![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nismo240sx on August 27, 2005, at 8:12:23
Hello everyone, I just wanted to tell my tail of the xany land. When I was 19 my best friend died suddenly in a motorcycle accident, who was on his way to my house. I was hit pretty hard and developed a neurosis. For those of you who don't know what that is, be glad, and for those of you who do.... it takes one to know one. ;).... Anyways after all that settled in I started having severe panic attacks daily, and tried every SRI in the book; Celexa, Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac, Wellbutran etc. These did not help my anxiety/ panic disorder, infact made it worse. A full year went by and nothing improved my state of mind, until a doctor prescribed me a small dose of Xanax, a strong Benzodiazepine with a short half-life, to rid of the panic attacks. Well this worked great, and as my tolerence went up so did the dosage, and for about seven months all my panic attakcs were gone. My energy was normal, I was more talkative in work groups, group atmospheres, and with my friends. Then Xanax seemed to flip a 180, I now have severe rebounds if I don’t have my medication within 3hrs after taking last dose. One time I went on vacation forgetting my Xanax, and almost went into convulsions. This is a serious drug, with serious and fatal side effects. Studies have shown that the withrawl symptoms can be worse than Heroin. I feel I am stuck in a tunnel with no light at the end. I have lost my old personality, and friends worry about me and how I have changed. I hate to tell such a downer story, but I wish somebody will hear me out and give me an idea, or some motivation to help me. I am now so heavily addicted to this seemingly harmless tool of a drug, that I could not see my self living without the Xanax state of mind. :( Whoever reads this, thanks for taking the time, and hope to hear some hope.
Posted by SLS on August 28, 2005, at 9:43:11
In reply to SRI withdrawl? Lol, the true DOwn SIde of BeNzos, posted by Nismo240sx on August 27, 2005, at 8:12:23
Have you been offered any suggestions on how to discontinue Xanax?
Some people cross over to a longer-acting drug like clonazepam or diazepam and claim that the withdrawal process is easier. I have no personal experience with this method.
I have discontinued clonazepam and lorazepam using a flexible-dosing strategy whereby I take small doses only when withdrawal effects appear. I was able to reduce the dosage gradually this way.
- Scott
Posted by Nismo240sx on August 28, 2005, at 17:46:32
In reply to Re: SRI withdrawl? Lol, the true DOwn SIde of BeNzos, posted by SLS on August 28, 2005, at 9:43:11
I have been offered Valium(Diazepam) to replace the Xanax over a period of time, but I have not made the switch yet. I know the two drugs are in the same family, but the only diffrence I know about the two are the half-lives. I also heard that Valium can be very euphoric, and the last thing I need is to be dependent on two benzos. Any info on comparing/contrasting Valium and Xanax?
Posted by ed_uk on August 29, 2005, at 3:44:56
In reply to Re: SRI withdrawl? Lol, the true DOwn SIde of BeNz, posted by Nismo240sx on August 28, 2005, at 17:46:32
>I also heard that Valium can be very euphoric, and the last thing I need is to be dependent on two benzos. Any info on comparing/contrasting Valium and Xanax?
I very much doubt you'd find diazepam (Valium) euphoric to be honest. If you're concerned, chlordiazepoxide (Librium) can be used instead of Valium - it's a long acting benzo which is useful for tapering.
~ed
Posted by SLS on August 29, 2005, at 6:02:12
In reply to Re: SRI withdrawl? Lol, the true DOwn SIde of BeNz » Nismo240sx, posted by ed_uk on August 29, 2005, at 3:44:56
The subject of discontinuing psychotropic drugs without experiencing withdrawal syndromes is an important one that has gone underrecognized. This bulletin board currently acts more as a clearing house for the sharing of personal experiences rather than a source of definitive information. Much of what is proposed here to remediate withdrawal reactions is still in its early stages of development and verification. We eagerly await the learning of new and more effective strategies from anyone generous enough to offer them.
So far, the strategies offered can be divided into several categories.
1. Taper the original medication gradually using one of several methods.
- Fixed taper schedule
- Flexible dosing2. Crossover to a related medication for which there is cross-tolerance and that is more easily discontinued.
3. Add other substances to ameliorate the withdrawal symptoms.
4. Anaesthesia during the physiological withdrawal period.
Abrupt discontinuation (going "cold-turkey") of SRI antidepressants and benzodiazepines usually creates a situation where the withdrawal symptoms are particularly severe and persistent.
- Scott
Posted by tizza on September 12, 2005, at 8:19:57
In reply to Re: SRI withdrawl? Lol, the true DOwn SIde of BeNz, posted by SLS on August 29, 2005, at 6:02:12
I have had both xanax and valium. I was addicted to xanax for about a year and went off it cold turkey. Do not do that, as for the euphoric effect, I found xanax was much stronger in that respect, valium is much more subtle in it's and is a longer acting benzo so you don't feel the need to keep dosing up on it. Xanax is like a reverse bungie, it shoots you up into the air and then you come crashing down really fast where valium is more like taking a chairlift, but remember valium is addictive too, cheers.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Withdrawal | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.