So about 2 weeks ago I had my first seizure. I am 23 yrs old n have been on numerous medications during the past few yrs (endocet, xanax, atenolol, adderal, soma, ambian) but xanax consistently for the past 2-3 yrs (for anxiety-but also helped me fall asleep) I never took the same amount daily, it was just as needed. It has been about a month and a half away from that stressful environment, apparently causing most of my anxiety.When I woke up to paramedics in my face, they were asking about all my meds and when the last time i took my xanax was, i had to think about it and realized it had been about 4 days ago. (within those 4 days i felt completely fine, no anxiety, no withdrawal symptoms of any kind) they took me to the hospital and asured me the seizure was from that, suddenly not taking it for days and gave me a new script. Now i am all freaked out, waking up in the morning making sure to take small doses throughout the day. When i looked up Xanax and the side effects seizures were a rare side effect.. so Question 1, how can i be sure it was from the xanax n nothing more serious? Question 2, I want to stop taking these, i clearly dont need them any longer, but dont know what to do or take to ensure that i will not have another seizure. Id really appreciate any help or advice..
How to ensure I will not have a seizure when I stop taking xanax?
Question posted by Sammantha4 on 14 March 2011
Last updated on 15 January 2019 by MolecularJoe
6 Answers
Anybody taken phenobarbitals for benzo withdrawal/ seizure prevention?
Hi everyone, Reading all the posts regarding seizures- when stopping Xanax is really scary. I just got back from my Pain Specialist (it was my 1st visit with her). She did not like that I'm on Xanax & Valium... she would like to see me get off these benzo's. I told her that I've been on Alprazolam for over 23yrs. and most likely will be on them for the remainder of my days. Just reading about the withdrawal symptoms is enough for me to need one right now! I had a .5mg around 2:30pm today and felt breakthrough withdrawal 4hrs. later. I'm always in a lot of pain emotionally & physically because of spinal stenosis & fibromyalgia. The Valium relaxes my muscles at night so I can get some sleep. I wish that I didn't need them anymore... but my body does.
Will taking one Xanax for anxiety hurt me?
I recently had two seizures in 2 months due to binging on Xanax for a couple weeks and stopping abruptly. Xanax is a drug that you need to ween off of. If you don't want to take it anymore, you should tell your doctor and they will probably prescribe you Valium to taper you off (that's what they did for me). For your first question, you should get a scan of your brain to make sure it was just because of Xanax. You would want to see a neurologist.
When talking to ur doctor to quit xanax they will usually put u on a klonapin taper. It is still a benzo but alot less potent an safely brings u off xanax, even in jail thay will put u on a k-pin taper if u have a prescription they can verify in pac unit, and once u get into gen pop. I had seizures too when i stopped and it is scary. I really hurt myself during my first 3 seizures, but i was in a pretty bad car accident where i was knocked out due to head trauma and they tell me that had a big role to play in why i am permanantly prone to have seizures so I was placed on dilantin cuz my levels were very low and when they drop too far it causes me to have a seizures. And these are violent grand maul seizures which are very scary..
Hey guys, I'm new here, however, I have been on Xanax and or Klonopin for well over 13-14 years. There have been a few times where I just stopped taking them, run out or whatever. Anyway, I just wanted to add this b/c I've had 7 seizures due to benzo withdrawals. They're not fun and very dangerous. I'm now on a very serious regimen so this does not happen again and I don't abuse like I did years ago. Please be very careful coming off of any benzo. Always go to your doctor and say you're ready and they will help. Best of luck to all of you, I just wanted to share my story. Take care, -Vee
How much Xanax were you taking? I have been taking 1-2mg everyday for about a year without a prescription. About a week ago I got pressed bars and I had two seizures in one day. I am terrified I will have another one as my parents can’t find out about the Xanax. I have since either taken 1mg of the pressed or none at all since Saturday. How likely am I to have another seizure?
I always have seizures. In jail if you are taking Xanax they put you on the bottom bunk because of the frequent seizures caused by sudden stopping of Xanax. If you're lucky they will give you valium for a couple days to help with the seizures. I can't hardly walk and have trouble with my vision when I stop xanax
Hey Sammantha,
Stopping xanax abruptly can definitely cause a seizure. If you want to stop taking xanax you will need to taper off the medicine very slowly. Don't know how much you are taking nor how often so it is kind of hard for me to explain how to taper. Best to consult with your doctor on this as you are obviously prone to having seizures.
I wouldn't be to overly worried about coming off the xanax as long as you do it by slowly reducing your doseage over a month or more. I know that sounds like a long time but best to take it slow. Please contact your prescribing doctor as soon as possible to get the best taper plan.
My hunch is you had the seizure because of stopping the xanax but that being said, you will only know for sure when you get off the xanax and remain seizure free.
Wishing you continued success in becoming xanax free,
Laurie
Great advice laurie,
Could'nt agree or add to it more,you really know your stuff!
Sammantha,
I am currently very addicted to xanax. Last year in July 2010, I took my usual dose that I usually take, and i'm also very immuned to the xanax so I had been taking the xanax bars, I left home & was headed to my brother's house, when I felt that I was swerving on & off of the road, I wanted to pull off the road and park when I started feeling weird, but I could not function right, so I ended up crashing my car head on into a electric pole, then I woke up and the air bags had deployed and I started screaming help me!!! I was transported to the hospital and they told me I had a seizure or that I had blacked out. But I don't remember driving for about a mile, and that scared me to death. I was lucky I survived with only cuts & bruises. So I think that the xanax made me have the seizure. Then I decided to go "cold turkey" in August, because by then I had already taken all my xanax's.
Going "cold turkey" was the worst thing I had ever went through in my life, I layed in my bed at my parents house for 3 weeks straight, I could not eat, sleep, I thought I was going to die. Then it was time for my refill, and I got back on them again. So please don't ever go "cold turkey" off of xanax. I've tried cutting back but I can't. So now I have an appt for a suboxene clinic in a few weeks. Hopefully I can get off xanax and stay off of it. It's terrible to be addicted like me. Now I'm taking like 4-5mg a day. I hope that I get get support on here as well. My parents don't understand, but my Dad is an alcoholic and I have been in so many fusses & fighting with him over my lifetime. I'm 39 years old, been divorced twice and have no kids. No job, no insurance, no money. I feel worthless.
Hey Tracey,
I feel for you, xanax addiction can be a real bear, to say the least. I must mention that Suboxone is for opiate detox not from benzodiazepines like Xanax. Not sure if you realized that or not.
You are right that xanax must be tapered off of slowly in order to prevent the withdrawls and running the risk of having a seizure. I recommend counseling too, to help the mind learn tools for coping with the anxiety and stress once you no longer have the xanax.
Best Wishes and Hang in there,
Laurie
What should I do if doctor just stops prescribing them to me after being on high dose for over ten yrs. no tapering at all, what happen was my reg doctor decided to retire so they transferd me to this one and says he doesn't like to prescribe xanex with other meds I'm on , but I've been on same meds ten years can he just stop me without weening me down first?
Having been on xanax for ten years, you will want to taper to avoid risk of seizure unless the doctor places you on a different benzodiazepine.
What if you can't taper off? What can you do to reduce the risk of seizure
If you must stop abruptly, be prepared for the withdrawals which might include a seizure. For the first few days, stay close to your bed and don't drive or do such type activity. I really don't recommend stopping abruptly. Can you go to the ER at hospital and get some help?
Hi i have a question on tapering ,i just found out iam pregnant so its a biy scary for me since ive read a couple of withdrawal symptoms.
Ive been taking alprozalam for 4 years now i take 0.25 1 day everyday for anxiety and panick attacks aftet i had my son .iam terryfied of seizures ive never in my life had one but sure am terrified specially with the news that iam pregnant .whent to the doctor today said take half a tablet for one week and secon week half a tablet everyother day then the following weeks half a tablet every other 2 days sounds like a good plan but i didnt ask him of how i can be assured that i wont experience a seizure thats all i am afraid of .the reason is last pregnancy i went to the E.R after having my baby since i had fast palpitations + really high blood pressure they thought it was preclamsia turned out i was anxious and depressed that was the biggest scared of my life since the nurse would ask if i can see lights flashing or if i had a headache bcus i was gna get a "seizure "does were her words so i was terrified ever since and wouldnt whant one to ever happen specially not now that i am pregnant what can i do to assure i wont get one??? !!
As long as you taper slowly as doctor has instructed, there should be no problem. Seizures occur when you stop a medication of this type abruptly without tapering off. Relax and best wishes for a healthy, happy pregnancy.
Thank you so much for replying Laury shay i apreciate you writing back i will do what doctor says and trust in god thanks and god bless ☺
Related topics
endocet, soma, xanax, seizures, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, atenolol, medication
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