.05 Xanax withdrawl symptoms or side effects. ?!

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With respect what you have heard about Xanax (alprazolam) is simply wrong. Most of what people describe when they think of Xanax "addiction" is physical dependence and physical withdrawal (neither are addiction).

Physical dependence refers to adaptations resulting in withdrawal signs or symptoms when the drug is discontinued, the dose reduced, or an antagonist is administered. Substance dependence based on the diagnostic criteria (i.e., addiction) refers to the loss of control over the desire to acquire and use the drug regardless of adverse consequences associated with obtaining and using it. Physical dependence and substance dependence are distinct phenomena, and the terminology should not be used interchangeably.

Patients With Addiction Disorders:
· Suffer from a chronic, neurobiologic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental components.
· Seek a drug in order to quickly affect the “reward center” of their brains.
· Crave drugs and use them compulsively.
· Continue abuse despite negative, even life-threatening, physical, mental, and/or social consequences.
· These persons often develop physical dependence to the substances they are abusing and
are, therefore, at risk of a withdrawal syndrome.

Patients With Physical Dependence Who Do NOT Have an Addiction Disorder:
· Experience a normal response to the ongoing use of certain medicines, including Xanax
· Take medicines to relieve anxiety-not to satisfy a craving for a psychic effect or to stave off withdrawal syndrome
· Can generally discontinue their medicine with mild to no withdrawal syndrome once their symptoms are gone by gradually tapering the dosage according to their doctor's orders

You are NOT physically dependent to Xanax nor is it likely Xanax is causing your problems. Physical dependence occurs from CONTINUOUS use of Xanax meaning taking it 3-4 times daily. If you were physically dependent withdrawal would start to occur 4-8hrs after taking the medication. Four 0.5 mg tablets taken over many days can't cause physical dependence. Of the symptoms you describe most are not side effects of Xanax or withdrawal symptoms. Is it possible your problems are being caused by anxiety? You said you have been afraid of having (or thought you had) serious medical conditions- that is a type of somatic anxiety that can be very severe. Anxiety can cause just about every type of symptom you can think of and the more you worry and focus on them the worse it can get, which then makes you worry more. Have you talked about your concerns about health issues with your therapist?

Xanax lasts a very short time so taking it on Monday then on Friday meant it was long out of your system. Also you might want to cut out all caffeine, it does not make Xanax weaker but it typically worsens anxiety in people with significant anxiety.

Xanax in rarely addictive although 1/3 of long term users do become physically dependent and if that does occur and the drug is abruptly stopped withdrawal will occur and it can be very bad. If the medication is discontinued properly and under the care of a physician there is typically little or no withdrawal. Most of the people who think they are addicted think that because they experienced severe physical withdrawal. Very few people know what addiction is and studies of Xanax in humans and in animals found Xanax to have a low potential for addiction.

M.D., C.M. psychiatry, internal medicine (Québec)
Hons. BSc pharmacology

go back to your doc. thats a very low dose anyhow.

i use to abuse xanax on a regular basis, i would take up to four or even five 2mg bars at one time. yes i know pretty reckless but what can ya do.

i did this for almost a full year and i quit cold turkey i didnt slowly get off them i just stopped. and im perfectly fine.

if you do take a normal steady dose daily for a very long time your body will be use to this ritual.
eventually when u quit without slowly getting off then your body can develop seizures or even schitzophrania.

I actually know a little about this.
I was recently admitted to the ER also from an anxiety attack with a heart rate of 140 because the doctor said that is unusual for anxiety alone
I received a prescription for Lopressure or something along those lines. This is a benzo I believe, in the same category of xanax. The dosage is different but I would have to hazard a guess that it was stronger than a .05 (mg)? xanax. So I took 1-2 a day for almost a week, helping the anxiety improve. No withdrawal symptons so I dont think you have anything to worry about.

Xanax is a benzo which generally lowers heart rate. Caffeine is a stimulant which increases heart rate

I also know an elderly man who takes xanax daily and has for about 10+ years...This is what causes noticeable withdrawal symptons

You seem like you need to stop worrying :P