Give yourself at least a month especially if you have been using them a while. Your body adapts to taking these medications so I'm betting the combination is affecting you. The depression I would guess comes from stopping the opiates because they tend to give you a "boost" when they are tricking you out of feeling pain so depending on how much you took and for how long will determine how long you need to recover and because both of these drugs can cause dependancy your mind may have grown dependant on them because of tolerance. The mind mentally has adjusted to the fact you had them to take for a specific purpose and now you may be facing depression because you no longer have them during these times? Hang in there. It could take up to two months but you will come out of the "fog"

Well am withdrawing off of Ativan right now and it's been almost 2 months since I started tapering. They say you can have protracted withdraws for up to a year but that is for long term users. You only used them for 15 days you should be feeling better within a month. I was on for 2 months and I am just having a really crappy time but I am sensitive to meds.

Good luck!
Jen

i hope u have gone off meds under drs. supervision. i have made myself unnecassarily sick by unmedicating myself, alone thinking i could do it safely. either way, i would call the dr. i trusted the most 4 advice.

I did go cold turkey for about 3 days days,but the withdrawls were so bad I had to go to detox.I was there for 9 days.There they put me on kalonipin(sp)(another benzo)and jacked the dose up to 0.5mgs 3 times a day a brought me down from there.I was taking no more 1mg of xanax off and on to begin with for a little over a year.I am thinking to taper was still way to fast,because I still have anxiety and all of the crazy stuff that comes with anxiety.

Thanks to all who replied.

i went thru opiate withdrawl cold turkey off vic's after 3 yrs of everyday use...it is hell and has been hell but everyday its getting better....ur anxiety is more so prolly from the op's then the benzos

What you are experiencing is called rebound anxiety. It is very common with benzodiazepine withdrawal. You didn't mention your dose or tapering schedule, but as you have been off them fifteen days, I'm assuming your tapering is complete. It will take awhile for you to adjust, as benzodiazepines affect GABA receptors in the brain, it will take time for these receptors to adjust to not being stimulated by a benzodiazepine. Opioid withdrawal is somewhat different. They have a tendency to cause a more physical dependence, whereas benzodiazepines, a more 'psychological' dependence, although newer studies have shown a physical dependence to benzodiazepines as well. Opioid withdrawal can be done cold turkey, it is very unpleasant, but is very,very rarely life threatening, but is best treated through a doctor experienced in opioid withdrawal. Doctors will sometimes use an anticonvulsant/anti seizure med like Topamax or Tegretol to reduce craving and reduce unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepine withdrawal must be done slowly, because abrupt withdrawal can cause petit or grand mal seizures, especially if you've been taking a higher dose for an extended period. GABA levels should straighten out in about two to six months, depending on what your dose was. Makes it a little tougher with opioids thrown in the mix. Opioids are different, they act on pain receptors in the brain and along the spine, blocking the pain signal. You may have increased sensitivity to pain for awhile, once again depending on your dose and duration. Another thing you don't mention is if this withdrawal of these two medications was done under the supervision of a doctor or outpatient treatment center. Is your depression being managed? Withdrawing of benzodiazepines can be done slowly with regular visits to your doctor, but a combined opiate and benzodiazepine withdrawal program ideally should be handled in an inpatient or outpatient environment to address coping strategies and lifestyle changes, meds management to address secondary depression and anxiety, one on one or group therapy and development of a support system to ensure a positive outcome. It is not a good idea to stop dependence inducing meds on your own. Do it under the supervision of your healthcare professional.

Thanks for the info Alexv.Please read response #4 for my dosage info.I am in one on one therapy.I still feel like the taper was to fast.
I was prescribed 1mg of xanax I very rarely took It at that dose.Most of the time I only took 0.5mgs a day.The panic attacks are so close now it is horrible.I am finding it hard to leave the house without having a panic attack.I was supposed to go to the dentist today,but an hour before the aapt. I had a panic attack and could not go.I hope this will pass with time.
I am not knocking the drug,because it does work for those who have panic attacks,but it can be hard to get off of.Thanks.

I did read your response to your dose. How fast was your taper? it will pass in time. There are several medications that can help, such as an SSRI, that is not addictive and easier to come off when the time comes. Therapy is good, it will help you with finding the negative thought processes that cause anxiety as well as learning relaxation techniques and breathing exercises. You are on the right path, but let your therapist know that you may getting a little agoraphobic, so you can deal with it before you become housebound. You gotta give your body some time, but an antidepressant can help manage this so you can function and get on with daily living and feel better. I wish you well and hope you get through this tough time. They give me gas at the dentist, because they know. I have a very soothing hygenist and she knows when I'm in fight/flight mode, lol. Don't beat yourself up, that's the worst thing you can do. Once I was in the middle of a doctor's appt. talking to her and I had to bail. She called later that night and said " I can help you, but please come back so I can". I was better the next day, my pulse and bp were up, but she's been my doctor for 11 years now and I trust her with my life. Hang in there, man, you're gonna make it!

JC,

Sounds like your symptions are normal considerting you're quiting Xanax and opiates, 15 days is great congratulations!

Just hang in there, I'll bet you'll start feeling a better next week. And in a few weeks you'll feel much better.

Been there done that..;)

My taper was fast.I believe 8 days.I did not realize with the low dose(0.5 1xday i was taking that the withdrawl would be so hard.
If I could get it in my head that this is not going to kill me and will on be uncomfortable,I will be ok.When I am in a full panic atttack everything seems to go out the window.
Thanks for the support.

Most tapers on Xanax is usually .25mg reduction roughly every two weeks, depending on response. So, say you were taking 1mg(.5mg 2/day) your taper should be done by at least 8 to 12 weeks, depending on how you respond. During the halfway mark you're probably going to experience rebound anxiety, to which they can add a SSRI so that by the time you're headed into the last four weeks the SSRI will be working and the remaining taper will go more smoothly, at least that's how my doc says she does it, and it works much better that way, because I have asked her about Xanax. Now she's one smart cookie, and said that people on Xanax, as opposed to some of the other benzos are least likely to abuse it and stick to the exact prescribed dose according to recent research studies she had read and at doses of 1mg/day or less, it's more of a psychological dependence, not physical, even with long term use, AND that Xanax has less propensity for tolerance build up, which means it stays effective at the same dose over a longer time period. But it's down side is it is short lasting, and a psychological dependence can still be as uncomfortable as a physical one.

An eight day taper is too fast. even at .5mg 1/day it should have been at least a four to six week taper. With opioid withdrawal involved it should have been slower, that is why you're having severe anxiety. The withdrawal probably would not have been so hard if you hadn't just quit opioids right before.