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How To Wean Off From Xanax Without Any Adverse Effects?
Question: I have been taking Xanax for 2 years and need help getting off it. I am at 2 mg nightly but find when I cut down I get watery eyes and don't sleep well. Is there a medication I can take that will help ease me off the Xanax without having to go away for treatment. I own a business and will find it impossible to leave my business.
Brief Answer:
Yes clonazepam or lorazepam can help
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to us.
Xanax(alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine. It is drug with high potency and dependence potential. Anyone who takes it for more than 4 weeks gets dependent on it. After that it is difficult to stop the drug as it can cause severe withdrawal symptoms.
In this case clonazepam or lorazepam can be taken instead of alprazolam. They are also benzodiazepine but with less potency and less dependence potential. They can be stopped easily than xanax. However these are also prescription drugs and you need to consult doctor for prescription.
In my opinion you can also stop xanax gradually without other medicines in following way.
Take a cup of warm milk before 15 minutes going to bed.It will help in good sleep.Also follow some useful measures for good sleep called 'Sleep Hygiene'. You can find the same in this link: http://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene.
You can reduce 0.25 mg xanax every week. By this way you can stop xanax without significant discomfort.You should also inform the same to your doctor.But by chance you find difficulty, consult your doctor immediately for tapering schedule.If you do not have lower dose medicines like 1 or 0.5 mg you need to consult doctor for the same as without prescription they would not be available.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Yes clonazepam or lorazepam can help
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to us.
Xanax(alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine. It is drug with high potency and dependence potential. Anyone who takes it for more than 4 weeks gets dependent on it. After that it is difficult to stop the drug as it can cause severe withdrawal symptoms.
In this case clonazepam or lorazepam can be taken instead of alprazolam. They are also benzodiazepine but with less potency and less dependence potential. They can be stopped easily than xanax. However these are also prescription drugs and you need to consult doctor for prescription.
In my opinion you can also stop xanax gradually without other medicines in following way.
Take a cup of warm milk before 15 minutes going to bed.It will help in good sleep.Also follow some useful measures for good sleep called 'Sleep Hygiene'. You can find the same in this link: http://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene.
You can reduce 0.25 mg xanax every week. By this way you can stop xanax without significant discomfort.You should also inform the same to your doctor.But by chance you find difficulty, consult your doctor immediately for tapering schedule.If you do not have lower dose medicines like 1 or 0.5 mg you need to consult doctor for the same as without prescription they would not be available.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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