Intermittent use withdrawal? advice?
Have prescribed xanax as needed for anxiety and insomnia. About a year about I would use .5-1mg about 1-2x per week average. Sometimes more sometimes less. I do try to make sure to take a full 1-2 weeks break regularly. Over the year it crept up to 1-1.5mg per use on average. Still 1-2x week.
Lately been having increased trouble sleeping, more anxiety, lower appetite than usual (already struggle with this due to health issues). However also been going through a breakup, but this anxiety feels different and not rooted in my feelings so much. but about 2-4 ago, between the break up and some family issues, i ended up using more frequently than typical.
So, I took about 10 off days between doses as I felt I need a break. I only slept 4-6 hours per night. Right around the 1 week mark without xanax, sleep started to mildly improve (was able to fall asleep about a few hours earlier), plus I was in the good part of my menstrual cycle, sleep wise. But I was still only getting 6 hours a night and was so exhausted on day 10 that I took 1.5mg.
A dose of xanax seemed to improve my sleep the night after i take it as well, and then on the 2nd or 3rd day I have insomnia again. Which is what happened tonight.
I used to be able to also manage persistent anxiety/insomnia with low doses of ketamine occasionally, but now it causes rebound anxiety and sometimes nerve pain the last 2 attempts so I am 100% ceasing. thinking some kind of glutamate issue there too?
I didn't think this would be quite enough use to have notable issues but I do have a very sensitive system.
If I continue to feel increased anxiety and insomnia 2-3 days after dosing, should I be planning a taper where I use .5mg xanax 2x a week for the next month to reduce excitability?
obviously i do understand my emotions of late may have just left some last impact on my nervous system that is continuing even as my feelings regulate. but wondering how much to account for rebound/withdrawals