Posted by FLMALE on June 1, 2000, at 22:55:33
In reply to Re: Xanax Withdrawal, posted by alan on January 12, 1999, at 9:03:15
> > > > Anyone ever take xanax for an extended period and try to detox and have problems or success. I have had problems only to be put back on xanax after trying other drugs for symptoms I had not had before taking xanax.....anyone with anything similar.....or has anyone heard of anything similar.....
> > > --------------Try aswitching to Klonopin, and reduce the amount as gradually as possible.
> > Were you even able to stop the Xanax utilizing the Klonopin regimen? If so, how long did it take? How long and how much Xanax had you been taking?
> I've shifted to valium and detoxed very, very slowly lowering dosage by minute amounts and had no touble at all. Are you surre the new symptoms were due to going off the xanax? Not a rising tide of depression, say, or whatever? Well, good luck. Take all the time you need as long as you are moving in the right direction overall.
>
>> Hi, I have been taking Xanax for anxiety and was has never been "fully" diagnosed as CFIDS, formerly Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Initially, I was started on .25 mg 3 times per day. This was in March of 1995. During one of the latter parts of last year, I visited my physician to advise that I seemed to be becoming "tolerant" to the medication and was having what I have since learned to be both "withdrawal" symptons, as well as symptoms that can occur from "long-term" usage of the medication. Rather than to help with the problems (less and less sleep, tingling sensations, etc. --- some of the worst symptoms of withdrawal/long-term use), my doctor switched me to two tablets per day rather than three. After several days it was more than I felt I could bear. I was not sleeping at all and felt as if I would go unconscious at any time due to the "sensation of pain" that I was feeling. Fortunately, my Primary Care Physician agreed to prescribe the medication and was a bit amazed that a physician would lower the dosage but yet not respond when I pleaded and described what I was going through. Of course, this helped, but the "tolerance" to the "3 0.25 mg tablets per day" grew, and the latter part of 1999 the dosage was increased to "3 0.50 mg tablets per day". That has been nearly a year and I have found myself experiencing the same symptoms of "tolerance/withdrawal feelings/long-term usage" again. After many sleepless nights, I decided to try to find what is fairly new to me, the Tahitian Noni Juice, which is supposed to be wonderful for "calming you", "addiction to medications", as well as numerous other things. I followed the dosage prescribed by a physician and continued with the normal dose of Xanax but noticed that as each day went by, I was becoming more and more alert, sleeping less, and having even "stronger" tingling feelings. This is not surprising, as the juice was described as ridding your body of chemicals and toxins, so I was really not getting any effect from taking the Xanax at the same time. After the fifth day, I remained awake for over 28 hours straight (and of course had to get up and deal with work, which was mentally and physically devastating). I decided to "STOP" taking the Tahitian Juice, as it obviously was either working too fast and was thereby increasing my symptoms of little sleep into absolutely "NO" sleep, tingling sensations into that of "SEVERE tingling/jitteriness", as well as a few other symptoms of withdrawal that I'm sure most of you are familiar with. At this point it has been seven days since I "STOPPED" taking the Tahitian Juice, have continued taking the Xanax as prescribed, but these symptoms continue to feel "heightened" as they did a week ago when I was taking the juice. I am curious if anyone has experienced this, as I just recently read about the juice and actually read a posting by a physician who recommended the juice for withdrawal to Xanax. I wish I could offer more help, as this seemed to be my last hope. I have tried (unsuccessfully) several times to decrease the Xaxax dosage by only a minute amount but it seems by the second or third day even "THAT" small of a reduction results in more severe symptoms. I, too am concered, as I have been taking it for five years and can see only where it can be increased to once again be effective. Also, I don't want to end up taking the maximum dosage and going through anything more severe than I already am. I was once taking Klonopin (prescribed for what a neurologist termed, "a benign tremor" --- prior to taking the Xanax --- I had begun having invulontary tremors in my hands, arms, and legs --- tremors that were "NOT" associated with feelings of anxiety --- tremors that occurred at some of the happiest moments in my life) and after two years of it, it too lost its effectiveness. After being told that some people have to take up to nine doses a day and I as at that time on three tablets per day with no relief from the tremors, I went through nearly six months of severe withdrawal and swore I would "NEVER" take the medication again. Hence, now I and going through the same thing, only more severe, with the Xanax and am in quite a dilemna. I would appreciate "ANY and ALL" responses to this by anyone who can relate or any physician who could possibly help, as it has devastated my life and working is becoming more and more difficult to endure.
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poster:FLMALE
thread:266
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000526/msgs/35609.html