Has anyone here ever quit taking Xanax?
 

About 2 years ago I had a panic attack at work and my buddy gave me a xanax to calm down. It worked almost immediatly and after that, I was having panic attacks thinking about having another panic attack (if that makes sense). My buddy has a prescription for them so I found myself asking for them on a regular basis. I started with taking a 1/4 of a bar, I'm not sure what the milligrams are for a bar since I never had a prescription. The 1/4 bar would help keep me calm through-out the day until one day the 1/4 wasn't enough anymore.

To make a long story short, I am now taking about a bar and a half every day just to stay calm. If I miss a day or get into my car for a long drive and realize I don't have one on me then I start freaking out. I hate the feeling of having to rely on medication to make me feel normal.

My question is how hard is it to quit cold turkey and is that a suggested method? I hate the feeling of "freaking out" and on the verge of a panic attack but taking this much xanax has turned me into a zombie. It's like I don't have emotions anymore. I'm just a lump that sits around and doesn't laugh, smile, or cry. I hate what it has turned me into and I want to quit but I'm afraid I'll have a panic attack.

Anxiety sucks ass! Has anyone here ever weened themselves off xanax or quit cold turkey?

damn son, smoke some green and get yourself a boxer puppy :2 cents:

i used it for about 7 months to put me to sleep at night.. was taking about 3-4g to get to sleep... i went off it cold turkey a month ago, and i was sleepless for 2 nights, had some weird twitches, some more attitude than normal, had anxiety that everyone was looking at me for no reason etc... i just toughed thru it for about a week and all went back to normal...

I'd suggest going to see a psy and explain him the situation.

What is Xanax?

Xanax withdrawal can be nasty - you're supposed to wean yourself off it over a couple of weeks at least.

I had an anxiety attack a few years ago. They're fuckin' scary. Anyways, I went to the hospital, had some tests run and everything was fine. Upon release they gave me something like 10 pills to take if I ever felt myself in the same situation. Maybe once I was close, but I refused to take one of the pills. I've just learned to calm myself down...not that it happens regularly.

I'd suggest the obvious and talk to your doctor about the potential hazards. Perhaps there's a weaker drug they can put you on to help ween you off. :2 cents:

Magic anti-anxiety pill.

http://www.drugs.com/xanax.html

My neighbor takes them and she finally stopped after 6 years of daily use. She said the physical withdrawls from xanax can effect some people similiar to heroin wihdrawl if you have been taking them long term. She did do the switch and moved from xanax to Clonazepam. I would suggest seeing a Dr before stopping. He/she maybe able to help by perscribing something different.

She is kind of a drama queen so i'm not sure if the withdrawls are as serious as she was saying but it would be in your best interest to see a MD.

I took it for about a year. Weaned myself off it slowly. I don't think it's something you should stop cold turkey w/o consulting a doctor, then again, you really shouldn't be taking it at all unless you're under a doctor's care. IOW, contact a doctor.

like everything else it will be hard...even harder because xanex is a pharma drug that's addictive as fuck.

hope you get ur problems straight man and i wish u good luck, u will need it.

Ah, thanks for the info. I always thought that beer is a best anti-anxiety "pill" ever :)

:thumbsup:thumbsup

Talk to your doctor. Anxiety is managable in almost everyone. Don't self-medicate yourself and risk an addiction over the attacks.

A lot of people view anxiety as shameful because it somehow makes them "wrong in the head". It's just as real as any other physical medical problem.

After what everyone just saw as an example of this (Heath Ledger) I would think a lot more people than just myself and D will agree with you on that. :D

Is Zoloft basically the same thing? Anyone?

My brother is prescribed xanax, valium, klonopin, ritalin and percocet. He's so drugged out that he has to tilt his head back all day cause his eyes won't open fully.

Thanks for the input everyone. I honestly appreciate it.

It looks like cold turkey is NOT the way to go. Thanks again! :thumbsup

First of all get rid of those pills, its just giving you a focus of knowing a solution is there. Your better off chugging some alcohol lol. I use to have bad panic attacks. It was related to me drinking alot on weekends then waking up monday and stopping. Also coffeee or caffeine triggered it. I also had mild vertigo in one ear, caused them to as it made it feel like my head was shifting.

Get off the meds, find what CAUSES the panic attack - took me a couple years but I figured what the cause was and I avoid it like the plague.

I feel for ya, hope this helps.

You can't really quit cold turkey on modern medication... the downside to them working well, is that You cold go into a psychosis and jump off a bridge...(!)

Not saying YOU *will* do that if trying cold turkey, but things like that have happened to others with modern meds - do NOT fucking self-glorify and think "What the hell, I'm the MAN.. *I* can do it" / "I'm not a pussy" / whatever..

I think You understand what I'm saying here... ween off it slowly, You could consult Your doctor (or any!) as well to get a safe recommendation..

You can't really quit cold turkey on modern medication... the downside to them working well, is that You cold go into a psychosis and jump off a bridge...(!)

Not saying YOU *will* do that if trying cold turkey, but things like that have happened to others with modern meds - do NOT fucking self-glorify and think "What the hell, I'm the MAN.. *I* can do it" / "I'm not a pussy" / whatever..

I think You understand what I'm saying here... ween off it slowly, You could consult Your doctor (or any!) as well to get a safe recommendation..

(Spelling-policing myself: "wean", not "ween")

not only that, benzo withdrawal can kill you. how long have you been dependent? if it's been for a significant amount of time i'd suggest consulting a doctor about it before doing anything..

I wish all these pills would have no side effects, could be taken for an unlimited period of time at the same dose, could be mixed with alcohol and have no withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them....

the best thing to do ,is go to a doctor and talk to him about it ! relax ...live is to be happy and dont worry about anything ...and if you believe in god ! just pray for goof thing !

i wish you the best bro !!!

where are the people that talked about that sharp pain in their head that was so bad that wanted to kill themself? That stuff if really hard to quit like that. I have taken it once in my life and I almost didn't make it from my desk to my bed. I have no clue how people can take it everyday and stay awake. I'm sure it calms you down cause nothing else works either lol

Zoloft is an anti depressant. Not quite the same thing.