a detox off 1.5mg of Xanax and in the process of recovering

by Michele

Michele’s Story

It started about 7 years ago. I was experiencing depression. The doctors tried me on almost every anti-depressant. I was basically a guinea pig. I was on Paxil for a while and decided I wanted to come off (late 2004). Well, this was hell. I had the usual side effects, head zaps, diarrhoea, headaches, and extreme anxiety. I was having panic attacks for no reason. Now I know it was from the Paxil withdrawal.

By early 2005 I had a massive panic attack at work and had to leave. I immediately went to the doctor the next day. I was prescribed Xanax .25mg. After a few days I was ok again. As time progressed I felt my anxiety and attacks were getting worse, so I’d call to go into see the RN at the Doctors Office who prescribed the Xanax. She increased the dose to .5 mg.

I kept thinking my anxiety was getting worse and it was but I did not know it was from the Xanax. By early 2007 I was on 1.5mg of Xanax and was raging & miserable. It was like I had to take it or I was a mess.

So now this is 2 ½ years of being on Xanax daily (May ’07) and I go to see the doctor this time. I tell him this is what I’m taking and I’m getting worse. He says you need to come off this, this stuff is worse than coming off heroin. He stops the Xanax completely and says here take this in place of Xanax and go see a psychiatrist. Well he gives me Klonopin.

The Klonopin did nothing for me. Meanwhile the Xanax is gradually coming out of my system and I didn’t know anything about withdrawal. I even called the office to tell the doctor the Klonopin wasn’t working, he tells me to double up. How ridiculous was he.

I understand now he wanted my case out of his hands.

By July ’07 everything hit me like you wouldn’t believe. I started crying all day, I couldn’t get myself together. I thought I was having a breakdown. I admitted myself into the hospital because I thought it was just depression & anxiety taking over me. It felt like my body was breaking down. My pulse flew up to 100 at all times, my blood pressure was up.

When I was released is when it all started getting worse. I was hallucinating, delirious, I thought I was dying. I could barely talk I had to write notes to people. I was shaking like a leaf for a couple months. I couldn’t sleep; hot and cold spells like flu-like symptoms. I started getting this feeling of wanting to come out of my skin. It was the scariest thing ever. I felt bugs crawling on my skin. Basically I had the worst cold turkey there is.

About a week after being out of the hospital (which they thought I was just depressed) I realized what had happened. I stopped the Xanax and this is what happened. My boyfriend and I started doing research online and from his doctor sources and confirmed it was Xanax withdrawal.

I was bed ridden from August ’07-December ’07. I was put on some Abilify - which I will need to taper at a later date - it seemed to help with some of my physical symptoms and am able to get out of bed. But I still suffer daily from many symptoms of withdrawal.

I still have DP/DR, phobias like not wanting to leave the house, anxiety, panic, cognitive impairments. It’s hard for me to even watch a movie or TV. I cannot concentrate on anything. I am restless and agitated all the time. The worst part is not being able to function normally. I will run into the store grab what I need and just about run out. I’m scared to see anyone I know because I know I’m not myself. I’ve only been in touch with friends through text messaging or emails. It’s like I’m scared to even talk to them. It’s really weird but scary. I just cannot socialize.

I’m in between my 9 and 10 month mark and I just feel I should be doing better. I pray every day to be better and back to the “old Michele”, but I do listen and believe the Moderators and Owners that I will be better one day. When? I don’t know but until then I will just have to live with it.

I pray for everyone on the Yahoo forum and anyone else out there experiencing Benzo Withdrawal.

Response from Cheryl Cholley

Great story. I'm sorry for your pain, but I'm so thankful you have gotten off these drugs.

It may help you further to begin with a colon cleanse, and then begin working on detoxing your internal organs. The liver and the kidneys will function much better if the colon is cleansed first, and then as you move all the old debris out of the liver and kidneys, you will be able to remove the residue of the drugs from your cells.

It is because your liver and kidneys have been unable to remove the drug residue that you're still having problems.

I know each day will be a struggle, but I believe natural detox methods will help you to rid yourself of the symptoms.

It will take a long period of time, however. Just take it a little at a time and work through different detox strategies, like detox foot pads, ionic foot baths, liver flush and others. Eventually your system will begin to function more normally and you'll feel much better as a result.