Hello doctor, I have been taking 0.5 mg Xanax for sleeping most nights for the past 2 to 3 months. I bought it myself and took it to help me sleep. I have started trying to stop, or take less, and have noticed feelings of depression, insomnia, feeling anxious, and an aching neck and jaw and feeling tense. I went to see my GP but did not mention the Xanax. He prescribed 50 mg of Sertraline. Should I take the Sertraline? Do my symptoms sound like Xanax withdrawal? And how can I come off the Xanax more easily? Previous history of the same issue: I have taken Zoloft before, 50 mg, for about a year, three years ago for mild depression.
Hi. Yes, during withdrawal from Benzodiazepines, people do feel the problems you are facing currently. Yes, they are withdrawal symptoms. Sertraline was prescribed because your GP suspected depression. If you already took this medicine in past, you can again start it now. To come off of Xanax, it would be better if you tell your GP truth about it. He would taper it off gradually and stop it.