Xanax...I have loved it. I have had it prescibed from time to time over many years, to the point of being dependent upon it. My doc will no longer prescribe it, though I feel at this time it would be beneficial to me.
At one point, I did go off it cold turkey, and the withdrawal was very difficult, to the point that all I could do was lie in bed and withstand the tingling in my hands and feet and serious anxiety.
I would actually LIKE my doc to prescribe it again for me, since my anxiety now has manifested itself to the point of pain in my neck and shoulders from stress. This has been going on with me since the early summer of '08. During a visit with my aunt, she gave me about 12 Xanax, and within taking the med at nights only to rest, the pain in my neck had disappeared. I don't recall the mg. size she gave me, but I was breaking the tabs in half and only taking at night, and it was so beneficial. After those ran out, of course, the pain in my neck reappeared within a few weeks. I went to my doc and he ignored my request for Xanax and gave me a muscle relaxer instead and ordered me to physical therapy. The muscle relaxer isn't really helping, and makes me weepy when it wears off, but the P.T. seems to be doing a good thing, and I'm learning exercises to strengthen and relieve the tension.
Anyway, Iris, I think you are wise to wean off this Paxil gradually. I do sympathize with your bouts of anxiety.
Patty