Doctor Stops My 6mg of Xanax A Day. This Sucks!

[Mikeknight]

Hello I am new here and tried searching for sites on Benzo withdrawals

I was prescribed Xanax for the last five years and I was anywhere between 6mg and 8mg a day the last two years.

The Doctor does a 3 day taper and when I saw her last week I told her that I am still experiencing withdrawal symptoms and all she said "well its been 7 days and its out of your system" So she just stops it all with no refill on next month just the 3 day taper and I am on day 10 and the withdrawals are still brutal.

The doctor who first prescribed this to me did not ever mention they are associated with all these Horrible Withdrawals.

Most sites are saying to do a slow taper by Dr. Ashton and it would take 6 months??

Have any of you gone through this?  Just would like to see what your experience was when you came off a benzo.

Oh I wanted to mention the reason my doctor wanted me off. Just before I needed the next months refill I was hospitalized for stomach ulcers. The doctor told me that benzos are associated with ulcers and wanted me off.

Edited September 9, 2016 by Mikeknight
Wanted to mention reason I was stopped from my Xanax

[uncomfortable thoughts]

I don't agree with this site, if this is the Dr. you are referring to.

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/

How do you feel?

[Mikeknight]

I feel horrible. Its day 10 and she said it is out of my system within 5 to 7 days. Yesterday I left her a message and told her about this and she wants to send me to a 5 to 7 day detox place since I am still in withdrawals on day 10.  Though I am reading tons of material on this topic and most who went to the 5 to 7 day detox places had to be reinstated since they did not work to relieve withdrawals even after coming out after 7 to 10 day detox places.

It seems that many refer to the Ashton manual. Yes that's the one uncomfortable thoughts.  Wow and it says a 6 month taper.....

Edited September 9, 2016 by Mikeknight

[uncomfortable thoughts]

Hmmm...

Well, I'm not PDOC.

I think some things as a patient there aren't correct but...

Let's get back to you.

How are you physically feeling that you can relate to the withdrawal and what you think about the mental health aspect of it?

If you want to, can you share the reason why you were taking it?

[melissaw72]

16 minutes ago, Mikeknight said:

The Doctor does a 3 day taper and when I saw her last week I told her that I am still experiencing withdrawal symptoms and all she said "well its been 7 days and its out of your system" So she just stops it all with no refill on next month just the 3 day taper and I am on day 10 and the withdrawals are still brutal.

** (disclaimer at bottom)

 

IMO a 3 day taper off of benzos is not long enough, especially since you have been on is a dose of 6-8 mg/day.  Idk about it all being out of your system in 7 days either.  IMO it just doesn't make sense to me to go off a med in 3 days, and it being completely out of your system in 7 days. 

And then if you are having a hard time doing that, then going to a detox?  

I've never experienced going off of xanax like you have because it has never been a fast taper.

^^^Someone please correct me if I am wrong about what I wrote^^^

20 minutes ago, Mikeknight said:

Oh I wanted to mention the reason my doctor wanted me off. Just before I needed the next months refill I was hospitalized for stomach ulcers. The doctor told me that benzos are associated with ulcers and wanted me off.

Really? IMO I highly doubt benzos are hurting the ulcers.  I would think the xanax would help with the stress and anxiety, and therefore help your stomach.  At least with me things would be a hell of a lot worse if I were to stop xanax because I have had stomach ulcers in the past.  I have had 4 stomach ulcers and have chronic gastritis, and every time I have a flare up, my GI DR asks me about stress.  I tell him, and every time he tells me it is most likely caused by the stress.

Idk if these are helpful or not but:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/alprazolam-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20061040

Quote

Incidence not known

1. Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
2. red, irritated eyes
3. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
4. sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
5. swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males
6. unexpected or excess milk flow from breasts

http://gastriculcer.blogspot.com/2011/08/gastric-ulcer-questions-ideas-part-1.html

Quote

Is it harmful to take xanax with a gastric (stomach) ulcer?

Nope, should be fine. Still probably should take with some food.
 

 

 

**I am not a DR and these are my opinions based mainly on personal experience, and I am not trying to diagnose.

[Mikeknight]

I am still shaky and my entire body twitches then it will start too be different areas to twitch. These were some of the first symptoms I had when I stopped the Xanax and they still linger.. 

That's fine about her taking away the Xanax since it was pooping out and I remember these symptoms when I did not go for a refill appointment and had to wait 8 days to see the Doc. 

I never read up about the brutal withdrawals one can experience coming off a benzo.

Though... I told her to take me off in a safe and correct way. The only thing she offered was a 7 day detox place and she said that her assistant can find one within 100 miles. This Sucks

I was taking it at first 2mg a day to get to sleep. Then I came back from deployment and had major sleep issues along with PTSD and this medication at the high dosage work great to help me. Then my old doctor just kept bumping it up when it would start to not have any effectiveness.

 

 

 

[uncomfortable thoughts]

13 minutes ago, melissaw72 said:

I would think the xanax would help with the stress and anxiety, and therefore help your stomach.

Agree with this.

I'm going through withdrawal process and I'm noticing that I'm 'reflux coughing' when nervous, this usually happens when next to tapering dose.

I have a bunch of withdrawal symptoms, most physical.

Psychological, I experienced rage, irritability...

Now I'm most anxious and having insomnia.

I'm think about going to ER even tough I have an appointment in about two weeks.

 

I think, again, I think that the half life isn't always the factor of how the withdrawal process will happen.

I think the half life is more related of how soon it is going to start.

The rest is your body re-adjusting, some people say it at least takes 21 days to re-create new paths on our brains but I guess this also isn't the rule.

Edited September 9, 2016 by uncomfortable thoughts

[Mikeknight]

That's all she has to offer is what she told me when we had our final conversation and I told her that I did not fill my Prilosec script since I need to see the doctor.

As long as I take the Prilosec or even Pepcid when I wake up I never have had any issues.

My doctor is intent on saying that the Xanax played a role in my hospilization so her final words were...

"I am not losing my license and its no"

These doctors are pissing me off...

[uncomfortable thoughts]

Here 'we' don't need prescription for omeprazole.

Even taking one every morning I'm still having these coughing...

You know what?

I'm waiting for my appointment to discuss this tapering because isn't going smooth at all.

I think you would benefit finding a PDOC that would taper yourself out of this.

I don't know if you're feeling this but I started feeling so much tension and cramps that this can be dangerous, I would watch out for the muscle tension because this could turn out bad.

Edited September 9, 2016 by uncomfortable thoughts

[melissaw72]

3 minutes ago, Mikeknight said:

These doctors are pissing me off...

They would really be pissing me off also!

Why would she lose her license for tapering you off at a slower taper than she is?  I mean maybe she could lose her license by not doing things properly, landing you in the hospital from withdrawal effects.  (BTW ... if it ever did happen that you had to go to the ER ... my advice would be to have ANOTHER pdoc evaluate you, without any input from your current pdoc.

1 minute ago, uncomfortable thoughts said:

I think you would benefit finding a PDOC that would taper yourself out of this.

I agree with this ... a second opinion IMO I think would really be helpful right now.

[uncomfortable thoughts]

23 minutes ago, Mikeknight said:

I am still shaky and my entire body twitches then it will start too be different areas to twitch. These were some of the first symptoms I had when I stopped the Xanax and they still linger.. 

That's fine about her taking away the Xanax since it was pooping out and I remember these symptoms when I did not go for a refill appointment and had to wait 8 days to see the Doc. 

I never read up about the brutal withdrawals one can experience coming off a benzo.

Though... I told her to take me off in a safe and correct way. The only thing she offered was a 7 day detox place and she said that her assistant can find one within 100 miles. This Sucks

I was taking it at first 2mg a day to get to sleep. Then I came back from deployment and had major sleep issues along with PTSD and this medication at the high dosage work great to help me. Then my old doctor just kept bumping it up when it would start to not have any effectiveness.

 

 

 

I saw this after posting.

Well, those twitching can turn out a convulsion.

I honestly think that PDOC went overboard irresponsible and if you go to ER and report this muscle twitching people there would consider your case as something serious as it is.

I almost had two panic attacks after tapering the benzo that I was and now I'm having digestion problems...

Edited September 9, 2016 by uncomfortable thoughts

[Mikeknight]

Only Prilosec even generic here is OTC at max 20 mg per dose.  My dosage is 2 40mg daily. 

The ER was a joke they thought at first my shaking was from maybe do you use any "recreational drugs"   I said just test me and you can take blood urine and the answer is no. 

Then the ER doctor asks its just so we treat you properly.  My response was then I will tell you that my doctor had stopped my Xanax.

Nothing was ever done for my withdrawal symptoms the 3 days I had to spend at that hospital.

Now this doctor wants me to go to a detox place for 7 to 10 days and do another taper.. WTF?

 

[Wooster]

Your doc is technically correct that the benzo should be "out of your system". She's referring to the half-life, which, for xanax is about 11 hours average. This means that after 11 hours, half the xanax has been fully metabolized. After 22 hours, half of what's left (1/4 of it); after 33 hours half of what was left after 22 hours (1/8); after 44 hours 1/16th of the original is left. After 55 hours, 1/32, and after 66 hours 1/64 of the original is left.

A three day taper is what would be used to get someone off of a substance they are physiologically dependent on in a way that reduces the likelihood of medical complications like seizures. It's a more or less standard protocol for medical detox for many drugs.

ETA: That does not mean you aren't still experiencing the effects of your body getting readjusted to life without the xanax, though. Benzos work on GABA receptors, and it takes a bit of time for the neurons to adjust to the lack of benzos in your system. While that's going on, you're likely to feel like shit due to rebound anxiety in the absence of the benzo. Then, after that you're likely to have the original anxiety unless or until it gets effectively treated at the cause with something like CBT or ACT.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7841856

[uncomfortable thoughts]

8 minutes ago, Mikeknight said:

Only Prilosec even generic here is OTC at max 20 mg per dose.  My dosage is 2 40mg daily. 

The ER was a joke they thought at first my shaking was from maybe do you use any "recreational drugs"   I said just test me and you can take blood urine and the answer is no. 

Then the ER doctor asks its just so we treat you properly.  My response was then I will tell you that my doctor had stopped my Xanax.

Nothing was ever done for my withdrawal symptoms the 3 days I had to spend at that hospital.

Now this doctor wants me to go to a detox place for 7 to 10 days and do another taper.. WTF?

 

Hmmm, I still think that the pathways are re-created on at least 21 days but..

I don't know, I went to ER a couple months ago the PDOC there said that I could leave with a Diazepam prescription but I didn't take because I was complaining about over sedation.

Now I need that Diazepam and I'm 'worried-panicky' to go there and get rejected even tough never happened.

Edited September 9, 2016 by uncomfortable thoughts

[Mikeknight]

Where do you live wow its that easy to find a pdoc meaning I think phychatrist.

 I cannot go to the VA since if you show up they just make you stay in the phsych ward for who knows how long and that's if they even have a bed. That's how they do it if you need anything mental health related.

A specialist as such as a phsychatrist  takes if your lucky 60 days min to get to see a specialist. So Sad that its this way.

 

Though a nurse did explain too me at the ER at the 10 day mark you may go into full blown withdrawals since the benzos are like alcohol and occupy every cell in your body as well as the same receptors as alcohol.

I went ahead and asked if she could ask the doctor for a script to help me out then.

The Doctor in charge when he is ready to discharge me says you need to talk to your phychatrist for help on that.

 

Is it wise to go ahead and do another taper at one of the 10 day or less I was told?

It just seems that it is just starting back at 1.

 

 

 

[Wooster]

I'm curious where the ER nurse got the "full blown withdrawals at the 10 day mark". That's not consistent with physiology of benzos OR alcohol:

 

Quote

 It may include any combination of generalized hyperactivity, anxiety, tremor, sweating, nausea, retching, tachycardia, hypertension and mild pyrexia. These symptoms usually peak between 10 to 30 hours and subside by 40 to 50 hours. Seizures may occur in the first 12 to 48 hours and only rarely after this. Auditory and visual hallucinations may develop; these are characteristically frightening and may last for five to six days.

Delirium tremens (DTs) occurs uncommonly, perhaps in less than 5% of individuals withdrawing from alcohol. The syndrome usually starts some 48 to 72 hours after cessation of drinking 
 

-http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0047840/

 

[uncomfortable thoughts]

It's a .gov psych ER, they are always trying me to not go there but they can't say no.

Until this day I always got a good care.

I just called there and they are trying to make me go to the one that is close to home where it's also a ward, I don't like there even though I can find a PDOC there that knows my PDOC, so it would be easier for this PDOC to help me out.

If I want to be taken care and see 'regularly' the .gov PDOC it would also take at least 60 days after approval. 

I already got approval for that, went to a process to talk to social worker and at the end I choose my health care provider.

Usually the staff is the ones who doesn't want you there but once you pass, the PDOCs never mistreated me.

I can't say what's best but I think a PDOC with a plan for tapering can.

Maybe @Wooster knows better about withdrawal from a benzo with this short life because I only took sublingual alprazolam for about 4 tops 5 months and went back to valium so I can't remember noticing a thing.

I know that nicotine has a short half life and damn I had withdrawal symptoms for at least three months... 

I'm on a strange withdrawal of a benzo that has multiple active metabolites so isn't the same as alprazolam.

So I'm going to leave the topic for people who experienced short term benzos and closer to cold turkey.

I once cold turkey 6-8mg of Clonazepam (two years) and I can remember more the rage, violent reaction, insomnia and I'm now wondering if a close manic episode had something to do with it...

 

 

[Wooster]

I think there's a distinction worth being made between acute withdrawal symptoms that can be medically dicey, and prolonged withdrawal symptoms that are unpleasant and uncomfortable, but not necessarily medically dangerous. I suspect that's what you mean @uncomfortable thoughts about the nicotine.

[uncomfortable thoughts]

Just now, Wooster said:

I think there's a distinction worth being made between acute withdrawal symptoms that can be medically dicey, and prolonged withdrawal symptoms that are unpleasant and uncomfortable, but not necessarily medically dangerous. I suspect that's what you mean @uncomfortable thoughts about the nicotine.

Yes and also referring to benzo.

Those long term plans for tapering benzos are to reduce possible withdrawal symptoms and rebound mental health related problems.

In the case of alprazolam I don't have experience.

 

I had to make a nicotine replacement plan to stop smoking so maybe some people need a milder benzo replacement...

I would risk to say that maybe the worst part of it is gone if you already clean for some days but that doesn't mean that can't be unpleasant for a long time.

That's why I think you need to be evaluated by a PDOC, specially if you're not feeling well.

For me, the quicker it's done the better.

So I would not worry about those 6 months and I'm focusing more on my own symptoms.

[mcjimjam]

Maybe you should get a second opinion. I'm not aware of benzo's being associated with stomach ulcers. If anything, the stress of dcing them will aggravate an existing ulcer. It seems logical to me that very high dose Xanax that has been taken for 5 years is going to need quite a long taper, which will need to go at the pace of the patients body adjusting to lack of the drug. But I am not a doctor.

[jt07]

I'm unclear, Mikeknight. Is this a psychiatrist who stopped the benzo? I'm asking because if you were on benzos long-term, you really should have had a psychiatrist managing them. GPs don't know a whole lot about psych meds and they certainly don't see the volume of patients with psych issues as a psychiatrist. But I realize nothing I've said is helpful now because you have already stopped your benzo, I'd still advise you to see a psychiatrist,

My advice to you is to STOP READING internet sites. There are so many horror stories out there, some true and some exaggerated, that you can't tell what is true and what is not. Many are anti-psych sites. You can read those sites and become hypersensitive to every little thing, effectively programming yourself to experience a prolonged withdrawal. Everybody withdraws differently. You just have to chart your own path and see how it goes. Don't make other people's experiences your own.

[melissaw72]

1 hour ago, mcjimjam said:

Maybe you should get a second opinion. I'm not aware of benzo's being associated with stomach ulcers. If anything, the stress of dcing them will aggravate an existing ulcer. It seems logical to me that very high dose Xanax that has been taken for 5 years is going to need quite a long taper, which will need to go at the pace of the patients body adjusting to lack of the drug. But I am not a doctor.

^^Agree.