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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 74. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Agomelatinehope on April 9, 2011, at 10:35:08
Hi. I've been taking 1mg alprazolam to sleep during one month and now I find myself unable to cope even with a simple dose reduction of 0.25mg (I took 0.75mg yesterday and today I feel like crap (dizzinnes, cannot walk, terrible anxiety, etc).
Could someone give me some advice?
Thank you
Posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2011, at 11:10:39
In reply to Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by Agomelatinehope on April 9, 2011, at 10:35:08
Take the dose and discuss with doc about withdrawing. A month isn't a long time. Maybe you still need it? Why if I may ask do you want off of it if it is helping? Lucky that something is working for you. Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on April 9, 2011, at 13:42:27
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :( » Agomelatinehope, posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2011, at 11:10:39
Would an XR version just muddle things further?
Or you might need to reduce even more slowly. Also, the rebound from a dose decrease can be expected and if not too great, perhaps endured.
Why are you cutting back? And do you have the prescriber's help? (Unless that was the prescriber's advice. Your reaction sounds too severe to ignore.)
fb
Posted by orbital on April 9, 2011, at 14:17:52
In reply to Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by Agomelatinehope on April 9, 2011, at 10:35:08
Are you talking to a doctor? Maybe you can get something longer acting to aid in the withdrawal.
My experience is that alprazolam isn't completely cross-equivalent to other benzos but YMMV.
What eventually worked for me was to divide my daily dose (2mg) into 4 x 0.5mg spread throughout the day, then slowly drop each of those in turn.
Good luck.
> Hi. I've been taking 1mg alprazolam to sleep during one month and now I find myself unable to cope even with a simple dose reduction of 0.25mg (I took 0.75mg yesterday and today I feel like crap (dizzinnes, cannot walk, terrible anxiety, etc).
>
> Could someone give me some advice?
>
> Thank you
Posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2011, at 21:03:23
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :( » Agomelatinehope, posted by orbital on April 9, 2011, at 14:17:52
Didn't notice before and sincerly sorry about that but really what I feel you said is after a month you tripled your dose? So do you feel you are tolerant? And might abuse this med. Could the dizziness be from taking triple the dose? Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2011, at 21:05:41
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2011, at 21:03:23
Evidently I really read it wrong this time you cut by .25mg from lmg. Jeez I think I've cut mine too fast also:(Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2011, at 21:09:15
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :( » Agomelatinehope, posted by orbital on April 9, 2011, at 14:17:52
Orbital in what way do you find ativan different as my xanax and valium no longer work? I was once told to switch to different benzo if they stopped working and have a full bottle of ativan? If on l0mg of valium and spilting dose of xanax lmg in thirds what would you do. I have permission from pdoc to do what I feel is right for me? Sorry hyjack. Phillipa
Posted by Lou Pilder on April 9, 2011, at 21:23:03
In reply to Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by Agomelatinehope on April 9, 2011, at 10:35:08
> Hi. I've been taking 1mg alprazolam to sleep during one month and now I find myself unable to cope even with a simple dose reduction of 0.25mg (I took 0.75mg yesterday and today I feel like crap (dizzinnes, cannot walk, terrible anxiety, etc).
>
> Could someone give me some advice?
>
> Thank youA_h,
You wrote,[...taking (Xanax)...unable to cope...could someone give me advice?...]
If you are wanting to rid yourself of this drug, one way to overcome the situation that you describe is by human achievement. There are groups that use various methods of cutting the drug and tapering and such. There are other groups that use other human means in an attempt to overcome the drug's effects.
Then there is healing by divine accomplishment. I can not post here how that happens from my perspective, nor can I post here where you could find that information by the nature of directives posted to me here by the administration. I want you to know that I know how you could be free from this drug, if that is your goal, but I am powerless to do so here.
Best regards,
Lou
Posted by Agomelatinehope on April 10, 2011, at 5:13:22
In reply to Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by Agomelatinehope on April 9, 2011, at 10:35:08
Thank you for your replies!
I'm really impressed by the addictive power of this drug. Just 1 month and addicted! :S
Well, I gotta say I found relief by taking low doses of diazepam (I got rid of the dizzinnes this way).
My plan is the following:
Evey four days reduce 0.25mg taking a only night dose.
And take every morning Diazepam to overcome the side effects of the alprazolam withdrawal and try to cope with normal life
PD: The reason I want to quit alprazolam is because of the anhedonia and short memory loss it has induced on me.
Posted by bleauberry on April 10, 2011, at 5:33:25
In reply to Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by Agomelatinehope on April 9, 2011, at 10:35:08
Well, a simple dose reduction of .25mg is not so simple. That's a huge chunk. Think about it, that's a 25% dose decrease in one move. That's a lot, to me anyway. And when the topic is on a dependency causing med such as xanax, it's even more extreme.
If you want to lower the dose or get off it, you should probably consider weaning down on a slow extended schedule in tiny dose reductions.
Supplements you will find helpful for weaning as well as the original symptoms you were trying to treat include:
Lemon Balm tincture
Passion Flower
Skullcap
Magnesium
Niacinimide
Combo of gaba and glycine.
There are others but those were the most reliable in my experience. They helped me a lot when I was withdrawing from xanax and again later from zyprexa. I used them in random fashion on an as-needed basis.> Hi. I've been taking 1mg alprazolam to sleep during one month and now I find myself unable to cope even with a simple dose reduction of 0.25mg (I took 0.75mg yesterday and today I feel like crap (dizzinnes, cannot walk, terrible anxiety, etc).
>
> Could someone give me some advice?
>
> Thank you
Posted by Phillipa on April 10, 2011, at 19:50:23
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by Agomelatinehope on April 10, 2011, at 5:13:22
Oh my very quickly addicted. Valium should do the trick and so glad the dizziness went away!!!! Phillipa
Posted by mtdewcmu on April 10, 2011, at 20:34:27
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by Agomelatinehope on April 10, 2011, at 5:13:22
> My plan is the following:
>
> Evey four days reduce 0.25mg taking a only night dose.
>
> And take every morning Diazepam to overcome the side effects of the alprazolam withdrawal and try to cope with normal life
>
> PD: The reason I want to quit alprazolam is because of the anhedonia and short memory loss it has induced on me.That sounds like a good plan. It's remarkable that you got "hooked" on alprazolam when you don't even like the effects. I find that it makes me feel unpleasant, also. I don't get the euphoria that it supposedly causes.
Posted by Phillipa on April 10, 2011, at 21:16:51
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by mtdewcmu on April 10, 2011, at 20:34:27
Never was I euphoric on ativan. No I don't get that either. Nice and calm better Phillipa
Posted by mtdewcmu on April 10, 2011, at 22:36:49
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :( » mtdewcmu, posted by Phillipa on April 10, 2011, at 21:16:51
> Never was I euphoric on ativan. No I don't get that either. Nice and calm better Phillipa
Well Xanax is supposed to be the euphoric one.
Posted by orbital on April 10, 2011, at 22:46:34
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :( » orbital, posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2011, at 21:09:15
P, I found Ativan to be very smooth and effective. Unlike Xanax, which gave me bad headaches and withdrawal in between doses.
I think I'd keep the Valium on board (maybe lower the dose a bit) and slowly replace the Xanax with Ativan.. Figure out how much you need... my experience was that I needed Xanax three times a day, and Ativan twice a day (though sometimes I could get away with once a day and feel fine). HTH.
> Orbital in what way do you find ativan different as my xanax and valium no longer work? I was once told to switch to different benzo if they stopped working and have a full bottle of ativan? If on l0mg of valium and spilting dose of xanax lmg in thirds what would you do. I have permission from pdoc to do what I feel is right for me? Sorry hyjack. Phillipa
Posted by agomelatinehope on April 11, 2011, at 3:35:31
In reply to Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by Agomelatinehope on April 9, 2011, at 10:35:08
I quit tobacco and Cymbalta (horrible withdrawals) but quiting Alprazolam is by far the most horrible withdrawal ever :(
Yesterday I took my car and I almost had 2 car accidents
Posted by Phillipa on April 11, 2011, at 18:42:10
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :( » Phillipa, posted by orbital on April 10, 2011, at 22:46:34
Orbital have a full bottle here I could trial substituting it for xanax as only take at night and the luvox is supposed to potentiate the effects of it. When first on Luvox was with ativan lmg. Forget how many mg's. Thanks for the advise and sorry to hyjack:( Phippia
Posted by Phillipa on April 11, 2011, at 18:43:18
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by agomelatinehope on April 11, 2011, at 3:35:31
Not good at all. So how are you doing today? Phillipa
Posted by mtdewcmu on April 11, 2011, at 20:03:33
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :( » orbital, posted by Phillipa on April 11, 2011, at 18:42:10
> Orbital have a full bottle here I could trial substituting it for xanax as only take at night and the luvox is supposed to potentiate the effects of it. When first on Luvox was with ativan lmg. Forget how many mg's. Thanks for the advise and sorry to hyjack:( Phippia
Are you saying Luvox potentiates Xanax or Ativan? Luvox does inhibit the metabolism of Xanax, but I can't find any references to Luvox interacting with Ativan.
Posted by Phillipa on April 11, 2011, at 21:19:58
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by mtdewcmu on April 11, 2011, at 20:03:33
Ativan is fine with luvox it's valium and xanax and when they say potentiates they do mean it seems like a higher dose of the xanax and valium? That's the impression was always under. Think I can just substitute the .5xanax with lmg ativan and keep the valium for now with out anything happening? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by mtdewcmu on April 11, 2011, at 21:44:30
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :( » mtdewcmu, posted by Phillipa on April 11, 2011, at 21:19:58
> Ativan is fine with luvox it's valium and xanax and when they say potentiates they do mean it seems like a higher dose of the xanax and valium? That's the impression was always under. Think I can just substitute the .5xanax with lmg ativan and keep the valium for now with out anything happening? Thanks Phillipa
Luvox causes your liver to break down Xanax more slowly. Figuring out exactly what that does to your Xanax blood levels depends on a number of things and can get complicated, but it's basically like taking more. Benzo equivalence tables show 0.5 of Xanax equaling about 1.0 of Ativan, but when you factor in the Luvox, you may need more Ativan than that. Plus, each benzo is stronger in some effects and weaker in others, so there is probably no dose of Ativan that feels exactly like 0.5 of Xanax. So, 1.0mg of Ativan is a good place to start, but you'll have to judge for yourself whether it feels like enough.
Posted by mtdewcmu on April 11, 2011, at 21:52:00
In reply to Re: Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :( » orbital, posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2011, at 21:09:15
Benzos have various different effects, such as hypnotic (sleep-inducing), muscle relaxing, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant effects. If I remember correctly, Valium is a relatively strong hypnotic, Xanax is stronger as an anxiolytic, and Klonopin is a strong muscle relaxant. I'm not sure what Ativan's "specialty" is.
Posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2011, at 0:01:38
In reply to Xanax vs Ativan vs Valium » Phillipa, posted by mtdewcmu on April 11, 2011, at 21:52:00
Thanks but boy it sure gets complicated wonder what google might offer? Phillipa
Posted by emmanuel98 on April 12, 2011, at 0:27:21
In reply to Xanax vs Ativan vs Valium » Phillipa, posted by mtdewcmu on April 11, 2011, at 21:52:00
I was having constant anxiety attacks and my p-doc prescribed xanax, 0.5mg, twice a day. I ended up taking 0.25mg once a day. I wanted to fall asleep an hour or so after each dose. The we switched to ativan 0.5mg qid. Within an hour, I would need to nap. I was in the midst of a crisis at work that made me so anxious, I could barely function, but the benzos just made me sleep. I never took them at work, when I was so anxious I couldn't eat oe funcion.
Posted by Agomelatinehope on April 12, 2011, at 4:10:06
In reply to Alprazolam Withdrawal HELP :(, posted by Agomelatinehope on April 9, 2011, at 10:35:08
I've decided to reduce by 0.125 every 3-4 days and still, I'm suffering a lot.
Is there anyway to make this nightmare last less time?
I'm unable to do anything in this state :(
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