So, I began taking benzos daily in late October of '10. At first I was prescribed Klonopin 0.25 mg in the morning, 0.25 mg in the afternoon, and 0.5 mg at bedtime. Maybe a month after starting the Klonopin my dose was kicked up to 0.5 mg TID. Klonopin really did help, but I was afraid of severe benzo dependence in my future, so six weeks after being on Klonopin daily, I stopped cold turkey for about 5 days. There were some withdrawal symptoms, but there weren't horrible. I suffered some muscle stiffness and soreness, increased edgy feeling, insomnia, and time seemed to drag on and on. I finally decided to go back on the Klonopin after 5 days, but started playing with my doses (increasing), taking when I felt I ought to, but still I kept taking it daily until about the beginning of January.
The beginning of January I was switched to Xanax 0.5 mg QID. I was a bit uncomfortable after the switch, but that didn't last to long. Maybe one month into being on Xanax 0.5 mg QID, my dose was upped to Xanax 0.5 TID, plus an additional 1 mg at bedtime. I took it mostly as prescribed, but my doses weren't very evenly spaced. Maybe a week and a half ago I began taking 2 0.5 mg Xanax three times a day. So I was taking about 1 more 0.5 mg pill than was prescribed. Oddly though, about 6 days ago I decided not to take a bedtime dose, and that worked out more or less fine, just a little more anxious when I wake up. For the past 6 days I have been able to sleep rather well without taking any Xanax at bedtime, but instead taking 2 mg in the morning, and 1 mg in the afternoon. I did recently increase my SSRI dose quite a bit, but don't see how that could make me sleep better, and began taking a very low dose of Lamictal a few days ago, too.
So, anyway it feels like I am not really so dependent on Xanax but this can't be the case. I am thinking that because I have been recently taking 2 mg in the morning, and 1 mg in the afternoon, the Xanax in my system at bedtime is sufficient to hold me to the next morning. I just think it is odd that I have been taking a bedtime dose of Xanax for three months, and any benzo for about five, and now it doesn't seem necessary.
Does this 2 mg in the morning, 1 mg in the afternoon dosing schedule seem reasonable? I would still think that due to Xanax's short half-life I would need to take some at bedtime, but I don't need to. I am sleeping quite well.
Another question, I know this is long, but I am curious. If I were to try to cold turkey the Xanax all together, would I be able to withstand the withdrawals? Xanax taper doesn't seem like it would be a good idea, or pleasant at all. And I would rather have a shorter time of more unpleasantness, than a longer of less. The reason I ask if I could get of the Xanax cold turkey, is because while it does help me daily, it would be very nice if I could take it as I felt it necessary (PRN). If I were to stop taking the Xanax, and complete withdrawal, would I be able to take it PRN without getting caught back into a daily dependence. I know these are a lot of questions, but I would really appreciate any feedback. Thanks in advance.
The beginning of January I was switched to Xanax 0.5 mg QID. I was a bit uncomfortable after the switch, but that didn't last to long. Maybe one month into being on Xanax 0.5 mg QID, my dose was upped to Xanax 0.5 TID, plus an additional 1 mg at bedtime. I took it mostly as prescribed, but my doses weren't very evenly spaced. Maybe a week and a half ago I began taking 2 0.5 mg Xanax three times a day. So I was taking about 1 more 0.5 mg pill than was prescribed. Oddly though, about 6 days ago I decided not to take a bedtime dose, and that worked out more or less fine, just a little more anxious when I wake up. For the past 6 days I have been able to sleep rather well without taking any Xanax at bedtime, but instead taking 2 mg in the morning, and 1 mg in the afternoon. I did recently increase my SSRI dose quite a bit, but don't see how that could make me sleep better, and began taking a very low dose of Lamictal a few days ago, too.
So, anyway it feels like I am not really so dependent on Xanax but this can't be the case. I am thinking that because I have been recently taking 2 mg in the morning, and 1 mg in the afternoon, the Xanax in my system at bedtime is sufficient to hold me to the next morning. I just think it is odd that I have been taking a bedtime dose of Xanax for three months, and any benzo for about five, and now it doesn't seem necessary.
Does this 2 mg in the morning, 1 mg in the afternoon dosing schedule seem reasonable? I would still think that due to Xanax's short half-life I would need to take some at bedtime, but I don't need to. I am sleeping quite well.
Another question, I know this is long, but I am curious. If I were to try to cold turkey the Xanax all together, would I be able to withstand the withdrawals? Xanax taper doesn't seem like it would be a good idea, or pleasant at all. And I would rather have a shorter time of more unpleasantness, than a longer of less. The reason I ask if I could get of the Xanax cold turkey, is because while it does help me daily, it would be very nice if I could take it as I felt it necessary (PRN). If I were to stop taking the Xanax, and complete withdrawal, would I be able to take it PRN without getting caught back into a daily dependence. I know these are a lot of questions, but I would really appreciate any feedback. Thanks in advance.
