I know there are many threads just like this, but I need some solid answers on my particular situation. I've got bad insomnia and have been on Seroquel for years. It stopped being very effective a couple years ago and I was able to cop some Xanax bars. They immediately helped. I was on about 2mg/day, but now my supply has been lost and I have no way to get more, so I've been stretching out what I've got and tapering. I'm down to about .5 mg every 10hrs. I've got about 10mg left. Should I stick it out and see what happens, or should I get admitted somewhere? I'm a sole provider for my family, so that route would be catoustrophic. Thank you for your help
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BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards
Need help. About to be out of Benzos
- Thread starter Not_Me
- Start date
If you were on 2 mg Xanax a day for a significant period of time, that warrants a taper, and should not be CT'd. Tapering with Xanax is near impossible due to its short half-life and short duration of action. I would suggest going to your family doctor, and seeking out help to get on a proper and safe taper plan. You are still on 1 mg + a little extra daily so I would definitely suggest you look into a good, safe taper.
You don't say what country you are in ?
I agree 100% with Alex000 but also know that may not be an option for you, this information is generally accepted as the best work on how to get off of benzos:-
Heather Ashton Manual
You've done the best you could with such a short acting benzo, in general diazepam is the best one to use to taper as it has a much longer and smoother effect so you can dose just once a day and slowly reduce.
The biggest danger you have is having a seizure which is going to be messy if your trying to hold a job down and this happens at work, its impossible to say whether or not that will actually happen to you but its a risk you can't really afford to take.
A decent doctor should be able to provide a diazepam taper, it will be far from the first time they have had to deal with such and issue and your dosage is relatively low compared to the mess many end up in due to tolerance rising.
Is going to your Doctor not an option ?
I agree 100% with Alex000 but also know that may not be an option for you, this information is generally accepted as the best work on how to get off of benzos:-
Heather Ashton Manual
You've done the best you could with such a short acting benzo, in general diazepam is the best one to use to taper as it has a much longer and smoother effect so you can dose just once a day and slowly reduce.
The biggest danger you have is having a seizure which is going to be messy if your trying to hold a job down and this happens at work, its impossible to say whether or not that will actually happen to you but its a risk you can't really afford to take.
A decent doctor should be able to provide a diazepam taper, it will be far from the first time they have had to deal with such and issue and your dosage is relatively low compared to the mess many end up in due to tolerance rising.
Is going to your Doctor not an option ?
BabyGurl3171
Bluelighter
I'm with Alex & atm. Very good advice.
You're *probably* goin to need a medical taper, which can be done without goin into the hospital.
Diazepam would probably be your friend to taper with.
Are you able to see a dr?
You're *probably* goin to need a medical taper, which can be done without goin into the hospital.
Diazepam would probably be your friend to taper with.
Are you able to see a dr?
manicmama
Bluelighter
Not sure where you are but here in the UK I believe a GP would switch you to a different benzo (long acting) usually diazepam and gradually taper you off this - as the other posters have already said. Doctors are there to help you, and if you were legally on the Xanax in the 1st place I find it difficult to believe a GP, psychiatrist - or any doctor for that matter would make you go cold turkey rather than switch you to a long acting benzo and taper you gradually. In fact, I know a girl who got herself addicted to illegally obtained diazepam and when she could no longer obtain it her GP prescribed it and referred her to a drug and alcohol team for support tapering off. So, wherever you are, please see your doctor - if you are willing to help yourself they will help you.
Good luck.
Good luck.
NeighborhoodThreat
Bluelight Crew
^Exactly (and what the other posters have said). Tapering down with shorting-acting benzos (like Xanax/alprazolam) is very difficult.
See your doctor and be honest with them.
See your doctor and be honest with them.
Pharmokinetictal
Bluelighter
Agree on all accounts. Everyone here knows what they're talking about. I'm in the US and I was taking 6mg Xanax/day + 3mg Klonopin. I quit cold turkey on New Years one year and started spazzing out. You DO NOT want to experience the withdrawls of benzos. They are worse than any other drug out there. And the problem is they last forever. It's called Protracted Withdrawl Syndrome. So everything they said is true and you should act on it. My pills were illegal too...but even in the US (where medicine is in the stone age), Doctors take benzo withdrawl very seriously. Go to a regular GP you feel comfortable with or a psych. Pay the out-of-pocket of you have to...he'll put you on a Diazepam/Valium taper guaranteed. As long as you really do have WDs, he won't doubt you. You can even ask for a urine test if you want to prove it to him.
But you should think of something first...you haven't said how you're doing on YOUR taper. You went from 2mg to .5mg. That's a big drop. Are you having WDs (you'd know: shakes, paranoia, delirium tremens, inability to socialize, stuttering, blurred vision, feels like your brain is shaking)? You also said you have 10mgs left. That's 5 bars...or 20x.5mgs. I know everyone is saying its impossible to taper on a short acting benzo. And thats usually true...but if youve only been taking these for a month or so and have already tapered down...you might actually be able to taper down more and do this successfully.
First...figure out if you're already WDing. If youre not...keep doing what youre doing and keeping cutting your dose or skipping a day. If you start WDing...call a doctor and tell them youre WDing and youve been trying to fix it yourself but you cant anymore. Schedule an appt before your pills run out. Then take your pills to your appt. Give the Dr your pills as a sign of good faith and tell him everything. He'll believe you. Do NOT go to an ER or an addiction clinic. That's the worst thing you could do for you and your family. Doctors will Rx you pills as a regular patient probly every week or two until you feel normal as a regular out-patient. No one has to know, no one has to suffer. Finally...dont you dare cop more benzos from someone. Youll only end up getting addicted for life. I am. Theyre nearly impossible to get off once youve "allowed" yourself to take them at high doses. Im glad youre getting off.
But you should think of something first...you haven't said how you're doing on YOUR taper. You went from 2mg to .5mg. That's a big drop. Are you having WDs (you'd know: shakes, paranoia, delirium tremens, inability to socialize, stuttering, blurred vision, feels like your brain is shaking)? You also said you have 10mgs left. That's 5 bars...or 20x.5mgs. I know everyone is saying its impossible to taper on a short acting benzo. And thats usually true...but if youve only been taking these for a month or so and have already tapered down...you might actually be able to taper down more and do this successfully.
First...figure out if you're already WDing. If youre not...keep doing what youre doing and keeping cutting your dose or skipping a day. If you start WDing...call a doctor and tell them youre WDing and youve been trying to fix it yourself but you cant anymore. Schedule an appt before your pills run out. Then take your pills to your appt. Give the Dr your pills as a sign of good faith and tell him everything. He'll believe you. Do NOT go to an ER or an addiction clinic. That's the worst thing you could do for you and your family. Doctors will Rx you pills as a regular patient probly every week or two until you feel normal as a regular out-patient. No one has to know, no one has to suffer. Finally...dont you dare cop more benzos from someone. Youll only end up getting addicted for life. I am. Theyre nearly impossible to get off once youve "allowed" yourself to take them at high doses. Im glad youre getting off.
BabyGurl3171
Bluelighter
Unless you live in a fucked up state in the US that is..
4 yrs on Xanax & Valium and my GP is gonna taper me off a very high dose of benzos with 15-20 mgs Valium with in 4 weeks. Granted it's not CT, but hell it might as well be.
I pretty much have come to grips that I'll either have a horrible wd at home or die. At this point, fuck it! I shall see..
manicmama
Bluelighter
Omg babygurl I feel lucky to live in the UK. Good luck x
BabyGurl3171
Bluelighter
I would LOVE to move to the UK. The US sucks lol.
Thanks mm xxx
Thanks mm xxx
i are spectre
Bluelighter
i suggest using klonopin instead of valium for the taper.
i find klonopin is much easier to come off of. i think it is because of all the metabolites diazepam will create, so in a sense you are withdrawing from many different drugs from valium than the few with klonopin.
i find klonopin is much easier to come off of. i think it is because of all the metabolites diazepam will create, so in a sense you are withdrawing from many different drugs from valium than the few with klonopin.