I know it's annoying when somebody comes up with "be careful with that" when you are in such discomfort but... be careful with Xanax.

It works great at first, which is one of the reasons why you become dependent on it after even a few weeks. (alprazolam is one of the worst for some reason).

When I detoxed from alcohol, it took about 3-5 days - which is normal.

Detoxing from Xanax (1mg/day) took me 3 to 4 months, and it wasn't fun at all.

I don't say this to scare you, just so you know - as already mentioned - that it isn't without risk.

Yes, please be careful. I had a very hard time coming off it in 2012 and recently have been told to take it again, I dislike it so much I call it the dreaded drug. When I say dislike, I mean what it does to you, it wipes your memory, you do and say things you may not recall even if prompted. Yes it soothes and makes you feel well while you remember but as you become accustomed you may feel the need to increase your dose. Don't, please don't, and if you have, tell your Dr and slowly cut back. I'm scared of it even if I take it once a week. I had to take it again over the weekend and today I'm feeling the anxiety that comes over you where you mistakenly believe oh, if I take one of them I will be ok. My husband is a DDO and in all their seminars they say it is worse than heroin. It is very much an addictive medication.

Thanks- I didn't notice tegretol but read about oxcarbazepine. Thanks for the list.
My doctor heard a bruie, had an ultrasound done. It showed the narrowing and recored the trubulent flow. I had a CT scan the also showed the compressed celiac artery and that it was starting to balloon up. Both surgeons I saw said it is a controversial surgery as it can be interpreted either way as to whether such a condition exists. They had both seen people with the celiac artery completely blocked off by plague and the patient had no symptoms. Despite what they said I definetley have stomach issues and constant thumping going on so to me the surgery would be worth it to rule it out and if it fixes me I would be even happier.

I have to wonder how many people really get snared into Benzos, and that their efforts to discontinue lead to PN symptoms.

Back when Benzos were not a controlled drug in the US, they were extremely commonly used. They are now a controlled substance.

I think it is still a fairly common problem. And I have noticed that new members that come here don't always reveal that they are taking these drugs, even after I ask them to tell us details of what is going on in their lives, and what they are taking (or were taking).

I have seen interviews of patients who have expressed what Pamela has shared here. That withdrawing from Benzos, is a lengthy process--often several months long--- and painful.
Clonazepam now comes in large dissolving wafer version of clonazepam, to help with tapers so that the taper can be more accurate. The FDA orange book shows the following dosages available:

A077194 AB No CLONAZEPAM TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; ORAL 0.125MG CLONAZEPAM BARR

A077194 AB No CLONAZEPAM TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; ORAL 0.25MG CLONAZEPAM BARR

A077194 AB No CLONAZEPAM TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; ORAL 0.5MG CLONAZEPAM BARR

A077194 AB No CLONAZEPAM TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; ORAL 1MG CLONAZEPAM BARR

A077194 AB No CLONAZEPAM TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; ORAL 2MG CLONAZEPAM BARR

A077171 AB No CLONAZEPAM TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; ORAL 0.125MG CLONAZEPAM PAR PHARM

A077171 AB No CLONAZEPAM TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; ORAL 0.25MG CLONAZEPAM PAR PHARM

A077171 AB No CLONAZEPAM TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; ORAL 0.5MG CLONAZEPAM PAR PHARM

A077171 AB Yes CLONAZEPAM TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; ORAL 1MG CLONAZEPAM PAR PHARM

A077171 AB No CLONAZEPAM TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; ORAL 2MG CLONAZEPAM PAR PHARM

These may be easier to break into smaller pieces for a taper.

Photo:
http://www.goodrx.com/klonopin/images?page=2
Six to a card... implies a size that would lend itself to cutting more accurately than the tiny swallow tablets. Cutting the .125mg would extend the taper by a factor of 4.

Clonazepam has a very LONG half life. It stays in the body for about up to two days. (half life is 18-50 hrs and longer in the elderly)

I guess I should be greatful for my doctors stern warning. I have had the prescription for 3 months and only taken it 6 times and have cut the pills in half.

I also find it funny that my pharmacist told me to go ahead and use it everyday. My pharmacist is the smartest man in the world to me since its my dad. Makes me kinda wonder if he is starting to lose it.

There are pharmacists who do not use the internet to find further information on drugs. Just like some doctors don't.
http://www.drugcite.com/?q=clonazepam

The real truth about drugs is there for anyone who cares to look.
Just about all medications carry serious tradeoffs. The drug inserts do not often include this information and are pretty old.

The above link shows in graphs FDA reported side effects from clonazepam that were reported thru the Medwatch system. Given that very few doctors ever report anything, this link is very handy to see how the reports actually
sift out that are made.

Medicine has always had toxic and dangerous treatments. Some people today think this is less so, but really they are just disguised better.

Miles Nervine...was a massively popular remedy...that contained bromides. It caused tremendous harm until it was removed from sale. The Miles company was bought out by Bayer eventually and now is quite different.
http://blog.medfriendly.com/2012/05/...itched-to.html

I bet many pharmacists back in Dr. Miles' time suggested Nervine to customers.

Today we have the advantage to have the internet where knowledge can be found if you know where to look that is reputable.

Benefit vs harm is something I believe all patients should be aware of...and be able to choose according to information given to them frankly.

This is the Drugcite info on Xanax:

http://www.drugcite.com/?q=alprazolam&a=&s=

Hey Lewie,

When my small fiber neuropathy kicked in last May, my PCP gave me vicodin and told me to go on a pain mgmt. schedule. I didn't listen to her but by the end of Sept I had put myself on a schedule due to the horrible pain. Realized she was correct, that if I waited until I was a 9 or 10 on the pain scale it was hard to get that # down to where I could deal with it. Of course I have other dr's but I use only her for my pain mgmt. and that is fine with my other dr's.

My schedule now is 1/2 a vicodin every 3 hours and 1/2 a .5 mg Xanax when needed. I can go weeks without using the Xanax and then some days here and there I have to take the 1/2 a vicodin every time I take the vicodin. I could probably take a whole tablet of each but don't like that 'high' feeling. Not at 51 anyway

I have no idea what the future holds but will adjust as needed.

Good luck and I'll be thinking about you.

Debi from Georgia

I am always humbled from reading how much pain others are in. I always think I have it bad til I read others experiences and really was naive about how much pain a person could be put through even though I felt like I had been through some pretty rough times.


I guess I will give Lyrica a try. However I was unaware that it is still a controlled substance and my work might not like me taking it.

Lyrica is also another drug that comes with horrid side effects when you titrate down. It has wonderful benefits to many, but I know so many more who suffered as they came off it. Check out Diandra story. So sorry that so many of these drugs offer us hope but cause so much angst further down the track.
Re the Xanax withdrawal, you can google reduction plans, and ask your dr to prescribe Valium to help get you off it with lesser pain, stress and angst. Wish you all the very best. My heart breaks for you