I have been abusing Xanax for almost 2 years now, I would go doctor shopping?

Question

make the lies and I would get a precription, I am not proud. I am ready to kick the habit, Right now I am wondering should I just stop cold turkey, I am have been taking 2 milligram bars--once in the morning 1 at night..a total of 4 milligrams a day. I fell really strange right now, like my body is numb and I have butterflies in my stomach, is this part of the withdrawls??

Before any one comments yes I know I am an addict, I want to change.

Answer 1

First off do NOT stop taking xanax cold turkey. You can set yourself up for life threatening seizures, psychosis. Your withdrawals are only beginning. A cold turkey can set people up for protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome which can drags on for months and months or years. Don't think this will be over in a week or 2. You don't know what you are getting into by cold turkeying.
Benzodiazepines are potent anticonvulsant. When you cold turkey all your nerves go crazy and fire non stop uncontrollably and you may do damage by cold turkeying which will take months or years to recover from. I aint joking. Read some of the benzo stories of people who have done what you have done. There is an alternative. Gradually wean yourself off over at least months and you will won't run the risk of going through what I described above. Don't underestimate the power of xanax. It aint hydrocodone you are coming off of.
I am not surprised you feel strange and have numbness. The numbness is a sign that your nervous system is functioning grossly abnormally. Go back on your xanax, stabalise and gradually taper. Join a withdrawal support group. There is a great forum on this web site http://www.non-benzodiazepines.org.uk
I also want to add that I don't mean to scare you. Benzodiazepine withdrawal (xanax is a benzodiazepine), does not have to be painful if you do it properly. I just want you to realise the dangers of cold turkeying this stuff. I have been there and done that and I was nuts for 6 - 9 months after coming off to quickly.
Join the forum on the link above and get yourself some decent advice on how to get off that stuff instead doing a Do It Yourself job on your brain.
If you think I am exagerating about the dangers of cold turkeying benzodiazepine drugs, then check the medical publications I quoted below. By the way one of the medical publication's below in my sources, uses the generic name of xanax which is alprazolam.
You will need to avoid alcohol as well, as alcohol is cross tolerant with sedative hypnotics like xanax, otherwise you will keep the addiction, withdrawal going. The withdrawal support group I gave ya can give you more info on what to do and what not to do and take etc.
Good luck.

Answer 2

That's a big dose of Xanax. Withdrawing from Xanax and other benzos, like alcohol withdrawal can be FATAL. Symptoms range from hand tremors ("the shakes") to confusion, seizures, and hallucinations so vivid people sometimes do extremely dangerous things like jumping out a high window. You must taper off very slowly and only as advised by a doctor. Do not stop cold turkey.

Answer 3

Xanax is hard to quit on your own, because (as you know) when it starts wearing off you feel terribly anxious and can other problems like headaches. I have talked with a doctor who told me that a good method is to switch the patient to klonopin. The klonopin prevents the Xanax withdrawal problems, and then klonopin is easier to withdraw from. This doctor wanted to do a controlled scientific study on this, but it was impossible to find enough people to participate -- they were so afraid to stap their Xanax. I can understand why.

Find a doctor who will supervise your withdrawal and prescribe a drug to make it easier. Cold turkey isn't the way to go.

Answer 4

I think I would contact a doctor, and be weaned off. I think, but don't know for sure, but you may suffer severe withdrawl, that may not be the safe way to go. Good luck in your effort to clean up, addiction is difficult, but can be conquered.

Answer 5

If you're actually serious about quitting, I would talk to a doctor about your addiction and have him slowly wean you off the drug, it's much safer than going cold turkey.