Benzo Withdrawal

[greenleaf]

@SheilaKathy that does sound very difficult, but you will get through this!

One thought: if you are decreasing a benzo, is one every other day really the best way to wean off it? Wouldn't it be better to have a half every day, or even less even more often?? They usually have short effectiveness periods, right, so you might be having to withdraw over and over rather than really getting your body less physically addicted? Maybe someone else who actually knows about this stuff can answer; I just have my paroxetine dosage-lowering experience to go with...

 

[KwanYingirl]

@SheilaKathy I am considering getting off Xanax after years of positive benefits. My dose has never gone up, although there are times that I overused it prompting threats by my psychiatrist that he will not prescribe it if I don't comply with his orders. I agree from what I've read about benzodiazepam withdrawal is that there does have to be a blood level of it or you will start withdrawal syndrome. Maybe a new game plan is in order? I feel your pain, withdrawal is a bitch.

 

[adriftatsea]

Update: He had an appointment with a psychiatrist and when he asked about benzos and his symptoms, his psychiatrist never really said that it could be caused from these, but instead said he was experiencing somatoform disorder (which could be part of it), but he's been tapering from his xanax for the past 2 weeks and aside from feeling crummy today (day 2 no benzo) his symptoms have been improving (stress and our situation hasn't changed), but he also restarted on neurontin (300 mg 3x/d). He also started an elimination diet to rule out food allergies/intolerances in case multiple things are going on and causing his symptoms. Thanks for everyones feedback and support!

Oh how messy the human body can be....

 

[Changing4Best]

I'm down to one quarter of a 0.5 dose of clonazepam and tapering onto Elavil instead of it. So far so good. I am not having any restless leg symptoms and I am doubting I will once the Elavil is at a good level in my blood stream. She has me on 100 mgs of it before bedtime.

 

[Changing4Best]

Today, even though I have a milder anxiety med called Hydroxizine HCL, I am feeling anxiety that I am not used to having. I've been on Clonazepam for something like 10 years and this other medicine is not doing it for me. I have to sing in the church choir this morning, and I am afraid it is not going to be a good morning for this, even though I have sung in the choir now for about 6 months. I hate this! I want my Clonazepam back!!!

 

[KwanYingirl]

I tried reducing my Xanax and using benadryl for chemical exposures, but only the Xanax gives me relief from my reactions. I think the key is GABA. Wish I could find a way to make more naturally. Why did they take you off your clonazapam?

 

[Changing4Best]

It has become a "controlled substance" in the state where I live, and I would be required to see my Dr. "face to face" each month in order to continue taking it. Neither my Dr. nor I want to do that, so I am stuck with the hydroxyzine. At least, even though I was feeling anxiety this morning, I was able to sing in the choir as usual. I just hope I don't go through this every Sunday! I wanted to resign from the choir this morning because of it, but I toughed it out and did OK, although I did make one major blunder. I forgot about going back to the beginning of the song and carried on past where I should have, UGH! I caught it quickly though (by one note or so) and thankfully was able to sing the rest of it OK.

The new med is causing dry mouth though, which is causing me quite some difficulty in eating dry foods (they stick in my mouth!).

Thankfully though, I am completely off the benzo now!

 

[Sue Tyler]

Was just curious if anyone has gone through benzo withdrawal and what kind of symptoms they have exp...

Google "Ashton Manual" for possible adverse effects of taking Benzos and of Benzo withdrawal.

 

[Changing4Best]

I did the taper down thing under Dr.'s direction and all went well, no side effects or anything.

 

[Sue Tyler]

I did the taper down thing under Dr.'s direction and all went well, no side effects or anything.[/QU...

Oh good, I'm glad... Some people have more trouble than others.