Freak of Nature or Freak of XR?

[[Buddie]]

So before doing any research into tapering my Xanax XR 1mg, taking for 5 years (occasional IR during a panic attack not much at all), I tried to taper myself off drastically. I took .25mg IR Xanax for 2 days, then cut those in half, then on the day I cut the .25 in half I had alcohol. Believe it or not I actually felt fine. I’d get nauseous a little and feel withdrawal but the .25 got rid of it until the next day. Well, on the last day when I drank and cut the .25 in half, I drank a LOT and had what my husband tells me was a pretty disturbing psychotic blackout. I woke up the next morning with so much anxiety.

 I began researching and reading horror stories of Xanax withdrawals, the whole Shebang. I freaked myself out. I immediately went back to taking my regular 1mg dose for fear of seizures and who knows what could happen, and have a Dr appointment Thursday. Was the 1mg Xanax XR just starting to finally leave my system? Was I actually cutting my dose that fast with no issues until that .25 cut mixed with alcohol??

For what it’s worth, my dosage was/is the 1mg XR Xanax in the mornings only which I’ve read acts a lot different with an empty stomach and compared to night, and I’m also pretty certain after reading some things that I’ve likely been in tolerance for a long time. So maybe I havent been adding any fuel to the gaba/glutamate fire so to speak, for a long while now. I just thought all my insomnia and other issues were normal.

[[Buddie]]

I had a similar situation. I went from 0.25mg to 0.125 of Xanax. I had some body pains after 3 days, but it didn’t really hit me until about a week later when I had terrible panic attacks and insomnia. I think it takes time to diminish in your system, so it may seem like smooth sailing at first.

[[Buddie]]

Oh man. What did you do? Did you stay at the dose you went down to? It’s pretty disheartening!

I had a similar situation. I went from 0.25mg to 0.125 of Xanax. I had some body pains after 3 days, but it didn’t really hit me until about a week later when I had terrible panic attacks and insomnia. I think it takes time to diminish in your system, so it may seem like smooth sailing at first.

[[Buddie]]

So far, I’ve managed to stay at the lower dose, but it’s been rough. I’m not sure if I should wait it out or go back up and taper more slowly. I suppose I shouldn’t wait too much longer to decide or it may be more difficult for me.

[[Buddie]]

So far, I’ve managed to stay at the lower dose, but it’s been rough. I’m not sure if I should wait it out or go back up and taper more slowly. I suppose I shouldn’t wait too much longer to decide or it may be more difficult for me.

That’s so tough. I noticed your signature with the dates on it, duh! I’m new to the forum, sorry. I know going back up is supposed to always be a bad idea. But damn it’s tough. It looks  like you’ve been doing such a great job though. It’ll be tougher next time to go back if you go up…if we can handle it at that much of a cut then maybe we should just do it as long as watching out for seizure risk. Maybe one of the beta blockers or seizure meds would be helpful?