This is what I think, and you're not going to like it....

When you use Xanax every day, like you do, Mel, your body becomes
habituated to it... used to it.

At 10:30 you were probably starting a mini-withdrawal, your body ready for its dose. Given that you used more muscle power than usual, your level of magnesium was lower too. Those two situations combined to give you a cramp.

Now remember...don't buy the oxide form of magnesium.
Gluconate is ok, citrate ok, ...(I'd avoid aspartate type).

And since you are now on higher lisinopril... you have to watch zinc MORE.
ACE inhibitors deplete zinc and your new dose is high in that regard.
I assume you take a multivit of some kind with zinc in it?

Wow, I never thought of my body going through withdrawal for Alprazolam.

I have never had this kind of muscle spasm in my toe or leg for about a year now. Back then, I posted here, you mentioned magnesium, I bought the magnesium, used it, NEVER HAD ANOTHER SPASM. and completely forgot about it.

So I ran out of the magnesium.

I knew as of last night I had to go and buy the magnesium.

This morning, went to the store and bought CAL/MAG CITRATE.

It was all they had and it cost $5.99 for 100 pills.

It's by Natures Bounty and the Magnesium part of it says:

Magnesium 500 mg
as Magnesium Oxide and Magnesium Citrate.

(The one I used previously was Magnesium Oxide - 250) and yeah I now know it was the wrong kind of Magnesium, but I haven't had a spasm in a year while taking that.

I (and I don't even believe I'm saying this), I don't take a multi-vitamin).

Just started today. Alan has this big bottle of multi-vitamins for seniors.

I took one last night. Because it had magnesium in it.


So what do I do about the alprazolam thing? I don't sleep. Never did. When I take the alprazolam at about 11 p.m. in about 20 minutes my whole body relaxes and I drift off to sleep.

I know I can't go off this cold turkey, but if I ultimately go off of this, I won't get any sleep and that's no good either.

Is the Alprazolam BAD for me?? (Alan takes it ever night for his neuropathy and it's the only thing that LET'S HIM SLEEP). It relaxes every nerve in his body.

I'm terribly confused here.

I don't want to be a pill popper, but I do want to get to sleep and sleep for 8 hours. Believe me, when you have never been a sleeper (from birth), and you then know what 8 hours of sleep is, well you really don't want to give it up.

I just want to put my head down at night and go to sleep.

If Alan didn't have neuropathy, he could put his head on a pillow at any time of the day, announce, "I'm going to take a nap" and he's out like a light.

I do NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF NERVOUS SYSTEM, obviously.

I don't use anything with caffeine except for my morning coffee at 9 a.m. Only water or de-caf coffee (not all the time, even).

I have a hyped up nervous system, I believe, and with the (my son thing), and Alan' operation), and we have no family to speak of, well, my system reacts, my mind thinks, and I could never get to sleep.

I used to have nights (when I was younger) and had to get up for work, well, if I slept 3 hours, I was lucky. But I always went to work, and fell asleep on the bus coming home from work. I used to say "that was the best nap I had".

I now know that this is NOT normal. That people have a circadian rhythm and all that.

I simply do not know the best course of action so my mind can get some peace and quiet and I can get to sleep without the aid of ANYTHING!!!

Is there hope for me?

thanks

Melody,

It sounds to me like you just overdid everything.

And you didn't say how much Xanax you take a day so I am going to assume it is once a day at night. Just a matter of a couple of hours difference isn't going to cause a spasm like that. You have to go without Xanax for more than a day...more like two unless you are taking something like 3 a day. Then I would believe it was your body telling you you need more. But since you said you take it at night...nah, a coule of hours off isn't going to do that.

It is your call as to whether you want a prescription muscle relaxer and of course there are all kinds. But my spasm med of choice is Valium. And I don't see the ER docs giving me Flexeril or anything like that when it comes to the horrific spasms...it is ALWAYS Valium. And I hoard mine for the worst of moments. It is the only muscle relaxer that will work and work fast. Works great for pelvic floor dysfunction too and most Urogyns will prescribe Valium for that. That and IC.

I know how bad this can get when they come on suddenly. My PM and I have had several discussions about it. He said he never realized how bad they could really get until it happened to him. Now, for every day use I might taking something different. But usually, since I take Klonopin, the spasms don't hit near as much as they used to. I do have some Zanaflex too but I stopped taking it due to the heartburn it caused.

So, again, I don't think it was the Xanax you were lacking. I think it was just a matter of overdoing it.

When the labels say mixture Mag Oxide and Mag Citrate they typically are mostly Oxide. (it is cheap, that is why).

Is there a 1-800 number on the label? You can call them up and ask them the ratio. Here it is:
1-800-433-2990
I looked it up on their site and it does not give the ratio of each
http://www.naturesbounty.com/pages/products.aspx?PID=74
So you will need to know what you are taking, to know whether you can expect good results.

And I don't agree with Kathi.... I definitely think your daily use of a benzo, has you primed for reactive cramps, when the situation is "right". So your over use, may also combine with dehydration, or any other stressor on the muscles.
Even B6 deficiency will do it, since pyridoxal is involved with muscle functions.

You can look up the signs of benzo withdrawal, and cramping is one sign.
Your body gets used to things a certain way...and reacts accordingly. Benzos are eliminated more slowly in the elderly...remember when I explained the Dalmane issue for Alan in the past? That is why you changed the RX then.

You've had spasms/cramps for a long time. And you have posted many times that you cannot sleep. Both are signs of low magnesium.

And please don't take more than recommended. Stay within normal RDA amounts.

Deb tomato paste, tomato puree,fresh tomatoes.potatoes, spinach are all good sources of potassium. So take a ride out to the north fork, enjoy the day and buy a large basket of tomatoes for ten dollars.

So how do I wean myself off of Xanax.

I usually take 1 and a half mgs a night. Alan takes the same amount.

We just relax and go to sleep.

But I'll be honest. I don't ever want to have another spasm. I know I'm not being realistic but it really scared the heck out of me.

And how do you know where the spasm originates from?

Mine started with my toe curling up, then it went to my calf, then up my thigh and I almost dropped dead from the pain.

Today, I was able to go out and make a wash.

But right now I'm sitting with a hot pack under my calf muscle. I heard that you keep muscles warm. Kind of like when ballet dancers wear those calf warmers. To keep the muscles warm right?

So is using hot packs under my calf, well is that a good method to warm up the muscles.

I'll call up the company and ask the ratio.

Be back later.

Melody

Melody besides the excellant advise you got above, make sure you are drinking plenty of water to help avoid muscle spasms and cramps...not too much though, everything in moderation

a few people i know have that sound machine, with river sounds, ocean sounds etc. and say that it helps them get to sleep

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, I just called Nature's Bounty. I explained what it said on the bottle. Her response:

"There is no way to know what the ratio is". I asked if there was anyone else who knew and she put me on with a supervisor who said the following:

"By law, the manufacturer of this product does not have to give the ratio, so I'm sorry, I don't know BUT BECAUSE THE WORD OXIDE IS BEFORE THE WORD CITRATE, THERE IS MORE OXIDE THAN CITRATE."

So (and this gets even better). I just looked at the dosage and it's 4 tablets.

Never knew that, I took one tablet this morning. I just took the other 3.

So tomorrow I'll take the correct dosage.

I also am drinking water (that's been a problem with me, when I go out or go shopping, I never remember to drink water). and in the past (with blood tests), they always told me "you are probably dehydrated". (Now I have no idea if that was in the Potassium level), but usually in the past, whenever I took a blood test, they always told me I might be dehydrated.

But the other day I got my potassium level and it was 3.9.
I gather this means I'm not dehydrated?????

So, until I find the exact perfect kind of magnesium I am supposed to take, well, I'll just take what I just bought, drink my water, and keep my calf muscles warm.

Sound like a plan???

And I really want to go off the alprazolam. I'll find other ways to get to sleep. I don't want any problems because I'm on a benzo. Alan has no choice, this I know. But do. So can I wean myself off?

Maybe, for example, tonight I take 1 mg, instead of 1 and a half. I have done this. There are some nights I only take 1 mg.

So if tonight I take the 1 mg, and tomorrow ....well, how exactly does one wean themselves off of a benzo and not get any cramps or spasms???

Thanks.

Melody,

Before you even start to consider weaning off of Xanax, PLEASE talk to the doc that prescribed it. Everyone is different. But the norm is usually to cut the benzo's by quarters. And to go SLOW!!! Now, my mom had no problem coming off of Lorazepam but she did it without even really trying. I don't think she took that much to begin with but over a period of time she just kept taking it down by quarters and then was completely off. I, on the other hand, had a horrible situation tapering off of Klonopin and I was following my Neurologist's schedule to the letter...that's why I am still on it besides the fact that it works for me. I just thought at the time that I was tolerant of it and I wasn't. Anyway, benzos aren't something you want to taper down off of by yourself without the direction of your doctor. So, let the doc advise you as to how to go about it. He or she should be able to provide you with a PROPER tapering schedule.

It is 4 tablets, because the calcium is large, and typically the pills are
big...so 4 tablets makes sense.

Don't try to change your Xanax for now. 1.5mg is a lot for someone who is
not using it for psychiatric purposes.

It takes sometimes MONTHS to get off benzos... so don't try this yourself, without supervision.

This is an example:
http://www.vitacost.com/Source-Natur...-Bis-Glycinate
120 caps = 60 days supply for 7.12

Do the magnesium first, correctly. You can decide about the Xanax later.