Xanax withdrawal from 1week use only // Feels like going through hell *edited post*

[nonoxSSA]

** This is a repost of my previous thread (Aug_15), I meant to edit it to correct typos and provide more info and ended up deleting it... Just figured it would help other people going through the same shit so I'm reposting it / kevin_nala (sorry if incorrect user name) had provided more insight in his reply and adviced this is certainly a rebound more than whitdrawal I'm going through **

Hi there,

This is my first post on this forum as I really need help / seek advises from your helpful community.

I've always had minor night sleep troubles and travel a lot so 1.5week ago I decided to try xanax to help me through jet lags and occasional insomnias.

What a freaking mistake I made.

I only took xanax for 7 consecutive days with dose ranging from 1mg to 4mg every night. I slept like never before. On the 8th day I didn't take anything and my night went on a ride straight to hell. I had the worst nightmares of my life, sleep paralysis while having intruders nightmare episode... the worst memory of my life thus far.
**edit: on day 4 I took 40mg of oxy and day 5 50mg of ritalin, never been addicted to either, just taking on a very occasional basis with friends**
I then went to check on the Internet about withdrawal symptoms, that's how I found out the terrible mistake I had made. I know I should have educated me before even buying that shit.
I've taken lots of drugs in my life always recreationally with a strong preference for MDMA which I took for 2years weekly and then stopped one sunny day, went trough somewhat minor withdrawal, big cravings and moved on with my life.
Same goes with all other drugs I took so far with minor comedown and withdrawal. I thought it would be the same with benzo... boy was I wrong....
I'm navigating through hell since I stopped cold turkey two days ago, I haven't slept a minute, still have vivid nightmares and sleep paralysis, feel like a piece of crap, tremors, no appetite, anxiety attacks, heart racing, sweating,... standard benzo withdrawals as I read on this forum... I did not taper off as I thought it wouldn't be needed and would only put even more of that shit in my body without actual benefits.

Good news I got a phone call from an interview I did last week, I got the freaking job! I now need to be at my best really really quick. I'm going to go through HR hiring process and drug test... The way I am right now I don't even feel like moving from my apart and just want that shit to stop ASAP. It is dancing in my mind 100% of the time and can't get it off of it even though I know I should...

My question to all of you who have been through that shit in their life: how long should I expect this to last? Is there anything I can do to make me feel better? Will the drug test ring positive if I take it 3-4 days after last xanax use? Ive noticed that taking 200mg of 5-htp mellows me out really good for a short period of time but still no sleep in 60hrs now...

Fuck I took that shit for only 7days how can the withdrawal be so bad??!
Seeking medical assistance is not an option, I live in a country where seeking medical help comes down to admitting drug use which could land me in jail for a good while - off the table.

My mind sincerely goes out to all of you who have gone through withdrawal from years of use and came out fine, you guys must be warrior. I can't think of worse withdrawals and I only used it for 7days....

Thanks to all you of you who are taking time to read that post and encourage all of you to comment.

Lesson to myself and perhaps everyone reading: never ever ever ever take benzos to try & alleviate occasional insomina, the opposite reaction is now happening.......
Cheers

**Aug_16 edit: Night 4 since I stopped and here I am, having slept only 2 hours hanging out on the Internet reading things up. Not much of improvement apart from night sweats and tremors which seem to be gone**

 

[MrRoot]

Just a short answer as I am not expert on benzo withdrawals as I have never experienced any major withdrawals from them or have medical expertise.

If you haven't slept for days your mental health will start to degrade pretty fast. I would suggest you to go to doctor and tell you haven't slept for days. You will probably be prescribed benzos or z-drugs for insomnia and those will help with withdrawals and then you get legit reason for having benzos when you give that drug test.

 

[Moreaux]

Are you taking any other substances? Have you discussed this with a doctor? Benzo withdrawal while terrible usually takes longer than a week to set in which makes me think it may be something else, or a combination of factors.

I have been through extreme benzo withdrawal and have to say I encountered nothing on your list of symptoms outside of insomnia. I do hope you start feeling better soon!

 

[JessFR]

Are you taking any other substances? Have you discussed this with a doctor? Benzo withdrawal while terrible usually takes longer than a week to set in which makes me think it may be something else, or a combination of factors.

I have been through extreme benzo withdrawal and have to say I encountered nothing on your list of symptoms outside of insomnia. I do hope you start feeling better soon!

I've had similar, albeit milder symptoms after a remarkably short time using Xanax before. It might be possible in some people.

I agree with the suggestion of going to the doctor.

 

[Sickdo]

Definitely go to doctor! Benzo withdrawal is nothing to play around with. I never heard of benzo withdrawal after one week of use but I would never have thought what I have gone through the past year was possible either.

 

[nonoxSSA]

Are you taking any other substances? Have you discussed this with a doctor? Benzo withdrawal while terrible usually takes longer than a week to set in which makes me think it may be something else, or a combination of factors.

I have been through extreme benzo withdrawal and have to say I encountered nothing on your list of symptoms outside of insomnia. I do hope you start feeling better soon!

First of all, thanks to you all for taking time to read me and your responses, it surely helps a lot.

To give you more background, I once was on a quest to try all stimulants and psychedelic I could put my hands on, had good and bad experiences, was addicted to E for 2years and quit 3years ago. I still take it but only 2-3times a year for special occasions. My quest ended for good when I met my girlfriend which became my wife early this year. I was still taking a few stimulants after that without her knowing but not nearly as heavily as before.

That being said, it's been a rough year for me lately, I underwent a major surgery in April after which I was put on Dilaudid 4mg 3x a day and then 10mg morphine over my 3weeks stay at the hospital. I was then given oxycodon to take home for a month which I decided not to take as the pain was somewhat bearable and given my very addictive nature I didn't want to fall into opioid addiction. At the same time I decided to clear my cannabis use (smoked daily for 16years) as I wanted to lead a new life after this surgery.
I went back to work in June only to discover the company I worked with was taking a major downturn, I was made redundant the day I came back... major setback in my career..

My wife and I then decided to move out of the US and relocate to her native country. I sold all my US assets, packed my stuff and said buy to the good uncle Sam for good and left. I relocated in this new country end of June. I took on myself and thought, new country new life so I decided to stay off any drugs for good, which actually happened until I went to my native country for 1week of vacation (last week - Hadnt been there for age and met with all my old friends with whom I used to take drugs with). During my stay I took E twice in two days, Ritalin and Oxy as explained on my first post and Xanax every day (7-days consecutively) until I came back to my wife's country. I kinda feel that what I'm going through right now is related to Xanax as it was my first time taking it for a few days in a row and as I never experienced these extreme symptoms with any of the drugs I took in my life.

Now, here I am, I turned 30 last week and got this new job yesterday which I take as a new start in my life. This new job requires me to travel 70% of my time so I don't want to be hooked to anything and just want to lead a healthy and happy life with my wife (who has never taken anything in her life, we are very different but she understands me).

It feels great to write it all out, I've never had the chance to look back. I'm felling better today and had a few hours of sleep yesterday, I went out for a long walk this morning which felt great. I'm still feeling very confused, have problem coordinating my movements and blurred vision but not nearly as bad as during the previous days. I'm learning my 4th language these days and since Im experiencing these symptoms I'm totally unable to learn a new word and I'm even forgetting what I had learned the past weeks... Hopefully all of this will be over soon as I feel improvements today. Also, I kinda want to ride it all out alone, as stated in my first post, I live in a country where any drug is the devil and drug users are devil's subordinates, I'm processing my legal documents at the moment and really worry that going to the doctor and him finding out anything in me may greatly compromise my future in this country. I don't want to screw up my new life started less than 2months ago and for which I have a good start with this new job.
Sorry for the long post but again it feels soooo good to write it all out, I'm happy such forum exists on the Internet and that your community is so friendly and helpful.

Thanks to all reading me and I will give updates as to my conditions whenever things evolve.

Cheers.
nonox.

 

[JessFR]

Good luck man, I hope everything works out, I really mean that .

Perhaps you're experiencing a mild benzo and opioid withdrawal, that might explain the unusual intensity. It's still strange for dependence to set in so quickly. But like I said, I have seen such things happening in myself. If you feel better, and continue feeling better over the next day or so, then you can probably forgo the doctor if you're afraid of some fallout. Normally I wouldn't advise against seeing the doctor, but strictly speaking I'm only suggesting that it's probably ok not to see the doctor if that is your preference.

I've been through mild Xanax withdrawal cold turkey before. Man I remember the hideous nightmares so well. If it's only mild you're unlikely to get seizers. And if you haven't had them yet, and are starting to get better, it's extremely unlikely you will get them now. It's you're choice. Obviously seeing the doctor is the safer course of action for your health. But I understand you have conflicting concerns. Your choice. Again, I wish you all the best. Congratulations on finding someone you love. I have someone I love, it's a wonderful feeling.

Take care.

 

[Moreaux]

I just reread your original post and seriously need to read more carefully before I respond. I still can't help but think there is more to this than just benzo withdrawal as its only been seven days, though I was mistaken in my last post regarding symptoms. I'm wondering if past drugs use, particularly MDMA has made you more sensitive as you took it fairly consistently for two years, and I know that can take some time to recover from. Unfortunately there is not much you can do once you quit benzos to stop the nasty withdrawal aside from trying to manage symptoms. The 5-htp is a great start. For anxiety Relora works very well for me - it's not intoxicating but it brings anxiety down many levels. If you're having extreme anxiety a good kava extract will help, but this can be very intoxicating.

I recommend eating healthy - and I mean clean. Fresh organic if possible, whole foods (produce, meats, etc). Make certain you are getting enough protien, if not a little extra as benzo withdrawal includes neurological damage caused by excitotoxicity. Protien will help the nerves to heal - you may want to get a good protien shake powder with a complete amino acid profile and consume that in the morning. Aside from diet, exercise and sleep are the other critical components to recovery.

 

[Jabberwocky]

I highly doubt it's benzo wd after 7 days. Maybe your panicking and your mind is making you think that
I've been through benzo wd. Don't sound like it's that to me either

 

[deos68]

IMO/IME benzo use at a full 7 days isnt enough to cause full blown WD but rebound anxiety now thats a def possibility even at that amount
in all honesty rebound anxiety is the cause for many to continue to take benzos
benzos are a double edge sword

cut back on your benzo usage if you wanna continue to use them
having at minimum 1 day breaks, i would recommend a few days on a few days off thatll keep you from
spiraling outta control when it comes to benzos WD
hell ill give that advice with anything you take

suggest you talk to your doc maybe for a SSRI, SNRI or a beta blocker instead of a benzo