe date format dd/mm/yy)

 

01/07/2022: 0.50  mg

03/09/2022: 0.25  mg

25/03/2023: 0.125 mg

05/05/2023: 0.0625 mg

03/07/2023: 0.03125 mg

 

I have dizziness/head pressure last days but nothing i can't handle

 

At this point better to jump or continue with the 0.03125 mg for 1-2 weeks? Its so small at this point. A fragment of the pill. cant even measure if i cut it correct

 

 

[[Pa...]]

It sounds to me like you feel its time and your dose is in the range where many decide to end their taper.  But the most important part is you and how confident you feel, you seem fairly confident.  It’s likely you’ll face some increased symptoms but nothing you haven’t felt before, are you ready?

[[xa...]]

Hi everyone

(english is not my language)

Does anyone know if this liquid xanax formulation (I bought at the pharmacy, I did not make it, in my country it is sold regularly) is miscible in water?

 

concentration: 0,75mg/ml

 

Composition:

active ingredient: alprazolam

other components: alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium saccharinate, grapefruit aroma, purified water

 

I would like to apply water titration, so dissolving 3 drops in 75 ml of water; the concentration of a single drop is 0.025mg/~0.33ml

 

Basically I would like to know if 3 drops of solution mixes homogeneously in 75 ml of water, so if the water titration is applicable