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10 years on xanax, need help withdrawal

T

ThruTheEyesOfRuby

Greenlighter
Joined
Dec 7, 2008
Messages
5
I've been on 10 years of prescribed xanax. My highest dose was 0.5 4x a day.

I've gotten down to 0.5 2 x a day.

Doctor says, he's not filling anymore xanax scripts and that it's time to get off of the xanax. I'm fine with that, to be honest, because I'm tired of taking them for so many years.

I did really well with my cuts, the withdrawals were tolerable *until* I got down to 2 1/2 tablets a day, then that's when the real hell kicked in.

When I got down to 0.5 2 x a day, my blood pressure shot up, which was a concern because I've never had high b/p in my whole life. Then my heart would race out of control and get as high as 120 bpm, resting rate.

So, the doc decides to put me on a beta blocker, during the tapering process.
I began taking it and it does take a bit of the edge off. My heart stopped racing like a maniac. I also have a mitral valve prolapse (mild).

I'm about to make another cut, .25mg after Christmas. And I tell you , I feel scared each time I get lower. I'm afraid that I'm going to have a seizure or die or whatever.

I want this to be over and done with. Already feeling like crap, sitting at the 2 tablets a day for the past 3 weeks, as it is.

Should I be highly concerned about seizures as I get lower in the cuts?

Just need a little reassurance. Thanks.
 
I should add that, we tried switching to valium, to try and make the process easier, but I became really sick on the valium. K-pins made me vomit whenever I took them, and so does valium, so we went back on the xanax.

What is pissing me off is, the nurse who works with my doc says "It's impossible to withdraw off just xanax"

I'm only on 1 mg a day, I don't see how I can't do this.
 
Fuck that nurse I'm really sensitive to benzos and have become physically dependant on xanax after about 12 days of use at about .5-1mg a day using only xanax for sleep. It depends on your body chemistry/metabolism/genetic factors. The thing that concerns me about your case in the legenth of time you have been on them check out sites like benzo.org.uk and benzobuddies.org for information about benzo withdrawl good sites with a lot of benzo info expirences. I'm not a doctor but I would taper as slow as possible in order to avoid seizures rebound anxiety and the horrible insomnia that comes with xanax dependence. I feel for you man 10 years on alprazolam isn't going to be a picnic no matter how you do it, but it can be done. I would be concerned about seizures, because of the duration of your use. Good luck
 
That's a good idea.

Also, you should see if you can take something like Neurontin or Depakote during this process so you don't have a seizure.
 
Agreed, there are also plenty of other benzos out there weaker than xanex that should give you withdrawl releif and be easier to taper on, I'm surprised your doctor gave up after just clonazepam and diazepam. What time in the day do you take the two pills? I would take the first one whenever then take the other before bed simply because you want to be getting rid of your withdrawls, not getting high.
 
I think based on your comments you really need a second opinion, not reassurance from us.

As far as a hypothetical normal healthy person, It is not by any means impossible to taper off xanax alone, especially given that you are down to 1 mg a day.

I've done it several times with a higher starting tolerance than you - 4 mg, sometimes more, although only at bedtime. (The fact that I have done it several times is a different story. I have difficulty maintaining a normal sleep routine, and a gf who has a constant supply of benzos. Until I change that part of my environment, it's just too easy to start back up again).

A tendency to start taking them again notwithstanding, From my experience I can do a gradual taper from higher levels to 1mg. If I can get down to no more than 1 mg I can do a relatively faster taper to 0.5 to finally 0.25 mg at bedtime only. Once I am at 0.25mg at bedtime for 7-10 days I can stop. I have a moderate feeling of un-wellness for a couple of days that gradually worsens to a little stronger flu-like symptoms after about a 4 days, and rebound insomnia that I try to combat with benedryl. It is not fun but it is hardly agonizing either, and within 7 days I have an unmistakable sense that I am well past turning the corner.

You have some symptoms which sound like cause for serious concern. You have a doctor who does not appear to be very successful in managing your specific needs. And he employs a nurse who believes that something cannot be done when other people have in fact done it. In your case that might in fact be true but it is cerytainly not a general medical fact as others like me can attest to.

Most disturbing though is the fact that you have even heard her say this. A person who is part of your medical treatment team is not only admitting failure, she is IMO for all practical purposes advocating failure.

Those are some big red flags I think.

You need to consult with someone else, make it clear that you are not just doctor shopping looking for a new script source, and find someone who says that while yes, many people find replacement therapy useful for xanax withdrawal, that is not the only approach, and the attitude of the nurse is very unprofessional.
 
Have you tried switching to Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)?

Did the doctors just try to have you switch one day, instead of taking Xanax you took Valium or Klonopin, and no Xanax on those days? You may need to take it slower, take smaller doses of a longer acting Benzo (like Valium or Librium) with some Xanax (like 5mg Valium + 0.25mg Xanax in the morning, 5mg Valium + 0.25mg Xanax in the evening, or whichever times you take your 2 doses during the day). This may make a transition to another Benzo easier to tolerate.

Xanax XR, as mentioned by another poster, would be great advice if it came in smaller dosages. It only comes in 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg and 3mg tablet sizes. Assuming the transfer to 1mg Xanax XR goes smoothely, then you drop to 0.5mg Xanax Xr/day, what then? You're still in the same boat as you were in the beginning.

Oxazepam and Clorazepate are other commonly used Benzo's for substitution and detox. They may be worth a try.
 
Sorry I really have to reiterate. I genuinely think the only thing we can give you as an internet community is the assurance that yes, it is possible to kick a benzo habit.

My cardiac health is not good - I did a lotta damage to myself from years of meth abuse. Rest assured - if it is possible to kick a two decade daily meth habit (going on 5 years meth clean) it is possible to kick any drug habit.

But I never experienced the symptoms you describe at 1 mg levels. I also was not taking xanax for anxiety.

You have cardiac conditions. You may have anxiety issues, clearly you have anxiety issues about the tapering process. I don't want to increase your anxiety, but I feel like the only responsible advice to give you is that none of that is a good combination, and based on what you've told us so far it really sounds to me like your current treatment is not giving you either the support you need and maybe possibly not the total care you need.

I think the driving philosophy of this board is supposed to be a prime directive of harm reduction.

I think that in light of the fact that you are a greenlighter and cannot exchange PMs, in the spirit of us being able to offer you a sense of support that this is not a hopeless condition, the moderators should not lock this thread.

But I do think that other bluelights should probably think about this situation. ADD tends to be a knowledge exchange oriented board, but at this point I think it might be best to recognize that while we can give you spiritual support, alternative drug suggestions from us may not be in your best interest. At the risk of trying to sound like a moderator, which I am not, I still really strongly feel that people should limit things at this point to suggestions like meditation, behavioral routines and other kinds of non-drug related things that they found helpful, and meanwhile you really need to consider if you should seek out another medical opinion and maybe find some more supportive immediate care.
 
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Doesn't MVP contribute to GAD? Is it absolutely imperative that you d/c the alprazolam, especially as it seems (based on the information you've given here) that alprazolam may be medically necessary in your case? Is the doctor you mention a PCP, and if so, have you taken this matter up with a cardiologist?

Also, why do so many medical professionals hold it as an item of faith that THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BENZODIAZAPINE WD?

I have a 5 year, 3 mg a day alprazolam habit and I regularly force myself to spend 24 to 36 hours benzo-free (did 30 hrs between 8am Saturday and 2pm today) and my bp and heart rate remain normal during these periods of abstinence. You're getting acute and potentially-life-threatening somatic effects after minor dosage reductions. These are more than just withdrawal symptoms: they are a distress signal from your autonomic nervous system, and the gist of the distress signal may be that the system cannot regulate itself.
 
Thanks everyone, for your responses.

My MVP is mild, according to the tests I've had done. But I have no doubt it could be a contributor to my anxiety.

My personal issue with xanax is, I have been on this drug for a decade of my life. I've reached tolerance on it, and it's either go up another dose, or go off. No doctor that I have seen is willing to increase. In fact over the past few years, I have found myself arguing to stay on it, until the past year where I finally got tired of the whole process of going to the doctor every month or two, sitting down, talking for less than 5 min, and leaving with the script.

Maybe the doc is just giving me the kick in the pants I needed to finally get off of it.

Truth is, I was having rebound anxiety on this drug. When I complained about that, they wanted to put me on anti depressants. I'm not clinically depressed, and I've done enough of my research to find that anti depressants are not necessarily great at controling anxiety anyway.

I agree about the nurse. She sure wasn't that encouraging, telling me I couldn't do this.

Unfortunately I live in a very small town, one clinic, and the other mental health clinic won't see me without insurance, so I'm stuck with county health.

They claim that blood pressure spikes can happen during the withdrawal process. I've read minimal amounts about this, where it can happen, but how common it is, I don't know.

I wish I could actually go see someone for a second opinion, but I can't afford it. So I'm stuck.

I phoned the pharmacist and spoke with him about the chance of having a seizure and he said the chance for me was minimal, based on the speed of tapering. As long as I go gradual.

I don't understand why I'd need depakote to get off of 1 mg? I'm not too hepped up on adding another pill to the ordeal. As it is, the beta blocker makes me feel like hell.

I take the medication before going to bed. The two pills at a time. I've been doing this for years, and I don't know why. I'm actually supposed to be taking it morning and night, but I didn't like taking a morning dose, as it made me too sleepy through the day.

I'm going to be really happy when this ordeal is done. :|
 
Seep, I wanted to address your comment:

Unfortunately it is imperative to get off of this because, the doctors in my clinic don't want to increase the drug, and I'm to a point where I increase the dose or live in tolerence. I prefer to get off of it all together, rather than keep climbing upwards.

I'm getting tired of trying to come up with excuses to keep on it, and that little "explain myself, my need, my issues" to a doctor every few weeks is getting old and tired. :[

I also forgot to mention to another post, no I have not been put on librium, or any other benzo. The K pin made me vomit after 2 doses, and for some odd reason the valium had me sick after 24 hours. I don't know why I had that reaction.

I could try to ask for the xr. To be honest, I just want to get off the freakin drug I'm on now and deal with it, if that makes sense.

Thanks!
 
Pharmacists are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to prescription drugs, but the knowledge of your physician will trump even that of the man behind the really cool counter. The best thing you could do would be to discuss your worries with your doctor. If seizures are a concern of yours, then disclosing this to him/her would be a great step in the right direction. They can take steps through other drugs to raise your seizure threshold if that is really your primary concern, although the best thing you can do is establish a healthy sleep pattern, which it seems you are trying to do.

Also, as a word to the wise, DO NOT attempt to restore that sleep pattern with the help of sleep-aids or other drugs, and you would to well to avoid even OTC antihistamines, as these can both lower the seizure threshold.

Finally, about the nurse. She is most likely a nurse for a reason, and not a licensed pharmacist, nor does she likely possess a healthy knowledge of psychopharmacology. As someone who has seen the effects firsthand in family and friends, I will tell you that BZD withdrawals are VERY real and can be a bitch to overcome, but if you've made it this far, you're certainly in possession of what it takes to go the rest of the way.

Good luck man.
 
I would assume she is saying that it is impossible to withdraw from xanax alone without the now popular regimen of benzo replacement with longer half life benzos. While that may make it easier and therefore "possible" for some people, I would say the only categorical statement you can make about benzo withdrawal is that is extremely dangerous to just try to quit them abruptly from anything other than a very low dosage.

I'm sorry for the op that their treatment options are limited by their circumstances.
 
As mentioned before, it may be a good idea, or at least a non-harmful precautionary measure to talk to your doc about taking an anticonvulsant such as Depakote or Neurontin, or even the new Lyrica, if you are truly worried about seizures, though I think you will be okay if you are already tapered down to 1mg 2x daily.
It is very true that getting off of benzos, Alprazolam perhaps more than many of the rest due to its potency, can be dangerous and undoubtedly difficult. If Diazepam nor Clonazepam helped, Librium could be a good alternative for tapering and reducing withdrawl symptoms. Also, you might try GABA supplement tablets and/or herbs like Kava Kava or Valerian etc. I will tell you from my experience, it's coming off high doses of Xanax/benzos that is the hardest part. At the amount you are taking, you really should be fine, even if you went cold turkey from just 1mg, it would be highly unlikely that you would be in danger of having a seizure at such a minimal dosage.
TTEOR- I have been there and know how you feel, but that miserable discomfort will subside, and you will feel much better when it does.
Best wishes,
PS- Smashing Pumpkins reference?
 
To clarify:

When speaking with the nurse about withdrawing off xanax, she meant that it was impossible to withdraw off of this drug by itself. She said that in response to my refusal to go on an anti depressant.

The doctor felt that going on something such as Lexapro, might help me. I'm not clinically depressed and didn't want to add another pill to the mix.

I'm on 1mg a day.

I have another appt on the 15th, so maybe I will talk to the dr about seizures, but everything I read says, a slow gradual taper lessens the chances.

What I'm suffering with most is muscle tension in my back and neck. There's a tightness and it tends to cause sore muscles in my chest too :(

Yes, a smashing pumpkin ref :)


btw, I'm a girl. I thought maybe I was mistaken for a guy when called "man" lol

Thanks all.
 
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