I belong to a Benzo withdrawal group on Facebook, and Kava was one of the supplements they recommend NOT taking while tapering (or taking) benzos. It had to do with the GABA vs Glutamate receptors or something, I'm not sure...
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How Do You Calm Down When You Run Out Of Anxiety Meds?
- Post starter Heather
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joeylittle
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Thanks, @Sue Tyler - that's a good thing to be aware of. Supplements really are tricky. As are benzos.
I did a benzo withdrawal two years ago and it was a nightmare. I wish I had support at the time. Good luck!
I mitigated some of the withdrawal effect with OTC Benadryl. Apparently antihistamines are good for PTSD (can't post the link but Google it if you're wary) and Benadryl has a sedating effect. I still have awful anxiety, and the diphenhydramine in Benadryl can contribute to dementia in the long term, so I switched over to Zyrtec.
Also, @Heather, you mentioned holy basil -- Give it a shot! I take 300mg of holy basil in the morning and drink a cup of holy basil tea in the evenings. It lowers cortisol levels and really brings me into the present moment, relaxing stuff. I also take a 10mg zinc supplement 3 times throughout the day - it's a calming mineral and most people are supposedly zinc deficient. If you're looking to go natural, I'd recommend it!
I mitigated some of the withdrawal effect with OTC Benadryl. Apparently antihistamines are good for PTSD (can't post the link but Google it if you're wary) and Benadryl has a sedating effect. I still have awful anxiety, and the diphenhydramine in Benadryl can contribute to dementia in the long term, so I switched over to Zyrtec.
Also, @Heather, you mentioned holy basil -- Give it a shot! I take 300mg of holy basil in the morning and drink a cup of holy basil tea in the evenings. It lowers cortisol levels and really brings me into the present moment, relaxing stuff. I also take a 10mg zinc supplement 3 times throughout the day - it's a calming mineral and most people are supposedly zinc deficient. If you're looking to go natural, I'd recommend it!
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Heather
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Well, I went to the health foods store and the sales lady recommended L-Theanine. She said it was an amino acid....supposed to help with stress and promote a sense of calm. The directions say take 1 -2 tablets 3x's a day.
My anxiety is pretty bad....So, I took 2 tablets 3x's today. I think I feel a difference.....just a subtle calmness. This morning my stomach had a knot in it and I couldn't calm down. I don't feel the knot anymore and I feel a sense of calm. So, maybe it's working.
But if I continue with the tablets like I've been it's gonna get expensive. 60 tablets for 13.00 will only last 10 days.....if I go the whole month like this it'll be almost 40 dollars.
Maybe after a little while I can go down to 1 tablet 3x's a day......little more cost effective.
My anxiety is pretty bad....So, I took 2 tablets 3x's today. I think I feel a difference.....just a subtle calmness. This morning my stomach had a knot in it and I couldn't calm down. I don't feel the knot anymore and I feel a sense of calm. So, maybe it's working.
But if I continue with the tablets like I've been it's gonna get expensive. 60 tablets for 13.00 will only last 10 days.....if I go the whole month like this it'll be almost 40 dollars.
Maybe after a little while I can go down to 1 tablet 3x's a day......little more cost effective.
L-theanine rocks! I drink loads of decaf green tea with is basically l-theanine and antioxidants. If it works for you, you could buy the powder for a fraction of the cost.
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Heather
Diamond Member
@rascal thanks for the info. The sales lady did give me some packets that help promote calm and tried putting in some o.j. and I couldn't get the powder to dissolve and it was really gritty. I shook the o.j. quite a bit and powder just stuck to bottom of bottle.
So, don't know if there's a better way to do the powder. I woke up this morning and anxiety was back to an all time high. Maybe i'll try the holy basil.....don't know.
So, don't know if there's a better way to do the powder. I woke up this morning and anxiety was back to an all time high. Maybe i'll try the holy basil.....don't know.
Geoffry777
Bronze Member
Klonopin has a long Half-Life so you should be okay for a day however I would call your insurance company complain about her and remind her that she is ethically obliged to taper you off the medication in improving fashion to prevent any potential seizure activity or withdrawal syndromes Additionally you have to fortify yourself intellectually and emotionally so you can handle this I know you can do it
Geoffry777
Bronze Member
Have you tried an sSri? Snri?
I gather you are safely off the benzo at this point, Heather? Just wanted to say for anyone looking at this thread, that it really is dangerous to withdraw from these meds, even gradually. I was weaned off Ativan a few months ago and got heart palpitations the second day without it. They lasted overnight and into the next day. I called my psych and he immediately put me on Propranolol, which is a heart med to dilate your blood vessels. My heart was roundly checked out a couple years ago and was found to be very strong. It was the Ativan withdrawal. A half hour after taking my first dose, the palpitations stopped. I'm still on it three months later and afraid to stop it. My psych has not said anything about stopping it, either.
Geoffry777
Bronze Member
Typical protocol necessitates an AED....anti epileptic drug...like depakote...which has anxiolytic properties for many....go to ER if u have any seizure activity. The good persons post bere mune is quite accurate. I take berate blocker and I was rapidly detox ed off 6mg if lorazepam. After 25 years of doc inflicted addiction....iatrogenic addiction.
Geoffry777
Bronze Member
Beta blocker.....atenolol.
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