The doctor who prescribed Xanax to me for so long is retiring and the new doctor will not prescribe Xanax. She said I'd have to go to a psychiatrist and explain to him my situation. She wants to put me on Buspar. I am thinking of tapering off and not taking either. I am taking the whole 0.5mg tablet one day and the next day I cut it in half and so alternate that way. I can feel a difference in my anxiety on the half pill days. Apprehensive and a worsening of OCD thoughts. I tried many OCD meds and they all made me anxious so rather not go there and went for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. But the Xanax helped. Never had to increase the dose unless of a high anxiety situation then right back to the once a day. Any thoughts? I know I am an overly anxious person by nature and wonder if some people just need it all the time? Am a bit worried about doing this but hate being so dependent on it and trying to convince a doctor to continue to prescribe. Thanks for your time and input.
Lin-
On 0.5mg Xanax once daily for 30 years-?
Question posted by LinnieM on 12 July 2022
Last updated on 12 July 2022 by kevinb1953
Answers
Hello.
That's a relative low dosage but it's a very long duration.
I would advice you to NOT discontinue use abruptly. You will risk the chance of seizures and bad withdrawal symptoms. I understand your frustration because I've been on a Xanax dose larger than you for 22 years.
New doctors are reluctant to prescribe benzodiazepine. Especially with a new patient with a long history of use. Personally, I'd look for a second opinion and / or have your retiring doctor give you a referral. My first doctor to prescribe Xanax started me on a very high dose of 1mg four times a day! that's four mg a day! I didn't know any better. Anyway I changed doctors about two years after starting and my next doctor continued that dose but gradually reduced the dose over a very long time span. We agreed that I will probably need to be on it for life and we found the sweet spot where I could not go lower at 0.5mg three times a day. That's just 1.5 mg a day. A 75% reduction.
I suggest that you ask around for advice from a pharmacist. But never go cold turkey and discontinue. Seek out and use a prescribed schedule for tapering. Perhaps a compouding pharmacy would be best for you so you will get a precise dose as to the taper.
The key is to take very small cuts in dosage over a long period of time.
Best regards,
Kevinb1953
Related topics
xanax, anxiety, doctor, prescription, psychiatry
Further information
- Xanax uses and safety info
- Xanax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Xanax (detailed)
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