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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Thrud on September 24, 2002, at 17:19:26
Hi All.
I have been on Xanax (3mg/day) for over a year. After looking back, I decided that I felt better on Remeron, which I took as monotherapy (30mg/day) before my Xanax and Lamictal combo.
I quickly weaned off the Lamictal; no big deal. I then went back on the Remeron in anticipation of tapering Xanax. My pdoc said his patients generally had few problems with Xanax withdrawal, so he set me on a taper of 0.5mg per week.
All I can say is holy ####!! I thought I could take anything until I hit this. The first few weeks were uncomfortable but tolerable: sensitivity to light and touch, dizziness, memory lapses, insomnia and vivid dreams. Then a few days into the 0.5mg per day all hell started to break loose. Add to the previous list hallucinations, panic attacks, splitting headaches and vomiting.
Another strange thing is that Remeron no longer seems to be working as an antidepressant when it used to be very effective. Maybe it is just being overwhelmed by the withdrawal symptons?
My pdoc has switched me to 1mg per day of Klonopin, which seems to be doing the trick. I will be staying there until I recover and can (more) slowly taper off Klonopin. I WILL make the finishing line...
I used to scoff at people who couldn't kick drugs or alcohol, but that is just because I never went through any withdrawal at all until now. Humble pie never tasted so bad.
Thrud
Posted by Essence on September 24, 2002, at 18:38:11
In reply to Xanax withdrawal: holy ####!!!, posted by Thrud on September 24, 2002, at 17:19:26
Dear Thrud, boy do I hear you, I withdrew off of Xanax 2 yrs ago after being on it for 7 yrs. Was the worse experience of my life, with the exception of Effexor withdrawal which is just as brutal. When I tapered off the Xanax my shrink said the same thing, that I shouldn't have any problems and I was put on a tapering schedule that had me off in 9 days!!! I was on .50 QID and dropped a whole pill every 3 days. I have never been so sick in my whole life. I am now taking Remeron and Clonazepam .50 BID, as the Remeron hasn't helped with the anxiety. I suspect your still going through some residual withdrawal with the Xanax so don't give up on the Rem yet. Best of luck.
Ess
Posted by colin wallace on September 26, 2002, at 11:50:55
In reply to Re: Xanax withdrawal: holy ####!!!, posted by Essence on September 24, 2002, at 18:38:11
I was taking 3mg xanax daily for around a year too.After the introduction of remeron, which was terrific in countering severe anxiety, I was able to slowly discontinue xanax altogether within around four or five months (later I began a very low dose of diazepam for residual anxiety.)
No difficulties here with xanax withdrawal, but effexor was pretty horrendous.
Posted by Dave001 on September 26, 2002, at 14:06:08
In reply to Xanax withdrawal: holy ####!!!, posted by Thrud on September 24, 2002, at 17:19:26
As a practical matter, it is usually wise to switch to a longer acting benzo (e.g., clonazepam or diazepam) before you begin the taper. From there, the degree to which you experience withdrawl depends upon how fast you reduce your dosage. Unless there is some medical reason which necessitates a quick discontinuation, I would decrease the dose very slowly -- perhaps by only 0.1 mg/week or so of clonazepam. Precise titration may require the prep. of a sol. See Merck Index for solubility data. (I can post the data if you want; I have a copy of the latest [13th] ed.)
Good luck,
Dave
> Hi All.
>
> I have been on Xanax (3mg/day) for over a year. After looking back, I decided that I felt better on Remeron, which I took as monotherapy (30mg/day) before my Xanax and Lamictal combo.
>
> I quickly weaned off the Lamictal; no big deal. I then went back on the Remeron in anticipation of tapering Xanax. My pdoc said his patients generally had few problems with Xanax withdrawal, so he set me on a taper of 0.5mg per week.
>
> All I can say is holy ####!! I thought I could take anything until I hit this. The first few weeks were uncomfortable but tolerable: sensitivity to light and touch, dizziness, memory lapses, insomnia and vivid dreams. Then a few days into the 0.5mg per day all hell started to break loose. Add to the previous list hallucinations, panic attacks, splitting headaches and vomiting.
>
> Another strange thing is that Remeron no longer seems to be working as an antidepressant when it used to be very effective. Maybe it is just being overwhelmed by the withdrawal symptons?
>
> My pdoc has switched me to 1mg per day of Klonopin, which seems to be doing the trick. I will be staying there until I recover and can (more) slowly taper off Klonopin. I WILL make the finishing line...
>
> I used to scoff at people who couldn't kick drugs or alcohol, but that is just because I never went through any withdrawal at all until now. Humble pie never tasted so bad.
>
> Thrud
>
Posted by Thrud on September 26, 2002, at 23:21:33
In reply to Re: Xanax withdrawal: holy ####!!!, posted by Dave001 on September 26, 2002, at 14:06:08
Thanks Dave.
I think I'm okay now without literature- I've gained 'practical experience' these last weeks.
In hindsight I would have gone to klonopin first and tapered more slowly, but since I'm almost there I may as well finish it off quickly.
I'm still unsure whether the Remeron is not working or the withdrawal/rebound is simply overpowering; it would be nice to be non-depressed once I've finally pulled out of this mess.
It's funny how I'm experiencing such powerful withrawal symptoms, but I've read that people with panic disorder (like me) are often very sensitive to medication. Oh the joys of panic disorder with depression! So sweet!
Thrud
This is the end of the thread.
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