The anti-depressants made me much worse, but that's me. I know they help other people. Also, I don't sweat when I get flashes either. I just get hot, particularly in the back of my neck and head.

Mary Jo....Hi! Sorry you are having the peri insomnia/anxiety stuff. I took Xanax for years at a very small dose like you are doing. It was the only thing that worked for my severe insomnia. The AD's made my anxiety worse. I wouldn't worry about the Xanax, like the other ladies here have said, you are taking a small dose and it's only been two months.

I have been off of the Xanax for some time now. I just went off of it one day when I felt I didn't need it anymore. Don't suffer needlessly with the insomnia/anxiety.

Hugs,
Susan

Xanax belongs to the group of drugs known as benzodiazepenes. Most people will develop at least some physical dependency after regular use of a benzo for a time period that can range from as little as two weeks for some to several months for others. Xanax happens to have a very short half-life (time for half the dose you took to be out of your system). It is actually one of the more difficult benzos to wean off of because of this. And you should definitely taper. Very few people are able to cold turkey off benzos with few or no problems.

To deal with the half-life issue, it is best to begin by taking your daily dose and splitting it at the very least in two and then taking each dose 12 hours apart. Otherwise, you open yourself up to a phenomenon know as inter-dose withdrawal. Maybe that is why you don't feel it is helping anymore. One way to then begin tapering is by so-called dry cutting. Use a razor blade to trim a tiny amount off each dry dose once a week or whatever rate you can tolerate. Every week, trim a bit more and always let how you feel be your guide. You may be lucky and not experience any withdrawal. Or you may be like me and have a terrible time.

I was on ativan, a medium dose, for seven weeks spring of 2006 and took 20 weeks to taper off and still had a very hard time. About 10-20% of people do, and I belong to that group. Doesn't mean you do. Near the end of my taper, I had to create liquid doses from the tablets, using a graduated syringe, in order to make smaller cuts.

The best source of info and support in the event you run into difficulties - and let's hope you belong to the larger percentage of the population that experiences only minimal withdrawal - is the yahoo group for benzo withdrawal and recovery. Not sure if I am allowed to post it here.

Marie



I read a book by a brain specialist who said that Xanax and the other benzos are the most damaging to the brain.... he advised never taking them.
I took Xanax for a while and had after effects when they would wear off that were worse the the original anxiety.... Pretty soon you need more and more..
I found a product called Relax Advantage by Dr. David Williams that works as well as Xanax for me and no side effects... you can do a search on it..
I don't even need to take the recommended dose... It just took half the amount and it works... It is all herbs, amino acids and vitamins...

Good luck,
Elise
Hello everyone,

I have been taking .25 Xanax (generic) for a couple of months now. At my doctor's advice, I started taking it "as needed", and usually took a half pill when I did need it. However, for about a month, I have started taking one whole pill right before bed to help me sleep and ward off nocturnal anxiety and panic attacks. I have never taken more than one tablet every 12 hours. But I want to stop it all together and try some alternative methods, maybe vitamins and herbal remedies. I almost feel like my problems are worse now than before I started taking the Xanax. What is the best way to stop taking it? I know cold turkey isn't the way, so can someone give me some advice? I really want to see how I feel without relying on the medication. I wake up at night anyway, and I feel like crap all day, like I haven't even been to bed. So, what do I have to lose? I am also taking Premarin. I just hate taking anything at all!

Thanks!!!