Xanax coming off

[Trgirl66]

I have been on prozac, effexor and other anti depressant meds and have been able to come off gradually with only a weeks worth of side affects that were tolerant.  

I've been on Xanax for years originally went on because of fear of flying and had to fly for work, then had some heavy things going on my life emotionally stayed on, I would first use it as needed but after years of this and going through another emotional tragedy started taking them daily sometimes twice a day but mainly at night to sleep.

I recently lost my job and am sleeping late, if I wake up early and then go back to sleep I have some pretty wild dreams that I can describe as hallucinations, it's like I go into a black out before I can pull myself out of this dark hole it's freaking me out.  I tried weaning off with a half at night, but then I wake up in two hours and the same thing happens.

I cannot find anywhere on the web that tells you how to wean off. When I weaned off Effexor I found a great site that gave natural supplements to boost your body but with Xanax nothing.  

My pharmacist said to start shaving the pill gradually, I am going to try that - was wondering if it has worked for anyone.

I am not under a doctor;s care, a general physician keeps refilling me this as I can't sleep, sleeping pills don't work because my mind does not shut down.

[Addict63]

I just finished a 4-month taper off of Ambien. Ambien isn't a Benzo it's a hypnotic, but it uses the exact same GABA receptors as Benzo. I followed my doctors chart, but basically, just like all tapers, it's shaving a small amount from the original dosage over a long period of time. I stabilized each reduction until I was comfortable, and then moved on to the next. That's an important rule of thumb. Never rush, stabilize no matter how long it takes. I took my time and followed directions. I'm not sure your pharmacist has mentioned that it's important to sleep through your taper? Sleeping was really important for me. Over the taper period, at one time or other, I used Yogi Tea, Valerian Rood, SleepMD, Melitonan, Calms Forte... can you believe all that OTC stuff to sleep?? But it worked and none of it was addicting. I completely avoided antihistamine sleep meds, they dry me out and I always felt like crap the next day.

Too bad the Dr. doing the prescribing can't help you get off xanax. Does he/she know you're coming off of it?

[quadracersteve]

I agree that Xanax and Valium are the fastest acting, but for potency, Klonopin is #1. Ativan is the weakest. My mother who takes NOTHING, took a couple Ativan from her mother who has Alzheimers and they did nothing. When I say she takes nothing, other than that, she got drunk once in her life. Back in 1974. Her brothers and sisters still tease her. I was on 1mg of Klonopin 3x's/day and asked to try Ativan, and within 5 days I was calling my dr. to change back. I was actually going through w/drawals from Ativan. I thought the dr. messed up on the dose, but he said he didn't.
   As for detoxing off Xanax, I've been on it for around 4+ years. When I first detoxed,(with help from my PCP), I was on 1 1/2mg, 4x's/day, and he detoxed me like this: Drop the dose to 1mg, 4x's/day for one week then 1/2mg, 4x's/day for a week then 1/4mg, 4x's/day for a week and at the end I felt fine. It was my choice to detox just to see how I felt, but after a few months I realised I needed it,( massive anxiety). Add a couple days to each decrease if need be, but you need help from a dr.

[worried878]

u have to wean off benzos slowly and would be ebst if ur dr helped u a bit and maybe gave u a weaker benzo as u need it or sumpin safe to sleep.  Xanax is the strongest benzo in the group.  Then ativan and then klonopin.
Breaking it in 1/4s may help and go from there but best if u ask ur dr.  It is good u want to do this and u can if u make a plan that will work including support.  Sleep will be the toughest part as a rule but it is sumpin u have to go thru.  If u get sumpin safe for sleep it can help alot.
There is info on benzos in the health pages and examples of tapers.  It doesnt sound as if ur dose was huge???