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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Buckeye Fan on July 12, 2004, at 9:50:10
IF....I want to discontinue a 5 year use of Xanax
any suggestions on HOW to "ween Off" this powerful
tranquilizer?Simple dose reduction over time? Is there anything else like it to switch to first...and then ween?
Do our bodies have the ability to produce the same or similiar chemical crucial for relaxing , that Xanax "takes the place of"????
Plenty of question, I know
Appreciate any help in advance...Buckeye Fan
Posted by chemist on July 12, 2004, at 16:44:32
In reply to Discontinuing Xanax...for Chemist Others...., posted by Buckeye Fan on July 12, 2004, at 9:50:10
> IF....I want to discontinue a 5 year use of Xanax
> any suggestions on HOW to "ween Off" this powerful
> tranquilizer?
>
> Simple dose reduction over time? Is there anything else like it to switch to first...and then ween?
>
> Do our bodies have the ability to produce the same or similiar chemical crucial for relaxing , that Xanax "takes the place of"????
>
> Plenty of question, I know
> Appreciate any help in advance...
>
> Buckeye Fan
hello there, chemist here....i have been down this very road myself. first, my continuing mantra that xanax is NOT a true 1,4-benzodiazepine but rather a triazolo-containing 1,4-benzodiazepine must be repeated. this means that you cannot cross taper with a benzo such as valium, klonopin, or ativan with a seamless transition. a better transition, yes, but not seamless. okay, that's out of my system. about the taper: it took me 9 months to get of a 4 mg/day xanax regimen. the last month is when you should make every effort to find a microtome, because you'll want to do this very, very, very slowly. the easy part is getting from whatever dose you are on down to about 1 mg/day. then, it's showtime. i found that ambien helped, and i recall that i had gone down to 2 mg/day in the first 2 or 3 months, now that i think about it (that anterograde amnesia is something else, isn't it?), no problem. the next 1 mg was tough, but not too bad, as ambien was involved prn. that last 1 mg is the kicker. my advice is to take it fast at first and then slow. now, i addressed a little bit about the ``what can i take to ease the pain?'' question above, but will reiterate: if you go cold-turkey on a slow taper, it can be done without additional benzos/derivatives. if my doctor had been willing - and i not so stubborn - i would think a gentle dose of klonopin would ease the pain, perhaps 0.25 mg qd at start of taper to 0.5 mg tid near the end, with a bit of ambien if sleep is troubling. finally, our bodies are capable of producing all kinds of things *way* more potent than, for instance, the synthetic opiate sufentanil, which makes fentanyl look like aspirin. as for things which relieve anxiety, i have found that lowering stress through exercise (yes, you've heard this one before) is best, as those wonderful endorphins kick in and if you exercise hard and long enough, you wear yourself out. others more schooled than i in what exactly happens (SLS, King Vultan, Sad Panda, Larry Hoover, of course) might shed some light other than my ``ride your bike more'' answer. but if need counseling on your taper, i am your man, as i've been there.....and by the way, i'm right back after a brief vacation with valium, and have no intention of ever giving up my beloved xanax, just my final words, in that it has helped me so much. all the best, chemist
Posted by Buckeye Fan on July 13, 2004, at 8:18:21
In reply to Re: Discontinuing Xanax...for Chemist Others.... » Buckeye Fan, posted by chemist on July 12, 2004, at 16:44:32
Thank you chemist!
I am certainly in favor of being Med Free someday soon. Xanax just has such a nasty reputation for
withdrawl and addiction.I have also tried 1 mg a day...and can attest to the body's reaction to this low dose, after being at 3 mg per day for a number of years....!!@$%@%%^
would be the best translation of the the reaction! lol....Good to hear from someone who has been there..and also one who preaches and practices regular hard exercise, as a stress reliever.
It is no magic bullet for all mental disorders,
but it sure helps!Maybe vety soon a new "discovery" to speed up the tapering process for discontinuing Xanax will be discovered.
Wit it being prescribed to SO MANY over the last 10 years...when these millions try and "get off od it"....my guess is the backlash will force pharmacuticals to come up with some relief.Time will tell
BF
Posted by chemist on July 13, 2004, at 8:55:33
In reply to Re: Discontinuing Xanax...for Chemist Others...., posted by Buckeye Fan on July 13, 2004, at 8:18:21
> Thank you chemist!
> I am certainly in favor of being Med Free someday soon. Xanax just has such a nasty reputation for
> withdrawl and addiction.
>
> I have also tried 1 mg a day...and can attest to the body's reaction to this low dose, after being at 3 mg per day for a number of years....!!@$%@%%^
> would be the best translation of the the reaction! lol....
>
> Good to hear from someone who has been there..and also one who preaches and practices regular hard exercise, as a stress reliever.
>
> It is no magic bullet for all mental disorders,
> but it sure helps!
>
> Maybe vety soon a new "discovery" to speed up the tapering process for discontinuing Xanax will be discovered.
>
> Wit it being prescribed to SO MANY over the last 10 years...when these millions try and "get off od it"....my guess is the backlash will force pharmacuticals to come up with some relief.
>
> Time will tell
>
> BFhello there, chemist here....i agree that it's a nasty withdrawl, yet i have to say my quality of life is better with it than without. but, like you, someday i'll be tapering down (i hope) but if not, so be it....keep in touch, and all the best, chemist
Posted by partlycloudy on July 13, 2004, at 18:41:05
In reply to Re: Discontinuing Xanax...for Chemist Others.... » Buckeye Fan, posted by chemist on July 13, 2004, at 8:55:33
FWIW, I've been prescribed .5mg xanax twice a day for panic attacks. I took up an exercise regime (sp? isn't that a military government?) a month ago.
My panic attacks have increased by 100%. What on earth is up with that? I feel better, my appetite is good; I feel good right after exercising, but darned if I don't have panic as bad as I did when I started!!!! What the heck? I had started out last October on Vistaril (a joke) and was prescribed xanax in January of this year. Why-o-why-o-why-o- (did I ever leave Ohio) has the panic become more pronounced?
Posted by Buckeye Fan on July 14, 2004, at 9:04:19
In reply to Re: Discontinuing Xanax...for Chemist Others.... » chemist, posted by partlycloudy on July 13, 2004, at 18:41:05
> FWIW, I've been prescribed .5mg xanax twice a day for panic attacks. I took up an exercise regime (sp? isn't that a military government?) a month ago.
>
> My panic attacks have increased by 100%. What on earth is up with that? I feel better, my appetite is good; I feel good right after exercising, but darned if I don't have panic as bad as I did when I started!!!! What the heck? I had started out last October on Vistaril (a joke) and was prescribed xanax in January of this year. Why-o-why-o-why-o- (did I ever leave Ohio) has the panic become more pronounced?
>
> *******************************************Hi there partlycloudy,
So your a former Buckeye huh?
I dont know why you left Ohio....but FYI we just recieved an Award Yesterday from ESPN for...now get this... "The Most Tortured Sports City" in the US. LOL They call it a " 55 year run of bad luck"...
Anyways....Your increase in panic attacks could be a result of your body adjusting to exercise. Remember, hard exercise raises your Body's Base Metabolic Rate...thereby increasing just about EVERYTHING in your system.
If you can...keep at it, exercise early rather than late...and in time see if the overall benefit
of regular exercise, doesnt outweigh the temporary "increase in panic" response.
Also...exercise is great...but it is no magic bullet for the UNDERLYING CAUSE of your panic.
There is usually a root cause, that needs dealt with.
Exercise may help with your ability to cope with the anxiety....but unless you deal with the CAUSE of the panic attacks...your body/mind will continue to send out "fight or flight" signals that something is wrong, or needs attended to.I had my first "panic attack" at age 20...and didnt really have another till age 33.
Even then, I waited a year or two to really seek medical treatment.
My point is , I know where you are coming from and can sympathize.Keep in touch,,,and keep working out and taking your Xanax....and maybe try and resolve ( if possible) the root cause of your anxiety
Buckeye Fan
Posted by partlycloudy on July 14, 2004, at 9:38:27
In reply to Re: Discontinuing Xanax...for Chemist Others...., posted by Buckeye Fan on July 14, 2004, at 9:04:19
Thanks, Buckeye. I'm seeing a therapist and getting some EMDR treatment. Stirring lots of stuff up, obviously. Oh, and I'm getting wicked stress headaches every day at this point. My panic attacks started in 1995 but were intermittent until 2 years ago. They were as bad as 24/7. Things were improving well until I started the exercise - and what you say makes perfect sense. I'll get to the bottom of this eventually. Thanks so much for the help!
pc
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