Detox from Xanax Can Be Dangerous - Don't Do It Alone

It is more dangerous to detox from alprazolam (Xanax) than from heroin.  You feel miserable with both but convulsions and death can occur in healthy people trying to come off of sedative/hypnotic/anxiolytic drugs like Xanax.  Don’t try this on your own.  At Promises we try to avoid using benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium) to detox from short acting benzodiazepines like Xanax and Ativan because clients find it very difficult to come off the treatment.  Other strategies that have been studied and recommended (although not specifically approved by the FDA) include using carbamazepine (Tegretol) or phenobarbital.  Each of these strategies has advantages and disadvantages but all should be used only under strict medical supervision.