Alprazolam and Withdrawal: What Users Say (Page 3)

• my ...
• November 13, 2009

Alprazolam for Panic Disorder "I have been taking a combination of 2 mg Xanax 3 times a day, 2 mg extended-release Xanax once daily, and 3 mg Klonopin twice daily. I have found that this combination of medications and Xanax itself has helped me get my mind back on the things that matter in my life. Get over my fears and make an enormous amount of friends in my life. Although the only problem is that my doctor now tells me after 18 months of taking this dose that he thinks the Depakote (1000 mg) a day is helping me and that he is going to start taking me off the benzodiazepines. I tried to see if I would be able to get off of them and live normally, I found myself worse than before the medication with severe withdrawal symptoms."

• Anonymous
• July 18, 2011

Alprazolam for Anxiety "Xanax for panic attacks saved my life. I had developed agoraphobia after 9 months or so of severe panic. I was prescribed Xanax for occasional use by a very smart doctor, and just knowing I had them to rely on if I needed them was enough to end the cycle of panic. If you panic, they work quickly to end the attack. I know that people have trouble with withdrawal if they're used for too long. I did my best to breathe through the attacks and fend them off myself, but when I couldn't, Xanax was a savior."

• Chi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 22, 2016

For Anxiety "I took this drug for 27 years. Worked like a charm. Then, my doc cut me off. Bad drug, etc. I had withdrawal for one solid year. I was all over the place. I even found myself stopped in the middle of the highway for no reason. I couldn't even work. The withdrawal is the worst part. This miracle drug helped me, but it is like someone kicking a heroin addiction. Methadone needs to be taken for life. My drug use didn't increase, so that was not a problem. I had the same usage every day. Two 0.5 mg, but the withdrawal kicked my ass. I would not tell anyone to take this long term."

• GJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 13, 2018

Alprazolam for Anxiety "Careful with this one. Very addictive. It was prescribed for anxiety, but after a while, I found myself habitually taking it and getting desperately anxious when I didn’t. Addiction to barbiturates in my mid-forties was not part of the plan, so I stopped. Withdrawals were terrible. I also experienced short-term memory issues. I achieved safer results with antidepressants, although they take a week or more to ‘work,’ they are not addictive. Lifestyle changes also helped: no drinking, took up jogging, gym, and watching what I eat and being more mindful of the spiritual aspects of life. Pretty obvious stuff, really..."

• Ada...
• March 6, 2010

For Anxiety "I've been on Xanax for a little over a year, and it really helps with my anxiety and depression. However, I tried to stop taking it cold turkey a few months back...bad idea. I had the most horrifying withdrawals ever. I thought I was going to die. So now I'm back on it, but I've developed a tolerance and an addiction, which scares me. As with most of the other reviews, I agree that it is a great drug when taken correctly. Just don't ever suddenly stop taking it. Taper off slowly."

• mom...
• April 30, 2009

For Anxiety "This medication works well for my anxiety. I feel very relaxed and calm, but I find it highly addictive. Sometimes I have memory loss, and when I try to wean off of it, my anxiety worsens, and I go through withdrawal similar to a hangover."

• Anonymous
• November 5, 2011

For Anxiety "Xanax is a miracle for my anxiety and depression. Before taking this, I could not handle doing the things I love, such as hanging out with friends and going to concerts where I would be around large numbers of people. I take usually 2-4 mg a day and can function normally, be calm, and be around people. Although Xanax has a high potential for dependency, and can cause serious withdrawals after suddenly stopping the medicine, for me, the benefits outweigh the risks. Xanax helps me live life happily and with confidence in myself."

• the...
• April 21, 2018

For Anxiety "After 5 years of using it from manufacturer Mylan and working great, my last refill was from manufacturer Actavis, and it does not work at all. Been in withdrawal for 2 days and am calling to see what I can do to get back to Mylan. Actavis Alprazolam is a failure, I will look into suing due to being fraudulent!"

• Mac...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 27, 2021

For Panic Disorder "Suffered a lot when I was in school and college, I didn't know what happened to my body, all the reports were normal. I continued to suffer until 7 years ago, I visited a number of doctors and took a number of medicines, but the problem was not solved. Finally, I visited a psychiatrist who prescribed me alprazolam. After taking alprazolam for 2 years, I was feeling normal as well as fine, and now I have been taking alprazolam for the last 10 years and living a perfectly normal life. In between, I tried withdrawal of alprazolam but couldn't. Thanks to alprazolam for saving my life! I know now I have physical dependence on alprazolam - not addiction... but I am a little bit worried after reading that the long-term side effects of benzodiazepines have occurred. But I don't have any other option. Withdrawal can cause dangerous side effects too, so I will continue with alprazolam because I don't want another medicine dependence. Alprazolam fits with my body... grand salute to the alprazolam drug department."

• ric...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2016

For Anxiety "Okay, I took this medication for 4 months for situational anxiety. No one tells you what it is like to come off this drug when you go on. I was unable to research this medication, too ill. The LONGEST you are supposed to use this drug is 3 WEEKS, unless you have GAD or something similar. NEVER STOP THIS DRUG COLD TURKEY, you will suffer from months to years. PLEASE read about PAWS and alprazolam on any search engine: Protracted Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. People commit suicide due to the severity of the effects of this. Even tapering off slowly will be the hardest thing you will ever have to do in your life, and at some point, you WILL have to come off of it. I never abused, never took extra, it was hell!!! 4+ months bedridden in agony from withdrawal!"

• mag...
• May 23, 2010

For Panic Disorder "At first, I resisted taking Xanax because of things I'd heard about it, but I've got to say... it works. Just remember, after a couple of weeks, it can become addictive, and you don't want to feel that withdrawal. My doctor has given me a once-daily medicine (citalopram) that took 5 to 7 days to fully take effect, but it's working great. I'm down to 1 Xanax every day or 2 and plan to be totally off of it soon, as this new medicine has fully taken its place now. And yes, it can be taken with the Xanax until you are ready to stop taking it."

• Chr...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 23, 2022

For Anxiety "I've been on Xanax since I was about 19 years old. Tolerance to the effects if taken over time are minimal if you're on a therapeutic dose. I find every bit the initial relief I obtained, albeit with a slightly higher dose, and this is after about 20 years (on 4 mg/day). If anything, the only diminishment of effects are of the negatives. Withdrawal is very bad... If this is a thing you are overly worried about, I understand. For me, if I hadn't been on either Klonopin or Xanax, I am sure I'd be dead. I had tried a couple of times before finally getting a psych appointment... I'm 37 now."

• Gir...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 20, 2021

For Depression "Once again, the pharmaceutical companies or insurance carriers have full control over my mental well-being. TEVA needs to research how long of a taper-off should last while adding the new, approved, and more expensive drug. I had horrible withdrawal when Deseryl was taken off the market and its generic (non-equivalent) Trazodone. Now prompted as a sleep aide. Completely different drug. Then I was forced to experiment with the different SSRIs and SNRIs that are on the market. This will be the fourth change of medications due to the generic not really being the chemical equivalent. Deplorable lack of understanding of drug withdrawal and transitioning to another. How much time will it take to find one that is effective with tolerable side effects? How much time will I tolerate the absolute disregard for their consumers."

• She...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 9, 2021

Alprazolam for Anxiety "Dr has had me on Xanax for years for anxiety. 0.5 mg. I wanted off and I just stopped. Little did I know I would have severe withdrawal. I suffer, went to ER. I beg to get me off. They told me, and Dr says he wants me to take them as they help me. I want off. I am scared of them. Can he taper me off without any more withdrawals? I am scared. I never knew this would cause what happened."

• Rud...
• November 13, 2016

Alprazolam for Panic Disorder "Xanax is the 'devil drug.' I have taken it for over 15 years, and it has done nothing but make things worse. For those of you saying it's a miracle drug, please do your research! It ruins your brain chemistry and is HIGHLY ADDICTIVE. (I can't stress that enough.) For those who have been taking the drug for over a couple of months, you're gonna have horrible withdrawal symptoms when you decide to stop. Benzodiazepines are the ONLY drug that you can actually die coming off of! Trust me!"

• FDM...
• June 18, 2009

Alprazolam for Panic Disorder "Best medicine I have taken for panic disorder. Started May 17th and have not had a panic attack since. Want to start weaning off. Concerned about withdrawal symptoms."

• fru...
• June 20, 2015

For Panic Disorder "Alprazolam helps with the anxiety attacks, but did not stop them. Withdrawal from it sucks big time. I would not recommend taking it if there is any alternative."

• Jam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 25, 2019

Alprazolam "I was on this for OCD. The withdrawal symptoms from Xanax can be bad. It is too short-acting."