From: PKJAMES@UKCC.UKY.EDU
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Getting off Xanax
Date: 12 Dec 92 08:04:54 GMT
Organization: University of Kentucky

In article <1992Dec8.202716.452@sr.com>
dks@sr.com (Dave K. Sprow) writes:
 
>
>Well, I've posted about this before.  But I wanted to follow-up.
>
>Have spent the past year and a half trying to get off Xanax by
>prescribed medical solutions;i.e., cutting it down slowly.  I'd get
>it down to a certain amount and blam, anxiety and withdrawal would
>set in and I'd have to up the dosage again.  Because of the short
>half-life, it's turned a good bit of my life into a living hell.
>I can't schedule social events in advance 'cause I never know what
>kind of shape I'm in.  I've been drinking alcohol after work (when
>withdrawal starts to set in) to avoid having to take more Xanax.
>Finally, I just couldn't take it anymore.  Did some research, found
>a specific Dr. at a specific hospital who is supposed to have a
>start of the art program for getting people off Xanax in 7-10 days!!
>
>So, I'm planning on going in.  They use 2 drugs to get you off the
>Xanax, Clonopin, which I've heard of.  They wean you off this is
>5 days.  the other drug I havne't heard of. I think it's phenyl-something.
>
>Anyway, we're basically talking a detox here. Does this sound possible;
>to get someone off Xanax in 7-10 days with minimum discomfort (which is
>what they claim). Also, The Dr. said the alcohol made a lot of sense
>because he said once ot passes the liver it does basically the samething
>as the Xanax. Is this true?  He said that would make it a "clean"
>detox.  Meaning they wouldn't have to detox me from more than one
>substance.  The one would handle the other.  Is *this* true?  Or are
>they just trying to get another patient in to make money?  He *seems*
>like he knows what he's talking about and he seems sincere, but I
>wanted to get any feedback here I could.
>
Wanax is like nembutal, quick complete and accurate.  You don't sound
like an addict that is continually trying to escape but I'm afraid my
friend you must come down and with discomfort.  There is also the
possibiltiy that you may be in need of other help with anxiety.  Some
people like myself have found that we're just chemically out of order.
I take prozac, and although it makes me a bit nervous it seems to calm
the things I used to think I needed tranquilizers for and I don't suffer
the side effects of looking like a dizzy blonde. My best advice for you
is to get a good doctor or just buy one outright to give you
phenobarbital.  That should block any of the side effects of xanax.
Then after about 2 weeks of that, just go off.  I'm sorry but there is
nothing that will make that better.  Counting sheep, deep breathing,
etc. are recomeneded, but there really isn't a way out.  The reaction
your body is having from trying to quit this drug is NATURAL.  You must
endure it and then it will pass.  Please though, do this under a doctors
care.   It does not mean that you are an addict, (although if you have
insurance they'll try to convince you of that.)  It is emperative though
that you stay under surveilance.  Coming off xanax is not a pretty
thing.  I know from fact.  I was working like 40 -80 hour weeks and I
woudl not calm down.  Doctors and friens decided I needed to be on
something to calm me and they gave zanax.Well, it worked for about a
month and I thought I don't need this stuff and just stopped it.  Before
I knew what was going on I was crawling the walls and being just a bit
too wierd.  It doesn't matter though.  After I realized what was going
on I felt normal and I didn't need xanax.
The docs liked to freek they said how much have you been taking and I
said well about 8 that's ok ain't it.?  A good doc is hard to find.  Get
one that doesn't care to make you feel good but looks out for you.  And
remember the ideal drug of choice recommmened by all pharmacists and
docs is no drug at all.  "if" you need it though don't be afraid to ask
for it.
PAUL JAMES   (PKJAMES@UKCC.UKY.EDU)
>thanks,
>
>David S.
>
>
power