Benzos Xanax - no withdrawals after 9 days

[NoSignsOfLife]

Hi all,

I'm an occasional xanax user, maybe once or twice a week for the past 6 months dosing between 1mg and 2mg a time. I have only been taking it for stimulant comedowns or occasionally recreationally. It's been 9 days since I last took it (this isn't an unusually long period of time for me, I often have breaks this long). I don't feel I've had any withdrawals, ever, unless a few sleepless nights count (never more than 2 in a row and not very often), I normally sleep reasonably well and reasonably well is normal for me, I've never been that great a sleeper. I've got no anxiety, have happy moods, doing well at work despite a very taxing and stressful job (I'm a software developer) and am well tempered with my loved ones and friends. Just in case it's relevant, I'm a moderate drinker....few beers on the odd night during the week, a bit more on Friday and Sat, but I don't drink every day.

My question is, if after nine days I've felt not withdrawals, does that mean I'm unlikely to have a dependence? I would have expected symptoms to occur reasonably quickly, considering the short half life.

Can anyone give me any advice based on your experience or knowledge?

Many thanks

 

[Thomas29]

Your fine right now..... But eventually you will become dependent on it.

 

[CaveBear]

IMO...I dont think you have a physical dependence and wont have any withdrawal symptoms. 1-2mg, 1-2 days a week, doesnt seem, at least to me, to be much use at all.

 

[HCandKROD]

If you have been that long you have escaped withdrawal. Note my word though keep playing with Xanax long enough and it will collect it's due from you. My advice is to stay away from Xanax and consider yourself lucky this time. Each time you take Xanax then stop suddenly you "kindle" yourself for a little harder come down next time. Good luck

 

[buckethed]

The 2-3 nights of disturbed sleep are the signs of the beginning of a dependence! Be very, very careful with this drug;
the kindling effect is very true, shorter acting benzos give sudden increased and decreases of the 'GABAergic' effects
(the calming brain receptor that makes benzos and alcohol do their thing); these swings quickly lead to dependence.

If you were going to abuse a benzo, Valium would be the best, simply due to the fact of the very long half-life so
slower development of dependence. The best thing is to stay away from Xanax for weeks, and then if you have to use
it, leave 2-3 weeks between doses. If you do get hooked, DONT cold-turkey or you could die from seizures also!

Good luck!

 

[buckethed]

PS the alcohol use - even if not 'harmful use' by itself, seriously increases the risk of benzo dependence, so be very,
very careful!

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

Using only a couple times a week is not going to pick you up a habit. But things like rebound insomnia and anxiety are common.

If your usage goes up however, eventually you will become dependent. I'd stop playing with the fire now..

 

[thesameoldfears]

^ this.

The difficulty sleeping on the days after use, even if it's not a big deal now, is the beginning of a dependence issue. But as long as you keep your doses low and don't make exceptions to leaving days between uses you should be fine.

 

[Pagey]

My question is, if after nine days I've felt not withdrawals, does that mean I'm unlikely to have a dependence?

Yeah it just means you're not physically dependant on them - but don't let that give you a false sense of safety and make you think you're not vulnerable to becoming so. It's unlikely you'll be able to keep up weekly/bi-weekly use for ever...maybe consider stopping or using them even less often before you end up needing them to get through the day

 

[catching fish]

I think you should be okay, I would personally go without any benzos for the next week or two. It is really easy to fall into the habit of using Xanax daily, especially if you have issues with anxiety. I find the hardest thing about Xanax is that if I am feeling anxious and I take some throughout the day, the rebound anxiety the next day is twice as bad and hence starts the cycle.

Be mindful of how often you are taking and more importantly why you are taking it. It certainly is a wonder drug in my opinion but has pretty severe consequences. I try to avoid using it for day to day anxiety and just take it in emergencies- panic attacks, drug comedowns, opiate withdrawals etc.