Posted by AmigoMarko on November 14, 2003, at 0:02:44
In reply to Re: Xanax Withdrawal, posted by Amy Blue on April 1, 2001, at 16:49:58
My Xanax addiction was legendary. I took as much as 10 mg at a time, probably up to 25 mg a day (not continuously because I obviously ran out very quickly and didn't have it for my severe SAD when I needed it.)
My new pdoc substituted Klonapin (1mg x 2/day) for Xanax. I believe it is MUCH less addictive than Xanax. The Klonapin was overly sedating, almost put me to sleep, slowed my mind and gave me total amnesia for the six hour period that it was effective. I couldn't do my job and chucked it.
I had been on Paxil for two years. It was only marginally helpful. The new doc added Remaron as an adjunct. Within three days my mood depression was lifting and the SAD was disappearing. The doc told me I could use Xanax sparingly in an emergancy only. I never did. I have not had a single SAD attack since. Not even close. I use the klonapin sparingly and occassionally for sleep only. I do not crave the Xanax.
It was like when I quit smoking. A hopeless addiction and then...I flipped some sort of switch in my head I hadn't noticed before and the desire was gone.
I honestly don't know how I did this but credit the synergistic Paxil-Remaron combo (which also brought enhanced norepinephrine into play for the first time) as the foundation that facilitated an essentially cold-turkey withdrawal.
I'm not stronger than any of you. I was somehow lucky. I'm also 52 and think it has something to do with changes one goes through at this time of life. Best of luck to all of you!
poster:AmigoMarko
thread:266
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031111/msgs/279597.html