Posted by Dave001 on September 26, 2002, at 14:06:08
In reply to Xanax withdrawal: holy ####!!!, posted by Thrud on September 24, 2002, at 17:19:26
As a practical matter, it is usually wise to switch to a longer acting benzo (e.g., clonazepam or diazepam) before you begin the taper. From there, the degree to which you experience withdrawl depends upon how fast you reduce your dosage. Unless there is some medical reason which necessitates a quick discontinuation, I would decrease the dose very slowly -- perhaps by only 0.1 mg/week or so of clonazepam. Precise titration may require the prep. of a sol. See Merck Index for solubility data. (I can post the data if you want; I have a copy of the latest [13th] ed.)
Good luck,
Dave
> Hi All.
>
> I have been on Xanax (3mg/day) for over a year. After looking back, I decided that I felt better on Remeron, which I took as monotherapy (30mg/day) before my Xanax and Lamictal combo.
>
> I quickly weaned off the Lamictal; no big deal. I then went back on the Remeron in anticipation of tapering Xanax. My pdoc said his patients generally had few problems with Xanax withdrawal, so he set me on a taper of 0.5mg per week.
>
> All I can say is holy ####!! I thought I could take anything until I hit this. The first few weeks were uncomfortable but tolerable: sensitivity to light and touch, dizziness, memory lapses, insomnia and vivid dreams. Then a few days into the 0.5mg per day all hell started to break loose. Add to the previous list hallucinations, panic attacks, splitting headaches and vomiting.
>
> Another strange thing is that Remeron no longer seems to be working as an antidepressant when it used to be very effective. Maybe it is just being overwhelmed by the withdrawal symptons?
>
> My pdoc has switched me to 1mg per day of Klonopin, which seems to be doing the trick. I will be staying there until I recover and can (more) slowly taper off Klonopin. I WILL make the finishing line...
>
> I used to scoff at people who couldn't kick drugs or alcohol, but that is just because I never went through any withdrawal at all until now. Humble pie never tasted so bad.
>
> Thrud
>
poster:Dave001
thread:120978
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020922/msgs/121135.html