Xanax taper help please..

[rainbow_brite_eyes]

Hello all.. I'll make a really long story short, for now.. If you have any questions feel free to ask.. Been on Xanax for 13 years.. Started at 4 mgs daily, worked up to 6 mgs daily.. On 06/28 went in for my appt and the office was closed. After researching I found out his license was suspended for inappropriately prescribing controlled substances. He also had a suboxone program, which I wasn't a part of, but you get the gist. Sooo, I'm now left w no Psychiatrist and I'm seeing how hard it is to find one to prescribe my dose. So far, none. My Primary is covering me for 6 months until I can find one but has already cut me down to 5 daily. I do have terrible anxiety/panic and have no desire to stop taking them, but would like to taper down to 3 mgs a day and need advice on how to do so. Mentally and physically this past week has been beyond fucking terrible. I'm spending all my free time at work on the phone trying to find docs just to get told no, too high of a dose. I work full time in a Management position and have three teenage daughters. The med has helped me live, but have also caused me to become dependent and at the moment is consuming my every thought. I've never been more petrified in my life, really need some help! Ty. ?

 

[David Wooderson]

Hello all.. I'll make a really long story short, for now.. If you have any questions feel free to ask.. Been on Xanax for 13 years.. Started at 4 mgs daily, worked up to 6 mgs daily.. On 06/28 went in for my appt and the office was closed. After researching I found out his license was suspended for inappropriately prescribing controlled substances. He also had a suboxone program, which I wasn't a part of, but you get the gist. Sooo, I'm now left w no Psychiatrist and I'm seeing how hard it is to find one to prescribe my dose. So far, none. My Primary is covering me for 6 months until I can find one but has already cut me down to 5 daily. I do have terrible anxiety/panic and have no desire to stop taking them, but would like to taper down to 3 mgs a day and need advice on how to do so. Mentally and physically this past week has been beyond fucking terrible. I'm spending all my free time at work on the phone trying to find docs just to get told no, too high of a dose. I work full time in a Management position and have three teenage daughters. The med has helped me live, but have also caused me to become dependent and at the moment is consuming my every thought. I've never been more petrified in my life, really need some help! Ty. ?

I was prescribed 8mg of klonopin which is very similar to xanax, went through a similar situation as you with a Dr. getting heat.

I was told that the safest is .25mg/month which in my case would have taken 32 months.

I don't have kids, but I was too inpatient and decided to try a detox program and it turned out to be the best thing to happen from a bad situation.

Be very careful and plan this thing out as best you can, do not try being heroic and reducing too much n your own because the withdrawals are pretty intense.

What does your primary Dr. suggest doing?

Couldn't the primary refer you to someone under these circumstances?

Although your Dr. might be 100% in the right for prescribing the meds prescribed, the fact that they got you on your dose is grounds for legal recourse, you may want to look into that as well.

All the best

 

[w0w0mg]

Hello all.. I'll make a really long story short, for now.. If you have any questions feel free to ask.. Been on Xanax for 13 years.. Started at 4 mgs daily, worked up to 6 mgs daily.. On 06/28 went in for my appt and the office was closed. After researching I found out his license was suspended for inappropriately prescribing controlled substances. He also had a suboxone program, which I wasn't a part of, but you get the gist. Sooo, I'm now left w no Psychiatrist and I'm seeing how hard it is to find one to prescribe my dose. So far, none. My Primary is covering me for 6 months until I can find one but has already cut me down to 5 daily. I do have terrible anxiety/panic and have no desire to stop taking them, but would like to taper down to 3 mgs a day and need advice on how to do so. Mentally and physically this past week has been beyond fucking terrible. I'm spending all my free time at work on the phone trying to find docs just to get told no, too high of a dose. I work full time in a Management position and have three teenage daughters. The med has helped me live, but have also caused me to become dependent and at the moment is consuming my every thought. I've never been more petrified in my life, really need some help! Ty. 

If you're already taking 5mg daily, I would suggest tapering like this:
Week one: drop to 4.5 mg
Week two: drop to 4 mg
Week three: drop to 3.5 mg
Week four: stay on 3.5 mg
Week five: drop to 3 mg

 

[rainbow_brite_eyes]

I was prescribed 8mg of klonopin which is very similar to xanax, went through a similar situation as you with a Dr. getting heat.

I was told that the safest is .25mg/month which in my case would have taken 32 months.

I don't have kids, but I was too inpatient and decided to try a detox program and it turned out to be the best thing to happen from a bad situation.

Be very careful and plan this thing out as best you can, do not try being heroic and reducing too much n your own because the withdrawals are pretty intense.

What does your primary Dr. suggest doing?

Couldn't the primary refer you to someone under these circumstances?

Although your Dr. might be 100% in the right for prescribing the meds prescribed, the fact that they got you on your dose is grounds for legal recourse, you may want to look into that as well.

All the best

My Psychiatrist is the one who got me on that dose and just recently got his DEA license suspended. I've called attorneys since there was no notice. His office is just closed. All of his patients are just abandoned. I just googled and found out. I don't even have access to my medical records. My Primary is covering me for now, but already cut my dose down to 5 overnight because she didn't feel comfortable prescribing my dose. Unfortunately, detox isn't an option for me. I can't lose my job. I need a taper with minimal w/d's. I can't hallucinate and or seize. The thought of that is terrifying. I guess I thought I'd just live happily on this dose forever. Wake up call from hell. Congrats on getting off!

 

[rainbow_brite_eyes]

If you're already taking 5mg daily, I would suggest tapering like this:
Week one: drop to 4.5 mg
Week two: drop to 4 mg
Week three: drop to 3.5 mg
Week four: stay on 3.5 mg
Week five: drop to 3 mg

I was just dropped to 5 overnight on Tuesday. Still go at this speed? Ty.

 

[manboychef]

I was on 10mgs xanax and ~90mg temazepam. It is not out of bounds to be on that dose due to diminishing returns. I am happily off them now. Yes my anxiety is still there but I have been working on coping mechanisms. I am still having a very hard time leaving my house or staying asleep, but in the end being able to remember things is worth it.

The situation you are in is rough, but not untenable. Are you comfortable with feeling uncomfortable? I will not lie to you, you will feel uncomfortable.

What I would suggest is not what I did....I stayed on xanax and tapered that and I just used the temazepam I had left until it was out. I would talk to your doctor about switching to either valium or klonipin. They are longer acting and will hold you for much longer. The downside is they take a while to kick in which xanax does not, so you will have to take them before you start to have your first withdrawal symptoms.

The key is to find a doctor that is well versed in taper schedules.

Google the ashton manual. This will be your bible, qu-ran, or talmud.

 

[rainbow_brite_eyes]

Honestly I don't want to feel anything, but I already do. I've got to be able to function normally. I'm a Manager at a Loan Company so my mind has to be sharp at all times. I have no desire to get down to 0, but 3 daily. So I plan on staying on the Xanax. I've tried a Klonopin in the past and I didn't like the feeling it gave. I've never tried Valium but am considering it. I've looked up the Ashton manual many times. I wish my Primary would take a look. So aggravating to cut a mg daily. I have an appt with another Psychiatrist, but it's not until December. They're all booked up around here or don't prescribe close to my dose.

 

[w0w0mg]

Honestly I don't want to feel anything, but I already do. I've got to be able to function normally. I'm a Manager at a Loan Company so my mind has to be sharp at all times. I have no desire to get down to 0, but 3 daily. So I plan on staying on the Xanax. I've tried a Klonopin in the past and I didn't like the feeling it gave. I've never tried Valium but am considering it. I've looked up the Ashton manual many times. I wish my Primary would take a look. So aggravating to cut a mg daily. I have an appt with another Psychiatrist, but it's not until December. They're all booked up around here or don't prescribe close to my dose.

Just drop your dose slow, no need to rush.
Like I said, I would drop 0.5 mg a week, if you feel too uncomfortable just drop to 0.25 mg instead.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Google the ashton manual. This will be your bible, qu-ran, or talmud.

Money!!!! And then print out a copy and bring it to your doctor's office and sit there and make sure he actually reads the fucking thing over, even if quickly, because he should be on board with your plans. It is his or her responsibility and duty after all, for more than just the normal doctor-taking-care-of-patient sort of reasons. . .

 

[rainbow_brite_eyes]

I somehow did the 5 mgs yesterday but am feeling it now. Been up since 4 sweating and crying. How long before my body adjusts to this dose? This shit is demonic.

 

[manboychef]

It will take some time. At least a week each time you drop. It is why dropping a MG or over is cruel. You should only be dropping .25mg. I would highly suggest telling your doctor you are extremely uncomfortable. I would call today and get in his ear about it. This is dangerous to do as benzo withdrawal is life, and quality of life threatening.

 

[rainbow_brite_eyes]

I've called them multiple times and heard my Dr's responses via email through her nurse. That's all she's willing to do. She's leaving the practice next week so I've been assigned to a new Dr with whom I've got an appt scheduled with on the 26th. she just said for me to discuss it with the new Dr then. I want to fucking scream. They obviously know nothing about benzos besides their comfort level of prescribing.

 

[David Wooderson]

Do your best to get into a state of mind where you know you have the problem, now you need to formulate the solution so that you can get back to your life and kids.

I personally had to relapse after horrendous abuse 3 times before I finally got the answer in that I can not take any dose of any benzo, period.
Anxiety is a monster but I never felt or endured the psychological terror I went through in my withdrawals, which redefines anxiety.
You just need to know that your family is worth more than the temporary fix that are benzos, it's great being able to control your emotions but we all know deep down that it's an illusion.

Lets come up with a gameplan that can work with you and your Dr.

My Dr had said .25/month which is very generous on the tax put on your state of mind, I wanted to get off sooner so I went into detox on 8mgday klonopin where over a month was lowered .25mg a week till week two and then phenobarbital for the last 3 weeks. I had heavy hallucination and went batshit crazy but I was also coming off suboxone.

Took about 2 months after that before I felt like myself again, but things got better rapidly after.

 

[rainbow_brite_eyes]

So I made it through 3 days on the 5 mgs. I'm realizing that there's a lot of mental involved here. As of right now I don't want completely off, just a lower dose. I can't go through all that shit. If I would've known then what I know now I obviously would've never started taking them. When do I cut again? 7 days after the initial? I'm on my own on this one. No Psychiatrist until December. What you went through absolutely terrifies me and I'm not going to lie, I would end up taking them to not feel it.