Benzos Xanax

[star05brigh]

Hello everyone. I was recently prescribed xanax prescription. It was for .5mg to be taken twice a day. Well, on 1/23/12 (exactly one week ago) I started taking it as prescribed. I took it for 3 days straight as prescribed. The fourth day I didn't take anyting for 24hrs, then the 5th and 6th day I took .75mg total. Today I've had only .375mg roughly.
I want to get off this drug right away so I called my doc and she said to just take .25mg once a day for 3 days and quit.
My question is this...... Is it possible that I'm addicted at this point to taper this fast? Last night I had really bad upset stomach, heart racing, ringing in ears, feeling faint....but this was after I took a dose so I don't know if it was from withdrawl or from taking a dose of it.
Any insight from someone with experience would be greatly appreciated. I'm scared to death!!!!

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

You're probably not addicted to it yet, that taper sounds reasonable. Considering you've only been on it for a week...

You'd have to be taking it at higher doses for longer amounts of time before you experienced any withdrawal symptoms. You'll be fine. Just follow your doctor's taper plan.

 

[nash__]

Yeah you're not addicted if you've only been taking Alprazolam for one week. I've taken considerably higher dosages for consistent periods of time, and stopped abruptly to find no withdrawals (I'm on 30mg a day/methadone and know what withdrawals feel like too)

Thats not to say it wont happen.. I find it usually takes a few months of consistent dosing (for me personally)

 

[star05brigh]

That really makes me feel alot better!

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

Glad to help.

 

[star05brigh]

thank you

 

[Ohayou]

You shouldn't feel anything at all, even without the taper.

 

[star05brigh]

Does the symptoms I been having sound like its just classic anxiety attack?

 

[nash__]

Yes the effects you are feeling are anxiety.

Right now it's totally psychological

or you're feeling those effects from other medication you are taking

either way, its not associated with benzo withdrawal if its only been one week

 

[star05brigh]

Thank you everyone... I was really worried about it, even though I trust my doc..... What are true withdrawl symptoms from benzos?

 

[nash__]

Restless leg syndrome, extreme rebound anxiety, tachycardia, insomnia, aching muscles, "tingly" and very sensitive to everything (sensations, etc), hungry but cant eat, etc, etc, etc

 

[star05brigh]

Thank you for the info. I feel less stressed now.

 

[star05brigh]

Its been 24 hours since I took anything. I feel a little antsy or anxious. A little ringin in ears, but nothing major. A bit dizzy. Some stomach upset. Just a touch agitated..... Nothing major. I know my doc said to take half a pill (.25mg) for 3 days and stop, but if this is all that I'm going to feel as far as "withdrawal" symptoms, then I want to just not take anymore period.
Anyone have any input on this? I know you should always follow your docs orders, BUT taking more of it now seems like taking a step back. How long after your last dose does full blown symptoms show up?

 

[nash__]

With alprazolam, its pretty damn quick.

I'd say 8 hours after your last dose you should start to feel mild withdrawal symptoms, although it totally varies from person to person

 

[Znegative]

Yeah, for me it took about 18 hours for withdrawal to hit. Ie quit cold turkey after a month of taking 1-2mg a day, and suffered nothing more than a little bit of anxiety. For some reason it took about two months of round the clock usage for me to develope a strong dependence. I've known a lot of people that became addicted after only two weeks though.

Tapering is good to do. It's better to use other drugs like clonazepam or diazepam for a taper due to their long half lives. But since the OP has only been taking pretty low dosages for about a week, lowering the dosage for a day of two, and then dropping it will probably work out okay. Anti-seizure drugs like depakote are often used once benzo use has been stopped, though it's probably not necessary in this case.

 

[Hybris]

May I ask why you're wanting to stop taking the xanax so quickly? It almost sounds as if you are having the typical anxiety symptoms which it may have been presribed to you for. I take xanax regularly for mild anxiety and it works wonders (usually .5mg when I feel the onset) however there are also days where I take none with no ill effects. Just wondering why it wqs prescribed to you and why you so quickly wanted away from it.

 

[Trigeminal]

Yes, you can get withdrawals after a week and no, what you're experiencing is not "psychological." I would get off that crap right away.

You are getting REALLY bad advice in this thread, get off the Xanax, the wrhdrawal can be long term. And it sucks really bad. Benzo withdrawal is the worst there is.

The tinnitus and upset stomach and pounding heart are all withdrawal, I really hope I am getting that through to you. It's not "in your head," you just happened to be prescribed a very insidious drug, of which a lack of knowledge abounds. You're gonna have a lot of people saying it's impossible to get addicted in a week and that's not true. Don't let them make you feel crazy when you have all these horrible symptoms and they tell you it's "psychological." It's not you, it's the drug.

 

[Trigeminal]

Yes the effects you are feeling are anxiety.

Right now it's totally psychological

or you're feeling those effects from other medication you are taking

either way, its not associated with benzo withdrawal if its only been one week

Tinnitus is not "psychological" you stupid fuck.

 

[star05brigh]

Yes, you can get withdrawals after a week and no, what you're experiencing is not "psychological." I would get off that crap right away.

You are getting REALLY bad advice in this thread, get off the Xanax, the wrhdrawal can be long term. And it sucks really bad. Benzo withdrawal is the worst there is.

The tinnitus and upset stomach and pounding heart are all withdrawal, I really hope I am getting that through to you. It's not "in your head," you just happened to be prescribed a very insidious drug, of which a lack of knowledge abounds. You're gonna have a lot of people saying it's impossible to get addicted in a week and that's not true. Don't let them make you feel crazy when you have all these horrible symptoms and they tell you it's "psychological." It's not you, it's the drug.

Thank you for you're input.... Its exactly why I'm quitting cuz I didn't know about this drug until I researched it 3 days after taking it.
I feel fine right now. Just dizzy and a bit antsy. It's only hit me about twice or so today. I'll be fine. It's been 32 hours now since I last took it.... (And I'm NEVER touching benzos again!)

 

[star05brigh]

May I ask why you're wanting to stop taking the xanax so quickly? It almost sounds as if you are having the typical anxiety symptoms which it may have been presribed to you for. I take xanax regularly for mild anxiety and it works wonders (usually .5mg when I feel the onset) however there are also days where I take none with no ill effects. Just wondering why it wqs prescribed to you and why you so quickly wanted away from it.

I was diagnosed with anxiety (had it mild... so mild that I only had an attack at most twice a year) so I was put on Zoloft. Had a BAD reaction to Zoloft (tremors, insomnia, fever, burning tingling etc...) so I was then prescribed Xanax for the symptoms from the Zoloft.
I then researched the Xanax after taking it for 3 days (when yes, I guess I should've done it before I took it) and found out how bad the addiction and withdrawals can be. I have two little kids and can't afford to have an addiction or go through withdrawals. It's just my personal preference. I'm sure it works great for alot of people.
So now I'd rather have the mild anxiety and deal with that, and check out remedies from my local health food store. I'm glad it works for you.... It just wasn't for me.