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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Alara on April 21, 2003, at 7:14:26
I've been taking Xanax since late September and my doctor wants me to wean off it. I cut down from 0.5mg to 0.25 mg over Easter but have a feeling of pressure in my head and am sleeping poorly. (I also have a tummy upset but don't know whether this is related to the withdrawal.) Emotionally I am fine but I am a little worried as I am due to start work again tomorrow and can't afford any hiccups.
How long will the withdrawal process last? I'm unsure about whether to ask my doctor for one last repeat so that I can taper off more gradually. Am I trying to cut down too quickly?
Any advice would help. Thanks.
Alara
Posted by Alara on April 22, 2003, at 9:24:19
In reply to Tapering too quickly from Xanax?, posted by Alara on April 21, 2003, at 7:14:26
Posted by Sarah S on April 22, 2003, at 19:21:32
In reply to Tapering too quickly from Xanax?, posted by Alara on April 21, 2003, at 7:14:26
I'm kind of in the same boat you are. My pdoc doesn't want me to use Ativan anymore, so after lecturing me about how I'm a drug addict she abruptly stopped prescribing it. I used to take .5 mg twice a day, so I slowly went down to .5 mg once a day. I felt kind of depressed but not too bad, so after a couple weeks I went down to .25 mg a day. I started to experience dizziness, chest pain, insomnia, and derealization--so I figured I might as well stop taking it regularly altogether, since .25 mg didn't seem to be doing anything. So now I'm basically not taking any Ativan except when my chest pains get too unbearable. It sucks big-time--my severe social phobia and derealization has come back with a vengeance--and I really don't want that sort of thing to happen to you.
So, basically. . .as a person who is having a bad time with rapid withdrawal, I would advise you to take it as slowly as possible. If you can, switch to Klonopin and then taper off the Klonopin. Quitting Klonopin is a lot easier than quitting a short-acting benzo--in fact, I was able to quit Klonopin cold turkey.
Don't know if my story helps, but I really hope that this goes well for you, and if you have any more questions about benzo withdrawal, just post them to the board and I'll try to answer. Peace and good luck!!
Posted by Alara on April 23, 2003, at 3:39:55
In reply to go as sloooowly as possible, posted by Sarah S on April 22, 2003, at 19:21:32
Thanks for that, Sarah. Unfortunately I am now down to my last 0.25mg. After tonight, I will have run out completely. My doctor is on holidays and I have a very slim chance of getting another doctor to prescribe a benzo for me. Monday is a public holiday in Australia and I was hoping to be back to normal after the long weekend - but afer reading your story I am a little worried. The headache is already setting in. (Does paracetemol help for withdrawal headaches?)
Thanks for the advice. I will try to get a script for Klonopin from another GP, although I don't like my chances. I work long hours in a high pressure environment and need to be OK by Tuesday! Argh..
Posted by Sarah S on April 23, 2003, at 11:55:15
In reply to Re: go as sloooowly as possible » Sarah S, posted by Alara on April 23, 2003, at 3:39:55
Not everybody has problems withdrawing from benzos though, so if you're not feeling anxious yet I wouldn't be too worried. And I'm sure that a doctor would have no problem prescribing a small amount of Klonopin once you explain your situation, since most of them know that you're not supposed to get off benzos too quickly.
Posted by Alara on April 24, 2003, at 20:26:03
In reply to Re: go as sloooowly as possible, posted by Sarah S on April 23, 2003, at 11:55:15
Uh oh. I've had an upset stomach since Monday and have also had a very sore throat for the last 2 or 3 days (with only mild cold symptoms). Luckily I made it through the working week before running entirely out of Xanax and crashing out at home last night. (It's a public holiday here today in Aus so I have the long weekend to recover. :-) )
Unfortunately the terror of Xanax withdrawal brought out the hypochondriac in me last night: I lay in bed last night with a racing heart, convinced that I was `dying'. I breathed slowly and calmed myself down a little by telling myself that I was just freaking out due to the Xanax situation..I then found a forgotten half-tablet on my dressing table (my saving grace!)
Physically speaking, I am feeling a little better but am still too sick to go to a GP. (Only the big medical centres are open today and they all display signs in the reception area stating that they do not prescribe any drugs associated with dependence...)i figure that the physical problems are just the result of a virus and that my body will heal with a couple of days' rest and some homemade soup. What worries me is that I'm freaking out due to the Xanax withdrawal in the meantime.
Will a night cold and flu tablet or sedating antihistamine help me through this?? Are there any other non-prescription drugs that will help???? I have a PDR (Performance Development Review) on Monday morning and am terrified of turning up in a physical and emotional mess..
Sorry about this convoluted post.
BTW, the 0.25mg half tablet that I took last night has alleviated the anxiety for the time being. I was never on a high dose and so don't think that I'm a big candidate for protracted withdrawal syndrome...
There we go again: The hypochondriac is coming out!
Posted by Snoozy on April 24, 2003, at 21:41:00
In reply to Help! I'm sick., posted by Alara on April 24, 2003, at 20:26:03
Hi - sorry you're going through such a tough thing. I've been cutting back on my Xanax, but I've been able to do it incredibly gradually, so it hasn't been too bad. I was down to 0.25mg a day, and I was planning on not taking it for a day, and then taking it a few days, then not taking for a day, etc until I worked up to not having any. Then a month ago I didn't take any at night, and I didn't take any the next night, and I haven't had any since. I felt ok so I didn't continue with the tapering. If you do have a hard time, you might want to look into the Klonopin Sarah mentioned.
I think a sedating cold medicine might help you through this - in terms of basically just sleeping through it. I take Benadryl (diphenhydramine), a sedating antihistamine, when I really want to sleep. It can really knock you out. I would caution though that it can be drying, and if your throat is bad, you might want to be careful. (I find hot water with honey in it a very soothing treatment for sore throat, and it's calming too.) I'm not sure what medicines you have on the market down there. If you're looking at cold medicines, be careful checking the labels. So many of the products put a whole bunch of drugs in their formula, and you don't want to end up with something stimulating.
Take good care of yourself, and know that you might be having symptoms from the withdrawl, and that it will get better.
Good luck to you.
> Uh oh. I've had an upset stomach since Monday and have also had a very sore throat for the last 2 or 3 days (with only mild cold symptoms). Luckily I made it through the working week before running entirely out of Xanax and crashing out at home last night. (It's a public holiday here today in Aus so I have the long weekend to recover. :-) )
> Unfortunately the terror of Xanax withdrawal brought out the hypochondriac in me last night: I lay in bed last night with a racing heart, convinced that I was `dying'. I breathed slowly and calmed myself down a little by telling myself that I was just freaking out due to the Xanax situation..I then found a forgotten half-tablet on my dressing table (my saving grace!)
> Physically speaking, I am feeling a little better but am still too sick to go to a GP. (Only the big medical centres are open today and they all display signs in the reception area stating that they do not prescribe any drugs associated with dependence...)
>
> i figure that the physical problems are just the result of a virus and that my body will heal with a couple of days' rest and some homemade soup. What worries me is that I'm freaking out due to the Xanax withdrawal in the meantime.
>
> Will a night cold and flu tablet or sedating antihistamine help me through this?? Are there any other non-prescription drugs that will help???? I have a PDR (Performance Development Review) on Monday morning and am terrified of turning up in a physical and emotional mess..
>
> Sorry about this convoluted post.
>
> BTW, the 0.25mg half tablet that I took last night has alleviated the anxiety for the time being. I was never on a high dose and so don't think that I'm a big candidate for protracted withdrawal syndrome...
> There we go again: The hypochondriac is coming out!
Posted by Alara on April 25, 2003, at 3:21:07
In reply to Re: Help! I'm sick. » Alara, posted by Snoozy on April 24, 2003, at 21:41:00
I managed to sleep for most of the day and my stomach is much better. :-) I have some Phenergan (a sedating antihistamine) in my drawer. If this doesn't help, I'll go to the chemist for some Benedryl tomorrow morning.
Thanks again,
Alara
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