How can a patient overcome the withdrawal symptoms of the tablet Alprazolam?

Question

Hello doctor,

I was prescribed the tablet Alprazolam 0.5. I took it for three months. I had difficulty quitting the medicine as I had worse withdrawal symptoms. Nevertheless, I have managed to reduce the dose to 0.25 mg, and I am fine with it. I am trying to reduce the dose again to 0.125 mg, but withdrawal symptoms are so bad that I go back to 0.25 mg. How do I quit the remaining dosage so that I can overcome the withdrawal symptoms? I had a pacemaker that auto-programmed itself to a different mode causing it to pace the diaphragm. I also have a cough all the time. Nothing could be diagnosed after the laboratory and imaging tests. The doctors thought it was due to anxiety. I was prescribed a lot of medicines that never worked. The doctors later discovered that it was due to the malfunctioning of the pacemaker. Finally, they removed it. However, I was on antidepressants even after the surgery, but I want to stop taking the medicines now. So kindly guide me as I have severe dizziness, drowsiness, headache, and muscle aches when I try to reduce the dose of Alprazolam to 0.25 mg.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Alprazolam is a short-acting Benzodiazepine that produces many withdrawal symptoms. Weaning off from it may be difficult for you. So I suggest you request your doctor to replace it with a long-acting Benzodiazepine, like Clonazepam or Chlordiazepoxide.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I suggest you take the tablet Clonazepam 0.25 mg for five to six days and stop taking it after ten days (consult a specialist doctor, discuss with them, and take medications with their consent). Alprazolam is not needed. Hydrocortisone injection will not help.