dalpat077
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2019
- Messages
- 3,092
Alright. Let's keep it down to a dull roar! 
I realize we're all different. But the OP hasn't been abusing them. And that's not a high dose at all. So there's no reason to panic.
No offense but sometimes these tapering horror stories concern me i.e. people can read them and be so terrified that they'll keep using simply in order to avoid the withdrawal symptoms.
And I speak as someone who tapered off of 12mg per day some many years ago (and just before said taper started ended up running out of a prescription and had to wait two days to renew) (point being: I know what cold turkey withdrawal feels like only too well). Also speak as someone who has gone to great lengths since then, having become fascinated with benzodiazepines and a-drugs and their pharmacological action etc., to research them in depth.
The OP is probably going to feel SOMETHING no doubt. But I doubt it's going to be life threatening or earth shattering.
I'm not a fan of substitution i.e. I personally believe that there is the potential for creating another problem where there wasn't one.
SOME alcohol does actually help with Xanax (Alprazolam) withdrawal (emphasis on the word "SOME" i.e. not to be construed as an excuse to get fuck drunk). This being said: alcohol can in and of itself exacerbate depression. If the OP isn't a drinker: then no point in starting to use alcohol.
Unfortunately though: Xanax (Alprazolam) is a bitch because of its short half life and withdrawal can be unpredictable. In my experience though: take it down by 0.25mg per week (just cut the things up). And don't be afraid, if withdrawal comes on, to stagger your dose during the day. It can become difficult if you've been taking them at night for sleep and at a set time every night i.e. with every successive day the withdrawals will come on a bit earlier. But it takes about three days to stabilize and then you're good to go for the next week and next taper.
What you don't want to end up with is a never ending cycle i.e. cold turkey, cannot handle the withdrawal symptoms, and then right back on. Rather taper and don't make it uncomfortable or harder than it needs to be.
Unfortunately: benzodiazepines don't cure anything. Whatever the underlying reasons for taking them in the first place will be still be there. Unless it was due to life circumstances and said life circumstances have improved i.e. they've gotten you through a difficult period or over that hurdle and served their purpose.
And be careful of the z-drugs i.e. Ambien (Zolpidem) and Zopiclone. More and more I'm seeing people where Zopiclone, in particular, is having severe negative effects e.g. exacerbating depression and in some cases causing suicidal ideation (and it's specifically stated for Zopiclone). Also bear in mind: Ambien (Zolpidem) is to be taken ONCE IN BED and has a very short half life (three hours). The idea being that you fall asleep and your body takes over from there (unlike Zopiclone which knocks you out for the night but, arguably, isn't real sleep i.e. usually a hang over the next day and that lasts for at least an hour) (highly dosage dependent). Ambien (Zolpidem) if not used correctly as stated can, in some individuals, actually have the opposite effect i.e. keep you awake and some people then go on to do very strange things and don't remember the next day.
One last piece of advice: work out, up front, what's needed to taper completely off and toss the rest. As long as they're handy: it's too easy to go putting your hand right back in the cookie jar. This is probably the hardest part of all believe it or not. This and that very last week of 0.25mg (from a psychological perspective only i.e. knowing full well that your taper is coming to an end and no more comfort or safety blanket).
I realize we're all different. But the OP hasn't been abusing them. And that's not a high dose at all. So there's no reason to panic.
No offense but sometimes these tapering horror stories concern me i.e. people can read them and be so terrified that they'll keep using simply in order to avoid the withdrawal symptoms.
And I speak as someone who tapered off of 12mg per day some many years ago (and just before said taper started ended up running out of a prescription and had to wait two days to renew) (point being: I know what cold turkey withdrawal feels like only too well). Also speak as someone who has gone to great lengths since then, having become fascinated with benzodiazepines and a-drugs and their pharmacological action etc., to research them in depth.
The OP is probably going to feel SOMETHING no doubt. But I doubt it's going to be life threatening or earth shattering.
I'm not a fan of substitution i.e. I personally believe that there is the potential for creating another problem where there wasn't one.
SOME alcohol does actually help with Xanax (Alprazolam) withdrawal (emphasis on the word "SOME" i.e. not to be construed as an excuse to get fuck drunk). This being said: alcohol can in and of itself exacerbate depression. If the OP isn't a drinker: then no point in starting to use alcohol.
Unfortunately though: Xanax (Alprazolam) is a bitch because of its short half life and withdrawal can be unpredictable. In my experience though: take it down by 0.25mg per week (just cut the things up). And don't be afraid, if withdrawal comes on, to stagger your dose during the day. It can become difficult if you've been taking them at night for sleep and at a set time every night i.e. with every successive day the withdrawals will come on a bit earlier. But it takes about three days to stabilize and then you're good to go for the next week and next taper.
What you don't want to end up with is a never ending cycle i.e. cold turkey, cannot handle the withdrawal symptoms, and then right back on. Rather taper and don't make it uncomfortable or harder than it needs to be.
Unfortunately: benzodiazepines don't cure anything. Whatever the underlying reasons for taking them in the first place will be still be there. Unless it was due to life circumstances and said life circumstances have improved i.e. they've gotten you through a difficult period or over that hurdle and served their purpose.
And be careful of the z-drugs i.e. Ambien (Zolpidem) and Zopiclone. More and more I'm seeing people where Zopiclone, in particular, is having severe negative effects e.g. exacerbating depression and in some cases causing suicidal ideation (and it's specifically stated for Zopiclone). Also bear in mind: Ambien (Zolpidem) is to be taken ONCE IN BED and has a very short half life (three hours). The idea being that you fall asleep and your body takes over from there (unlike Zopiclone which knocks you out for the night but, arguably, isn't real sleep i.e. usually a hang over the next day and that lasts for at least an hour) (highly dosage dependent). Ambien (Zolpidem) if not used correctly as stated can, in some individuals, actually have the opposite effect i.e. keep you awake and some people then go on to do very strange things and don't remember the next day.
One last piece of advice: work out, up front, what's needed to taper completely off and toss the rest. As long as they're handy: it's too easy to go putting your hand right back in the cookie jar. This is probably the hardest part of all believe it or not. This and that very last week of 0.25mg (from a psychological perspective only i.e. knowing full well that your taper is coming to an end and no more comfort or safety blanket).
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Agreed. At very least on the first part anyway. And you seem to have knowledge that is above my pay grade i.e. on a neurological level.
