Xanax Taper

[Emmas Mom]

Well, I have not posted in awhile, but I am looking for some help!  Instead of switching to klonopin I think I just want to stop taking anxiety meds. Currently I am taking a total of 1.75 mg of xanax daily, .25 at a time.  I am not sure who to direct this question to since Ryan does not seem to be around, but I was hoping someone could help me with a safe taper schedule.  
A huge part of my anxiety/panic issues were an absurd fear of having a seizure, so tapering a benzo scares me because I do not want to have a seizure.  I want to do it the most comfortable, safest way.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,
Beth

[MrGreen]

I would do it slowly. It may not be a lot. But you have a fear that you might feel withdrawls. So let's cancel that out. Just break your tablet up and take a smaller amount for a few weeks. When you feel confortable enough that you are safe on the lower dose, then break off another bit. Come the end of the day ' what's the hurry '? Better off doing it slower and playing it safer. Hope you're keep well. Spirt's up and all of that. Talk soon.

[russtoo]

Hi;

   That's not a lot of Xanax to taper off of but it is not unheard of to switch short acting Xanax to long acting Valium of equivalent dose and taper with that.
   A Dr. should be on board with a taper as sometimes the last bit hits hardest!

   Russ

[Mandapanda17]

I'm only day 19 off vicodin for 5 years. In the last month I've upped my intake of xanax to about 1.25-1.5 mgs daily. was on it for 5 months prior to that but only at .25-.5 mg daily. I'm just scared of what will happen now while tapering. I feel really dizzy and foggy if I don't take it for about 12 hours. do you still have withdrawals while tapering slowly? I'm so scared of any more withdrawals, I've already been thru h3ll with the vicodin!! I also want to stay away from all medications, but now I feel trapped! thanks for any help :) good luck to you as well!!

[Emmas Mom]

Long time no talk since the other forum closed!  Good to hear from you. :)  Actually, I am NOT going on to klonopin.  I just want off.  I want to try to manage my anxiety without benzos.  So, would I drop the whole .25 at once over the month or take off .125 and then two weeks later take off another .125?

Mandapanda-  I have been at this dose for a few months now.  I have heard great things about klonopin instead of xanax.  I am a recovering addict and while I have never abused xanax or would want to, I just want to try to stay away from medication personally.

[Mandapanda17]

how long have you been taking 1.75mg? just wondering, I'm in the same situation, and want to taper, but I might get klonopin instead..

[MrGreen]

Hey Beth. Good to hear from you. As Ryan is off deciding if he is dead or alive I will try and help you. My own mother is tapering off xanax at the moment too. I have her doing it over a month period. As in she drops a quarter of a tablet per month. The first month has passed as she felt zero withdrawls at all. So really it is all about using your head. The quicker you come off the worse. But as you are going on klonopin you might be able to speed it up a bit. Every two weeks maybe? The klonopin will help with the withdrawls. They should make you feel little or none. But if you worry that you will feel withdrawls I fear you might get yourself in a right state and bring on something that wouldn't happen if you didn't think so much about it. So play it safe. Ask your doctor even. And good luck to you.