I have been on Xanax for about 2 or 3 months now and i want to go off but i am afraid of the withdrawl, can anyone tell me what the symptoms might be so i know what to look out for and what not to be afraid of, thanks in advance

God Bless
Jennifer

Disclaimer:
I am not a doctor. What I did worked for me and I am sharing it as my experience. I did this originally under the supervision of a Psychiatrist many years ago. So when I was ready to go off of it this last time I didn't work with new (money hungry) Shrink.

Anyway, I was on Xanax on an as needed basis over the years. Then, when I moved last year I really needed to be on them regularly. So when I went off of them this time, I knew what I needed to do.

Xanax is not supposed to ever be withdrawn spontaneously, otherwise symptoms can come right back, very strong. In rare cases one can have a seisure. I think that's when someone has been on a higher dose for a long time.

I read up and educated myself on doses so I knew how to wein myself slowly. Xanax starts with .25mg (white pills), .5mg (peach), 1mg (lavendar), etc. and goes all the way up to 2-4mg (?) tablets.

I was on .25mg 3x-a day (white pills). So when I was ready to go off of them I broke the lunchtime pill in half, leaving my other two doses the same for one week then cut another dose in half until all three doses were down to a half dose 3x-day. About 3-4 weeks.

Then I broke the halves in half (even though the doctor and pharmacist said it couldn't be done) until I was down to .125mg (1/4 of a white pill) 3 times a day. Then, eliminated those doses until I wasn't taking them anymore. My doctor thought I could have stopped at the half doses, but I didn't want to take a chance.

Commentary:
I was so tired of feeling obligated to a local shrink, go in talk for 5-10 minutes and charge me $120.00. All the while telling me that he knew I wasn't addicted, however since Xanax is so addictive that I needed to see him once every two months. Coincidentally, that is the same amount of visits my insurance was willing to pay.

I think Xanax should be the drug of choice for panic attacks. I get so tired of shrinks telling us the same crap about addiction and putting us on all these anti-depressants that don't work and give us horrific side-effects---including worse panic attacks. Had to add this. I feel a bit frustrated about the subject.

My first Shrink (that I like and respect but since moved), told me that some patients take 4mg 4-times a day. White is the lowest dose. White can take away my obsessions and panic. Now I do this with exercise.

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Always Hopeful, Betsy H.
Marietta, GA (East Cobb)
Get out and walk...five minutes today, six minutes tomorrow...until you work your way up to 30-45 minutes and day and see how much better you feel in just a few weeks.

[This message has been edited by EastCobbGABetsyH (edited 11-01-2001).]