akaky,

welcome. i can only speak from personal experience.

i took xanax for 7 yrs. when i went off my meds on my own, i just woke up one day and didn't take them. however, when i felt like my body need a xanax, i took it over the next few months. i think that's why i never had withdrawal, etc. i never abused my meds and i think that's they key. my dr told me there's a huge difference between use and abuse. when you abuse you can quickly become addicted. when you use, your body may become physically dependent, but you wean off.

since i went off the xanax, i've been prescribed valium and now klonopin. i've never had a problem with not taking them, after taking them regularly for periods of time. again, this is personal experience. it seems to me if your concerned about addiction, that you more than like won't abuse.

i can also say my dr wanted me to take them regularly to "trick my brain" into not having panic. i was having regular panic and he wanted to keep in away long enough for my brain to break the pattern. it worked!

this is the story of a long time benzo user. i never abused and had no problems. i still, when i need to, occasionaly take klonopin.

kd