Please help me - Xanax addiction

[Xhost]

Hello,

I recently went on a trip for work, and was prescribed Xanax to help me sleep and to fly. I currently live in Belgium, and I went to a Belgian doctor who handed me a hundred of these pills and told me to take as needed. She did not offer suggestions about the dosing, and did not tell me how horribly addictive these pills could be.

Long story short, I took them over a period of 21 days, probably a little under, on average, 2 mg a day. I mostly took 1 mg at night to help me sleep, but there were days when I am certain I took more. All I knew was that they really helped me sleep, and they helped calm the anxiety and stress of the trip on the rare occasions I took one during the day.

When I arrived back home, I took a MG a night to help with sleep, and one day I woke up and realized that I was still taking these pills, and I wondered why. I was suddenly, for no reason, panic stricken and threw them in the trash. The final day I took .5 mg, and into the trash they went.

My life has been a living hell ever since. I suffer from insomnia, intense, intense anxiety (that has me up pacing at night), fear that I have damaged myself beyond all hope of recovery, and irritation issues. The symptoms started the same day, and have continued for the duration of the time I have been cold turkey on this drug - approximately 12 days.

My questions are these:

*I have since realized that I may have not done the right thing by going cold turkey. I did not understand what I was doing, at all. Be that as it may, how long do these symptoms typically last? Good grief, I though quitting chewing tobacco was bad, but this is incredibly unpleasant.

*My thoughts now center on coming on home back to America and finding a good addiction specialist (a doctor, I suppose) who can help me get through this. Would it be better to do so, even if the doctor wishes to put me on a substitute drug and ween me off of that?

*Are these really withdrawal symptoms? I am currently seeing a counselor now (who has diagnosed me as an alcoholic/binge drinker, btw, if that is of relevance, which I assume it is) who seems to believe that this is mostly anxiety issues that existed before I started taking Xanax. Also, I have been to doctors here, as well as the hospital, and I was told that Xanax is out of the system in 7 days, so I should not be experiencing these withdrawal symptoms still. How true is that?

*Any clue as to when I might start feeling better? That is the scariest part, when I am laying alone in my bed at home at night. Not knowing if I will ever start feeling better. I also made the mistake of reading about protracted withdrawal syndrome, and that scared the **** out of me. How likely is it that I will experience this, given the time and dosage of my use?

*How are you guys dealing with this stuff, assuming what I have is indeed withdrawal symptoms? I start feeling better for a day, finally feel like I am getting a grip, and then that same night, boom, I am up all night with the most intense anxiety I have ever felt.

*I know that I am out of the danger zone (well, at least I think I know) for seizures and stuff, but honestly, with what I am feeling now, I almost wish I would seize up and pass out for a couple of days. I might finally get some temporary relief.

Ok, any help or guidance you might be able to provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Xhost]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to post a follow up to my original post on this subject. It has been about two months now off of the Xanax, and I wanted to report that I am feeling OK now. I have returned to the States, and I think that did quite a bit to help stabilize my mood.

That wasn't the point of this post, though. A bit of background on where I was coming from just six short weeks ago. I was isolated, in a foreign country, with a not so good health care system, and withdrawing from Xanax. I was living with someone who did not understand, nor could she deal with, what I was going through. I believe, more than anything, these factors helped to make this such a daunting experience. I was dealing with other things as well, but will not bore everyone with the details.

The point, finally, is that when going through something like this it is probably most important to have a good support network in place when doing so. Coming back to the States, hooking up with a good doctor, being around family and friends; these things were all very, very helpful in helping me deal with what I was going through. Ultimately, my doctor, a psychiatrist who specializes in addiction medicine, assured me that I was going to be just fine. He prescribed Buspar and Prozac, but I did not fill the prescriptions. The simple fact that I had support was enough for me. I have the prescriptions, and it is reassuring to know that, should I need them, they are right there in my pocket, and my support is only a phone call away.

For those going through the worst of it now, I have one thing to say: it will get better. I promise. Hold on to that thought. It got better for me, and it has gotten better for thousands upon thousands of other people who were in the same situation as you are now. There is a light at the end of the tunnel - keep moving towards it and you will arrive. If you need support, reach out and find it, wherever it may be. It will help.

One final thing: everyone's experience is different. Keep that in mind when reading about withdrawals, particularly the length of the withdrawal period. I have read anecdotal accounts of a protract withdrawal period, but keep in mind that if it does happen, it does so in a small percentage of cases. Another thing to keep in mind: before undertaking this effort, always, always, always speak to your doctor before doing so.

Thanks again to everyone who was kind enough to offer advice and suggestions.

[Bob641]

"Also, I have been to doctors here, as well as the hospital, and I was told that Xanax is out of the system in 7 days, so I should not be experiencing these withdrawal symptoms still. How true is that? "..........
Unfortunately a lot of doctors and I'll say 99% of them in the US, know little to nothing about Xanax withdrawal and its consequences. You were directed to a good website on benzos, read the most you can there. I have been using and abusing Xanax for about 2 to 3 years now and since July I started to withdraw  of this horrible drug. I had and have, and will have physical symptoms of withdrawal for quite a bit, it is said they can last from months to more than a year in some cases.To me the more annoying are the muscle cramps-quite unpleasant-and the headaches that in my case inevitably develop into full migraine.
Try to taper slow from Xanax to avoid seizures and unpleasant symptoms

[AmbBam]

Yes those are withdraw symptoms. I am on day 19 and still have many of these symptoms. I was starting to panic more because I thought by day 10 or so I would be done withdrawing...boy was I wrong.  I did it cold turkey and it was a bad mistake , i ended up having a siezure on day 5. Good thing I had put myself in a detox hospital or i may not be here now. I do think you are out of the danger zone, great job by the way-being on your 12th day is an accomplishment you should be very proud of. The anxiety can be controlled, I am on buspar, an anti anxiety med that is non-addicting HOWEVER alot of people I have talked to say that the buspar did not work for them...I think it is worth a try, maybe ask your doctor about it. Also, for sleep a good vitamin to try is melatonin.. i got it at walmart for 5 bucks and I took it a half hour before i layed down, and when i layed down  I was out!! And it helped me sleep for about 5 hours uniterrupted! Believe me when I say it DOES get better...just hang in there, if you have any problems, feel free to ask, I am new to this forum and everyone is absolutley WONDERFUL. They make me feel so much better!!
My prayers are with you.
God Bless.
AmbBam

[snowflake620]

First of all please know that everything you are feeling is perfectly normal for XANAX(bad drug,horrible drug) withdrawal ,you were on a very short time but unfortunetly(spelling?) a very short time is all it takes for your brain and body to become addicted. I took 0.5 mil for sleep once a night for 6 months never suspecting that i was addicted, i never abused the drug in fact did't even take as directed i was supposed to take it 3x's a day but did no t like the way it made me feel so only took it at night for sleep after 6 months of taking it i realized it was no longer helping so i quit taking it well that was the worst thing i could have done but i di d not know that at the time, i experienced the worst withdrawal symptons you can imagine and did not rallize tht it was withdrawal untill i found this forum i also did not know how dangerous it was to stop cold turkey i only knew i wanted that drug out of me as fast as possible i am 14 days "clean" and still experiencing some wd symptons as for how long they last that is debateable depending on your usage,i found a very good site on benzodiazepine withdrawal it is "benzo.org" there is a lot of very good informaation on there it was started by a doctor who specializes in benzo withdrawals and the sit e should be able to answer any questions you may have,it and this forum have helped me greatly. I hope i have been of some help and comfort to you  and i will pray for you
                                                      good luck to you,



snowflake