What are the symptoms of Xanax withdrawal?

[PatV]

Someone posted recently about PD and anxiety and I responded regarding my meds. someone else replied to my post saying Xanax withdrawal was difficult and I was wondering what dosage, etc., and how was it done?

[caseyjones]

I had gone to a therapy,just to get things off my chest about parkinsons and mentioned to the therapist that I take Xanax,Right away he say's oh thats a 45 day recovery,I didn't even mention how much I took.I take it at bed sometimes,Most of time my family is giving to me as the doctor tell's them to give it to me when my arms lock up,The give these pills to you and then tell you,Your addicted to them,In the ER, right away adavan,I don't ask for,It make me slower with parkinsons,As far as getting off them,I read in article that,If you try to get off them,Don't just stopped them! The said try shaving off alittle of the pill with a razer and start decrease it by shaving off alittle at a time to make the pill smaller and making the dosage smaller little by little,Something I read,Im not a doctor,But to me it makes alittle sense for deceasing slowly,The only time I have anxiety when my PD meds are wearing off,or have too much PD meds and don't eat and nothing to absorb some of the meds,See you doctor to get suggestions how to get off xanax.I take 0.5mg, My first neuro doctor wanted to take 6mg a day,I wasn't going to that,I would never put myself in that position of addiction.

[tlongmire in reply to caseyjones]

See my reply below to MaryAlice.

[maryalice]

I went through a period of anxiety and was up to 4mg of Xanax a day. I cut back and now take 1.5mg. a day. By lowering it very slowly I really didn't have any problem. I lowered it by .05 mg each time , which was about every 2-3 weeks. I'm not going to go off of it, because it helps me to relax. This helps my muscles to relax too. My doctor told me that it was such a small dosage that he didn't really think it was doing much and he wasn't concerned about me taking it at all. I've also read where it is used as a muscle relaxer. I hope this helps.

[tlongmire in reply to maryalice]

I think we have to take whatever works for anxiety (and for me IBS). I've taken Ativan for years but may not need to take it for several days. I normally use them when I'm going someplace and don't want to have a panic attack which for me triggers IBS or Irritable bladder. So for me it's not daily use. I also take .50 mg of Clonazapam several nights a week at bedtime for neck pain. I don't really worry about becoming addicted to either drug. I have a bigger worry than that---I have Parkinson's and I'm going to use every drug that's available to me in order to allow me to live my life as best I can.

[PatV]

I use it for pain. If I don't have pain I forget to take it. .25 mg halved twice a day. So total .25 a day. I feel if I solve my 'visceral off' problem & IBS I won't need it. 14 years sober I'm guarding with all my might :). Thanks

[tlongmire in reply to PatV]

Seem my reply above to MaryAlice. Congrats on your 14 years. Take good care of yourself which is what we are all striving to do.

[Hidden]

Hi there, I was on xanax for anixety- I would have these werid panic attacks that would hit me at strange times. I only took it when I needed it which was not every day. I couldn't get my Rx refilled because it being a narcotic and addiction is possible. My Dr. put me on Klonopin, it works just as well but not as fast as the xanax. where xanax has a quick punch fast release, the klonopin may take 15 minutes before you feel calm. I don't have the anxiety as much any more. I just take it when needed and sometimes at night to help me sleep for a few hours. The generic is clonezpam and it's cheap. Good Luck.

[PatV]

So nobody knows what the withdrawal symptoms are only that it's addictive. I pay over $90 for a 3 month supply of clonezapam & $19 for a 3 month supply of xanax generic! Go figure

[maryalice in reply to PatV]

I'm sorry that I didn't answer your question. The only symptom that I encountered was some irritability, but it didn't last long and got better each day. You just have to lower the dose very slowly and let your body tell you when you can lower it again.

[wifeofparky]

You need to slowly withdraw off any benzodiazepine or other anti-depressant. You generally start weaning off by gradually skipping doses. It is a process and most people differ on how fast they can wean off a drug. Dosage is not the only issue. It is also how long you have been on it.

[PatV]

Thanks makes sense!

[Precious44]

Stop using Xanax and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

•depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger;

•confusion, hyperactivity, agitation, hostility, hallucinations;

•feeling like you might pass out;

•urinating less than usual or not at all;

•chest pain, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

•uncontrolled muscle movements, tremor, seizure (convulsions); or

•jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious Xanax side effects may include:

•drowsiness, dizziness, feeling tired or irritable;

•blurred vision, headache, memory problems, trouble concentrating;

•sleep problems (insomnia);

•swelling in your hands or feet;

•muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination, slurred speech;

•upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea;

•increased sweating, dry mouth, stuffy nose; or

•appetite or weight changes, loss of interest in sex.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

I copied this from a Xanax site on the internet.

[PatV]

Sleeplessness is one that worried me. Hard to distinguish these from PD symptoms. Thanks!.

[Precious44]

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

•birth control pills;

•cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

•dexamethasone (Cortastat, Dexasone, Solurex, DexPak);

•ergotamine (Cafergot, Ergomar, Migergot);

•imatinib (Gleevec);

•isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);

•St. John's wort;

•an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate), rifapentine (Priftin), or telithromycin (Ketek);

•antifungal medication such as miconazole (Oravig) or voriconazole (Vfend);

•an antidepressant such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), or nefazodone;

•a barbiturate such as butabarbital (Butisol), secobarbital (Seconal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), or phenobarbital (Solfoton);

•heart or blood pressure medication such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), or quinidine (Quin-G);

•HIV/AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva, Atripla), etravirine (Intelence), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), saquinavir (Invirase), or ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra); or

•seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone (Mysoline).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Xanax. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Again from the site. Xanax is a dangerous drug.

[Precious44]

Withdrawal

If treatment is to be discontinued or the dose reduced, gradually taper the dose (eg, no more than 0.5 mg every 3 days). Monitor patient for withdrawal symptoms (eg, increased anxiety, tremor, muscle or abdominal cramps, sweating). If significant withdrawal symptoms develop, reinstitute previous dosing schedule and attempt a less rapid tapering regimen after patient has stabilized.

[wifeofparky]

NEVER stop taking any meds without discussing it with your neuro and PMD first.

[PatV]

I guess I should have asked what symptoms has anyone EXPERIENCED

[Lesco1964]

I take 1 mg of Xanax a day . I've taken it for over 2 yrs now for anxiety. I haven't tried to stop taking it yet though I've missed a day or two here and there I also take a 50 mcg/hr patch for pain. The only time I have any trouble is if I'm in the sun working all day . I sweat profusely it releases more of the patch than normal and it makes me tired but that's really it. I am concerned though about when I do quit taking either or of them . I guess I'll ask my dr to help me when that time comes.

[PatV]

I heard it was horrendous, yet for me it was fantastic. I was on a pink cloud. I was taking it for dystonic pain, and it was causing me to feel depressed and isolated.