Xanax has been proven ineffective for long time use.
If you really wanna stop it, as said above, contact your dr and establish a tapering plan, a very slow one, it's the key to success. Most dr switch you to a long acting benzo like Valium to ease the wd's.
Here is the link to a site which is the reference in the matter : http://www.benzo.org.uk/
and here is an example of tapering plan: http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm#s7
If I can help you in any way, please contact me, I have been tapering off very high dosage of short and long acting benzo for about 2 years, finally free.
Best of luck to you. sophie
Do you abuse the xanax? Do you want to come off it? I am not sure what the long term recommendations are, but I do know for SURE that you cannot just stop taking it. If you want to come off - its got to be slow and steady with xanax. Its dangerous to just stop. Talk to your doctor about a long slow taper. Anything is possible and you can certainly come off of it if you want to, just make sure to do a proper long and slow taper. Good luck.
How much are you taking? Do you want to stop? If so, talking to your dr and finding a good taper plan would be a good idea, you don't want to cold turkey xanax. Good luck.