Im way bad shape any ideas its withdrawal Please Help

[msanxiety]

HI,As you may or not know my dr began tapering me off 1 mg xanax 3 times a day on april 23 08(was put on it in FEB 08)by using 0.5 klonopin 3 times a day then he upped that to 4 times a day. I was doing ok im down to 1/2 to 1 mg xanax was suppose to stop it 3 days ago........he started tapering me off the klonopin may 28 08 from 4 pills tp 3 for 10 days and the i was to go to 2 pills i did for 1 day and the next day i was so bad that i took 2 and a half yesterday i have already had 2 today and i just took a klonopin at 1 pm amd its only 330 pm and im freakin its like its not helping at all............i think maybe im cutting back to fast...........im trying to stay busy but feel like im having a heart aattack i cant get over this anxiety...........i called dr but havent heard.But shouldnt i still feel some relief from the klonopin it has to last longer than 2 hours..........coud it just be my mind freakin because so many people tell me i cant do this............i want off tghe meds           but i still do have anxiety..........my dr dont want me on meds because i have pill phobia.............im about ready to drink a beer and see if that helps calm me......any ideas why the klonopin isnt helping or any ideas at all

[xanweaner]

Greenlydia's advice to you is good - you need to let your Dr. know right away that this taper schedule is not working...and yes, you should follow up with a pharmacist, too. They can be very helpful in offering some additional advice.

Do not take this into your own hands - but get your Dr. to work with you. And, stay away from alcohol, too...it can be a lethal combination.

I hope that you feel better soon....weaning off benzo's is very difficult but it can be done. It's best to take your time with your dosage reduction and allow enough time to stay at the new, lowered dosage, before you start tapering down again. Your body needs time to readjust...

Good luck...
my best,
xan

[RubyWitch]

Best advice I can give you is for you to get back with your doctor ASAP and tell him/her that this taper schedule is simply NOT working for you! If they insist on keeping you on it..........run, do not walk, to another doctor who has a better understanding of these meds! Until you can arrange an appointment with your current doc or find a new one, please speak with a pharmacist. They are DOCTORS of PHARMACOLOGY and have, IMHO, a far better understanding of meds than do most doctors! They can not change your meds, per se, but they can recommend you try different things within the range of meds you HAVE been prescribed. Two other things...........please do NOT mess around with the dosages of your meds on your own! If they aren't working, get to a doctor or pharmacist. And this is the biggest warning of all...........PLEASE DO NOT DRINK ANY ALCOHOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't stress that strongly enough. You absolutely cannot mix these types of drugs with booze.............you would be gambling with your life and tragically, some lose.
Please see your doctor NOW!
Keep us posted, OK?
Peace
Greenlydia

[adisho123]

You may find this a bit of a shock, but you dont need meds to stop ur anxiety. ive had anxiety for about a year and slowly but surely, ive become more and more confident around different situations. First of u need to be aware of what situations are realy bad and what arent so bad. slowly day by day increas ur easy situations to more extream situations. eg, start of with something simple, like going for a walk in a quite or more public place, wherever u feel most confortable, (only u know the extent of ur anxiety). Then build it up SLOWLY to more uncomfortable situations like a walk in a crowded place. I cant stress how important it is to take this slowly. It may take weeks, months or even up to a year, but it is worth it. by shutting urself off from situations u'll only make it harder to go back into them. meds may or may not help, whith me Buton was my choise, but i promise thenatural way is far more effective, it may take longer, but sometimes the easy way out isn't always the most effective. dont let this control u, the worst case scenario for me was in a big room with every one looking, sounds scary hu? only if u let be, fear is what drives anxiety. I say let them stare! ( with this attitude there will be no need for anyone to stare in the first place any way. all the best ;)