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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jagger01 on April 18, 2010, at 21:15:30
I have been taking 4mg zanax per day for 8yrs. My psch. says it may be causing my memory loss. What is the withdrawal experience like? How do you survive anxiety attacks without it?
Posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2010, at 21:30:22
In reply to withdrawal from zanax, posted by jagger01 on April 18, 2010, at 21:15:30
I've never had memory loss on xanax taken a benzo for 40 years seems that my dose never got that high just to 2mg a day. I have had no desire to completly quit. But times when things are going well have been down to .125 every other day. Seems my body just doesn't need as much anymore. I guess I don't have withdrawal side effects don't know why? Phillipa
Posted by jagger01 on April 18, 2010, at 22:35:07
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax » jagger01, posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2010, at 21:30:22
> I've never had memory loss on xanax taken a benzo for 40 years seems that my dose never got that high just to 2mg a day. I have had no desire to completly quit. But times when things are going well have been down to .125 every other day. Seems my body just doesn't need as much anymore. I guess I don't have withdrawal side effects don't know why? Phillipa
Thanks for your response; it was interesting to hear of your experience. I don't feel the need to go off of Zanax either, but I'm getting the impression that my psychiatrist is concerned by the length of time I've been taking it. My doseage also varies with how things are going in my life. I'd love to here from more people.
Posted by Deneb on April 18, 2010, at 23:36:12
In reply to withdrawal from zanax, posted by jagger01 on April 18, 2010, at 21:15:30
Hello Jagger01!
I don't have any experience with zanax, but I just wanted to welcome you to Psycho-Babble. Thanks for deciding to post and I hope you find some answers here.
Deneb
Posted by ace on April 19, 2010, at 9:06:27
In reply to withdrawal from zanax, posted by jagger01 on April 18, 2010, at 21:15:30
> I have been taking 4mg zanax per day for 8yrs. My psch. says it may be causing my memory loss.
It may or may not. If it is, maybe this is a price worth paying?
What is the withdrawal experience like?
There is NO withdrawal if one tapers very slowly.
In your case, I would go from 3.5 to 3, then 2.5 to 2, then 1.75 to 1.5, then 1.25 to 1, then o.75 to 0.5, then 0.5 to 0.25, then 0.25 to 0.125mgGo VERY slowly....I would taper off over a period minimum 6 months
How do you survive anxiety attacks without it?That's a very good qstn! I went to 120mg Nardil, and that helped me completely go off Xanax after 4 or so years on it. There was NO withdrawal, but I went very slow- 7 months taper. I then lowered Nardil and had to go back on Xanax!
I am yet to see any convincing evidence that and psychotherapy works better than Xanax.
Posted by ace on April 19, 2010, at 9:10:28
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax » jagger01, posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2010, at 21:30:22
> I've never had memory loss on xanax taken a benzo for 40 years seems that my dose never got that high just to 2mg a day.
And some stupid doctors say their is an ever increasing need to increase dose! Not true, when used responsibly....
I have had no desire to completly quit. But times when things are going well have been down to .125 every other day. Seems my body just doesn't need as much anymore. I guess I don't have withdrawal side effects don't know why?
Benzo's are great drugs, Phillipa....given a bad name by people who don't even need them!
So glad they help for you!Phillipa
Posted by SLS on April 19, 2010, at 9:38:44
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax » jagger01, posted by ace on April 19, 2010, at 9:06:27
> > I have been taking 4mg zanax per day for 8yrs. My psch. says it may be causing my memory loss.
> It may or may not. If it is, maybe this is a price worth paying?
>
> What is the withdrawal experience like?There is some evidence that using an AED like Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) can help reduce the severity of benzodiazepine withdrawal.
- Scott
Posted by ace on April 19, 2010, at 10:14:53
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax, posted by SLS on April 19, 2010, at 9:38:44
> > > I have been taking 4mg zanax per day for 8yrs. My psch. says it may be causing my memory loss.
>
> > It may or may not. If it is, maybe this is a price worth paying?
> >
> > What is the withdrawal experience like?
>
> There is some evidence that using an AED like Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) can help reduce the severity of benzodiazepine withdrawal.
>
>
> - ScottWhen tapered correctly I haven't seen any evidence for a benzodiazepine withdrawal, per se, as we see with drugs like Paroxetine, Sertraline etc.
I have only seen a lot of folk attribute the recurrence of symptoms prior to benzodiazepine therapy to a 'withdrawal' syndrome.
No cognitive dysfunction, no brain 'zaps', no paradoxical anxiety, no depression....
Only the return of the original problems which got them on the drug.....
Posted by SLS on April 19, 2010, at 11:43:08
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax » SLS, posted by ace on April 19, 2010, at 10:14:53
> When tapered correctly I haven't seen any evidence for a benzodiazepine withdrawal,
What would you suggest as a correct taper?
- Scott
Posted by jagger01 on April 19, 2010, at 11:43:15
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax » jagger01, posted by Deneb on April 18, 2010, at 23:36:12
Thanx for the welcome and for the info. I have not had a chance to talk to real people using meds (vs. my dr.) since my last hospitalization 5 years ago.
Posted by manic666 on April 19, 2010, at 14:17:05
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax, posted by jagger01 on April 19, 2010, at 11:43:15
if your ok, leave it as it is
Posted by ace on April 19, 2010, at 16:51:48
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax » ace, posted by SLS on April 19, 2010, at 11:43:08
> > When tapered correctly I haven't seen any evidence for a benzodiazepine withdrawal,
>
> What would you suggest as a correct taper?
>
>
> - ScottSomething as I outlined above for the person who started the thread:
"In your case, I would go from 3.5 to 3, then 2.5 to 2, then 1.75 to 1.5, then 1.25 to 1, then 0.75 to 0.5, then 0.5 to 0.25, then 0.25 to 0.125mg
Go VERY slowly....I would taper off over a period minimum 6 months"
The key factors are time and very minimal dose increments. Now, I have seen people do a taper in a similar fashion with SSRI's, yet, no matter how slow they go, and regardless of dose incrementation, they still suffer a significant withdrawal.
Cheers:)
Ace
Posted by SLS on April 19, 2010, at 17:17:43
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax » SLS, posted by ace on April 19, 2010, at 16:51:48
> Now, I have seen people do a taper in a similar fashion with SSRI's, yet, no matter how slow they go, and regardless of dose incrementation, they still suffer a significant withdrawal.
That's an interesting observation.
- Scott
Posted by jagger01 on April 20, 2010, at 10:39:57
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax, posted by manic666 on April 19, 2010, at 14:17:05
> if your ok, leave it as it is
I am ok and i would like to leave it as it is, but my dr is starting to put some subtle pressure on me. Have most of your drs allowed you to remain on the benzos indefinitley? This is 8 years for me, and he is concerned that it is causing my memory problems.
Posted by manic666 on April 20, 2010, at 14:22:30
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax, posted by jagger01 on April 20, 2010, at 10:39:57
none of my p docs or gps or even the reseptionist//want me on ativan/// they no it f***ed me up big time//but they gave it me for years//an i am stuck with it for ever//they no its a part of me now, an to take it away, im not kidding would kill me in one way or another
Posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2010, at 19:57:21
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax, posted by jagger01 on April 20, 2010, at 10:39:57
No at my age I'm encouraged by them to take higher doses and I refuse. Forty years is a long time. Phillipa
Posted by manic666 on April 21, 2010, at 3:46:12
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax, posted by manic666 on April 19, 2010, at 14:17:05
the trouble is i need a life// an if uping meds gives it me //bring it on ,i have kids an grandkids that love me//if im bad i will take action to put it right//if that meens more meds so be it//i have no fear of meds an if i take to much its just a bad call an i put it right//i have many friends who no me, an dont give a sh*t how i act on the day they no me as there buddy//i have loads of hobbies//ie my dogs ,fishing , walking ,keeping a 100gallon fish tank,bike rideing,,haveing a drink with friends,ect ect //, what ever meds it takes to stay that way i will take them
Posted by jagger01 on April 21, 2010, at 10:51:21
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax, posted by manic666 on April 20, 2010, at 14:22:30
> none of my p docs or gps or even the reseptionist//want me on ativan/// they no it f***ed me up big time//but they gave it me for years//an i am stuck with it for ever//they no its a part of me now, an to take it away, im not kidding would kill me in one way or another
my hert goes out to you. The circumstances that caused us to need these medications in the first place are really a curse.
Posted by jagger01 on April 21, 2010, at 11:00:32
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax, posted by manic666 on April 21, 2010, at 3:46:12
> the trouble is i need a life// an if uping meds gives it me //bring it on ,i have kids an grandkids that love me//if im bad i will take action to put it right//if that meens more meds so be it//i have no fear of meds an if i take to much its just a bad call an i put it right//i have many friends who no me, an dont give a sh*t how i act on the day they no me as there buddy//i have loads of hobbies//ie my dogs ,fishing , walking ,keeping a 100gallon fish tank,bike rideing,,haveing a drink with friends,ect ect //,
what ever meds it takes to stay that way i will take themHow do you convince your dr to prescribe as much as you need?
Posted by manic666 on April 21, 2010, at 12:37:07
In reply to Re: withdrawal from zanax » jagger01, posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2010, at 19:57:21
how do i convince the docs to give me more meds/// i will tell you ,every med i go on i go for the max dose// so if its to high i dont tell the doc an cut the meds to suit me///so as now i have got down to just 20 mg of citalopram an my script is for 40mg//so i save the other twenty //an do that whenever i change a med// dont forget there free to me in england as i claim disabilaty//thats how i got in trouble with ativan i had hundred,s as the years went by///but to them at that time i was only on 20mg a month//so when i was on 10mg a day they said i was lying as i only got 20mg a month,plus the odd 20 my old pdoc gave me as well//so when the stopped the lot cold they didnt believe i was takeing 10mg as i was not prescribed that much//but i had used all my years of supplies up.an was in deep sh*t they thought they were stopping 20 a month not 10 a day,// can you see now why i overdosed i was in the dead zone //an still they would not believe me//technically i had shot myself in the foot//
This is the end of the thread.
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