I am taking 1.5 of xanax have been taking .05 for 5 years just increased it today I bought melatonin

5 Feb 2012

Hi linda,
How long have you been taking 1.5mgs? That is a relatively low dose of Xanax, yet you have been taking it for five years, so you may want to taper slowly off of it. Going cold turkey off of any benzodiazapine may cause seizures. Yet your dose is low, as I stated.
If I were in your shoes, I would do a taper off of it, so no harm comes to you.
Are you able to tell your doctor what you are doing? If they were prescribed, please do tell your doc, he/she may have a way to keep you feeling comfortable while withdrawing.
Perhaps you need something for sleep for a short time. Sleep is quite elusive when going off benzos, so ask your doc. There are over the counter sleep medications, but I've found good old Benadryl to be the best sleep inducer, and toss in a Melatonin tablet and you may get some sleep.
(melatonin is all natural and may be purchased at any pharmacy)
I really am hoping you will tell your doc what you are doing, just to be safe!!
Best wishes,
sweet lemon

5 Feb 2012

Hi Linda, & welcome to the site. I totally agree with my friend Sweet Lemon. I have taken xanax for sleeping since 1994. I started at .05mg & am now up to 3mg. I have reduced mine at times using benadryl. Depending on anyother conditions you may have 75mg of benadryl is safe to take at bedtime, but I wouldnt use that much to start. Try using one when you drop .5mg of xanax & gage how you sleep. If you have a problem increase the benadryl to 2 & so forth. They even sell them at dollar stores if you happen to have one convenient. Melatonin may help you too. I'm kind of strange when it coes to some meds & things & when I tried malatonin it had an opposite effect on me. I didn't sleep a wink, but it does help most people. You could also try cammonille tea. There is no caffeine in it & tis a lovely bedtime relaxer that is all natural. Good luck with your trial & error... Mary632009

5 Feb 2012

Hello lindawair. Not certain if you are attempting to stop taking the Xanax or simply increasing your dose and trying to get a nights sleep. Xanax is a short, term anxiety drug thats not manufactured for sleep. People take it at night because of its calming effects, and it sedative qualties. Taking melatoin ( my point of view) is going to do very little in regards to withdrawl and or helping you to sleep, as any otc sleeping drug such as Unisom, or Somminex as well, they are second rate at best compared to a prescription. They;re used best for a one or two nights need for sleep. Ask your prescribing physician to prescibe you a sleeping benzodiazepine, which, contrary to belief are not on the level or even close to of being as habit forming as the benzodiazepines created for short and long term anxiety issues. Good health and wishes to you,pledge

5 Feb 2012

Dear Linda, I am a horrible insomniac and I would not sleep weeks at a time so finally I asked doc for Ambien and it worked, just be very very careful people seem to develop a tolerance quickly so if you are able I would suggest not taking every night and use only when you at wits end. Good Luck-K