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Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
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Alprazolam (xanax) withdrawal
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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MedHelp Member's Question

Alprazolam (xanax) withdrawal

by osmonxp, Nov 12, 2005 12:00AM
I was on ALPRAZOLAM 0.5MG for 14 days, one tablet every eight hours decided to stop “cold-turkey” I am currently experiencing horrible withdrawal symptoms.  Can someone tell me how long those symptoms will last for?  Nervousness, insomnia, agitation, tremors and anxiety are some of the symptoms I am experiencing.  It is safe to stop like that when you have been on it for only 14 days?  How long will the withdrawal symptoms last?  Thank you.
Doctor's Answer

by Roger Gould, M.D., Nov 14, 2005 12:00AM
unfortunately, withdrawal from xanax is difficult and should not be done cold turkey because of the possibility of seizures. The symptoms can last for weeks, so if you want relief, start back on xanax at the smallest dose possible once a day for two days, then every other day for 3 times, then every third day for three times, then quit.
Member Comments (20)

by TIMEMAN, Nov 13, 2005 12:00AM
I was on Xanax for two years. Just taper off slowly, at a slow, controled pace. And do not EVER increase your dosage.Go to 3/4 then half then poof. You will feel much easier about abstaining.

by j.drake, Nov 14, 2005 12:00AM
I am currently taking Xanax myself and trying to ween myself off but the withdrwal symptoms are horrible.  It is so bad that I feel like I can barely function without them.  But I heard that the best thing to do is to ween yourself off slowly by reucing your dose and then only taking it every other day and so on until your off of it.  That is what I am doing now but it is a struggle.



Jenni

by missmellie, Nov 18, 2005 12:00AM
if you read up on xanax you will realise that it is meant for short term use, some docotrs prescribe to help you sleep better, before taking these drugs for this understand the risk you take when you do want to withdraw.  i took xanax for that, i too went cold turkey, survived without going back on it, how i did it was i kept myself busy, real busy.  paxil was the worst, i had electric shocks that went through my head when i moved, and took about nuts, well anyway i was on that as an unorthodx way to treat my heart rate as i did not do good on beta blockers never again.  hope you all are doing better

by Cavi, Nov 29, 2005 12:00AM
I have been on xanax for 4 months and recently I decided since the circumstances in my life have changed and I feel better I would go off xanax.  I had had a series of major personal traumas (break up and death) and a professional wack that piled on within 1-2 month span.  I was taking .5 mg x 1 daily to sleep.  Then a few weeks ago I started having to take 1 mg to sleep.  Since I have never been addicted to a drug and would rather not be, I decided to stop.  I recognized that a need for a larger dose is indicative of developing a tolerance to xanax.  I have begun experiencing major withdrawal symptons, tremors, lighted-headedness, hot/cold feelings and basically reliving the feelings I had which got me on xanax to begin with eventhough circumstances have changed and I've dealt with my grief.  Yesterday, my heart started racing and I was thinking I might be having a heart attack.  I thought this fear to be very unrealistic. I began thinking, "what is wrong with me?"  I suspected it might have something to do with xanax.  After reading the comments here and another website I realize I'm going xanax withdrawal and rather than quit cold turkey I should taper off.  I just took a half dosage of xanax.   Thank you to all the comments on this discussion.

by liv42day, Nov 29, 2005 12:00AM
My boyfriend has been on Xanax for almost 6 yrs. for his anxiety he takes 1 pill a day. He swears he is hooked on it now. He was hooked after 2 weeks. He originally had started taking it for an off balance problem which it helped him through his day (he was never diagnosed for his off balanceness just given a pill)He has been to every type of doctor and had every type of medical test. Negative on everything. We moved to Florida 1 yr ago from up North. He was hospitalized 3 times for collapsing. Leg weakness, profuse sweating,loss of bowels and the one major thing if that wasn't enough his blood pressure drops at deaths door way (that is the way the doctors explain it). He has had every test everything seems to be negative. He freaks out all the time thinking that this will happen again. His Neurologist prescribed Xanax xr 1 mg tablet a day since it is time released it will help him longer get through his day. Last week he was bitten by 2 wasps within 10 minutes he collapsed with the same symptons. Ahh atlast a possible diagnosis. The doctors now feel he is allergic to red ants and wasps. He must carry an epipen around at all times and start allergy shots the end of Dec. The allergist told him to increase the Xanax if possible. Since just the thought of this happening again gives him 100 % more anxiety. He has tried to ween himself off the Xanax ,goes to an Acupunturist and does all his follow ups as well. His major health issue seems to be extreme leg weakness not all the time but atleast 2 to 3 times per week. The doctors have no answer from that so I'm wondering if it is just anxiety taking over? He has become a miserable person. Must be very careful going outside not to get bitten. Until he starts with the allergist he believes insects did not cause him to have such great health issues. Has no faith in doctors. I cannot blame him for this but I do feel his anxiety has worsened a great deal and holds him back from enjoying his life. I would like to know if someone out there has had leg weakness that is due from anxiety. Maybe there is a better pill out there then the Xanax. It would be great to get some feed back on different happenings. I have alot of health issues myself I have RA and I must focus more on my boyfriend for the time being. Any advice would be great.Thanx

by rosed, Nov 30, 2005 12:00AM
To: xanax addicts
I was taking xanax for severe panic attacks because I had a fear of when I went to eat I couldn't swallow and thought I would choke and die.  As time went on, i tried taking an extra pill, sometimes 2 to see if it would help me and it did.  Last January, 2004, I was 105 and taking those 2 extra pills, I put on some weight and felt great.  Well, now I'm in a very bad situation that's out of my control.  I take anywhere from 16 to 20 mg of xanax a day.  I don't have trouble concentrating, I don't have blockouts.  I feel great.  I am now up tp 118 pounds and never felt better.  My husband is concerned and so am I because of the high dosage I am on.  I have three small children and would love yo go to rehab,, but my doctor thinks I only take 4 mg a day.  I need help and don't know where to turn.  Can anyone give me some advice on what to do.  I can't do it alone.   I NEED HELP IMMEDIATELY.  PLEASE SOMEONE ANSWER ME.  IF YOUR ONLINE AND MY STORY COMPARES SOMEWHAT TO YOURS, PLEASE POST YOUR COMMENT IMMEDIATLY.  THANK YOU

by Cryssy, Nov 30, 2005 12:00AM
I was put on Xanax .5 mg 3X daily when I was 13 years old.  The doctor put me on it bc of tension headaches and anxiety.  I DID have a lot of issues at the time.  I am now about to be 22 and I have been off of Xanax (only off and on) for the last 3 years.  I do not know what to do.  After being on it non stop from age 13 to 19, I can't function without it.  I did not know what was wrong with me.  I can't think straight at ALL anymore.  I don't have many good emotions either.  My fiance even commented that I was an easier person to deal with when I take Xanax.  I know that Xanax is addictive and that is my problem.  But the doctor just took me off cold turkey.  I can't afford to go to a doctor to tell them about my problems.  I break down and cry EVERYDAY bc I cannot remember the last time I could actually think.  I do not know who I am anymore.  After I stopped taking them at age 19, temporarily, I started having severe panic attacks that landed me in the hospital.  The doctors had to sedate me to calm me down bc I was convinced I was having a stoke/heart attack and no one would help me.  The doctors in the hospital always asked about the Xanax, but never would comment on how to help me.  They would just give me either Xanax, Valium, or other sedatives to calm me.

  Every day I have to beg myself to stay alive.  I find myself taking a Xanax here and there from my very LAST prescription that I saved when I realized I would never be able to afford to go back to the doctor.  SOMETIMES, I have to take 3 .5 at one time to make me think straight.  

  I guess I will mentally be blank for the rest of my life.  I would sue the doctor who put me on them at age 13, but what good would that do?  I STILL would not have my mind back.  What good will the money do?  I probably would not even be able to talk to a lawyer about the issue because I have a struggle making a conversation without going off the subject.  

  This is the worst life I ever imagined.  I can't even enjoy my 2 year old son.  I have to have someone stay and help me because I LITERALLY REFUSE to take my eyes off of him for one second, even when he is ASLEEP.

  WHAT DO I DO?  Do I just mentally keep deteriorating?

by rosed, Dec 02, 2005 12:00AM
To: cryssy
I have been taking xanax for 10 years now.  I know hoe you feel.  Ig you don't  take one you feel like your literally goin to die.  Believe me, I am on a much higher dose than you are if you read my story.  I have 3 children, one of which is severaly mentally retarded.  We had to put her in a home because my husband and I could not take care of her and it was fair to the other 2 children.  my advice is go to a doctor and be honest with them.  It is a very addicting drug.  I know because I was in rehab for it, but they only detoxed me for 5 days and released me.  I did terrible for 2 months and went back on them.  Its a year now since I was in rehab.  I take up to 16 to 20 mg a day so your dose compared to mine is nothing.  I wish I was on your dose.  I also feel I can't function if I don't have any in me.  PLEASE GO TO THE DOCTOR OR GO GET HELP.  THEY CANNOT REFUSE YOU.  Hope this makes you feel a little better that someone else is out there going thru the same exact thing.  rosed

by ntz4nothing, Dec 11, 2005 12:00AM
I have been taking xanax for 6 years because of panic. I started on 3pills a day of the .025 but since taperd to 1 pill of the .025 daily . using 1/2 at a time with probably somewhere between 4 to 6 hours in between.  Over the last 2 years I have developed unusal symptoms mostly in my hands and arms with burning and numbness, pain in the arms and neck severe at times. I have had 2 MRI's EMG and 2 NCS done which shows mild narrowing of the C6 area in the neck so they basically don't think my symptoms are related. I was wondering if anyone else has had any of these symptoms and wonder if it is or have been told it is from xanax? I just read a web page full of scarey information about withdrawal and how it is almost impossible to do it by oneself. That is very Negative and adds to the already anxiety personality I know I have. Any suggestions would be helpful, and I do know the dose is very low but the way the article read, it is more of how long you are on it as opposed to how big the dose.

I wished when the Doctor started me on these and doesn't blink an eye when I need a refill(90 pills at a time)that he would have told me the downside to these, I know I am mentally addicted, and probably physically also with how I feel when I try not to take them.

by FredsChic, Dec 20, 2005 12:00AM
I've taken Xanax .5mg 3-5x/day for 4-5 years.  I didn't care about much ... not even getting dressed or to go to the mailbox in fear that I might have to speak to a neighbor.  I didn't want anyone to see me, much less talk to me. I had to slowly get myself off the pills by taking less and less every day.  They're VERY addictive and nasty to your mind and body.  My digestive system was all out of whack!  I had to go to stomach specialists and have all kinds of invasive tests performed to find out I have irritable bowel