Curious about getting OFF Benzos... help?

[justme102571]

OK, I had this crazy dream last night... I dreamed that I knew someone who had been taking Xanax for about 8 straight months and wanted to stop. In my dream, this person took between .5mgs and 2mgs a night. The average use was probably around .75mgs. I dreamed this person would, on occassion, substitute the nightly Xanax dose for 10mgs of Valium. When I woke up, the only question I could think of was... in my dream, how would that person have gotten off benzos permanently? I mean, I've heard stories about nasty withdrawals or seizures, etc. It would be nice to know how to safely get off benzo so if I have the same dream again, I can give that person the knowledge they need in dreamland.

I really appreciate any responses...

[fnord]

slowly taper your dosage down, start by not using more then 1.75 for a few days then go down to 1.5 etc etc etc.

[Orchid_Suspiria]

Hmm if this person in the dream feels this is too difficult to do on his own swim hopes he seeks medical help.Benzodiazepine withdrawal is nothing to play around with.

[fnord]

a doc will give the same advice i just did might change the dose/scheduled a bit but pretty much the same advice.

[Jatelka]

The thing is, the practicalities of actually tapering with Alprazolam are tricky. First, it’s a short acting drug, so there’s likely to be end of dose anxiety, which isn’t exactly conducive to stopping. Secondly, the smallest size is a scored 0.25mg tablet (which when halved gives a dose of 0.125mg). This is still equivalent to 2.5mg of diazepam, and makes the very end of the taper hard, because you can’t go any lower.

The reason that diazepam is used in benzodiazepine tapering is because it has a long half-life, and because it’s available in formulations that allow very small doses of benzo to be used. Where SWIJ is, it’s available in a liquid, which allows easy and accurate measurement of doses as small as 0.5 and 0.25mg.

Another advantage of seeking specialist help is accessing support services that are appropriate. NA might not be it, but there are downer/sleeper/benzo groups out there that may be helpful

[justme102571]

OK, thanks for the replies...

If I go back to dreamland and have to give advice to this person in my dream... would I tell them it's probably better to start tapering off diazepam instead of alprazolam??? In my dream, there is total access to scored .25, .5, and .1 pills, just as there is access to diazepam also (5 & 10mgs).

Hmmmmm... starting a fluoxetine cycle for 3-6 months? This might be beneficial because it would help defend against any problems (anxiety attacks, seizures, etc) that may arise from discontinuing the benzo. If the tapering of the benzo is 4-6 weeks, that would be perfect timing for fluoxetine to kick in.

Being that dreamer's typical dosage was only .75 daily (taken at night), I think he's hoping that may indicate a lesser chance of a dangerous withdrawal.

Dreamer doesn't have access to a medical professional to ask questions. Dreamer also isn't stupid - he understands that most people feel uncomfortable giving medical advice because they're afraid of liability. However, his goal is to get 'opinions' only. So please, if there is anything else to add, don't hold back. Nobody here is a medical professional and this is all a fictional and opinionated discussion.

So... what if Dreamer (in Dreamland... of my dreams) tapers off Alprazolam in 60 days? Perhaps shaving off something like .125mgs every 12 days. Would this seem reasonable?

[fnord]

That would be a more then reasonable amount of time,as the Queen said a longer acting benzo would be better if swiy can get there hands on it.id only start the fluxotine if your buddy really feels its needed, messing with ones brain chemicals on a daily basis isint the best thing for your mind.

[Laudaphun]

Does this person in the dream take the benzos only once daily at bedtime? Or does this person take more than one dose per day? Also, if the person typically takes 0.75mg alprazolam only once daily and at bedtime, does this person feel any anxiety or anything that might be perceived as a withdrawl symptom before taking their daily dose (which would be 24 hours later if in fact it is only a single dialy dose). SWIM's opinion is that since alprazolam is very short acting if a person has taken it only once daily (most of the time at least) that there might be signs of withdrawl.

[justme102571]

Dreamer (in my dream) stated he typically takes .75 once daily before bedtime. I asked Dreamer why he does this, Dreamer stated two reasons: 1) Dreamer's a light sleeper and he knows his roommates will wake up, so why not get some good sleep and 2) sometimes Dreamer's just bored and wants to feel a slight buzz. Dreamer said he has never felt any anxiety, or anything else, that prompted him to take some. In the dream, Dreamer is living in some mythical eastern European country where he doesn't need a 'script to get any... so why not? It's too easy.

[rocksmokinmachine]

I suggest getting a copy of Heather Ashtons book.

[justme102571]

Dremaer (in my dream) appreciates the book recommendation. Unfortunately, he doesn't have the accessibility or the time to go book hunting or to read one that he's not currently involved with.

Could you do a quick paraphrase? Your response was rather vague. Is it a book about addiction? About getting off benzos? About solving the world's problems?

Dreamer (in my dream) is on his 4th straight day of only taking .25 at night. So far... nothing major to report. No anxiety. No real sleeping issues. Nothing. After two weeks, the dreamer will cut down to .125 for another two weeks... and because he's overly cautious, then move down to .0625 for an additional two weeks. Dreamer (in my dream) just hopes he can keep out of the danger zone.

[kareena]

Originally Posted by justme102571

Well, I appreciate the book recommendation. Unfortunately, I don't have the accessibility or the time to go book hunting or to read one that I'm not currently involved with.

Do a google search for "The Ashton Manual". That will give SWIY lots of useful information.

[Jatelka]

Given that the info contained in the Ashton Maunual is so easily found via a Google Search

[dirtyp]

if you take it 4 or 8 weeks the widrawl should not be that hard. i take xanax for about 3 years and a month ago i was in rehab. i don't wanna scare you but it was very hard to get off, so if you have symptoms like depression extreme fear... i shoud recomend professional help.

[justme102571]

Hmmmm... well, I'm wondering when the withdrawal symptoms are most likely to appear? Dreamer cut back to .25 for about 16 days, and now dreamer has been taking .0125 for the past 4 nights. Up to this point, Dreamer has nothing major to report. Naturally, some nights he doesn't sleep as good as before, but he's cool. There were a few times he sensed what seemed to be the onset of a panic attack (Dreamer had a short bout with panic attacks 2 years ago) 2 weeks ago. His first reaction was to grab some Xanax, but he just chilled out and talked himself out of it... and within 5 minutes... everything was cool and his day resumed normal.

So far... that's it. No real issues with anything else. Therefore, Dreamer is wondering when exactly do the withdrawal symptoms appear. Also, twice he forgot to take his .25 at night... and waited until the following night, yet again, nothing happened.

[dirtyp]

That's great to hear. i have to go in to rehab in a few weeks for benzo's and i'm realy scared. but your story gives me more hope.
Thanks

[H4U2C]

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