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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 18, 2012, at 17:08:58
I feel in a pretty good place at the moment, so I'm going to try reducing my Xanax dose (from 1mg twice a day)
I cut it down t0 0.5mg three times a day with no symptoms at all, stayed there for a week, and then reduced to 0.5mg twice a day.....no anxiety, but feeling a bit "blah"....... maybe this time I will get off of them.
I think I will always need to have a packet on hand, so I can take them during anxious periods, but if I can rid my self of the daily use, I think that would be an achivement.
Still taking my Zoloft, Edronax and the "grey market" risperidone.
Have been considering dropping all three for Remeron, but the weight gain puts me off - I have lost 20kgs and still need to drop another 10, the last thing I need is a drug that makes me eat like crazy
Posted by Phillipa on January 18, 2012, at 17:31:35
In reply to Quitting Xanax, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 18, 2012, at 17:08:58
Good for you Jono glad you are feeling better also. I've never had a problem cutting down. Just cut 2.5mg off my valium. Next to go that tiny .25mg of xanax. Doesn't seem to make a difference in how I feel. Once took remeron 15mg with benzos for sleep and it didn't help but no weight gain either? Phillipa
Posted by gadchik on January 18, 2012, at 17:45:38
In reply to Quitting Xanax, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 18, 2012, at 17:08:58
good luck to you.I still havent gotten off the klonopin.I was able to taper zoloft and remeron,but the k is an emotional and physical attachment for me.I too am at a good stress free time in my life,and think I should try to do w/o the k.But I too feel I will always have a benzo around for panic emergencies.I would LOVE to use klonopin as needed only.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 18, 2012, at 18:17:49
In reply to Re: Quitting Xanax » jono_in_adelaide, posted by gadchik on January 18, 2012, at 17:45:38
Thats my goal - take the antidepressants daily, and take a benzo only PRN
I have an added motivation, I want to get work in the mining industry, and benzodiazepines are a dirty word there - the industry feels that they present a health and safety risk becuase of the sedation they cause.... and I think the statistics about road accidents do bare that out to some extent..... so if you test positive, they usualy arnt too keen on employing you.
Its strange, there isnt any rebound anxiety, and I am still sleeping well (though have been taking a Unisom at bedtime since I started cutting down), jut a feeling like I have a minor bout of stomach flu....... a bit of nausea, a dull hweadache, a feeling of diconmfort in my guts, maliase
Anyway, I'll see how it all goes, I can only try.
I might well give mirtazapine a go phillipa - I think it could well replace the risperdel, zoloft and edronax, because of its multiple actions - just taking one pill once a day instead of multiple lots would be nice
Posted by gadchik on January 18, 2012, at 18:58:46
In reply to Re: Quitting Xanax, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 18, 2012, at 18:17:49
I have thought that I might use remeron to help me get off of klonopin,however it does make my rls worse,but I could put up with that if I had to.Remeron was very easy for me to taper,zoloft was harder.I had lots of dizziness.Maybe you will be my inspiration to get it done this time.
Posted by Phillipa on January 18, 2012, at 20:27:57
In reply to Re: Quitting Xanax, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 18, 2012, at 18:17:49
Jono you mention mining are you male? Can't picture a female in a mine? Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 19, 2012, at 16:13:16
In reply to Re: Quitting Xanax » jono_in_adelaide, posted by Phillipa on January 18, 2012, at 20:27:57
Phillipa, yes, I'm a man
I wont be working actualy in the mine, I work in logistics/supply chain..... there are actualy quite a few women who work in mine sites in Australia, doing everything from secreterial work to driving those gogantic dump trucks.
Its very well paid work, you can make as much as a lawyer or doctor if you get into the right place.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 19, 2012, at 16:24:33
In reply to Re: Quitting Xanax » jono_in_adelaide, posted by Phillipa on January 18, 2012, at 20:27:57
I'm feeling alot better today btw, I guess I'm one of the 50% of people who can quit long term benzos with no trouble.
I know some people have a terrible time quitting them, but for me it seems to be pretty painless.
Same when I quit high dose effexor, a couple of days of discomfort and then I was fine..... I must have inherited some tough genes!
I'm still taking 0.5mg twice a day, will stick at this dose for a week or so, then step down to 0.5mg at night for a week, then stop, and see how I go.
Posted by gadchik on January 19, 2012, at 17:27:15
In reply to Re: Quitting Xanax, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 19, 2012, at 16:24:33
i think that is fantastic.yes,you are very lucky to be able to taper easily.I can feel every little crumb that I try to reduce my klonopin by.Its mainly vertigo that I suffer as I try to taper any psych med,and vertigo sends me into major panic.
Posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2012, at 20:31:40
In reply to Re: Quitting Xanax, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 19, 2012, at 16:13:16
Jono funny how you picture a person with a name. But Jono would be masculine? Sounds like pay is high In Australia. Glad to hear the withdrawal is not painful for you as thought myself even odder as I used to go up and down and not think twice about it. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 19, 2012, at 23:49:08
In reply to Re: Quitting Xanax » jono_in_adelaide, posted by Phillipa on January 19, 2012, at 20:31:40
Yes, In Australia, Jono is a shortend version of Jonathan (my real name), some people call me Jon, some Jono....my mother always called me Jonathan.
Posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2012, at 20:05:18
In reply to Re: Quitting Xanax, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 19, 2012, at 23:49:08
Thanks for taking time to explain. Jono is lovely. My father's name with John. Here he was called Jack as a name. Phillipa
Posted by Tony P on January 23, 2012, at 16:45:17
In reply to Re: Quitting Xanax » jono_in_adelaide, posted by gadchik on January 18, 2012, at 18:58:46
> I have thought that I might use remeron to help me get off of klonopin,however it does make my rls worse...[snip].
I had terrible RLS, akathisia really, the first time I tried Remeron. Next time I took Ropinirole (Requip, Ropark, Adartrel) as well and had no problem. As an added benefit, ropinirole has a mild anti-depressant augmenting effect (Canadian Journal of Psychiatry May 2005, apparently no longer online but I have a copy if anyone's interested).
This is the end of the thread.
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