Posted by Daveman on February 16, 2001, at 21:36:41
In reply to I'd recommend using Klonopin to get off Xanax, posted by JohnM on February 16, 2001, at 21:11:37
Thanks, John! Xanax has made me nervous for the entire time I've been taking it (6 weeks) due to its addictive qualities (quick "high", followed by the inevitable dropoff-reminds me of my "youthful" experiments with mind-altering drugs, which I thought I'd left behind oh, say two decades ago:)) Also I was already starting to experience the upward "tolerance" spiral (see my first post) which I've learned is so common to Xanax.
Thanks also for your suggestion of Hydroxyzine. I looked it up and found I'd heard of it under a different name, Atarax, but not for use as an anxiolytic. Interesting that my PDoc didn't mention it-he has brought up Buspar, which seems to be among the least favorite med of people who post on this board. Anyway, it's Klonopin for now, first dose tonight at bedtime, wish me luck:)
Daveman
> I've been on all the medicines you speak of and I'd call myself an expert. To get off the Xanax use Klonopin. Xanax had a nasty "addictive" quality for me and I don't recommend it to anyone. Ativan or Valium, while they are good medicines, won't keep the Xanax withdrawals at bay well enough. You'll find that Klonopin won't give you the "mood enhancing" qualities that Xanax has, but it is a potent medicine and is sedating and will keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. In fact, (after a few weeks) I found myself splitting the 0.5 tablets into quarters and even eighths for use in the daytime for panic/anxiety symptoms. Ativan was a rather unremarkable medicine (for me at least). Valium or Hydroxyzine HCL may be useful to you say 6 months or a year down the road, if your antideppresant and/or Klonopin doesn't control your GAD/depression well enough. But use the Klonopin to get off the Xanax.
poster:Daveman
thread:54022
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010212/msgs/54201.html