HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

How To Stop Xanax And Percocet Used For Anxiety?

Posted on Mon, 21 Apr 2014

Question: As I had mentioned before, I have muliple herniated discs, fibromyalgia and a begine tumor at T1 T2on my spine. For the last 10 years for pain I have been given percoset. I have refused ALL other medications especially antidepressants. The pain that at times can be very intense due to weather changes, etc. I also take to keep me relaxed Xanax (at night I take 2 1mg XR and 1 1mg XR in the morning) which a psycologist had perscribed at about 10 years ago also. I am determined to get off of all medications but not dumbnot to know there is a proper way. Right now I have brought myself down to 2 percosets a day (1 in the am one in the pm) 5/325 is each pill. I would like to know the proper way to continue to reduce without side effects. Then we can work on the Xanax. I have taken these meds for so long they do not work and I WILL NOT TAKE HIGHER DOSES as my doctors feel I should when the pain gets really bad. I prefer using my heating pad and soft cervical collar. They said the pain is triggering off the stress to the body, I agree but these meds and this way is not the answer. I WANT NO MORE MEDS. Can you please help me? All of my medical blood testing is perfect, Under the care of a cardio because sometimes with the pain my BP goes way up. I am presently in a stress management course.

Answered by Dr. Ashish Mittal (8 hours later)

Brief Answer: Medicine can be tapered slowly. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for your query. I appreciate your efforts for medical consultation in so much distress. Important aspects of your query are: • 58 year old female • Known case of multiple herniated discs, fibromyalgia and benign tumor at T1 T2 Spine. • Currently on Xanax 3mg/day and percocet 5/325mg 2 tab per day • Concern related to tapering of medicine without much distress. Xanax contain alprazolam and used for anxiety. Percocet contain oxycodone and paracetamol. If we see your current treatment alprazolam and oxycodon are addictive compounds. Use of these compounds for long term lead to tolerance (lack of effect on same doses, which require higher doses for desired effect). Sudden stoppage of these medicines lead medicine related withdrawal. Considering this you can reduce 1/4th tablet of percocet every 5th day. After that you can reduce around 10% of xanax doses every 5th day under psychiatrist supervision. If you find difficulty with this schedule you can slow down (Reduce amount of tapering dose and increase days gap) tapering, which is a clinical decision and depend on patient condition during tapering. I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you. In case of any doubt, I will be available for follow ups. Wish you good health. Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ashish Mittal (9 hours later)

Thank you for your advise. I was not comfortable with the advice given to me by my primary doctor. On the percoset he told me 5 days reduce to 1/2 pill at night then 1/2 pill for the next 5 days in the am. they no more at night for 5 days and then after that 5 days off of the 1/2 from the am. It seemed a bit too fast. Your advice seems a bit more longer but my concerns about side effects would be less. As far as the Xanax I will schedule an appointment with a psychiarist as you recommended and be under their supervision. That will make me feel far more comfortble. After 10 years this is a big step but one that I really feel will help me feel better. As you said the meds are no longer working and NEVER would I take more. That goes without saying. I know it may take a bit of time but it will be so worth it. I can't tell you how many different meds doctors have tried to get me to take. I just laugh. They call it "pain management", I call it make me numb enough so I can't feel anything. No thanks. They would say you are in need of meds at times not like others that come in for their scripts. I say they had their chance. Looking up more healthy and holistic ways to help myself. I can't help thinking that it is probably these meds that are causing me to have panic attacks and being ancious. Have many tapes and books and doing my homework. Thank you for your support. Looking forward to your opinion on my doctors opinion on the percoset. Thanks again.

Answered by Dr. Ashish Mittal (13 hours later)

Brief Answer: Slow tapering is good. Detailed Answer: Hello again, Thanks for follow up. I appreciate you motivation and determination to come out of this situation. In my opinion your physician schedule to taper percocet is bit fast, and it has more chance for withdrawal, which will hamper tapering. As you are using percocet for long time then slow tapering (reduce 1/4th tablet of percocet every 5th day) will be better. It is good that you will taper xanax under psychiatrist supervision. But same time, I would request you to not give resistance for any non-addictive anti-anxiety medicines (like paroxetine, mirtazapine, escitalopram or venlafaxine), if psychiatrist wants to start them. I have seen significant (life changing) improvement in my patients with them and I pray same for you. Please accept my answer and give feedback in case there is no further query and you found reply helpful. In case of doubt, I am here to help you. Wish you good health. Regards

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar