[Ga...] Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 I have been using .50 to .75 of xanax, 4 times a day for about 2 years. I have used it for GAD. My family doctor sent me to a pain recovery treatment. I also use Ultram 100mg, three times a day, which I am prescribed from a pain management clinic, I have severe arthritis in my lower back. Last Thursday, I went to see the doctor at the recoverly clinic. After a half hour lecture on why I shouldn't be taking Xanax, he wrote me a script for phenobarbital and told me to switch drugs. On Friday night I took my last dose of Xanax, Saturday morning, I started taking the phenobarbital, by Saturday night I was having full blown w/d. Sunday and yesterday were hell. I emailed my family doctor and told her what was going on, she had me call the recovery doctor asap. He didn't get back with me until later yesterday afternoon. I know he didn't even remember who I was. He told me to start taking the xanax again and make an appointment on Thurs and he'd start a taper using another drug. I am so upset, why didn't he do this in the first place. The phenobarbital really seemed to make the w/d worse. So I emailed my family doctor again and she told me to follow his advice, so I wouldn't end up with more health problems. Yesterday, I only took .25 of the xanax and this morning I took another .25, by this afternoon the anxiety was awful again and I took .50. I have been reading as much as I can about this on-line and from the looks of things, taper is the best thing to do. Since this has all started, I haven't been able to do anything, not drive, go to work, take care of my family. My boss gave me a week off to pull myself together, if I don't I'm afraid I will lose my job of 25 years. I know all of you are not doctors, but I'm wondering if I should try someplace else that isn't so unfeeling. My family doctor said, she is not trained to treat me. Help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Be...] Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Hi GatorsMom, Welcome to Benzobuddies I'm sorry that you have been put through so much in the last few days. And I'm sorry you are concerned about keeping your job. It would be great if you could find a doctor that you feel comfortable with, not always easy to find, I know. Some people can stop taking benzos abruptly and not suffer, but for many tapering off them slowly is the only way to get by. The general rule of thumb for tapering is to cut your daily dose by somewhere between 5% and 10% every 10 - 14 days, according to how you are feeling. In my opinion I think that you may benefit by reinstating your full dose of Xanax, stabilize for a week or so, and then begin a slow tape off. Have you come across the Ashton Manual. Here is a link to it: http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/ Here you will find good basic information about Benzodiazipines and how to withdraw from them. Also, here on the forum there is very valuable information. We are glad that you have found us and we hope that you will find answers to your questions here. Our members are very supportive and will be happy to help you where they can. Please feel free to post on any of the boards. Betsy xxxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ga...] Posted June 19, 2012 Author Share Posted June 19, 2012 Betsy, thank you for your kind words. I have looked at the Ashton manual. I really like my family doctor and will try and reach her to see if she would be willing to look at the manual and help me thru this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Be...] Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Hi Gator, That sounds like a good plan! Let us know how you do. Betsy xxxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ch...] Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 You did everything right, GatorsMom. Called your doctor, reinstated to a degree and are getting ready to taper. I also took .5 Xanax up to 4 times a day and it took nine months to taper safely off of it and remain fairly functional. If I could offer some advice, it would be to fully reinstate back to where you were Thursday and then stabilize a bit before beginning to taper off. I believe you'll be much more functional on your job if you do so. If I thought you could easily get away with .25 here and there I'd say to go ahead and go for it, but after two years of use I don't think that would be the right way to go. There are other Xanax taperers here who are very active, knowledgeable and helpful: http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=43272.3950 The members of the forum at this thread are supportive and will explain how this process goes. Challis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Po...] Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 GatorsMom, I am so sorry that they have confused you with all the medications. I hope your family doctor can get you started down the right path. We will be happy to give you our support while you taper off the Xanax. I had to reinstate Lorazepam. I am now stabilized (it took a while) and am holding before starting a slow taper. When you are ready to taper just go to the General Taper Board and post. Someone will be happy to help. Take care, Popcornlady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ga...] Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Thank you all. I sent a message to my family doctor and waiting for a reply. My biggest worry is missing more time from work and I can't afford to be without a job right now. I am hoping I can reinstate at .50, 3 times a day and feel somewhat normal. At least, the hellish weekend wouldn't have been in vein. Can anyone tell me why the phenobarbital didn't work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[De...] Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Hello Gator'sMom, I'm afraid I cant answer your question re the Phenobarbital as I have no experience with it but I think you would get more responses to this if you post the question on the main forum. You are currently still posting in your Introduction thread which gets minimal views. Here is a link to The Withdrawal and Recovery section of the forum. When you get there, hit the blue button which says New Topic and you will start a thread there. Hope this helps. Debbie http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?board=55.0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[an...] Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Welcome Gatorsmom, I've been on here for awhile and don't remember hearing about phenobarbitol to ease withdrawals! But I'm not surprised. Reinstate, gather knowledge and be patient as you slowly taper...You COULD have lost your job over this if you hadn't reacted quickly. A positive attitude helps a lot with symptoms. ~stasia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ga...] Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Thank you Stasia. At this point, I'm still very confused about the meds. I have been prescribed. When I was in my twenties I had a problem with anxiety, back then they called it nerves. I was able to overcome it. Then 5 years ago I started having back pain, found out I have servere arthris in my lower back. I was sent to a pain management clinic and was given Ultram and also took injections. Thinking about it now, it seems like thats when the anxiety started again. So now I'm wondering if the Ultram is causing some of my anxiety. Other than my family doctor, the others I have seen, don't seem to caring. I have an appointment tomorrow at pain mangement for an injection and plan to ask about this. As far as my job goes, I have til Monday, to put myself back together. My boss and co-workers have been very kind, but really don't understand what I am going thru. It sure seems you all on this board have more knowledge than the doctors I have seen. I think it would be easier to deal with the back pain than the servere anxiety I had while I was in w/d. Just thinking out loud, whould I be better to get off the Ultram, before I begin my taper, hmmm. I'm a mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ch...] Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Hi GatorsMom, The phenobarbital is prescribed (generally) as an anti-convulsant but won't do anything to alleviate the actual withdrawal misery. I'm guessing it might prevent having a seizure, but again, I don't know for sure about that. I'm relieved to see you're planning to reinstate. I hope it will help you become functional again so you can get back to your job. Challis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ga...] Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Hi Challis, Yes, I have reinstated. The doctor that prescribed the phenobarbital just acted like it would be a simple, just stop the xanax and start the phenobarbital. In hindsight, it now seems like a very nasty thing to put me thru. I almost ended up in the ER. I guess I will be looking for another recovery Dr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ch...] Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 I wouldn't give up on him if you otherwise are happy with your doctor. Not many doctors fully understand benzo withdrawal and the complexity that can come about with it. I think you can get just about all the support and information you need here except refills. Challis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ga...] Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Challis, to be honest, I only saw the doctor one time and I'm not so sure he does understand the benzo w/d. I am hoping and praying my family doctor with the help of the Ashton manual will help me. I've emailed her and waiting for a reply and some direction, as I'm now thinking the tramadol is adding to my anxiety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ch...] Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Challis, to be honest, I only saw the doctor one time and I'm not so sure he does understand the benzo w/d. I am hoping and praying my family doctor with the help of the Ashton manual will help me. I've emailed her and waiting for a reply and some direction, as I'm now thinking the tramadol is adding to my anxiety. It's going to be hard to tell. Withdrawal usually brings on some pretty stiff anxiety...I've just lost my second tooth to jaw clenching! Didn't even really realize I was doing it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ga...] Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 You are so right about that. It does seem the anxiety started after I was taking the tramadol, which led me to the xanax. Thanks you all for all your help and kind words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ch...] Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 You're welcome to come on over to a thread called 'Xanax Support: if you're tapering Xanax, come join the discussion.' This group helped me get through my Xanax taper and is very knowledgeable and supportive. Here's a link if you're interested: http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=43272.new;topicseen#new If you do open the link, hit 'Reply' and you can post to the thread. Challis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[an...] Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Gatorsmom, Yes, to me...I didn't have pain with MY benzo withdrawal syndrome BUT I thought I might be dying, and could NEVER have held a job with what I went through last winter. I would take feeling some pain at work over bad benzo WDs (withdrawals). I don't know what is in your pain med. But if it is an opiate it may be tricky to quit. I'd reinstate everything but take in knowledge on this forum and elsewhere then make a game plan with your caring doctor-but DON'T GIVE UP! You can DO this thing!! It may or may not be easy but you will learn a lot and find your way back to your life!! ~stasia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ga...] Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Stasia, you are right, I can take the pain (arthritis in my lower back) over the benzo withdrawals. I'm starting to think I have too many doctors. One for pain management, one for recovery, another that wants me on Suboxone and my family doctor. I only feel comfortable with my family doctor and she has told me, this is out of her field. I have appointment tomorrow for a back injection and hoping we can talk about other pain meds, than the tramadol. Maybe after tomorrow, I will have more of a game plan. I'm not giving up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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