Want to go off 0.5 alprazolam once a day

[PixieDust1947]

I have been given 0.5 mgs of alprazolam once a day & I'm so tired that I can hardly function. I had a bad feeling about this drug, looked it up. When, I found out what it was, I almost hit the ceiling. I didn't like this doctor & fired him. He just kept coming back. He profiled me & put me on other medicines I did not need. I'm depressed over a bad situation, have to watch out for my kidneys & I'm losing my motivation. I just feel horrible & I am no young spring chicken. My depression is worse & sleep is horrible. Do not want to stay on this horrible medication!!

[Paxiled]

I'm confused.  No doctor can force you to take a medication you don't want to take, even if you're confined to a mental institution, as far as I know.  Maybe in prison they can do this.  And no doctor can follow you around and keep being your doctor is your don't want that person to be your doctor -- you just don't make any more appointments with him or her and find another.  You don't say how long you've been on this drug, if you take it every day you don't want to just stop taking it, you want to taper off of it as slowly as you need to so you don't get withdrawal symptoms.  It's also an addictive drug when taken daily.  But you're only taking it once and not taking a high dose and if you've only been on it for a short time it should be pretty easy to taper off without problems.  The same is true for other meds -- if you don't want to take them, he can't force you to unless you're in some situation where you can be forced.  Also don't understand what you mean by he profiled you.  So here's what you do:  don't show up for any more appointments with this doctor.  Tell his office not to contact you anymore.  Find a new psychiatrist and ask for help tapering off the medication.  Then you're done with it.  You are in control.  Is there some other issue going on with you that makes you believe you're not in control of your own health?