Benzos Xanax--moderate use- withdrawal?

[highon_lifes_drug]

I'd like to hear from long term, prescribed Xanax users on this. The situation: I've been on Xanax for 3 years now, 1 mg a day (give or take, you know how it goes). I drop it always at night, after work, just to chill out. For me, it's basically a substitute for alcohol (my alcohol abuse used to have me catastrophically hung over on a consistent basis, calling in to work, and or waking up in County jail after a 3 day alcohol binge-- as a government employee, as you can imagine, this was unsustainable). Anyway, I've read much about the "benzo withdrawal" and how terrible it is, but...I often go 2 days without Xanax, without much consequence. Sure, I'm annoyed ("life would be better right now if I just opened that bottle and popped a xanny...grrr") but it's nothing like the "seizures and death" symptoms that I read about when researching Xanax withdrawal. Is it maybe because I'm only on a low dose-- 1 mg-- once a night, with a 24 hour break every week, that I haven't seen the dreaded withdrawal effects I read about? Or would I start to see those effects if I went more than 2 days without? Just curious. One day, I guess I'll have to give them up...no time too soon, though. Tonight is a Alprazolam-free night. But 1 tablespoon of roommate-provided liquid codeine on top of this beer is calling, now. This is my first post here-- hello, people.

 

[burn out]

when i was on xanax, i eventually started having withdrawal symptoms basically all the time except right after i took it. that's why i got off. so for me, i would definitely have had withdrawal had i skipped a day. but that's not necesssrily true for milder dependencies, so it is quite possible that you will still have withdrawal it just will take a few days to start. i would try to taper off it if i were you. the stories about how horrible benzo withdrawal is are for the most part, true (although some people get lucky and have an easy time).

 

[LonE1]

1mg is a pretty low dose so i wouldnt think you'd get withdraws to bad...but again im not an expert so I dont know.

Id certainly switch up drugs though.....xanax can evetually build tolerance, and down the spiral you go.

 

[chompy]

for quitting after long term use you should definitely talk to your doctor when you stop xanax and consider switching to a longer lasting benzo on an as needed basis in case you experience withdrawal symptoms.

here is a site with a lot of helpful information. http://benzo.org.uk/

 

[anterrabae]

I was on Xanax for about 3 years as well but have since switched to Klonopin because of it's longer lasting effects. You are on such a small dosage and you don't even take it every day, so it's not unusual that you haven't experienced withdrawals.

I went up as high as 5 1mg pills a day; 150 footballs a month. My tolerance and seeming need just skyrocketed and I couldn't do anything without it. When I ran out of alprazolam early, my life was on hold.

Now I am on Klonopin, which doesn't kick in as fast unfortunately, but it lasts almost twice as long as Xanax. In my opinion, since you're not taking it every day and your tolerance has remained the same, I think you have nothing to worry about and should keep your regimen until you feel confident enough to come off the drug completely.

 

[BlueberryfishY]

With Xanax you want to be ready befor you come off the stuff, do not rush it cause Xanax is very serious when it comes to withdrawal.. you said your dose is 1mg that's not bad actually but still take it dead serious. '

and keep some extras just in case you can't handle it or feel like your gonna seize, and taper down don't CT.