Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
361662 tn?1204235710

xanax withdrawl

I was given xanax in1991 for a panic disorder specific to driving, 3mgs a day. During the past 4 years i have reduced to 2mgs a day and was doing OK. I am wanting to get off the medication and tried tapering down .5mg earlier this month with extreme pain, disorientation and a bunch of intense side effects, twitching, nausea etc. The only thing I can compare it too was the side effects of chemotherapy, (am a 6 year breast cancer survivor). After about a week of this, with no lessining of the pain, headaches, body pain in every joint and muscle,I saw my psyciatrist. She advised me to go back to my 2mgs a day dosage and seek hospitalization for xanax de-tox.She advised me it was too dangerous to do alone, due to possibilty of seizure, stroke, neurological issues and more.She said I should be very closely monitiored..
It seems hard to understand why the tapering down from the 3mgs to 2mgs was not that bad, which I also did in.5 mg increments and stepping down a bit more was so awful. Actually I tried this about 6 months ago with similar symptoms , but for only 3 or 4 days as I felt horrible..
We are planning an in-patient stay at Peachford Hospital in Atlanta. I have already contacted them and researched the staff etc.My insurance will cover up to 15 days. I am not sure what to expect.
The counselor I spoke with at Peachford informed me that they can give me other meds ? to help.
I will find out more when I go for an assessment, but she also said to be prepared to be admitted the same day. I am getting things in order to be ready to enter the hospital sometime in mid-January.
Can you advise me as to what I might expect in this 15 day stay? I know they do alot of group therapy . The medical staff qualifications seems first rate.
By the way, I di not experience much anxiety tapering, just immense physical discomfort.
Thanks, peaches
28 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I was on 1 mg of xanax give or take .25 for nine years; I decided to taper off of it last fall; I got down to .5 (.25 2x a day) and when I started to decrease that had trouble. I read the Ashton materials and now I've switched over to valium and am taking 2 mg twice a day.  I can't say I feel horrible but I don't feel well.  I am  depressed and feel "stupid".  The xanax did not feel heavy like this, had a little lift, but kept wearing off so quickly.  My psychiatrist kept telling me that I could take xanax forever, even though I had an opiate addiction thirty years ago...I was so leery of controlled substances but nine years ago had debilitating panic attacks.  I wish I had trusted my instincts.  I feel like I will never get off of these drugs and feel normal again.

Interestingly, my psychiatrist who specializes in pharmacology, was very reluctant to switch me to valium because she said it is so addictive!!!  Who would want to get addicted to this drug??!!  It's numbing and not in a pleasant way.  I've also considered going back to the xanax and trying to taper down from the .25 twice a day but I found it really needs to be in three divided doses and it was getting hard to cut it evenly.

Is there an oral xanax?  That would be easiest to titrate down..

Does anyone know whether .25 xanax equals 2 mg valium?  Some literature on the internet says yes, and other postings say no, , that .25 equals five mg of valium.

Thanks!
Helpful - 0
361662 tn?1204235710
Summer you have given me so  more hope and reinforinforcenment. I wish to correct some misinformation which I stated in regard to Benzobuddies, on that site they actually DO suggest a slow direct taper from whatever benzo one is taking, rather than a switch over to another benzo, which , I see you are doing with great success.

I got quite confused earlier this week, most likely because I missed taking my scheduled dosage on Sunday (,5 mgs). Due to this rapid decrease on just one day, I was disorientated rather severely on Monday and Tuesday. I felt panicy and started searching around for treatment centers etc.

I just started to feel better today . This mistake on my part shows me just how important it is to keep to a regular taper schedule. I plan to follow the taper schedule as outlined on the Benzobuddies site and decreas another 1/4 a tablet, rather than the 1/2 a tablet I was planning. Slow and steady makes much more sense.

If I can continue on this way, with my current doctor, i think i have a good chance of becomming xanax free in several months time.

My main problem is impatience. That is not good for me or anyone I think. Worrying about getting down to a "final" dose, is not helping me at this point. It is much better to take baby steps and even 'rest" at a certain level, until I feel comfortable about the next step down.

Please keep me abreast of your progress and how you are doing on your taper.Your stepping down to 1.5 mgs after 2 seems like a hefty decrease. When i tried this in December I got very sick, I went back to the 2 mgs ( on my doctor's advice)  and then at the first week of January, 1/9/08, to be precise, I decreased to 1.75.This too was discussed with my doctor.I was feeling pretty good until Sunday , when as I mentioned , I neglected to take 2 doses of .25 mgs each.

However, I did the first 1 mg taper , slowly on my own and did just fine. I don't actually remember when I started doing this , nor kept records then. It was about 2 years ago .

Now I think it is very important , for me anyway, to keep my doctor directly involved in my treatment program, even though I am pretty much doing the step down process on my own with the information I am getting from Benzobuddies and folks like yourself.

Thanks, so much to you all.

It is the Benzoisland group, centered in the UK that rigorosly followed the Aston Manual, using the valium. Your experience with the valium and not getting any benefits from that form of taper is good information.

My very best wishes, Peaches
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
In July I was taking 3 to 4 mg of xanex daily.  In Sept. I started a crossover to valium and was taking 1.5 mg xanex and 15 mg of valium.  Between Oct. and Nov. I got down to just about 22 mg of valium, but wasn't doing too well.  Then I went back to the xanex at 2 mg in November.  In the mid of Dec. went to 1.5 mg and now at 1 mg and thinking of going to .75 mg soon.   It is NOT dr. supervised.  I am doing this on my own.  From everything I've heard and read, it is not good to detox in an inpatient setting.  It is best to do it on an outpatient basis over many months.
Helpful - 0
361662 tn?1204235710
I wanted to thank you for your advice. So far I've gotten about 5 opinions.I have contacted several local recovery programs by phone and today after contacting BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVER, neatr Atlanta, I am feeling optimistic. They have an out patient program, and favor the slow taper. I'm not sure what method or medication they use but their philosophy is compassionate. The counselor I spoke with today took alot of time with me, and gave me some good information. I can find out more when I make an appointment.  I don't know if they will take my insurance. The billing department has to check that out

My psychiatrist here, is very nice, but she is not that knowegable in this area, although she did bring up the subject of Klonopin during my last visit.

Another place I researced uses a transition to Tranzene, which I know nothing about. However the counselor there assured me that I would not go through a painful withdrawl and would get follow up care. This place does take my insurance.

Summer's post seems very optimistic.

I truly appreciate all your support and advise.

Helpful - 0
361662 tn?1204235710
Thanks for your reply.I've visited benzobuddies too. It seems that the only thing they reccoment is The Ashton Manual. Your post is quite interesting. How and over what time period have you tapered down?

This gives me renewed hope.

Is your taper supervised by a doctor? In what amounts do you reduce and over what period of time?

I spoke to one lady tday, who did a cold turkey de-tox from xanax, several years ago with only phenobarbitol in a hospital. She reported have severe withdrawal for 14 months afterwards. Sounds awful. But she said she somehow dealt with it.

I think I found a good recovery program and doctor,today, in a nearby town, who does a compassionate approach to prescription drug withdrawal. I spoke to one of the counselors and may see the doctor for an evaluation on Monday. They have an outpatient program, and it appears they favor a slow  taper. I hope they take my insurance. I'll find out more in the next few days.

It seems like I've been spending hours every day , looking for help. I also found an in-patient program that does a faster de-tox using Tranzene. I don't know anything about that one.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.You some like an awesome lady.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I tried switching from xanex to valium and had a horrible time.  I then switched back to xanex and am withdrawing from it.  I have so far gone from 4 mg down to 1 mg.  I know it can be done, but I only know of one other person who did it.  The Benzoisland site is good as is Benzobuddies.  I think Benzobuddies is a little more tolerant of different methods used to withdraw and can help you withdraw at your own rate in a way that is comfortable to you using whatever benzo you are on.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community

Top Anxiety Answerers
Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?