XANAX Support Blog: If you're tapering Xanax/alprazolam, join in the discussion!

[[Ch...]]

Way to go Baby!! I am very excited for you! Thanks for your post. I keep worrying that I'll never be able to get off Xanax & live life "brain damaged" I've even had dreams that I couldn't get off Xanax. More of a nightmare than  dream. I'm almost ready to start my taper. Thanks for giving me hope!

[[Ch...]]

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been Mia so long. I have been tapering off Suboxone before I can do my Xanax taper.  I'm almost off the Suboxone. Also I suffer from depression & this winter has kicked my booty. I live in the Midwestern US & have had my fill of snow. My depression gets really bad. And I think since I'm getting opiate free from the Suboxone taper I'm actually feeling emotions that have been numb for way too long. I keep crying out of the blue. Tonight I'm up with restless legs.

 

I will be contacting my psychiatrist soon about my taper off Xanax. I gave her info last month so she could read up. She was impressed with all I knew. That's all thanks to this super group!!! Now I'm kinda worried because she seems to want to keep me on the extended release Xanax. But those pills can't be cut down like the others. She has told me before. I told her I'd request a taper plan here so she could decide if it's ok with her. She's also a pharmacologist so if someone can help me with my taper I'd really appreciate it. I can't remember where I'm supposed to ask for that though. Thanks to my Xanax memory.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

[[Mo...]]

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been Mia so long. I have been tapering off Suboxone before I can do my Xanax taper.  I'm almost off the Suboxone. Also I suffer from depression & this winter has kicked my booty. I live in the Midwestern US & have had my fill of snow. My depression gets really bad. And I think since I'm getting opiate free from the Suboxone taper I'm actually feeling emotions that have been numb for way too long. I keep crying out of the blue. Tonight I'm up with restless legs.

 

I will be contacting my psychiatrist soon about my taper off Xanax. I gave her info last month so she could read up. She was impressed with all I knew. That's all thanks to this super group!!! Now I'm kinda worried because she seems to want to keep me on the extended release Xanax. But those pills can't be cut down like the others. She has told me before. I told her I'd request a taper plan here so she could decide if it's ok with her. She's also a pharmacologist so if someone can help me with my taper I'd really appreciate it. I can't remember where I'm supposed to ask for that though. Thanks to my Xanax memory.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

Hey ChiMom,

 

I am weaning off of Xanax XR also.  My doctor has weaned a lot of patients off without any problems.  I substitute regular Xanax for the Xanax XR with each .5mg drop.  He said when I get down to the last .5mg then I will take regular xanax spread out during the day to come down evenly.  I was told the xanax xr is easier to wean from because you have a more stable dose and not all the ups and downs with the regular.  They are some that have weaned by substituting regular xanax and can guide you. I dropped a little faster than what the recommend however so far has not been bad.  I plan on dropping a little slower with next drop which should be in about a month.  For me, my p-doc says I know my body and lets me decide when to drop with his guidance of course.  Good Luck to you.  Monique

[[ba...]]

Way to go Baby!! I am very excited for you! Thanks for your post. I keep worrying that I'll never be able to get off Xanax & live life "brain damaged" I've even had dreams that I couldn't get off Xanax. More of a nightmare than  dream. I'm almost ready to start my taper. Thanks for giving me hope!

 

I hope to be back often to offer positive support.  One of the things that has always bothered me about BB's is that many that have healed or mostly healed only come back when they have a wave.  That is so unfair to the people who are still tapering. 

 

You will be able to get off!  You can do this!  It won't be easy, but you must believe in yourself and your lifelong health.  It is so worth it, believe me!

 

[[pi...]]

Hi guys,

 

Well for once I have good news!  I was going to wait a couple more weeks, but I figured someone here could use a little hope.

 

I am happy to announce I have "turned the corner"!  For me, this means the worst is finally over.  I have made great strides in an improving baseline and the waves are much more manageable.  On average, I am at about 30% with 40% windows that can last an afternoon! 

 

Those that have been around for awhile know I had an absolutely brutal taper.  I had at least 50 symptoms, most of which were severe.  I was bedridden for many months.  I had difficulty walking, speaking, writing, hearing, seeing, and I was in incredible pain.  I truly began to believe I was going to be one of the unfortunate few who never heal. 

 

I was wrong.

 

It's no picnic now, to be sure.  I still don't trust myself to drive more than a few blocks, and I need to be escorted to the stores.  However, I am no longer living in hell, and the future looks bright and promising.  I have absolutely no fear about my progression in healing; in fact, my recovery so far has been quite linear with a rapidly improving baseline!  I believe by July I should be at least 50% if not more!

 

Anyway, keep the faith my friends.  It does get better and better.  As I say this with tears in my eyes:

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that feels as good as having hope again!  You too will wake up in the morning and know your life is meaningful and wondrous.

 

 

I just saw this Baby and all I can say is WOW! What good news this is.  Those windows will keep opening wider and wider and every day will be more amazing then the one before.

 

pianogirl 

[[ba...]]

Hi guys,

 

Well for once I have good news!  I was going to wait a couple more weeks, but I figured someone here could use a little hope.

 

I am happy to announce I have "turned the corner"!  For me, this means the worst is finally over.  I have made great strides in an improving baseline and the waves are much more manageable.  On average, I am at about 30% with 40% windows that can last an afternoon! 

 

Those that have been around for awhile know I had an absolutely brutal taper.  I had at least 50 symptoms, most of which were severe.  I was bedridden for many months.  I had difficulty walking, speaking, writing, hearing, seeing, and I was in incredible pain.  I truly began to believe I was going to be one of the unfortunate few who never heal. 

 

I was wrong.

 

It's no picnic now, to be sure.  I still don't trust myself to drive more than a few blocks, and I need to be escorted to the stores.  However, I am no longer living in hell, and the future looks bright and promising.  I have absolutely no fear about my progression in healing; in fact, my recovery so far has been quite linear with a rapidly improving baseline!  I believe by July I should be at least 50% if not more!

 

Anyway, keep the faith my friends.  It does get better and better.  As I say this with tears in my eyes:

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that feels as good as having hope again!  You too will wake up in the morning and know your life is meaningful and wondrous.

 

 

I just saw this Baby and all I can say is WOW! What good news this is.  Those windows will keep opening wider and wider and every day will be more amazing then the one before.

 

pianogirl 

 

Thank you PG! 

 

During my taper and acute, I tried to stay positive in my posts , but I really hit rock bottom for awhile.  It was such a dark and lonely place...the freedom I feel now is just amazing!  It's so important for people to believe in recovery during the dark times.  I honestly could not have done this without the help of BB's. 

 

Hugs

[[ho...]]

Hi All,

 

Just stopping by to say Good Morning. In Denver there is a magazine called 5280 that is widely read. It is about Denver and everything happening here. (5280 is our elevation-the Mile High City!) Anyway, I have a subscription and it is sold in every single store here. This month they have a special health edition and on the cover one of the featured articles says something like, "Before you treat your anxiety, read this!" I was of course super curious and immediately flipped to the page. It is a 7 page feature story about benzos!!! It covers a woman who had protracted w/d from Xanax. Hers is an extreme story but sounds right. There is a psychiatrist who is apparently very Benzo-wise in a town called Fort Collins and they interviewed him. He explained simply about down-regulation of gaba and about how hard it is to get off. He said that the story of the woman in the article isn't typical but that a 2 year process is and that many, many people don't get off. Anyway, I wept when I read it. It was so good to see something in mainstream media talking about benzos. There were many things I wish it would have added but at least it is a start to awareness. I mentioned it to my chiropractor and she said she is going to buy a copy to keep in the waiting room so that her patients see it. I just hope that the article saves even one person from what we have all gone through and are going through!

 

Love,

 

Hopeful Girl

[[ba...]]

Hi All,

 

Just stopping by to say Good Morning. In Denver there is a magazine called 5280 that is widely read. It is about Denver and everything happening here. (5280 is our elevation-the Mile High City!) Anyway, I have a subscription and it is sold in every single store here. This month they have a special health edition and on the cover one of the featured articles says something like, "Before you treat your anxiety, read this!" I was of course super curious and immediately flipped to the page. It is a 7 page feature story about benzos!!! It covers a woman who had protracted w/d from Xanax. Hers is an extreme story but sounds right. There is a psychiatrist who is apparently very Benzo-wise in a town called Fort Collins and they interviewed him. He explained simply about down-regulation of gaba and about how hard it is to get off. He said that the story of the woman in the article isn't typical but that a 2 year process is and that many, many people don't get off. Anyway, I wept when I read it. It was so good to see something in mainstream media talking about benzos. There were many things I wish it would have added but at least it is a start to awareness. I mentioned it to my chiropractor and she said she is going to buy a copy to keep in the waiting room so that her patients see it. I just hope that the article saves even one person from what we have all gone through and are going through!

 

Love,

 

Hopeful Girl

 

Cool Hopeful! 

 

Yes, and you and I know that 2 years is about right when it comes to taper and recovery.  I believe we are getting closer to the point where MSM will finally acknowledge how widespread this problem really is.  I believe most long term users have difficulty getting off; we are not some teeny tiny minority! 

 

Thank you so much for sharing.  Finally getting some validation will make anyone weep. 

 

Hugs

 

 

[[ba...]]

Hopeful,

 

Is this it?

 

http://www.5280.com/magazine/2013/12/high-strung

[[ho...]]

Hopeful,

 

Is this it?

 

http://www.5280.com/magazine/2013/12/high-strung

 

Yes! You got it. I don't know if that is the full article as I am stepping out in a sec but that is the magazine and looks like that is it!

[[VC...]]

Hopefulgirl, Babyrex, Iwanttobefree, pianogirl - you girls really inspire me. I'm reading here this morning and hoping you'll be around to spur me on when I begin my taper. Nervous system was so wrecked when I got here last month that all I could do was try to stabilize. Been about 6 wks now, and I'm thinking more and more about the taper. Looking to y'all for HOPE and happy for the progress I'm reading about. 

 

Chimom, I wish you well with your Xanax taper as you prepare to start!

 

Rabbit, you and I are gonna KICK this thang ....slowly but surely...

 

VC

[[ba...]]

VCharis,

 

I'm glad things are settling down for you.  We'll be here!

 

 

 

[[mr...]]

Wow! Pages and pages of congrats & success!

 

Love ya Baby

 

Mrs.

[[ba...]]

Love ya too, mrs!

 

[[Ca...]]

Baby and Hopeful Girl,

  Thanks for the link to the article about benzos. I sent it to my ND who has started  a clinic very much like the one featured in the article.

    I'm drawing on your strengths and successes to finish my taper...inching along.

Love to you,

Carita

[[ba...]]

Baby and Hopeful Girl,

  Thanks for the link to the article about benzos. I sent it to my ND who has started  a clinic very much like the one featured in the article.

    I'm drawing on your strengths and successes to finish my taper...inching along.

Love to you,

Carita

 

And the awareness grows...

 

This is THE true grassroots organization.

 

Carita,

 

As long as you keep moving forward, you are making progress.  Some may say your type of taper is too slow;  I don't agree.  You have made great progress and have continued to function.  Be kind to yourself, and don't let people pressure you too much.  You will get there, but at some point you will have to jump.  And I promise you, it gets so much better on the other side!

 

 

Hugs,

 

[[VC...]]

VCharis,

 

I'm glad things are settling down for you.  We'll be here!

 

 

Thank you, BabyRex! 

 

Hi Mrs! I was just thinking about you! 

 

Carita, I'm inspired by your progress! 

[[Ca...]]

Thanks Baby! I am shocked how our bodies grow so dependent....I thought I'd be done long ago! The arrhythmias kicked in and I slowed down...nothing like the heart to tell you you are going too fast.

 

I am grateful for so many things...the fact I started at 35 mg valium equivalent of xanax and valium combined and am now at .84 mg is encouraging...although sometimes my affected brain makes me feel it is not good enough.  I'm not going to listen...I am full on proud of myself!

 

VCharis...you have a grand attitude!  So many of the folks who have written their success stories state, " if I can do this so can you ". I agree. It is hard...it takes all you can muster some days. I'm amazed at my resilience and determination. I have tremendous admiration for the brave people here. The benefits of being off of the drugs are countless. We have to keep walking because the joy and good health that wait are worth this effort.

 

Baby...again, I am moved by the encouragement in your words as I know this has been a horrible experience for you. Thank you for being here educating others and rooting for us. You are special.

Love to all,

Carita

[[ho...]]

Thanks Baby! I am shocked how our bodies grow so dependent....I thought I'd be done long ago! The arrhythmias kicked in and I slowed down...nothing like the heart to tell you you are going too fast.

 

I am grateful for so many things...the fact I started at 35 mg valium equivalent of xanax and valium combined and am now at .84 mg is encouraging...although sometimes my affected brain makes me feel it is not good enough.  I'm not going to listen...I am full on proud of myself!

 

VCharis...you have a grand attitude!  So many of the folks who have written their success stories state, " if I can do this so can you ". I agree. It is hard...it takes all you can muster some days. I'm amazed at my resilience and determination. I have tremendous admiration for the brave people here. The benefits of being off of the drugs are countless. We have to keep walking because the joy and good health that wait are worth this effort.

 

Baby...again, I am moved by the encouragement in your words as I know this has been a horrible experience for you. Thank you for being here educating others and rooting for us. You are special.

Love to all,

Carita

 

Hi Carita,

 

I am full on proud of you too!

 

Love,

 

Hopeful

[[Mo...]]

Can't sleep.. have taken every natural aid possible.

 

Knowing there is nothing I can do about it makes me pretty sad, I can lay in bed for an hour and still nothing.

[[Iw...]]

baby. This is such great news and I'm so happy for you!  your experience sounds similar to mine and I am also doing better now.

 

:smitten:

 

I'm so happy for you, Iwant!

 

Yes, it does get better!  I really want to inspire hope for those who are still tapering.  Yes, waves still hit us even months out, but are nowhere near as bad as during a taper.  Plus, once you are free, you can actually feel the healing!  The symptoms cycle much more quickly, and even partial windows are fantastic!

 

 

We will all get through this. It seems at times like it will never end. I had so much Anxiety and fear for so long. It's insane how many types and levels of Anxiety there can be. the kind where you can't move that freezes you I thought was the worst but it can get worse. I started to think it was how it would always be but it has lifted. There is some very mild lingering anxiety and nervousness but totally manageble. This gives hope that all the other symptoms will lift.  I had forgotten but now remember us talking when we were both having  a tough time and I'm so happy for you that you've come out of it. It will get better and better for us all.

.

[[Iw...]]

Can't sleep.. have taken every natural aid possible.

 

Knowing there is nothing I can do about it makes me pretty sad, I can lay in bed for an hour and still nothing.

 

I know not being able to sleep sucks and can make you feel worse.  It's common and I have problems with it too.  You said you've tried natural things but just incase I thought I'd bring up  magnesium. Have you tried it? Sometimes it helps sometimes it doesn't. I'll couple it with some meditation and or body scan that you can find on youtube. I'm using my phone so its difficult for links but I've been doing Lisa beachy and the honestguys on there. I also take baths with Epson salt and lavender essential oil. Again it may not get you to sleep but you may get some relaxation from doing them and meditation is supposed to be good for the brain. I really do believe it is helpful in healing. I use natural calm magnesium not all magnesiums are created equal. One I'm wanting to try is malate?there is a thread here on magnesium and which are best.

I hope you get to sleep soon. 

 

Hopefully some more knowledgeable will chime in.

[[ma...]]

Baby,

 

I'm so happy for you!

 

Mama

[[IG...]]

But what new folks need to understand is that within a few months of recovery things get MUCH BETTER!  You become functional and really start to enjoy life again! 

 

 

I'm so happy to read your feeling better Baby.

 

    I remember a couple of months ago when you posted asking how long acute withdrawal lasted.  I answered mine was 2 or 3 months and the poster after me said theirs lasted more than 14 months.  That really upset me because it was such an extreme amount of time for acute and I didn't feel it was very supportive to you and also it was frightening.  The poster almost made me feel like I was lying or sugar coating my post because they said they wanted to tell you "how it really is".

 

    We really need to not take every post of good intentions to heart because many are extreme and simply won't be what happens to us and they can scare us unintentionally.

 

    Well anyway, I usually don't complain about stuff like this but like I said that post really bothered me and I hoped you would see I was telling you the truth about the time line for acute.

 

And again, I'm so happy to read your feeling better.

 

Molly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[VC...]]

Can't sleep.. have taken every natural aid possible.

 

Knowing there is nothing I can do about it makes me pretty sad, I can lay in bed for an hour and still nothing.

 

MoveForward, I know what you mean. Sleep has been my biggest issue. Seems everyone has this problem at some point. Before I started stabilizing on regular Xanax doses (haven't begun to taper yet) I was having horrible nights of insomnia and disrupted, erratic sleep. You've probably tried a lot of things, as have I.

 

The foundational support I needed was magnesium. No matter where we are in our taper, seems magnesium really helps. I even sought out a wellness coach who tested me and confirmed I was deficient..certainly can't sleep if we're mag-depleted! I read that about 80% of us are depleted from stress/medications/depleted soils/foods, so probably even our benzos deplete us. Took me awhile to build up my  magnesium stores...and if I took too much,I always knew due to the bowel tolerance issue. Too many potty trips = taking too much all at once, or too high a dose too quickly, or certain type just aggravates bowel (mag citrate).

 

Some give up on magnesium if they don't get immediate results but I tried different forms, because some work for us better than others. I use Epsom salts for (1 cup) foot soaks or (2 cups) tub baths, but also take Doctor's Best Mag Glycinate (malate's good, too) spread out through the day with a little more after dinner. Everyone's magnesium need is different, but I probably take from 500-800mg daily, spread out in smaller doses and I started low and slow.

 

Sometimes I take a little melatonin (0.5-1mg) to help set my sleep cycle, but my mind won't shut off unless I really work at eliminating evening stressors. So I prepare a couple hours ahead for sleep by doing "body scan" meditations, listening to soft music, reading my Kindle, or listening to some delta wave sleep music by Jeffrey Thompson (You Tube has some freebies). I bought some amber glasses from Amazon to block the blue-lights from the laptop and electronics --- those bright screens really disrupt sleep. Sometimes I just need to get offline, period and calm my mind. Hope something helps.

 

Do you sleep all night, once you DO fall asleep? Or is it disrupted?

 

It helps to have "tools" to put in your sleep toolbox, because otherwise we start to feel helpless and hopeless. For me, eating well for brain nutrients and general wellness, as well as taking regular magnesium really has been a saving grace for me. 

 

Just want to encourage you to hang in there. 

VC