Aa
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
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
Let me see if I understand. Peaches is going to Peachford in the peach tree state -right? How can you miss with a combination like that! Anyway, in terms of tapering, it is not just the amount you decrease, but the percentage of the total you are taking. Thus, if someone is taking 10 mg of something, and tapers by 2 mg, they've made a 20% reduction (2/10) the first time. But the next 2 mg reduction is against a toal of 8 mg (left over from the first time) which is 25% The next one is 2/6, or a third. And the next? 2/3 which is 67%! That's alot!
I think you'll be able to do some realistic goal setting once you're in the program. Meanwhile, be careful about assuming too much or adopting any program in particular in advance of your treatment -and keep an open mind.
And you are right -the care givers and providers often do NOT have personal experience from which to draw. What they DO have is a wealth of exposure to MANY people who have all had the same/similar problems. THAT'S the stuff you want to draw on.
Good luck -you sound like you're mind is "together." I think you'll do well.
I think you'll be able to do some realistic goal setting once you're in the program. Meanwhile, be careful about assuming too much or adopting any program in particular in advance of your treatment -and keep an open mind.
And you are right -the care givers and providers often do NOT have personal experience from which to draw. What they DO have is a wealth of exposure to MANY people who have all had the same/similar problems. THAT'S the stuff you want to draw on.
Good luck -you sound like you're mind is "together." I think you'll do well.
Thanks for your post.
I have a good psychiatrist and as I mentioned I have been able to taper down , on my own, over a period of 3-4 years, without severe withdrawl.
When I go for the assessment at Peachford, which has an excellent staff of doctors, including a neurologist, several psychiatrists and other specialists, whom I have researched, I will bring up the suggestions and warnings which you mentioned.
When I spoke with the counselors there, they said I will probably be given medications as deemed appropriate and monitoed carefully. I also may just taper , rather than totally be off all meds. I will ask alot of questions. Thanks for telling me about Klonipin. I am also going to ask about pain management. I already know how intense the pain is from my attemps earlier this month to continue the tapering at home. I am also been made aware of the dangers.
Being, I live alone, with no close family near by, the idea of being in a hospital gives me some feeling of safety.The saftey factor is very important as well. This is why my psychiatrist suggested I go there. It is a difficult descion to make. And again i am very grateful for your input. IAlso it is quite likely, that I may spend the next year , after discharge as an out patient in a psychiatric facility in my town. The more information and support I have the greater my chances are for success.
Like Dodie, I did experience alot of weird sensations, especially in left side of my body.
The hospital may use Klonipin or valium. I have Dr. Ashton's manual and I believe that her method, and/or variations of it are widely used for Xanax tapering/withdrawl.
I believe i am starting on a much longer process than the 15 days at Peachford.For me that's a starting out point.
I had hopes of leaving there free of benzos, but that may be an unrealistic goal.
I hope to hear from you again. Could you tell me if you have directly experienced this process as a benzo user, or are you a professional in this field? Your experiences either way, experiencing and/or observing would be most helpful. You sound very knowledgable and articulate.
The problem with many professionals, (doctors, counselors, psychiatrists and pharmacists, nurses etc.) is that they have alot of book knowlegde but don't have the point of view of folks who are on these meds and dealing with getting off of them.
The money factor. Yes, Unfortunately alot of folks are making scads of money off of these meds in all sorts of ways.
Best regards, Peaches
I have a good psychiatrist and as I mentioned I have been able to taper down , on my own, over a period of 3-4 years, without severe withdrawl.
When I go for the assessment at Peachford, which has an excellent staff of doctors, including a neurologist, several psychiatrists and other specialists, whom I have researched, I will bring up the suggestions and warnings which you mentioned.
When I spoke with the counselors there, they said I will probably be given medications as deemed appropriate and monitoed carefully. I also may just taper , rather than totally be off all meds. I will ask alot of questions. Thanks for telling me about Klonipin. I am also going to ask about pain management. I already know how intense the pain is from my attemps earlier this month to continue the tapering at home. I am also been made aware of the dangers.
Being, I live alone, with no close family near by, the idea of being in a hospital gives me some feeling of safety.The saftey factor is very important as well. This is why my psychiatrist suggested I go there. It is a difficult descion to make. And again i am very grateful for your input. IAlso it is quite likely, that I may spend the next year , after discharge as an out patient in a psychiatric facility in my town. The more information and support I have the greater my chances are for success.
Like Dodie, I did experience alot of weird sensations, especially in left side of my body.
The hospital may use Klonipin or valium. I have Dr. Ashton's manual and I believe that her method, and/or variations of it are widely used for Xanax tapering/withdrawl.
I believe i am starting on a much longer process than the 15 days at Peachford.For me that's a starting out point.
I had hopes of leaving there free of benzos, but that may be an unrealistic goal.
I hope to hear from you again. Could you tell me if you have directly experienced this process as a benzo user, or are you a professional in this field? Your experiences either way, experiencing and/or observing would be most helpful. You sound very knowledgable and articulate.
The problem with many professionals, (doctors, counselors, psychiatrists and pharmacists, nurses etc.) is that they have alot of book knowlegde but don't have the point of view of folks who are on these meds and dealing with getting off of them.
The money factor. Yes, Unfortunately alot of folks are making scads of money off of these meds in all sorts of ways.
Best regards, Peaches
I just read your post, and it appears that you have great knowledge of Xanax withdrawls, etc. I, too, have been on Xanax for about a year and a half (approx 18 months, give or take). 2 mgs per day. When I try to ween off, 1 1/2 mgs per day, I experience weakness on my left side, twitches, wake up with shakes, anxiety attacks etc. My Doc. just prescribed Paxil to help ween me off the Xanax, but I have heard of awful ghost stories from those on Paxil (20mgs). I don't feel 18 months is an awfully long time to have been on Xanax, but I am scared of both drugs. Do you have any insight???
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