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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Willow on August 13, 2001, at 14:10:22
> Any suggestions for psyching myself into stopping Xanax. I am so psychologically dependent on it that it makes me anxious to think about stopping. The last time I tried to stop, I ended up not sleeping for a long time until my dr. put be back on a higher dose, then everything resolved. Now I'm trying to stop again but having trouble.
Posted by Cam W. on August 13, 2001, at 14:31:06
In reply to Redirected from social : stopping xanax » super, posted by Willow on August 13, 2001, at 14:10:22
Super - You have to wean from long term benzodiazepine use slowly. Don't be in any hurry to come off of it. You might ask your doctor to gradually replace the Xanax™ (alprazolam) with Valium™ (diazepam) or Serax™ (oxazepam). The reason being that Xanax has a short half-life and leaves your body very quickly, resulting in withdrawl effects. The long half-lives of Valium and Serax cause the drug to leave your body much more slowly, thus avoiding the quick appearance of withdrawl symptoms.
Xanax dose of 0.5mg is approximately equal to 5mg of Valium or 15mg of Serax. As you add the Valium or Serax, decrease the Xanax by an approriate amount. Do this over a couple of weeks, under the supervision of you doctor. Once the switchover has been done, you can begin to decrease the dose of Valium by 2.5mg (1/2 tablet) a week, or of Serax by 7.5mg per week.
If you feel that you cannot lower the dose at any stage, stay at that level for a while. Let your doc know when this happens. It can take several months to withdraw from benzodiazepines, so don't be in a hurry.
I hope that this is of some help. - Cam
Posted by Cam W. on August 13, 2001, at 14:38:48
In reply to Re: Stopping Xanax - Super, posted by Cam W. on August 13, 2001, at 14:31:06
Super - Klonopin™ (clonazepam - Rivotril™ in Canada & UK) can also be used in place of the Valium or Serax, as kidA has said in Psycho-Social-Babble, as Klonopin has a long half-life as well. It may be even better for anxiety than Valium or Serax, but theoretically all should work.
Xanax 0.5mg = approx. Klonopin 1mg
- Cam
Posted by Amy Blue on August 13, 2001, at 15:11:39
In reply to Re: Stopping Xanax (more) - Super, posted by Cam W. on August 13, 2001, at 14:38:48
Super, I agree w/ Cam 100%. I stopped Xanax cold turkey and got really sick. Then I took Klonopin for several months to get thru Xanax withdrawal. When I reduced Klonopin I reduced by 1/8 mg every 2 weeks. May seem really slow but believe me, it's better than having withdrawal. If you go slow and use a longer-acting benzo you'll be in good shape. Don't be in a hurry b/c that will probably increase your anxiety about going off. But you can do it. By going slow w/ Klonopin I had no withdrawal and minimal rebound anxiety. Good luck.
This is the end of the thread.
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