How To Wean Off Of XanaX Safely?

Posted on Wed, 10 Dec 2014

Question: Dr. XXXXXXX
I am crashing again from XanaX. My doctor thinks this the right way to do it. I think this a horrible way to die. After 23 years I do not think I should be experimenting with crashing. I am 65 years old!!!! Can anybody help me?

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Clarifications

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
However I would require a couple of more details to help you in answering your query in a better justified way.
1. On what xanax dose (0.5mg/1mg/2mg/day)are you currently on?
2. Have you tried tapering it down gradually? if so what was the problem?
Hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.
Regards and wish you good health,
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (29 hours later)

Hello Doctor,

I am coming off of 5mg/day XanaX. Unfortunately, I had some issues in my life and used up my medication too early and my local doctor is not sympathetic, forcing me to endure extreme hardships. This, in turn, causes me more anxiety. It is a vicious circle.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (31 hours later)

Brief Answer:
5mg/day is a very high dose

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for all the additional information. The decision that you can or cannot stop the drug abruptyly rested on the dose that you are on Now that you are mentioning that you are on 5mg xanax, at the age of 65 years, it would never be wise to stop it abruptly.
You need to discuss this with your doctor and suggest him two options:
1) Either he prescribes your xanax some more and then you taper it gradually like 5mg/day to 4 mg /day for 5 days then 3mg/day for 5 days then 2mg/day for 5 days and 1mg/day for nex 5 days and then finally 0.5mg /day for five days before you dtop it completely.
2) You may be started on longer acting benzodiazepines like valium or chlordiazepoxide and then gruadualy getting the drug tappered. By this you can stop the xanax abruptly under the cover of other benzodiazepine.
Bothe these options are good. In case if he still insists that you should stop it abruptly without any add on replacement medicine then suggest him that you would like to get admitted under his care while this withdrawal is being planned.
Hope this helps,
In case you need any further query, do let me know.
Kind regards
Dr.Srikanth Reddy

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar