I have been taking for the past 7 years. It was first prescribed as a sleep aid (0.50 mg) and then for sleep and anxiety associated with depression. I now take 1 - 1.5 mg daily of Xanax XR (I have a prescription for up to 2 mg/day). It has lost its effectiveness for sleep, and I would prefer to get off it for anxiety.

I talked with the psychiatrist who is now prescribing it about a tapering schedule to allow me to discontinue its use. She told me at the dose I am taking I could just quit it and I should not have any adverse reaction. I was told if I experienced some anxiety in the few days after quitting I could take .50 mg and that would get me through it. I was given Ambien CR for sleep and a drug called vistaril for anxiety after the first 3-4 days.

At my dose I assumed I could taper off the drug in 3-4 weeks. I was shocked and scared to be told by my doctor to just quit. I have the meds on hand with refills so I have not stopped. Am I wrong to be concerned about quitting cold turkey?"

Although it's good to ask about anything about your care that shocks you, it's best if you ask your doctor first, or at least at the same time, as part of the whole trust aspect needed with her. All medications have different schedules for discontinuance, and your doctor will consider other factors of course too. I don't see any reason to consider 1.5mg/day an amount that would need weeks of tapering off, because the stories you read about awful withdrawal are ones where the dose is generally 4 mg and higher. If you feel more comfortable with a schedule, ask for one.

It sounds as though you have been provided with good advice in relation to discontinuing the Xanax. As I read your comment, you have an adequate supply so that if you do experience any adverse reaction you can take the .5 to ameliorate. Doesn't sound like you should have any concern about following those directions as remedy is at hand. Personal observation across 7 years of treatment gives your psychiatrist a sound foundation for the recommendation.