weaning off xanax
im weaning off xanax im down to .25 and the panic has come back full force the obsessive thoughts are racing in my mind again i feel like im back to square one im in week 7 of this program and feel like maybe i should start over i thought i had made such progress and now i question if the xanax was making or i should say masking some of my issues and thats why i was feeling better i dont know im just venting this is the only place where i feel that i truly have people that i can relate to for the first time in my life so im so thankful for this program and this website and want to get better but now im questioning if i should get back on xanax
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Guest
Be VERY proud of yourself for tappering down to .25 mgs!
When I first began having anxiety a little over eight years ago, I was also prescribed Xanax- and it was a miracle for me because I could function again. I used (and probably abused- my monthly Rx at one point was for 200 mgs to be used as needed) it for over four years, and was then given Ativan. Again, my body became habituated and I had to take more and more to feel ANY relief- about 9 mgs. a day. This October my psy. tappered me down to 1 1/2 in 17 days, and I was successful during the taper and for a week or two... until I had a major anxiety attack resulting in a what I'm pretty sure was a nervous breakdown. I wasn't hospitalized, but I did take a leave of absence from work for nearly two months. I just went back last week, and have been taking about 2 mgs. of clonazepam since Tuesday. I don't know much about this Rx, and wold really like to hear other people's experiences/advice. It doesn't seem to be working quite as well as xanax or ativan, but at least I'm getting through the day.
I guess what I'd like to tell you is that while you feel like you've had a setback, it may just take a little more time. Recognize the progress you've made! I know this has not been easy, but I long to be where you are.
I've also been told there is no reason to feel uncomfortable when weaning off a med, and if you do you may need to go back to your previous dosage. I've also found (and this has been confirmed by my pharmacist and physchologist) that many meds strip your body of nutrients that are essential to feeling good and becoming healthy. I found some very helpful information at theroadback.org (I hope it's ok for me to share this... I'm certainly not trying to sell the program [it's free right now anyway], but do believe I found some relief from certain suppliments. Besides, these same vitamins can be purchased at a health food store). I can't take any right now because I've developed acid reflux, but when I did take the passion flower it worked wonders! The tart cherries were also helpful for winding down at night. Beings, your on a lower dosage of xanax, maybe the passion flower would work for you? I honestly could not believe how potent it was in comparison to the anti-anxiety meds!
As for the obsessive thought process, I just discovered two things that work for me- 1.)When I exercise, I watch t.v. and read the captions instead of listening. It takes everything in me not to fall off the tredmill; but then again, I'm not overly cooridinated- HA! 2.)When I listen to music, I find myself singing along and all I think of is the lyrics- especially when it comes to old songs that I've forgotten about.
Whatever you do, DON'T GIVE UP! You WILL make it, maybe just not on the timeline you planned.
When I first began having anxiety a little over eight years ago, I was also prescribed Xanax- and it was a miracle for me because I could function again. I used (and probably abused- my monthly Rx at one point was for 200 mgs to be used as needed) it for over four years, and was then given Ativan. Again, my body became habituated and I had to take more and more to feel ANY relief- about 9 mgs. a day. This October my psy. tappered me down to 1 1/2 in 17 days, and I was successful during the taper and for a week or two... until I had a major anxiety attack resulting in a what I'm pretty sure was a nervous breakdown. I wasn't hospitalized, but I did take a leave of absence from work for nearly two months. I just went back last week, and have been taking about 2 mgs. of clonazepam since Tuesday. I don't know much about this Rx, and wold really like to hear other people's experiences/advice. It doesn't seem to be working quite as well as xanax or ativan, but at least I'm getting through the day.
I guess what I'd like to tell you is that while you feel like you've had a setback, it may just take a little more time. Recognize the progress you've made! I know this has not been easy, but I long to be where you are.
I've also been told there is no reason to feel uncomfortable when weaning off a med, and if you do you may need to go back to your previous dosage. I've also found (and this has been confirmed by my pharmacist and physchologist) that many meds strip your body of nutrients that are essential to feeling good and becoming healthy. I found some very helpful information at theroadback.org (I hope it's ok for me to share this... I'm certainly not trying to sell the program [it's free right now anyway], but do believe I found some relief from certain suppliments. Besides, these same vitamins can be purchased at a health food store). I can't take any right now because I've developed acid reflux, but when I did take the passion flower it worked wonders! The tart cherries were also helpful for winding down at night. Beings, your on a lower dosage of xanax, maybe the passion flower would work for you? I honestly could not believe how potent it was in comparison to the anti-anxiety meds!
As for the obsessive thought process, I just discovered two things that work for me- 1.)When I exercise, I watch t.v. and read the captions instead of listening. It takes everything in me not to fall off the tredmill; but then again, I'm not overly cooridinated- HA! 2.)When I listen to music, I find myself singing along and all I think of is the lyrics- especially when it comes to old songs that I've forgotten about.
Whatever you do, DON'T GIVE UP! You WILL make it, maybe just not on the timeline you planned.