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

[[ly...]]

 

 

Hey everyone!

 

I'm currently holding and wd sxs have all but disappeared.  I think I went too fast earlier this year and it caught up with me.  I'm doing very well but may just hold for the summer.  Summer is my favorite time of year and I want to enjoy it!

 

When I resume it's going to be liquid micro taper.  I hoping to avoid wd if possible, but I'll at least keep it to a minimum.  I'm in no rush and don't want to get myself in trouble by going too fast.  I don't believe in tolerance wd during taper as I held for 8 months last year and felt great.

 

I didn't do a cross-over and don't plan to.  I've dry cut all the way to .3125mg.

 

Wishing everyone the best :smitten:

 

I am having zero interdose and this has been the case for about 3 or 4 wks  - a good sign I think.

[[il...]]

Lynn - I'm glad you're feeling relief!

 

I just wanted to let everyone know that I CT'd off a very high dose. Yes, I was at treatment with phenobarbital, and after my first week, Seroquel and buspar, but still. (The Seroquel and buspar were stopped at treatment. All of them are poison)

 

Welp, it's been quite the roller coaster but I'm finally getting windows. My good days haven't been symptom-free yet, but they're quite manageable, with certain moments of complete clarity. So, DON'T cold turkey, but, regardless of how you get off of those pieces of poison, just hoping to send some hope -- it really does get better! And to think, I'm far from 100%. Tinnitus still has healing to do, along with other ear stuff and "the pit" in my stomach which continues to lessen in severity. Most days now, the anxiety is so low, I call it simply nervousness. "Anxiety" has a whole new meaning now! Ha!

 

Praying for everyone!

[[La...]]

Hi guys,

 

I haven't posted in this thread before so I figured I'd try to get advice from those who were on the same benzo as me. Its been almost 4 months since I jumped and I feel worse than ever.  My remaining sxs are cramping, spasms, stiffness, tingling in both legs and feet. I can hardly walk and have been trying muscle relaxers to help but am worried about the one I am on, (although just started it) baclofen. I hear it has a withdrawal syndrome and of course my doctor claims thats not true but as always I cant trust them. If anyone has advice Id be very thankful. I had hoped it would be better by now since its been going on since january.

[[il...]]

Hi guys,

 

I haven't posted in this thread before so I figured I'd try to get advice from those who were on the same benzo as me. Its been almost 4 months since I jumped and I feel worse than ever.  My remaining sxs are cramping, spasms, stiffness, tingling in both legs and feet. I can hardly walk and have been trying muscle relaxers to help but am worried about the one I am on, (although just started it) baclofen. I hear it has a withdrawal syndrome and of course my doctor claims thats not true but as always I cant trust them. If anyone has advice Id be very thankful. I had hoped it would be better by now since its been going on since january.

 

Laura,

 

For me, it got worse before it got better. When I hit 2 months and entered my third, it got bad for 2 months. Ever since I hit 4 It's been noticeably better. Hang tough! It really does get better!!

[[ba...]]

Yup I'm at about 4 months and was feeling so good I thought surely I can go down another .5 mg w/o a problem... big / huge mistake... sxs horrible.. for me the best so far is down about .5 and hold for like 1- 2 months, then step down again... this is just what's working for me right now holding at 2 mgs

 

BA

[[jr...]]

Yup I'm at about 4 months and was feeling so good I thought surely I can go down another .5 mg w/o a problem... big / huge mistake... sxs horrible.. for me the best so far is down about .5 and hold for like 1- 2 months, then step down again... this is just what's working for me right now holding at 2 mgs

 

BA

 

Baked, try a daily liquid microtaper. the sxs will be much less and you can still hold whenever you want.

[[Ki...]]

Does an X cut hit you any other time than the normal metabolism time? Im crossing from X to V and my Ashton equiv number is 13.6 but my doc is giving me 10 mg V. So I need to taper the remaining X. Ive been doing it for a week. I metabolize X at about 3-4 hours. Will I get hit with anything else or can I be fairly comfortable tapering off like I am with the mild symptoms Im having ( headache, tight muscles and crabbiness)...

[[ly...]]

 

 

Kitty,

 

I feel the peak wd at 3-4 days and usually better 7-14 days.

[[Ki...]]

Thank you for that. Hope said she had the same time frame. You are both cut and hold and I do daily swaps of doses in my cross so I guess mine are going to be haphazard no matter what. I should be done in about two weeks so hopefully by then the figuring will get a little easier- just decreasing one has to be easier to work out than increasing one and decreasing the other. Thanks!

[[ba...]]

Yup I'm at about 4 months and was feeling so good I thought surely I can go down another .5 mg w/o a problem... big / huge mistake... sxs horrible.. for me the best so far is down about .5 and hold for like 1- 2 months, then step down again... this is just what's working for me right now holding at 2 mgs

 

BA

 

Baked, try a daily liquid microtaper. the sxs will be much less and you can still hold whenever you want.

 

Yah I guess I'm gonna have to try that, have been hesitant to try this method and it hasn't been too much of an issue but as I get further down it becomes more critical, I'm concerned about what to dissolve it into, there have been discussions of milk and water and alcohol.. didn't seem like there was a general consensus on suspension medium ... any thoughts appreciated

 

BA

[[jr...]]

Yup I'm at about 4 months and was feeling so good I thought surely I can go down another .5 mg w/o a problem... big / huge mistake... sxs horrible.. for me the best so far is down about .5 and hold for like 1- 2 months, then step down again... this is just what's working for me right now holding at 2 mgs

 

BA

 

Baked, try a daily liquid microtaper. the sxs will be much less and you can still hold whenever you want.

 

Yah I guess I'm gonna have to try that, have been hesitant to try this method and it hasn't been too much of an issue but as I get further down it becomes more critical, I'm concerned about what to dissolve it into, there have been discussions of milk and water and alcohol.. didn't seem like there was a general consensus on suspension medium ... any thoughts appreciated

 

BA

 

 

What size pills you got? current dose? Times per day?

[[ba...]]

Yup I'm at about 4 months and was feeling so good I thought surely I can go down another .5 mg w/o a problem... big / huge mistake... sxs horrible.. for me the best so far is down about .5 and hold for like 1- 2 months, then step down again... this is just what's working for me right now holding at 2 mgs

 

BA

 

Baked, try a daily liquid microtaper. the sxs will be much less and you can still hold whenever you want.

 

Yah I guess I'm gonna have to try that, have been hesitant to try this method and it hasn't been too much of an issue but as I get further down it becomes more critical, I'm concerned about what to dissolve it into, there have been discussions of milk and water and alcohol.. didn't seem like there was a general consensus on suspension medium ... any thoughts appreciated

 

BA

 

 

What size pills you got? current dose? Times per day?

 

I am c/o currently I have 1 mg xanax pills that I have been breaking in half and I have 5 mg valiums , so far I have been doing the following: wake up 1 , 5mg V, noon .5 X , 4pm 5mg V, 7:00 .5 X , bedtime .5 X .... I am sure this is all over the place and why I'm feeling crappy etc.. but it has been working okay... +/- it's also why I'm concerned about liquid microtaper because how is that done with 2 types of benzos Should I wait until it's just the V and then start liquid tapering?

Thanks

BA

[[jr...]]

Yup I'm at about 4 months and was feeling so good I thought surely I can go down another .5 mg w/o a problem... big / huge mistake... sxs horrible.. for me the best so far is down about .5 and hold for like 1- 2 months, then step down again... this is just what's working for me right now holding at 2 mgs

 

BA

 

Baked, try a daily liquid microtaper. the sxs will be much less and you can still hold whenever you want.

 

Yah I guess I'm gonna have to try that, have been hesitant to try this method and it hasn't been too much of an issue but as I get further down it becomes more critical, I'm concerned about what to dissolve it into, there have been discussions of milk and water and alcohol.. didn't seem like there was a general consensus on suspension medium ... any thoughts appreciated

 

BA

 

 

What size pills you got? current dose? Times per day?

 

I am c/o currently I have 1 mg xanax pills that I have been breaking in half and I have 5 mg valiums , so far I have been doing the following: wake up 1 , 5mg V, noon .5 X , 4pm 5mg V, 7:00 .5 X , bedtime .5 X .... I am sure this is all over the place and why I'm feeling crappy etc.. but it has been working okay... +/- it's also why I'm concerned about liquid microtaper because how is that done with 2 types of benzos Should I wait until it's just the V and then start liquid tapering?

Thanks

BA

 

Yes , do your cross first and then we can discuss LT. .5X= 10mg V just for info purposes.

[[Do...]]

Struggling getting off. In extremely stressful living situation. Try to reframe daily but slid back to .5/25. Youd think this would be easier. Been using most of my adult life. Got off this board. Need to stay on. Going to India end of August.

 

I'm going to a fasting program in mountains for 3 days. Not drug related. Any thoughts on this?

[[co...]]

I'm going to a fasting program in mountains for 3 days. Not drug related. Any thoughts on this?

That is interesting. I hope in August you are already at the end of your taper phase. Are you going there for this taper purpose ? such meditation (I can't think any of it since you said India) ?

[[Do...]]

Strange to read my last post. I'm feeling much better. I planned the retreat before I decided to go to India. They know I'm tapering off benzos. It will impact my overall health and change my thinking as these kinds of retreats always do. it is also in preparation for a new life.

 

I need a few days away from the constant traffic and emotionally violent surroundings. Heading up there tomorrow. Went 10 years ago and had a great time. Driving an old truck with clutch that is quite the workout. Five hour drive but I usually enjoy the getaway and the highway is a good one for the east coast USA.

 

India is coming along. I have made what I think are friends there over the Internet for the past year. Didn't get a Fulbright, will apply again bout did not want to want and see. Have many projects planned there and some lecturing etc. I've been wanting for decades so it's now or never. I am not leaving much behind so it's my latest big adventure. I have one every 10 years give or take. Pull up and go somewhere else. Coming back to NJ was after father died. Never a place I liked. Many good things happened here but much too stressful and stagnant.

 

 

[[on...]]

Another benzo buddie suggested this xanax support group to me. I am currently tapering off xanax after taking it continuously for  30 years at the same dose 1.5 mg daily ( .5 three times a day). I was originally prescribed it for anxiety and panic attacks- but in recent years  it didn't really seem to be helping quite the opposite ........I felt lousy much of the time- think I had built up a tolerance to the xanax  and was actually going through withdrawal between doses. This taper  has been a VERY tough journey so far- probably the most difficult thing I have done in my life. Thank god for the occasional windows- they are what keep me going and give me hope I will feel good again at the end of this journey. It is great to find people who are going through the same challenge and understand how I feel.

[[il...]]

Hi, on the road,

 

I'll pray for you. It does get better. Keep busy and distracted. I've read a ton of Xanax success stories - tapered and CT.

 

Wishing you the best,

Never again

[[ly...]]

 

 

Hi I'll Never,

 

Thanks for posting encouraging news.  Could you tell us what symptoms have dropped off and the pattern (ie "bad then got better in "X" weeks/months)?  I had some pretty bad ones after each cut and they have mostly resolved.  I try to get to zero before the next cut.  It helps me to know that mine do go away because I feel that they will once again go away when I'm off.  Neck tightness, flushing and low tinnitus seem to be hanging around.  I've had these since the beginning but they have gone way down as this hold continues.

 

I'm so glad that you are doing well!

[[Da...]]

Hello room, long time watcher, first time commenting in here - I intimately knew Xanax from the time I was 28, even then I was embarrassed to say 'Xanax' instead I would always use 'Alprazolam' when asked what drugs I was currently taking when getting surgery - my life was an embarrassment, thanks for listening

[[il...]]

 

 

Hi I'll Never,

 

Thanks for posting encouraging news.  Could you tell us what symptoms have dropped off and the pattern (ie "bad then got better in "X" weeks/months)?  I had some pretty bad ones after each cut and they have mostly resolved.  I try to get to zero before the next cut.  It helps me to know that mine do go away because I feel that they will once again go away when I'm off.  Neck tightness, flushing and low tinnitus seem to be hanging around.  I've had these since the beginning but they have gone way down as this hold continues.

 

I'm so glad that you are doing well!

 

From my understanding, as hard as it is, you will be okay by the end of your taper. If not, in the months to follow. Again, from my understanding, cold-turkey just causes us to go through all the symptoms without the medication in us at all. For that reason, I'm hesitant to give a timeline because everyone's different. In general, I can see a lot of them improving in time, with some gone completely. Anxiety is breaking up at a glacial pace. Intrusive thoughts are hanging out. Those are my 2 biggest complaints at this time. Of course the anxiety alone can bring on others like insomnia, DR, etc. don't be scared - just keep going!

[[jr...]]

Hello room, long time watcher, first time commenting in here - I intimately knew Xanax from the time I was 28, even then I was embarrassed to say 'Xanax' instead I would always use 'Alprazolam' when asked what drugs I was currently taking when getting surgery - my life was an embarrassment, thanks for listening

 

 

Dan, no life is an embarassment. You are valued by your family and friends and people on this board. I think it is great you are benzo free. You can write more to tell us how you progressed from the detox and if you have any lingering sxs. What you have been thru  is valuable info to us who are still trying to kick it. Good luck to you, my friend and keep on keeping on!

[[il...]]

Hello room, long time watcher, first time commenting in here - I intimately knew Xanax from the time I was 28, even then I was embarrassed to say 'Xanax' instead I would always use 'Alprazolam' when asked what drugs I was currently taking when getting surgery - my life was an embarrassment, thanks for listening

 

Don't be embarrassed. You're in great company here.

 

I've met numerous people who took benzodiazepine medication for 30+ years. And yes, even they healed to the point where they became better version of their old selves. How awesome is that? I'm glad you posted.

[[La...]]

Hi guys,

 

I thought I would come here and ask for opionions on something I am considering. In my 5th month now after jumping, having debilitating muscle issues that dont seem to show improvement. I dont know if my short taper is to blame or not but I am playing with the idea of reinstating on a longer acting benzo to get relief from this and then getting in touch with an addiction specialist to help me taper off. The way Im thinking of it, yes id have to do another taper, but on the other hand I dont know how much longer I can keep going like this with almost no mobility and no life. Who knows how many months it could take. Some buddies have said it took a year or more.

[[il...]]

Hi guys,

 

I thought I would come here and ask for opionions on something I am considering. In my 5th month now after jumping, having debilitating muscle issues that dont seem to show improvement. I dont know if my short taper is to blame or not but I am playing with the idea of reinstating on a longer acting benzo to get relief from this and then getting in touch with an addiction specialist to help me taper off. The way Im thinking of it, yes id have to do another taper, but on the other hand I dont know how much longer I can keep going like this with almost no mobility and no life. Who knows how many months it could take. Some buddies have said it took a year or more.

 

Laura,

 

Regardless of the type of benzo, if you reintroduce the benzodiazepine to the GABA receptors, it'll reset them again and you'll have an even more hellish withdrawal. Please consider toughing it out. My sxs were hellish, now they're breaking up. It's not easy per se, it's just not impossible either. Have fun in the process. Most people see relief at 6 or 7 months. It may take a year, but doesn't mean it will be horrific for the rest of the year. I CT'd off a high dose. Please hang in!

 

Never again