Xanax(alprazolam) for Withdrawals

[Mesaja]

So,swim has been using xanax to taper the dose of opiates recently,because going cold turkey directly from 750mg tramadol daily is very painfull thing to do.
So,swim now has a stable source of Xanax(over here is Helex),and has a great success in tappering the dose.
He is now on 300mg(which is fuckin great when compared to 750 daily),and is feeling realy good.
Now,the main question is:
-Is this a placebo effect(since swim has read in Dickon thread that benzos dont work very well for him in the withdrawal process),or Xanax really is helping?
Any experiences will be apreciated.
Thx in adv.
p.s its nice to feel good,without so many opiates in your body,its kinda refreshing.
p.p.s swim is planing to further tappering the dose,which is now 300mg/daily,so what should be the next dose?
250mg?
200mg?
Suggestions?

[VSOP~on~tap]

yes to the xanax although it wont take away wd it does make you feel good and help you sleep, anyways good luck with that tramadol man. Ive been addicted to it before at around 800 mg a day and wd was pure hell, i wouldnt wish upon my worst enemy.
um id probably jsut cut whatever you can and still be comfotable. youll have to remember your GOING TO FEEL THE WD either way. this taper is just supposed to make you more comfortable. 50 mg drops seem to work.....

[Mesaja]

i wouldnt wish upon my worst enemy.

You dont even wanna now how many times SWIM has thought the same thing.
Its the worst nightmare ever.
The thing that pisses SWIM the most is the cravings.
The phisical withdrawals is not so bad(it hurts,but it can be handled with some non-steroidal painkillers),and it only lasts for a day and a half.
But the psichological part of it...oh my god,thats when the real hell begins...and probably thats the time when most relapses happens.
Specialy when its time to sleep.
Like in Trainspotting:To tired to stay awake,to sick to go to sleep.
However,when tappering the dose,w/d is not so bad after all.
Especialy when you have something to help you sleep.
Swim dont want to quit Tramadol because of the addiction,or because he cant get any.
Acctualy,he has a very good and reliable source coming at him right now,but the thing is...swim just hates the effects.
Acctualy,he doesnt have almost no high when on Tramadol,just feeling anxious and he feels...well,just normal.
So whats the point in taking drugs to feel normal?
If SWIM wanna take drugs,he wants to get at least a bit of euphoria.
So,the thing is,swim just wanna take a break from Tramadol(not quit,sue me).
Acctualy,this Xanax thing is working really well on swim,he took 4 pill(2mg),and just cant help noticing that he is really in a relaxed state of mind.
@VSOP~on~tap
Swim is not newbie to w/d so i know Xanax would not make them go away,but can he hope for a little help until he is trough the wd`s?
p.s Is dehidration normal when you take benzos?
swim noticed the urge of drinking lots of water in the last two hours.

[polidelaiko]

That's weird.... when SWIM stopped his Tramadol addiction he didn't crave for it... even when he was weak and sweating and cold and with the brain zaps...
Almost 2 years since that and he still has some tramadols left.
Please be careful with xanax (alprazolam) as it is just as addictive as Tramadol.. or more.

[EyesOfTheWorld]

This is a good choice if SWIY doesnt want to end all drug addiction, just tramadol addiction. Xanax addiction is a bitch and a half in and of itself, especially since it is a short acting benzo that leaves the body quickly. SWIY should if possible switch to something longer lasting if he/she intends to maintain a benzo habit, like Diazepam. WARNING: If this is the path SWIY chooses, they better make good and fucking sure to have a steady supply (like a sympathetic doctor, someone who deals out of a health care setting, etc) because running out of high dose benzos will have SWIY wishing for those peaceful, tranquil days of tramadol withdrawal.

Reputation Comments on this post:

bad advice: recommending benzo's to replace opiates. seizures are possible with benzo's, ESPECIALLY xanax.

[VSOP~on~tap]

bro (to the op) your SOOOO right. as INTENSE and how fucke up the physical wd is and how TERRIFIED we junkies are all of it.............it still is not the hardest aspect........you get very sick like you have a worse flu of your life for weeks.........and then you start to not feel so sick but the problem is you still want to take opiates and you KNOW that if you EVER touch another dose again you WILL get JUST AS SICK most likely 50 times fucking sicker so you have to make a choice at one point or another to throw in in th e sand and keep on walkin.,
you know that i know i also know your no newb to wd.
yeah keep up the xanax. me personaly, i live on Benzos. they are my gasonline. honestly I cant run without mt 6 mg kpin and 30 mg temazepam a day. i really couldnt. do what you gotta do to get comfotable, but realize there WILL be some discomfort and a wd of Some sort when you finaly drop...so yeah anyways best of luck!! hit me up anytime

Reputation Comments on this post:

use swim or aternative

[EyesOfTheWorld]

Originally Posted by VSOP~on~tap

bro (to the op) your SOOOO right. as INTENSE and how fucke up the physical wd is and how TERRIFIED we junkies are all of it.............it still is not the hardest aspect........you get very sick like you have a worse flu of your life for weeks.........and then you start to not feel so sick but the problem is you still want to take opiates and you KNOW that if you EVER touch another dose again you WILL get JUST AS SICK most likely 50 times fucking sicker so you have to make a choice at one point or another to throw in in th e sand and keep on walkin.,
you know that i know i also know your no newb to wd.
yeah keep up the xanax. me personaly, i live on Benzos. they are my gasonline. honestly I cant run without mt 6 mg kpin and 30 mg temazepam a day. i really couldnt. do what you gotta do to get comfotable, but realize there WILL be some discomfort and a wd of Some sort when you finaly drop...so yeah anyways best of luck!! hit me up anytime

SWIM says there will be a lot more than "a wd of some sort" if high dose benzos are taken over a long time and then stopped. If they help with the opie w/d, by all means take them, just decide, soon, if SWIY is going to taper off them after opiate wd is done, or keep taking them. If the latter, the patient should make damn sure to secure a steady (preferably legal as dealers vanish overnight) supply. SWIM agrees that the worst part of opiate wd is the aftermath. Lazy, don't want to do shit without the energy burst and euphoria SWIM is so used to. Family and friends start to worry as the patient is way too unenergetic for someone his/her age thats otherwise healthy, having to act happy and alert for people that dont understand the problem, and even those that do eventually want the patient to "just snap out of it"

[OhCasey]

Originally Posted by EyesOfTheWorld

SWIM says there will be a lot more than "a wd of some sort" if high dose benzos are taken over a long time and then stopped. If they help with the opie w/d, by all means take them, just decide, soon, if SWIY is going to taper off them after opiate wd is done, or keep taking them. If the latter, the patient should make damn sure to secure a steady (preferably legal as dealers vanish overnight) supply. SWIM agrees that the worst part of opiate wd is the aftermath. Lazy, don't want to do shit without the energy burst and euphoria SWIM is so used to. Family and friends start to worry as the patient is way too unenergetic for someone his/her age thats otherwise healthy, having to act happy and alert for people that dont understand the problem, and even those that do eventually want the patient to "just snap out of it"

Just a quick question, How long do you think someone can take short acting benzos like xanax without having to taper? Swim recently stopped taking opiates and for 10 of the last 14 days hes taken xanax ranging from .25 mg's to 2 mg's for his PAWS anxiety. On the weekend when he hasnt taken any Xanax he hasnt noticed withdrawal, yet.

Sorry for taking the thread a little off topic but I've looked around the benzo and benzo addiction forum but there doesnt seem to be a consensus on this.

[Mesaja]

SWIM is happy now.
He has a good suply of Tramadol also,so he can tapper the dose gently,without experiencing any heavy withdrawals.
Good thing about Tramadol is(and SWIM didnt know this until now),that if you tapper the dose properly,you can quit almost w/d free.
Also,Xanax is helping alot here,so SWIM is feeling the internal peace he was looking for ages.
SWIM knows that this would be a long process,but this is far better than routhles Cold Turkey Shit,he underwent the last time he tried to quit.
Also,SWIM talks alot with his mom and friends about his situation,and feels that this is helping him alot.
For the first time in two years,SWIM is feeling quite normal,and he is happy about it.
Just wanna share some thoughts,nothing more.
Peace and love.
p.s SWIM is going to smoke a joint now,and enjoy his lovely girlfriend MJ.
p.p.s Current dosage is:
300mg Tramadol
1mg Xanax

[VSOP~on~tap]

hey just to clarify I NEVER said that after taking HIGH dose BENZOS for a LONG time there would only be "some sort of wd"
I was talking about the opium. from my experience no matter HOWWW well you tapper with however mild a drug it is, thats all I meant was when you drop the Final opiate for reals you are going to be uncomfortable like it or not. I was only reccomending the xanax because wd is pure hell and I personaly coudl NEVER do it without my benzos (ive been on em for ten fucking years belive me I KNOW THAT wd would KILL me straight up)
just to clarify though I completely agree with everythign else said.....I feeel you SOOOOOOO much when you talk about people just being worried about you because NO one should be that sick for that long, right? especialy not an otherwise healthy looking 20-40 year old.
peace to the greese and
e'rythang in between

VSOP~on~tap added 3 Minutes and 36 Seconds later...

actualy the first time I wd from benzos (high doses of alprazolam, diazepam, AND clonazepam for about 2-3 years) the hospital tapered me off with diazepam in ten days which Ill admit was FUCKED like total hell.....but HONESTLY it was NOT BAD. I DID GET OVER IT. but my anxiety came back so hard in full force that I have been taking a large handful of kpin and restoril ever since (another 8 years) so at THIS point...yes benzo wd would fucking kill me. but even if youve been into it for just like a year or 2 or something....and you want to get off...dont be afraid to ask your doc form some diaz and TAPER off. its actualy pretty easy THE FIRST TIME (emphazized) and most old school docs at least will give you the valium for sure cause its an oldschool drug and most of them know about valium taper
peace

[Mesaja]

SWIM have gone trough benzo w/d(diazepam),and trust me,compared to opiate w/d its a piece of cake.
Maybe benzo w/d is hard for someone whos not exp. opiate w/d,but when someone get trough those seven days of hell when withdrawing from opiates,qiuting from benzos is nothing.
In SWIMs case,benzo w/d just brought him a little bit of insomnia,which is not so hard,and acctualy good for him,because,when SWIM doesnt sleep for 24 hours,he acctualy feels great(very active,talkative),kinnda like taking amphetamine.
So SWIM thinks he will continue with Xanax,because he knows that it helps him alot with tappering.
Conclusion of dally dosage:
250 mg Tramadol
1mg Xanax(and will take another 1mg later in the day,because of the tapper anxiety).
However, SWIM run out of Tramadol,and he is a bit afraid about tomorow,not because of w/ds,but he has work to do,and he hasnt got any bit of energy without Tramadol in the morning.
Come to think of it,the main problem is when SWIM has to socialize with people,and without Tramadol,thats kind of a hard thing to do.
Enough about that.
Now,swim has a question:
Is it safe to mix some antidepresant(Fluoxetine for example) with Xanax?
What will the effects be like?
Someone?
Anyone?
Peace and love.

[EyesOfTheWorld]

Put another way, it is much easier to develop an addiction to opiates than it is to benzos. However, IF someone does manage to become benzo-addicted, through heavy daily use, the resulting wd will be horrible when it finally comes. That's all I'm trying to say here.

[electrolingus]

Originally Posted by Mesaja

Now,swim has a question:
Is it safe to mix some antidepresant(Fluoxetine for example) with Xanax?
What will the effects be like?
Someone?
Anyone?
Peace and love.

Anti-depresants are often prescribed along with benzos like alprazolam. Standard SSRI's like Prozac usually don't interfere with the effects of most benzodiazepines.
One point that has been missed concerning this thread is that someone can die from benzo withdraw. Heroin withdraw will make you feel like your gonna die, but in all likelihood won't kill you. Benzo withdraw is similar to alcohol withdraw. It is possible to experience delirium tremors (DT's) and seizures. Comparing benzo withdraw to heroin withdraw is like comparing apples to peanuts.

[Mesaja]

Originally Posted by electrolingus

Anti-depresants are often prescribed along with benzos like alprazolam. Standard SSRI's like Prozac usually don't interfere with the effects of most benzodiazepines.
One point that has been missed concerning this thread is that someone can die from benzo withdraw. Heroin withdraw will make you feel like your gonna die, but in all likelihood won't kill you. Benzo withdraw is similar to alcohol withdraw. It is possible to experience delirium tremors (DT's) and seizures. Comparing benzo withdraw to heroin withdraw is like comparing apples to peanuts.

I disagree with this.
Bezo w/d is far lighter than opiate w/d.
You only get insomnia,and a bit of anxiety,but nothing that can`t be handled.
With opiate withdrawals,you get only one thing-PURE HELL!!!
That was in SWIMs case.
But come to think of it,SWIM has never been really addicted to benzos,so he is not very competent to discuss the subject.
Just wanted to share his personal opinion.
EX:
The last two weeks,SWIMs been on 2-4mg Xanax daily,and he was able to quit cold turkey almost without any w/d simpthoms.
And this same thing has happened several times.
Thats why SWIM thinks that benzo w/d is nothing compared to opiate w/d.
peace&love

[electrolingus]

Originally Posted by Mesaja

The last two weeks,SWIMs been on 2-4mg Xanax daily,and he was able to quit cold turkey almost without any w/d simpthoms.
And this same thing has happened several times.
Thats why SWIM thinks that benzo w/d is nothing compared to opiate w/d.
peace&love

SWIM is not talking about withdraw from a maintained therapeutic dose of 2-4mg/day. SWIM is talking about withdraw from 10-20+mg's daily dose. Opiate withdraw is very rough, but serious benzo withdraw is something so totally different. SWIM has 'kicked' heroin a million times but feels that withdrawing from a major benzo habit is much worse. Usually after 7-12 days (sometimes shorter) from the last use of heroin, one begins to physically feel fine. Not so with benzos, the withdraw can last for 20-30+ days. It's relentless to the bitter end.

[tyranny4u]

You only get insomnia,and a bit of anxiety,but nothing that can`t be handled.
With opiate withdrawals,you get only one thing-PURE HELL!!!

Please take no offense, but what you are saying here could make some uninformed
newbies even more uninformed.
A difference must be made between 1) what kind of opiates have been consumed for
how long, what benzos have been consumed for how long and one must concern the
dosages, too.

A withdrawal from cut street heroin can be done cold turkey within a week, while long
time methadone consumers will suffer a long time. A benzo withdrawal can take up
to 2 months, and then it still needs some time until normal sleep will be possible.

You won't die from heroin withdrawal, but you could die from benzo withdrawal. it
seems to SWIM that your worst benzo withdrawal did not happen until now, it may-
be will be surprising to you one day how that kind of hell will feel like...

The last two weeks,SWIMs been on 2-4mg Xanax daily,and he was able to quit cold turkey almost without any w/d simpthoms.
And this same thing has happened several times.
Thats why SWIM thinks that benzo w/d is nothing compared to opiate w/d.

OMG, the last two weeks? Take them for two years and try to quit then. You'll have no cold turkey
when quitting Alprazolam after two weeks. You might feel a bit uncomfortable and experience 2 or 3
days of bad sleep. but come on, would you really call that cold turkey?
unbelievable...

Reputation Comments on this post:

OMG the sarcasm is really counter productive

[VSOP~on~tap]

ok first off, DO STICK WITH THE XANAX for wd.....AND MAKE SURE TO NNNNNNOTTT EVER under ANY circumstances stop taking it cold turkey.
I now SOLIDLY believe CT is the ONLY way for opiates and the COMPLETE WRONG WAY FOR BENZOS infact it CAN cause a grand mal seizure which can kill you........that said
tapering off medicinal or even recreational low doses (probably no more than 8 mg xanax equiv daily) with diazepam.......IS NOT THAT HARD. although it is VERY fucked up and you hallucenate alot and cant sleep and for me panic attacks and anxiety come backk full throttle........HOWEVER You CAN COMFOTABLE taper down with diazepam and experience NOT much wd....except the protracted stuff that EVERYONE will go through for about a year (this happens when you get addicted to ANY chemical really...anti depressants, opiates, benzos, alcohol) because it takes that long for your brain to even THINK about returning to normal).......but honestly tapering down slowly with diazepam is NOT painful, and I would take it over and opie taper any day of the week (reason being OPIE tapers DO NOT WORK!!)
however Ill admit that CT off LONG time BIG doses of like clonazepam or alpraz or what have you: WILL BE COMEPLETE AND utter hell MUCH worse than ANY OPIE wd you EVER dreamed of.
so you have to realize they are both Very habit forming, and psychologicaly addicting.....yet there are different ways to get off each of them. Like I said for benzos You HAVE to taper (hopefuly with diaz but librium or even kpin will work). with opiates cold turkey is the ONLY succesful method Ive ever seen work. The wds, if done wrong, are pretty comparable in agony. they are different but they both make you just as miserable.
however, WD DOES end, wounds DO heal....and NO ONE has to be a drug addict their whole life. no one has to be activly addicted. IT IS A CHOICE (well Im talking about addiction Im NOT TALKING ABOUT DEPENDENCE/TOLERANCE WHICH THERE IS A HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE FUCKIGN DIFFERENCE BELIVEE ME) some people, like me, literaly NEED benzos, likely their entire lives. and it does not harmd them. grandmas been taking 1 mg xanax for 25 years. why stop if it helps?
addiction is when it starts hurting you, yet you find it hard to stop.
godspeed and bless you all!!!

JUST REMEMBER in the midst of ANY wd........YOU MUST LOOK INSIDE YOURSELF FOR STRENGTH, Or you will NEVER get through it and you will relapse. and you have to ask somethign higher than you for help.....you have to be that humble. sorry for ranting
peace

[tyranny4u]

Tapering opiates/ides with benzos works fine if you got no benzo tolerance,
or at least very low. the last time SWIM tapered off opiates he reduced the
dosage until he felt it would become uncomfortable. then he went to the
street scene, bought 400 pills of 10 mg Diazepam and went home, straight
to bed and took 10 pills (100 mg). for the next two weeks every time SWIM
woke up he did a little personal hygiene (if necessary), ate and drank (if
necessary) and took the next dose. after two weeks SWIM reduced the Dia-
zepam until zero, after one more week of rather harmless sleeping problems he
felt OK to leave the house for the first time again.
SWIM won't recommend this method to the most SWIY, but it worked for him.
He was on Methadone, then switched to Subutex for the las weeks before
kicking off. The funny things is, that the Withdrawal was not planned. It was
a spontaneous idea that "grew" within a few days. SWIM still had his take-
home dosage of Buprenorphine, he even didn't sell it. He flushed it down the
toilet and then started the withdrawal.

Personally SWIM thinks that Alprazolam is not the best benzo for tapering
off opiates. if it works for you, fine, but SWIM thinks there are some nega-
tive things about this Substance:
it's one of the most addictive (or let's say: seductive) benzos, has a short
half life, will be harder to stop to consume than Diazepam.

as SWIM said, the method mentioned above is no recommendation. it's just
a report of an experience SWIM had. and of course it's not feasible if you
have to go to work every day ;-)

[duhduhduhda]

as for the guy who said that opie tapering does not work i strongly disagree i was able to detox of off 120 mg's of methadone with a suboxone detox very succesfully with little to no discomfort in a local detox center
as for the benzo WD's total hell complete black depression and intense anxiety/hallucinations and i even got something very similiar to delirium tremens like from alcohol WD's

diazepam works best for aiding in an opiate WD but taking for it for 2 weeks straight will result in you needing to taper off of it as well

[Mesaja]

Its cool man.
I know how it is like to have a bad day.
I hope today is a better day for you.
Peace and love.

Reputation Comments on this post:

For graciously accepting the olive branch.