I have been on Alprazolan for 8 years. I am now taking .5. mg t.i.d. I had no way to get to the doctor and was out of my medication for two weeks. I was okay and then I noticed I was losing weight (hurrah). Then I started losing 3-4 lbs. a day. Total of 16 lbs in less than two weeks. I started getting the sweats if I even walked across the room. Developed the most terrible headache I ve had in my life. After 2 1/2 weeks I woke up from a very restless night and was so frightened I was going to die. I will be 66 in November. My daughters took me to my psychiatrist who was not happy and insists I still need to stay on the rx. I do not agree. My friends and family have told me I have become very strange. I also take Venlafaxinex, Busprone and Trazodone for sleep. I was also out of the Trazodone for longer than the Alprazolam. I gained over 35 pounds in this 8 year period. Help, how can I wean myself off the Alprazolam? Thank you