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Detox from high-dose Xanax w/ Phenobarb

Posted by halcyondaze on October 30, 2006, at 12:34:38

Hi everyone. I used to be tygereyes, and yes, I wreaked quite some havoc on this board.

Please note: I have examined the substance abuse and withdrawal boards and decided that my question was most appropriate here, as it is about the specific action of Phenobarbitol. With an Adderall question thrown in, too.

So, I was taking extremely high doses of Adderall (up to 400 mg/day) for six months and Xanax (up to 14 mg/day) for three months. All unprescribed.

I am in a detox program now. I tried to get off Xanax on my own but ... my god ... I have never known a withdrawal like that before. And the program I am in is monitoring me very carefully, as they say that benzo detox is much worse than any other detox, far worse than heroin, far more dangerous. I never knew this before: I always thought Xanax was a throw-away drug. Now it is like a handcuff I can't get rid of.

They started me on 30 mg Phenobarbitol QID, and then cut the dose down to 15 mg QID. I really *felt* the withdrawal symptoms all over again. Two days later, I felt normal again. My questions are:

1) Does Phenobarbitol "mimic" the action of Xanax and bind to the same receptors (I believe GABA-A - or is it GABA-B? Or both?)? If not, then why am I "protected" from the withdrawal symptoms with the Phenobarb, despite only having been off Xanax for less than a week, which is not enough time to break a physical Xanax dependency?

2) When I eventually get off the Phenobarb entirely, will the withdrawal symptoms be due to benzo withdrawal or barbiturate withdrawal? Or just general sedative-hypnotic withdrawal, if they're pharmacologically similar?

3) Has anyone else managed to stop taking a benzo using a barbiturate? If so, how long did the process last? How long before you weren't in benzo withdrawal hell anymore?

4) What are the side effects of Phenobarb, specifically, at this dose? My brain is such a neurochemical mess that I don't know which symptoms are due to which drug, or lack thereof the drugs.

And, finally, an Adderall question:

5) I have a history of anorexia nervosa. When I was on Adderall, my weight got VERY low, and since I've been off, I've been bingeing like crazy and had a double-digit gain in the first week and a half. Will my metabolism return to normal? Will I always need to use speed to suppress my appetite from now on or will I get in touch with my "hunger signals" again? [I have gone through the anorexia refeeding process many times, but I don't know if the amphetamine withdrawal complicates it, and I want to stop bingeing and (small voice) lose weight].

Thanks, everyone.


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poster:halcyondaze thread:699033
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061028/msgs/699033.html