Xanax Seizures ?

How many people had a withdrawal seizure when coming off xanax? Everytime I try to tapper off even in a detox I have had withdrawal seizures from xanax. I have been going through this for over two years and I am still on xanax for fear of having seizures when tappering off them. I am 27 and had enough with this drug. I have seen so many doctors and they all say the same thing- tapper off slow. Yet, I still have seizures and never had a seizure in my life until xanax came into it. Anyone out there that could offer advise? Thank you...

The reason for the seizures is because of the with drawl. Xanax type drugs and alcohol are the only drugs which can be deadly by discontinuing too fast once dependence is set in. Please take this serious because as of now, you are lucky to be alive. Do not discontinue the xanax by yourself again as seizures from these drugs are the reason of death. People who die usually go into a deadly seizure which you have experienced. Each time the seizure happens, you pave the way for another more powerful seizure if it follows the same route through the brains nerves. You are susceptible to seizures for the rest of your life because once a seizure creates a path through the nerves, you are likely to have another. Please call a specialist who treats these kind of addictions. There are detoxes you can go to in an office setting and talk to the specialist about the best plan of action. Take this serious because you are lucky to be reading this. Let me know if I can help you with additional info.

Not common...........you should tapper off over a few weeks........not a few days..........if it is thta serious you may need another med while you come off the other...you must be on a high dose?

What you are describing is Xanax (Alprazolam) Withdrawal Syndrome. Xanax falls into a classification of drugs called "benzodiazepines", so can also be called Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome It can be very individualized and complex to gradually withdraw people. It can be very dangerous...in fact, fatal if abruptly stopped. Prolonged seizures can be dangerous and fatal as well. People have had seizures and aspirated on food they eaten prior to the seizure is an example. Certainly having a sudden onset seizure while driving could prove fatal for you and others.

There are many benzodiazepines; Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, Serax, Dalmane, Librium, Transxene are some examples. Used appropriatelly, they can be very useful. Used inappropriately they can become very dangerous. They are used to depress the Central Nervous System to prevent or stop seizures, Benzodiazepines are used to gradually withdraw people from alcohol slowly so they will not have Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures or go on to develop "Delirium Tremens" (which carries a mortality rate). There is a cross coverage between alcohol and benzodiazepines. There are CYP3A inducers (another class medications) that can be antagonists to Xanax that would lead to withdrawal seizures. If you have been using alcohol, taking Xanax, and/or other benzodiazepines and built a very high tolerance...the level that you got started on to taper off of might not have be adequate. You have to be very honest to get a correct starting or conversion dosage to be tapered from. Sometimes you are converted to a very very short acting benzodiazepine to reduce the peaks and troughs of the blood levels and reduce the drug urges but that requires you taking the medicine more frequently. Most the time it is given in a liquid form for accuracy and to keep you from being caught up in how much medicine are you taking. It is best done in a hospital setting so you can be closely monitored for early withdrawal signs and symptoms to modify the dosage and prevent seizures. This is done by watching changes in vital signs, checking reflexes, watching eye movements and tremors between scheduled doses. If seizures happen...they can be expertly dealt with by being given IV medications and preventing aspiration of vomitus. If correctly done the risk for seizures are minimal.

I think you should have an apppointment with a neurologist...they are seizure specialist and they appreciate all the etiologies of seizures and know first hand the risks. They have been trained to handle and treat benzodiazepine and/or alcohol withdrawal. Some are better at it than others. You might have an underlying seizure disorder that is unrelated or partially related to the Xanax. They would keep you safe...but you have to be very accurate and open about your history. They might be able to direct you to an addiction specialist or psychiatrist that specializes in this "specifically" if they are not wanting to take the case. If you go to a very large tertiary-care Hospital near your location; you will do much better. Some place like Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, etc.. You could try calling as a starter.

If handled correctly and expertly you maybe could be Xanax free in less than 2 weeks. A small price to pay at your young age. Don't give up. Sounds like you could have the chemical make-up to never be able to use alcohol or benzodiazepines ever again once you are tapered off.

Don't try to detox/withdraw yourself!!!! Good Luck!