SE - Xanax taper

July 31, 2026··

Hi, I’m SE, with all my anxiety. I’m hoping for some advice on tapering off 1 mg Xanax. My anxiety drives me to excel but it can rob me of sleep and drive me into fear. My family is filled with brain eccentricity, so there is a genetic component. After years of (unproductive) therapy, and various psychotropics, finally landed on Lexapro 5 mg with Xanax 1 mg for sleep (& more as needed during travel). My PCP retired and my new provider is refusing to continue. She wrote me .75 mg Xanax and told me to find another provider. I want to reduce my dependence on this benzo, but I’m having a hard time. I’m waking at 4 AM & can’t get back to sleep. Will my brain adapt? Any advice?

Xanax — 1 mg — 8 years — actively tapering | without clinician

2 Replies

guava3781mo ago

Community AnchorAbilify · active

Welcome to the Taper Community! My max dose was 0.75mg. I had no problem tapering off xanax until I dropped to 0.25 mg by a 20% to 25% cut. It was very uncomfortable, and I had many symptoms. How many times do you take Xanax per day?

- Aripiprazole / Abilify:
17-May-2026 (15mg -> 10mg)
11-July-2026 (10mg-> 7.5mg
17-Aug-2026 (7.5mg -> 5mg)
9 months - actively tapering
- Procyclidine 5mg - 9 months - actively tapering
- Propranolol - 20mg - 1 year - holding
- Xanax - 0.25mg - 7 months - holding

⭐

Catina1mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @SE, and welcome! Here are some helpful links for you: https://taper.community/drugs/xanax https://taper.community/resources/blog/xanax-withdrawal-guide I deal with anxiety too. It's just your body's way of preparing for something it perceives as danger. There are non-drug ways to manage it. A good book to read is Hope and Help for you Nerves by Dr. Claire Weekes. Here is some info about her method: https://taper.community/thread/cbf196f2-7a92-460e-b78c-419887d02db2 Also, CBT is very helpful: https://taper.community/thread/31d4a5cb-737e-4eec-8449-1894a8a9747c Insomnia during withdrawal is very common. Here is some information that I hope will help: https://taper.community/thread/fad854f7-f9a4-421d-b60f-bf11aa13a251 https://taper.community/resources/blog/managing-anxiety-during-medication-tapering https://taper.community/resources/blog/how-to-sleep-during-benzo-withdrawal We look forward to supporting you through your taper. Reach out anytime! Catina 💜

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

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