Posted by mtdewcmu on April 18, 2011, at 19:14:27
In reply to Re: need advice to tapering off xanax also, posted by Abby Cunningham on April 18, 2011, at 17:54:14
>dose. It is physically addicting to me and I would love to come off it. But I have horrible w/d sx's. Extreme anxiety, unable to sleep, depersonalization, derealization, inability to put thoughts together, etc.
>
> It's an insidious drug.....it sneaks up on you and makes you dependent and addicted. When I was able to taper off it I felt so much better, even slept better without it! Now this would be my third try off it and I think the kindling effect has gotten hold of me.
>
> > Abby, may I ask the reasons for your taper? I'm curious. I have been taking 1.5mg of the XR version (generic), and recently am trying to recurb to 1.0mg. (Is recurb a word?)
> >
> > I use varying amounts of regular release as emergency med, sometimes just to get to sleep when it's rough. I haven't been xanax-free since my kid was born (quit it for pregnancy). (Somehow.)
> >
> > I haven't been able to drop below .25mg. since. However, I don't know if I have the skills or nerves (literally) to forgo xanax, and am not sure I should, if I can keep it low.
> >
> > Do you have unpleasant sides or memory issues?
> >
> > I had thought about the Valium cross-taper, but after a recent bout of med trials, thought it wise to stay with the benzo that my body knows.
> >
> > However, one of my trials was Lyrica. It made me dumb as dirt, but I was able to drop waaay down on xanax. Just a thought. Lyrica had serious sided for me; however it was an easy-on, easy-off med. If only I had secured my seat belt before the ride started :P
> >
> > Made withdrawal from my snri of years use possible. Stopped the head zaps.
> >
> > Good luck to you. I am curious what you think.
> >
>
> > fb
> >
>
>Have you considered switching to another benzo for tapering? Klonopin lasts a lot longer, and its effects might resemble Xanax somewhat. Valium has such a long half-life that you can feel it for days after a single dose. Valium is in some ways ideal for tapering. Once you get enough in your system to mitigate withdrawals, it will basically self-taper by eliminating so slowly.
With Valium you have to keep in mind, though, that there is an initial burst of effects, followed by less potent effects that last for around 3 days. So you can't gauge the dose based on how well it works for the first hour or so. You should keep taking more until you find that it is still working even a few hours after taking some.
I would not worry about getting addicted to Valium. It has an extremely long half life, so you can take it once a day, which makes taking the pills less habit forming. I also don't enjoy the effects, but you might find the opposite.
poster:mtdewcmu
thread:982338
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110418/msgs/983198.html