well went from Xanax...to

[Guest]

Well, here we go, as most know I have been a Xanx gal for 7 years. Needing it for sleep, taking 1mg per night. OK I decided to stop, my doctor told me to take Valium 10mg at night for sleep. So since last Thursday I've been doing this. So far so good (save for from afternoon nausea0 but now that is gone. I thought this was going to be so much worse. Now I'm a little afraid of when I wean from Valium, which I plan to do in around 4weeks.I will have a major withdrawal episode. I see my doctor July 23,and will have to get something new for sleep. Have any of you went from Xanax to Valium then completly off without incident? Would be interested in your story.
Thanks
Mar

[tea]

well went from Xanax...to

Hi Mar, sorry no advice just want to know why you decided to switch from Xanax to Valium? Was this recommended to you? Thinking of you so much lately.

Lorna x

[Guest]

well went from Xanax...to

Tea, I wanted to stop taking it because your really only supposed to use it for about 6months. It's been seven years and I was worried about the effects it has on the brain. I had a MRA last year it revealed that I had mild cerebral atrophy. I am scred to death of developing dementia as I age. My doctor says everyone brain shrinks with time but I thought at 45 this was just to soon. Thanks for thinking of me, nice to know someone does.That sounds like I'm giving myself a pity party dosen't it? I'm actually in a very good mood. Smiles
Mar

[tea]

well went from Xanax...to

aaargh, YOU are 45... unbelievable Simey, that was either a reeallly old photo you posted or I am coming to live in VA - lol.

Love, Lorna xx

[beatle]

well went from Xanax...to

what is xanax anyway?

[Guest]

well went from Xanax...to

Thoese are recent pictures tea, so come on over to VA!! We can be roomies. It's all my clean living.haha!
smiles
Mary

[Guest]

well went from Xanax...to

Beatle, Xanax is a benzo that I was given for anxiety. I loved it because it works so well, but time to say goodbye to it.
Mar

[beatle]

well went from Xanax...to

oh, a benzo. Well that explains everything. ;-)
Benzos are supposed to act on the same part of the brain as alcohol.
Gee, wonder why we alkies like them so much?
Anyhow, isn't valium another benzo? (sorry, I'm not so up on the drug categories).
I also heard that kicking benzos is harder than kicking alcohol. hard to believe for me.

[happycamper68]

well went from Xanax...to

Benzos are extremely addictive- I have been hooked on Klonopin for 5 years, have weaned down to half the dose I used to be on. If I go one day without it I have the worst rebound anxiety ever and feel like my heart will jump out of my chest. Simey, the doc is going to have to wean you off it slowly, 4 weeks is too short. Plus if you cannot sleep you'll need to think about things to help you sleep after you are off your benzos, like melatonin. Also some over the counter things are helpful. Benadryl is pretty good for sleep then there is Unisom and some other ones.

[SKendall]

well went from Xanax...to

Simey, I was on .05 mg of Xanas for about 3 years. Stopped it on my own and had the worst withdrawls. After 3 days called the doc and he told me withdrawl from Xanax was equal to heroin. By that time I had been thru the worst so he gave me Librium, but told me the best way to come of from Xanax is very slowly over weeks.

Hope you are doing okay.

[sujul]

well went from Xanax...to

Hey Simey--

I too took benzos for over 10 years--at some point I've tried all of 'em: Xanax, Valium, Lorazepam, Klonopin.... I was very addicted to them--if I missed a dose I actually began to feel sick, double up with stomach cramps, feel shaky and unbearable jumping-out-of-my-skin anxiety and panic--withdrawal from benzos is actually as bad as coming off heroin--and it takes longer....

From my own experience I was able to do it only by cutting down (tapering) on the dose by TINY amounts...I would break one of the several I took a day into quarters and I took a quarter less only every three days...It took a few weeks but it was safe and bearable...but it was definitely the worst physical withdrawal I have ever experienced. You have to cut down and then let your body get used to the new amount for three days and then cut down again, stay at that dose for three days and so on...

This worked for me...there are other methods but please bear in mind that this is very serious and can be quite dangerous. Whatever you do NOT just stop taking them....

I by no means want to frighten you are anyone else here, but this was my experience and I feel that we all need to be aware of the real seriousness of these drugs....I was a major "recreational" drug user and these things kicked my a** like nothing else....when I first tried to just stop I became literally psychotic and had to take some just to "come down. " Very, very scary.

You might want to google benzos and withdrawal--there are all sorts of support sites and tons of information....

Be gentle with yourself, Simey!

[Mags]

well went from Xanax...to

I have never taken any of those, so am totally useless on this thread.
But please be careful, make sure you get off these only with the help of your doctor and keep in close contact with him/her should you have any problems.
You know we are all here to help if we can and are all thinking of you and hoping this goes well.
Good luck. Keep us informed.
:happyheart:

[ducky]

well went from Xanax...to

Wow, now I know why my gp gave me just 6 pills! I have to have 2 MRIs and am claustrophobic. I took a pill and had one, one to go. I did not realize it was so addictive.

Sorry to be off topic.