xanax

[tres]

i take xanax for sleep but feel like shit the next day from it...lazy,tired ,weak,grouchy, anybody else feel this way?

 

[zaarel2]

I would avoid taking benzodiazepines like Xanax unless I absolutely needed it for SEVERE anxiety issues. I have a very dear friend who went through hell trying to come off Xanax after using for 5 years. I am not a doctor and many may disagree but I can say from seeing her and reading some about them I usre wouldnt use for sleep. Have you tried Ambien?

 

[cpeil2]

i take xanax for sleep but feel like shit the next day from it...lazy,tired ,weak,grouchy, anybody else feel this way?

Almost all sedative type drugs leave me feeling the same way. I'm a real lightweight when it comes to anything with a sedative effect. Even 300 mcg of melatonin leaves me groggy the next day.

 

[Desmo996]

The thing with Xanax is to ONLY use it when absolutely needed or you can become dependent on it. To avoid feeling groggy the next day, take it earlier in the evening. Also are you taking the IR or XR version? The XR would continue to sedate you for longer periods of time. I have been off and on Xanax for years, your body quickly builds a tolerance to its effects and you will want to take more to receive the same effect. I find that if I take it for more then a couple of days in a row, it is best to take some time off and start again at the minimal dose necessary to curb your anxiety.

 

[HeadDoc]

benzo withdrawal is long and painful. Beware of these things. If anyone is one double or more dose, talk to your doc about detox. Beware coming down from these things abruptly--it can be fatal.
Anyone need to discuss OTC supps for sleep?

 

[zaarel2]

The withdrawal sure is horrible. Believe it or not my friend took them for over 5 years. She checked into a hospital for depression and the doctor sent her home after three days diagnosed as chemically dependent. While the diagnosis was spot on he sent her home without Xanax to go cold turkey from that along with alcohol and cocaine. While the alcohol and cocaine are a bitch to come off of the benzo withdrawal almost sent her into convulsions. It sucked to be the one watching over her while that was happening....as she begged for them not knowing what to do. I finally called a rehab that told me to give her one an then bring her in. Definately bad news stuff for long term use in my mind.

 

[Jono1971]

Xanax is longish acting, better used for anxiety than sleep, a short acting drug such as temazepam or Ambien would probably be better, however, using any sedative continualy is bad news, unless there are compelling reasons.

Have you given Sominex a try, non habitforming and quite usefull.

 

[1cc]

i take xanax for sleep but feel like shit the next day from it...lazy,tired ,weak,grouchy, anybody else feel this way?

There are natural alternatives for sleep. The things that have worked very well for me are. Magnesium Glycinate 400mg and Calcium Citrate 800-1000mg before bed on empty stomach. This works very well, and always take twice as much calcium as magnesium, and it causes no next day effects. Another really good one is "Valerian Nighttime" by Nature's Way. It is a formula of Valerian and Lemon Balm that is scientifically proven to improve sleep. This is especially good if you have a little anxiety, and it doesn't make you feel groggy. Take 3 tablets on an empty stomach 30 minutes before bed or at bedtime. Even Xanax and Klonopin are okay if used seldom at lowest dosage. Trazodone is an AD, but at a low dose of 50mg it can be used for sleep and to alleviate anxiety. It works pretty good. The secret is not to use any one thing too often, and it is best to alternate between different ones every day. One day do Cal/Mag, another day do a benzo or Valerian Nighttime, another day do Trazodone. Another thing that has always worked great for me is a very large glass of milk before bed.

 

[androjello]

benzo withdrawal is long and painful. Beware of these things. If anyone is one double or more dose, talk to your doc about detox. Beware coming down from these things abruptly--it can be fatal.
Anyone need to discuss OTC supps for sleep?

Yes, what do you suggest?

 

[tres]

yes i have tried ambien (useless) @ 10 mgs. i was using the xanax because i feel my lack of sleep was from my anxiety.

 

[thefantom1]

Ambien works like a champ for me.... I take half an ambien (5mg) along with 1 melatonin and Im out... also not groggy the next day either...

 

[RitchieC]

Have you ever tried generic Benedryl? Puts me out much better than Xanax.

 

[pmgamer18]

I have used it for yrs. but don't take a high dose. I found out last yr. that my panic attacks were from high E2 Estradiol. Now that I have my E2 under control I don't have Panic in the middle of the night yet my Dr. said to see how my levels go before comming off Xanax. I am only taking .25 mgs. at bed time. To stop from this dose is still hard but I have done it many times. I go down to .125 mgs for 2 weeks then take it every other day for 2 weeks then every 3 days for 2 weeks then stop.
Phil

 

[HeadDoc]

Yes, what do you suggest?

I use the magnesium and calcium combo as suggested above. I find sublingual melatonin helpful (3 mg.). I have also used a heaping teaspoonful of inositol in water prior to retiring helpful. The most potent influence on my sleep however has been the hgh. I sleep deeper than I have in years and seem to require less. The effects of gh take months to be realized so I'd go with the other things first.

 

[stat1951]

RE: Xanax Withdrawal

Phil,

Any clue on how one does the withdrawal from Xanax XR? It is the coated version of Xanax and is the "extended release version". If you cut the pills in half it (of course) breaks open the "shell" and it becomes just like the regular Xanax... quick acting but short term.

Since I have been on the Remeron to try and control my cortisol problem, I have been sleeping great, so have usually been taking just the morning dose (before I was taking 1mg in morning and 1mg in evening). Funny thing is that about 30 minutes after waking up I get a very strong surge of anxiety that usually lasts until I take my morning dose (maybe overnight withdrawal from not having taken the evening dose?).

Anyway, I think that the next lower size is 0.5 mg and that's it. Nothing lower.

Larry

I have used it for yrs. but don't take a high dose. I found out last yr. that my panic attacks were from high E2 Estradiol. Now that I have my E2 under control I don't have Panic in the middle of the night yet my Dr. said to see how my levels go before comming off Xanax. I am only taking .25 mgs. at bed time. To stop from this dose is still hard but I have done it many times. I go down to .125 mgs for 2 weeks then take it every other day for 2 weeks then every 3 days for 2 weeks then stop.
Phil

 

[Desmo996]

I have tapered off of Xanax XR and can only give my personal experience. I was at 3-4mgs of XR per day for a year or so. As my anxiety seems to fluctuate, I am constantly readjusting my dosage. I found the XR version to be self tapering and has much less sides compared to the IR Xanax, probably due to its long half life and lack of initial "high" like the IR can have. I have gone a day having forgot to take it and had very few withdrawal symptoms, usually a headache of all things.
You have already tapered down to 1mg per day, I would continue at this dose for about a week then stop taking it and it will slowly taper out of your system. If one week is too quick, try two. Anyway you look at it if the underlying cause of the anxiety is still there, this is not going to be a pleasant experience. 1mg dose over the course of 24hrs. really isn't that much, and you shouldn't have much problem coming off of it. If you are still having anxiety problems, why are you trying to come off of the medication to begin with? Are you looking to treat them with another medication or through counseling? Either way best of luck to you.

 

[pmgamer18]

Hi Larry I have found that as I got older the low dose did the same as the higher dose when I was younger. My taking .25 mgs. at bed time today is like taking one mg. 10 yrs. ago. I have not used the Xanax XR but can tell you that we all are not the same. What works for one may not work for you.
If you doing one mg. at night and stop cold have a problem you can end up spinning your wheels. I have been there stopping to fast at one mg. puts me in trouble. You need to talk to your Dr. on how to come off this. You can be like me and have found the cause of the anxiety to high E2. And yet stopping the Xanax to fast will cause a panic attack. It may come down to switching to the Xanax I use and cutting the .25 mg. pill in half and so on.
Phil

 

[bigmark]

I have been using 2mg of Klonopin a day for years. I often go a week or so without it to make sure it does not have it's Hooks into me.
I have never had an issue with withdrawal whatsoever. I have had much less problems with anxiety since my estrogen is coming down I take them less often now.

Xanax is generally thought to be one of the more addictive benzo's.

 

[pmgamer18]

I have been using 2mg of Klonopin a day for years. I often go a week or so without it to make sure it does not have it's Hooks into me.
I have never had an issue with withdrawal whatsoever. I have had much less problems with anxiety since my estrogen is coming down I take them less often now.

Xanax is generally thought to be one of the more addictive benzo's.

Yes high E2 Estradiol is the cause of my panic attacks in the middle of the night. I have talked to a lot of men that have the same problem. As soon as my E2 starts going up I wake up feels like I am in panic. I now can tell when it is going up I start breaking out in a rash under my arms just up from the pit and on the back of my legs. When this happens the dam rash is always in the same spots.
Phil

 

[stat1951]

No, have always been on only 1 mg... not that I tapered down to it.

My psych doc started me out on 1mg Ativan twice a day and then moved it to three times a day... and then to Xanax XR at 1 mg twice a day (every 12 hours). Have been at that level about six months now.

I am not in the process of tapering or withdrawing at this time, just looking at that options for when it gets to that point. I am also involved in talk therapy and EMDR therapy, but it appears that there's also a physical cause to the anxiety. I was found to have very highly elevated cortisol and was eventually diagnosed as Pseudo Cushings with an apparent dysfunctional HPA Axis causing the excessive cortisol secretion. Anyway my one doc has me on Remeron to try and bring the cortisol levels under control long enough for HPA Axis to "re-set", and the Remeron seems to also have an anti-anxiety effect. If the anxiety continues to improve on the Remeron will likely look at discontinuing the Xanax XR (other than there are, strangely, other physical symptoms on-going that the Xanax XR seems to have significant help with).

Anyway, seemed like a good point to get any feedback on withdrawing options when it ever gets to that point.

Larry

I have tapered off of Xanax XR and can only give my personal experience. I was at 3-4mgs of XR per day for a year or so. As my anxiety seems to fluctuate, I am constantly readjusting my dosage. I found the XR version to be self tapering and has much less sides compared to the IR Xanax, probably due to its long half life and lack of initial "high" like the IR can have. I have gone a day having forgot to take it and had very few withdrawal symptoms, usually a headache of all things.
You have already tapered down to 1mg per day, I would continue at this dose for about a week then stop taking it and it will slowly taper out of your system. If one week is too quick, try two. Anyway you look at it if the underlying cause of the anxiety is still there, this is not going to be a pleasant experience. 1mg dose over the course of 24hrs. really isn't that much, and you shouldn't have much problem coming off of it. If you are still having anxiety problems, why are you trying to come off of the medication to begin with? Are you looking to treat them with another medication or through counseling? Either way best of luck to you.