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

[[Ju...]]

Hi jennlynn.  Well done on getting so low in your taper.  Most of us who dry cut taper down to .0625mgs.  Which is 1/2 of a .125 and then jump.

 

I've done well post taper.  The biggest problem I had was when I jumped, I had difficulty sleeping for about 3-months.  You will be fine, but I would not jump from .125, I'd taper down one more step. 

[[je...]]

Thanks for your reply. I was wondering about that, but I have been feeling so good that I thought, maybe. I dont want to set myself back so I should probably do as you say lol

[[Ra...]]

Lacey, so good to hear from you and that you're doing pretty good.  Congrats on starting the job hunting and also for going to the Casino.  Getting out of the house is important.  It's always a struggle for me to get out the door, I just want to huddle on my bed, but once I'm up and out, it's always better.  Please keep us posted on your progress.  You're doing so great!

 

Jenny, you too, you are so close.  What symptoms have you had as you've been tapering.  I'm going to take about 8 months to drop 1mg.  I'm a HUGE chicken, so I'm only doing .0625mg cuts every 2 weeks.  Way to go!!!

 

Mrs, always good to see you here.  How are you feeling?

 

VCharis - how are you sweetie?

 

Hugs to all my fellow X taperers!

 

Love,

 

Rabbit

[[je...]]

Hi Rabbit,

I have been a huge chicken at times too  I have been 5 months tapering 1mg! I have had head aches, muscle aches, nausea, nerve pain in my teeth, diziness, shaky hands, ringing in my ears....  etc. But at this low dose, the symtoms seem to be getting easier, maybr I am just used to them. Either way, I am feeling morr confident. My arma and legs aching are the worst now. I am just feeling so proud of myself because I never thought I would see this. I had a heck of a time getting below .5 that was the worst! But, it does get better! I wish you the best. If I can do it, you can!

[[Ra...]]

Jenny, thank you for the encouragement.  So are your cuts .125 mg? And you've worked this whole time?  It's really getting better the lower you go?  That's what Juliea said too!  PLEASE keep us posted,

 

Love,

 

Rabbit

[[je...]]

I started out at .25  cuts, too big! I went with .125 and that was ok for a while. Now I am doing .0625 and yes, it does get better. I didnt sleep well last night, but I will take that over all the other stuff! Off to work this morning. Hope you have a good day.

[[VC...]]

Okay, day #17 on water taper, only I've not tapered yet. Still don't have a titrating plan in place. Symptoms are the same; insomnia is still huge. Slept night before last (7hrs) from days of exhaustion but last night just 3hrs. Earlier this week it was 1 hr, 2hrs, 3hrs. I can't live like this. I was up all night checking drug interactions between my heart meds and popular sleep/brain meds. NO CAN DO. Had someone set me up a spreadsheet but it won't work--- too fast. Anyone have suggestions?

 

I could go back to my original idea of dumping day's dose (0.75mg) in 300ml and pull 1ml per day. That's roughly a 10 month taper. With uneven doses, I'd have to divide total liquid in two, then pour the other half in 3 separate jars, eyeballing the solution levels. Does it matter if not all doses are perfectly equal??

[[Ra...]]

Hi V,  I would think it would only matter if your doses were equal if you were having  interdose w/d.  That's what I'm trying to do right now is get my 2 doses equal.  That no sleep thing is a real problem.  You just can't heal if your brain cannot rest.  Have you exhausted all of the meds available?  I know some say they can interact with heart meds, but it doesn't necessarily mean they will.  You might talk to your doc about what the best option would be.  You certainly cannot continue with 1,2 or 3 hours of sleep.  You will never heal that way.  You've got to sleep. 

 

V, you know you're always in my prayers my precious sister 

[[VC...]]

Hi V,  I would think it would only matter if your doses were equal if you were having  interdose w/d.  That's what I'm trying to do right now is get my 2 doses equal.  That no sleep thing is a real problem.  You just can't heal if your brain cannot rest.  Have you exhausted all of the meds available?  I know some say they can interact with heart meds, but it doesn't necessarily mean they will.  You might talk to your doc about what the best option would be.  You certainly cannot continue with 1,2 or 3 hours of sleep.  You will never heal that way.  You've got to sleep. 

 

V, you know you're always in my prayers my precious sister 

 

Thank you so much, dear Rabbit. You're right. Will talk to yet one more doctor about help with sleep. Just need to get my taper in place, and I think today I figured it out.

 

How is your taper going?

 

Hugs, V

[[Ra...]]

My sweet sis,

 

There's GOT to be something out there to help you sleep, keep bugging your doc!

 

My taper itself is going very well, just a little tinnitus, not too bad.  The bad part is my job is SO stressful. If I just could get rid of that, things would be so much easier, but I'm stuck, I need to figure out how to survive it.

 

Hugs and love,

 

Rabbit

[[ba...]]

i been taking 0.0625mg a day a couple of weeks i felt ok last night so i skipped my dose i dont know whether i should take it soon or wait until i feel like i really need it? or this might be the end of benzo days for me ?!

[[Ju...]]

When you're ready to jump babyangel, just jump and never look back! 

[[ba...]]

thank you miss juliea your awesome i been activating alot i think thats my savior in minimizing withdrawals

[[la...]]

10 days since being on benzo's.  Feels really damn good to tell you the truth.  Currently I'm on vacation, and having a great time.  Drinking some beers, and enjoying life.  During the taper there was a lot of time when I couldn't get out of bed, so I gotta say that post taper has been easier so far than the taper.  Probably because I slowed down a bit during the end.

[[Ra...]]

Hi Lacey,

 

That is really good news to heart!  Glad you are enjoying yourself.  Please do keep us posted.  I'll be following your posts closely.

 

Hugs,

 

Rabbit

[[ba...]]

Hi lacey im glad to hear that your enjoyin your benzo free life on vacation!!

are you still feeling any withdrawals after 10 days ? i havnt had any of a 0.0625mg in 2 days i actually feel ok now i just feel slightly tired since i been activating alot

[[Ra...]]

Hi Baby, sounds like you're doing good.  What do you mean by 'activating'?

 

Hugs,

 

Rabbit

[[sh...]]

Hi to all, shaky here im new and this is my first post. been tapering for about a week from zanex. cant say its a peach but i have a bottle of them and havent went over my taper yet. not doing good but reading some of your posts im right there with ya. sleep, anxiety, slight depression if im not busy. so anyways theres my first one ever !!!

[[Ra...]]

Hi Bob,

 

Welcome to the Xanax thread!  If I'm reading your signature right, it looks like you cut your Xanax dose in half, is that correct?  If so, that is a VERY LARGE cut and not normally advisable.  The normal cut rate is between 5-10% of your current dose 10-14 days.  I'm a chicken and am only cutting 2% every 14 days.

 

Please confirm your signature is correct.

 

Best wishes,

 

Rabbit

[[sh...]]

shaky here, wanted to change my signature and say im cutting from 1mg to .05. a bit aggressive for me and wish i would have cut it by 10% but cant go back now. its been 6 long days. As far as the anxiety goes i know a poker face is required daily so peps just cant really tell.aside from the not wanting to really talk to anyone thing. but my dam hands keep shaking i have taken 3 weeks off work and need to get back next week. i will be on day 9 when i return. im dreading it and want it. odd feeling !!

[[Ra...]]

Hi Bob,

 

I'm still not sure how much Xanax you cut by?  Did you really cut by half?  If so and it's only been 6 days, you certainly can change that, reinstate your original amount and start over.  A slow taper is highly recommended.  Damage can actually be done by cutting too fast, not that you can't heal from it, you can, but if you taper slower from the beginning, your symptoms can be made much more manageable.  I've seen many people on here make a large first cut and get into the weeds very quickly and then have a miserable taper.  It's much better to take it slower in the short run and long run.

 

Best wishes,

 

Rabbit

[[sh...]]

hi rabbit just helping my spouse put away the groceries and saw your message. i was taking between .075 to 1mg and im taking .05 right now. have considered reinstating but not sure pdc will go for it. he really seemed to think i could do that cut. but not really knowing how much to ask for i just agreed. it was my idea to quit.

[[ba...]]

im woried about pernament damage to my brain after i quit xanax i felt like pernament damage was done to me my insomnia problems memory and "not as smart" when the dr gave me phenytoin and ordered me to cold turkey the full dose

[[Ra...]]

im woried about pernament damage to my brain after i quit xanax i felt like pernament damage was done to me my insomnia problems memory and "not as smart" when the dr gave me phenytoin and ordered me to cold turkey the full dose

 

Baby, I think permanent brain damage is unlikely, but it can take some time to heal.  You are doing great! 

 

Hugs,

 

Rabbit

[[ba...]]

thank you for your reassurance Mrs Rabbit, i hope you enjoy your Easter with your loved ones  

i feel ok right now 50-51 hours ago since last 0.0625mg xanax dose i walked a mile on the treadmill 30 mins ago and wow i felt great ! im having some chamomile tea soon and its beddy byes!