XanaxForSocialPhobia
06-06-2008, 22:34
Xanax cold turkey experiment:
This thread is for those who is curious if Xanax is possible to use for many years (perhaps a life-time). Despite all warnings my friend ;) is determined to try using Xanax regularly as it completely makes his problems disappear. He has now used Xanax for almost four months.
A little background:
Despite a good childhood he got social phobia starting at high school. At the age of 27 he took contact with psychiatrist and got therapy. He tried different drugs (almost all the ssri:s, but the side effects where unbearable and/or did not help enough). His libido was non existant (because of the high doses) and he unfortunately split up with his girl friend. He has never worked with what he is educated for (it involves too much human interaction and even going for an interview would be impossible) although he had a masters degree.
Two years ago he was "prescribed" clonazepam and he was exactly the way he wanted to be. An active participant in society, not hiding at home all the time. Being able to apply for a much better job (though not within the field he is educated in). Helping out family members and so forth. However, after seven months his dose had escalated too much. He, had been too naive with benzos and started reading about the medication type. Then he understood that it would be impossible to continue. In order to quit (and be able to maintain his job) he felt the only thing to do was a cold turkey during a two week holiday from work.
He says that it was a real hell he had not foreseen. He was simply not prepared for the anxiety. Two weeks of vacation was not enough to go off of the clonazepam (with a long half-life). He did not dare to go out and shop food, so he lost about 4 kg before he dared go shopping. And during those two weeks all the good relations he had built up was starting going downhill as he was even more scared of those persons than before.
However, things got back to "normal" after a few months.
Aftern another roundtrip with ssri:s he firmly believes benzos to be the only good cure for his social phobia. So, despite the terrible episode from clonazepam he started studying a lot about benzos.
The "Ashton manual" was read, and many forums searched. Most of the posts declaring "cold turkey" withdrawal as inappropriate and dangerous. He did quite a lot of reading about half-lives, chances of epilepsy and so forth.
He decided that he wanted a "real life": thus he was willing to pay the price of going cold turkey again, but it had to be planned carefully. So he started taking Xanax with the following plan:
Using Xanax for almost four months.
Taking a vacation of two weeks + one weekend.
Stopping Xanax (with the Tegretol as a security for seizures).
Starting using Xanax again one day before going to work.
...and using Xanax for another four months until the next cold turkey.
He thinks it is best that no social encounters should happen during the cold turkey. Turning off the phone, with good excuses for being away...
Now, being armed with the awareness of severe anxiety, insomnia etcetera he will try to focus on working with the computer, updating the progress of the experiment (in this thread). Reading the paper, making some physical excersices at home. Watching movies and TV.
The experiment in detail:
Day 1: Start using Tegretol (as a precaution of all warnings of epilepsy).
About Tegretol: He has tried using the medication and found that he tolerates its side-effects (though blurred vision, itching and getting stupid was a real concern).
The half-life of Tegretol is about 36 hours, and he plans to go up to a "normal" dose quickly on two days.
Day 2: Quit Xanax completely.
Day 8: Phasing out Tegretol
Day 12: No more Tegretol.
Day 15: Try out a low dose of Xanax and see what effect it will have.
Day 16: Go to work with the proper amount of Xanax.
Follow the diary and post your comments. The experiment is starting by the the 25:th of June!
XanaxForSocialPhobia added 111 Minutes and 7 Seconds later...
I want to clarify that my friend is legally prescribed Xanax. But rapid detoxing is his own invention in order to keep the dose down to the level his doctor prescribes for (4 mg/day).
In the end of february an ordinary dose for him was about 1,5 mg/day. Now, it is 7-9 mg/day.
XanaxForSocialPhobia added 1377 Minutes and 18 Seconds later...
My friend thinks that there are four possible outcomes from the experiment:
Scenario 1: Getting intolarable withdrawals and not being able to lower the effective dose at all after the withdrawal period. Leading to protracted withdrawal syndrome, unumployment and a lonely life.
Scenario 2: Withdrawals were intense, but endurable. Being able to cut down the dose to about 2 mg:s a day during the first few weeks. Getting a good job and having good relationships.
Scenario 3: Withdrawals are severe to moderate. However the first few weeks he will need about 3-4 mgs.
Scenario 4: Withdrawals are severe to moderate. Cutting the amount of pills needed to about a half. During the four months the brain quickly adapts to the Xanax again making the dose high rather quickly.
This thread is for those who is curious if Xanax is possible to use for many years (perhaps a life-time). Despite all warnings my friend ;) is determined to try using Xanax regularly as it completely makes his problems disappear. He has now used Xanax for almost four months.
A little background:
Despite a good childhood he got social phobia starting at high school. At the age of 27 he took contact with psychiatrist and got therapy. He tried different drugs (almost all the ssri:s, but the side effects where unbearable and/or did not help enough). His libido was non existant (because of the high doses) and he unfortunately split up with his girl friend. He has never worked with what he is educated for (it involves too much human interaction and even going for an interview would be impossible) although he had a masters degree.
Two years ago he was "prescribed" clonazepam and he was exactly the way he wanted to be. An active participant in society, not hiding at home all the time. Being able to apply for a much better job (though not within the field he is educated in). Helping out family members and so forth. However, after seven months his dose had escalated too much. He, had been too naive with benzos and started reading about the medication type. Then he understood that it would be impossible to continue. In order to quit (and be able to maintain his job) he felt the only thing to do was a cold turkey during a two week holiday from work.
He says that it was a real hell he had not foreseen. He was simply not prepared for the anxiety. Two weeks of vacation was not enough to go off of the clonazepam (with a long half-life). He did not dare to go out and shop food, so he lost about 4 kg before he dared go shopping. And during those two weeks all the good relations he had built up was starting going downhill as he was even more scared of those persons than before.
However, things got back to "normal" after a few months.
Aftern another roundtrip with ssri:s he firmly believes benzos to be the only good cure for his social phobia. So, despite the terrible episode from clonazepam he started studying a lot about benzos.
The "Ashton manual" was read, and many forums searched. Most of the posts declaring "cold turkey" withdrawal as inappropriate and dangerous. He did quite a lot of reading about half-lives, chances of epilepsy and so forth.
He decided that he wanted a "real life": thus he was willing to pay the price of going cold turkey again, but it had to be planned carefully. So he started taking Xanax with the following plan:
Using Xanax for almost four months.
Taking a vacation of two weeks + one weekend.
Stopping Xanax (with the Tegretol as a security for seizures).
Starting using Xanax again one day before going to work.
...and using Xanax for another four months until the next cold turkey.
He thinks it is best that no social encounters should happen during the cold turkey. Turning off the phone, with good excuses for being away...
Now, being armed with the awareness of severe anxiety, insomnia etcetera he will try to focus on working with the computer, updating the progress of the experiment (in this thread). Reading the paper, making some physical excersices at home. Watching movies and TV.
The experiment in detail:
Day 1: Start using Tegretol (as a precaution of all warnings of epilepsy).
About Tegretol: He has tried using the medication and found that he tolerates its side-effects (though blurred vision, itching and getting stupid was a real concern).
The half-life of Tegretol is about 36 hours, and he plans to go up to a "normal" dose quickly on two days.
Day 2: Quit Xanax completely.
Day 8: Phasing out Tegretol
Day 12: No more Tegretol.
Day 15: Try out a low dose of Xanax and see what effect it will have.
Day 16: Go to work with the proper amount of Xanax.
Follow the diary and post your comments. The experiment is starting by the the 25:th of June!
XanaxForSocialPhobia added 111 Minutes and 7 Seconds later...
I want to clarify that my friend is legally prescribed Xanax. But rapid detoxing is his own invention in order to keep the dose down to the level his doctor prescribes for (4 mg/day).
In the end of february an ordinary dose for him was about 1,5 mg/day. Now, it is 7-9 mg/day.
XanaxForSocialPhobia added 1377 Minutes and 18 Seconds later...
My friend thinks that there are four possible outcomes from the experiment:
Scenario 1: Getting intolarable withdrawals and not being able to lower the effective dose at all after the withdrawal period. Leading to protracted withdrawal syndrome, unumployment and a lonely life.
Scenario 2: Withdrawals were intense, but endurable. Being able to cut down the dose to about 2 mg:s a day during the first few weeks. Getting a good job and having good relationships.
Scenario 3: Withdrawals are severe to moderate. However the first few weeks he will need about 3-4 mgs.
Scenario 4: Withdrawals are severe to moderate. Cutting the amount of pills needed to about a half. During the four months the brain quickly adapts to the Xanax again making the dose high rather quickly.