Does an antidepressant help with tapering from Xanax addiction?

Question

I got addicted to Xanax, my doc put me on Zoloft to help with withdrawl. I got more sick. Is there another antidepressant to help with withdrawl? Is this standard practice? He took me off of the zoloft and wants to try another one. What would be my best one I don't know, only he knows, but he says I am clinically depressed with severe panic disorder, and anxiety. Any expierience with this?

Answer 1

Sounds like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder"PTSD"

Most of the crap that the doctors put you on don't help and only cover the disorder by knocking you out and some will even make you worse.

PTSD has so many different side effect it is impossible to give you a silver bullet, that will fix them all.

With me the ability to get a good nights sleep makes dealing with stress a little easier. Removing your self from stress, is one of the key ingredients.

But some key things you need to do in the meantime is get a doctor that know about PTSD. Get a diagnoses of PTSD. Then you need to start educate yourself about PTSD.

You will need to determine the source of the disorder and if it military related which if you served in the military it might be, then the VA will compensate you.

You can also get Social Security Disability for PTSD. No matter what the source. But you need a diagnoses first.

You can also contact me direct at [e-mail] and I will give you more places to look, but in the mean time just go to google and put in PTSD and follow the sights and see what they say.

Finally their is no cure and as you age, you will have dozens unexplained of side effect such as chronic pain, hypertension, dental disorders to name a few, Good Luck.

Answer 2

Hello, I will try to answer you utmost detailed to your question. It is not a standard practice at all and frankly the fact that your doctor put you on Zoloft perplexed me a lot. Is he a psychiatrist or just another GP, who is treating patients that kind..??!! First of all Xanax( contains Aprrazolame) is one of the top choices of strong tranquilizers, when the problem is assocoated with severe anxiety, etc, but it is prescribed only for a short-term usage, because is highly addictive. If you got addicted to it, the practice is gradually, very carefully with constant medical care to be diminished the everyday dosage taken.( the patiants respond to that differently), and meanwhile if the shrink decides afre observation that the patient's condition worsen to add a slightly milder other tranquilizer ( for example, suitable choices are Valium, Lexotan etc), BUT NOT at any rate to put the patient immediately to SSRI antidepressant ( it does have nothing with the withdrawal symptoms and their alliviation). I am not surprised that you got more sick from Zoloft ( contains Sertraline) because it is a good SSRI antidepressants, but it has a fast and stimulating effect, in brief it is not a good choice!! As far as I got you could have Panic attacks, associated with deprssion and anxiety. The treatment is with SSRI antidepressant and ( if needed) a suitable tranquilizer , prescribed for not a long time. Do not self-cure, please, your medications have to be very well-chosen. Visit a good and experienced shrink. Best of luck!

Answer 3

Alprazolam (Xanax) is a short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class used to treat anxiety disorders and as an adjunctive treatment for depression. You can switch to a long acting benzodiazepine (eg. valium) first and taper off easily. If you are going to try another antidepressant I recommend Bupropion XL (Wellbutrin XL or Zyban). Ask your doctor about it. Bupropion takes 3 weeks to show effect, so taper off 3 weeks after starting Bupropion XL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bupropion