Stopping Benzo, Xanax & Klonopin

[drminaq]

OP Sinzz,
Are you not going in the right direction?.... You are looking at a turning point at your life, just try and avoid all drugs for a while especially while you taper from benzos. You said you didn't want to ruin your life in your original post, well.. getting in to opiates right now would be just that!
Good Luck

 

[3dmusic]

Sinzz - a warning and advice to get off benzos safely.

sinzz

I'm a valium addict so I know a bit about benzos. Firstly, most doctors and psychiatrists are clueless. You should find the aston manual helpful, a manual written by a british professor who studied benzos and had a benzo clinic.

Her taper plans are quite aggressive though, and are guidelines only.
The recommended taper rate is no more than ten percent of each dose (step of the taper) you are reducting from.

As for the taper, - see benzo support forums for further info www.thetrap.org.uk, they know their stuff on there.

It is generally advised to cross over, gradually, from a shorter acting benzo, to a longer acting one like diazepam (valium) as shorter acting benzos can give inter-dose withdrawals.

Could you get a drugworker to support you, and maybe they may liaise between you and your doctor.

My drugworker didnt know about benzos but I passed relevant bits of the ashton manual to him to give to the doctor and she was willing to work with me on my taper.

I very much doubt that the benzos you have left will be enough to do a taper from. Too rapid a taper can lead to a longer time in withdrawals.

I dont mean to scare you, people do come through this. Withdrawal symptoms are different for every one. Some have minimal symptoms.

Thanks Eric for reply.Does anybody know about some natural herbs with a calming effect and for sleep is Kava good any more herbs i could try?

Be very careful with herbs, as most of the relaxing herbs act on the GABA receptors, i.e. the same receptors as benzos, and therefore hinder or interfere with recovery. Again the experts over at thetrap.org.uk will advise you in more detail. melatonin is reported to rev some peoples symptoms up too.

Be very wary of cold turkey, as it can be dangerous or even life threatening. Seizures are more likely too.

Did you say your mum gave you lunesta?
Steer clear of that also, as it is in the same family as benzos and can seriously mess up your taper.

Avoid alcohol.

If you go cold turkey, some symptoms may not show up straightaway, but in a couple of weeks.

i been doing some lorcet 7.5 mg and 10 mg i guess. I have replaced another bad thing also i tryed some roxet 30 .. they where wicked i am thinkin this stuff is highly addictive to?

If these are opiates or opoids then avoid them like the plague, you will be replacing one addiction with another.

 

[sinzz]

sinzz

I'm a valium addict so I know a bit about benzos. Firstly, most doctors and psychiatrists are clueless. You should find the aston manual helpful, a manual written by a british professor who studied benzos and had a benzo clinic.

Her taper plans are quite aggressive though, and are guidelines only.
The recommended taper rate is no more than ten percent of each dose (step of the taper) you are reducting from.

As for the taper, - see benzo support forums for further info www.thetrap.org.uk, they know their stuff on there.

It is generally advised to cross over, gradually, from a shorter acting benzo, to a longer acting one like diazepam (valium) as shorter acting benzos can give inter-dose withdrawals.

Could you get a drugworker to support you, and maybe they may liaise between you and your doctor.

My drugworker didnt know about benzos but I passed relevant bits of the ashton manual to him to give to the doctor and she was willing to work with me on my taper.

I very much doubt that the benzos you have left will be enough to do a taper from. Too rapid a taper can lead to a longer time in withdrawals.

I dont mean to scare you, people do come through this. Withdrawal symptoms are different for every one. Some have minimal symptoms.


Be very careful with herbs, as most of the relaxing herbs act on the GABA receptors, i.e. the same receptors as benzos, and therefore hinder or interfere with recovery. Again the experts over at thetrap.org.uk will advise you in more detail. melatonin is reported to rev some peoples symptoms up too.

Be very wary of cold turkey, as it can be dangerous or even life threatening. Seizures are more likely too.

Did you say your mum gave you lunesta?
Steer clear of that also, as it is in the same family as benzos and can seriously mess up your taper.

Avoid alcohol.

If you go cold turkey, some symptoms may not show up straightaway, but in a couple of weeks.

If these are opiates or opoids then avoid them like the plague, you will be replacing one addiction with another.

Very good read . thank you 3D .THANK YOU ALL

 

[sinzz]

I have broke over and done 2 mg of xanax.. just layed around watched tv relaxed feels so good to b not stressed .. I broke up with my girlfreind .. i started to go out and socialize but just stayed in and watched football...need to go the gym and stuff walk etc..

 

[MeddieFrac]

You are lucky to be taking such low doses of Xanax and Klonopin. 2mg of Xanax would do barely anything to me. I was eating like 10 Xanax after drinking lots of grapefruit juice and just 3 weeks of this I quit cold turkey.... Grand Mal Seizure.

And stupid me goes to the doctor and got a #90 1mg Xanax script, eat em all up and had to go to a Psychiatric Emergency Room to get Klonopin so I don't have another seizure. Now I am TRYING to taper, but KEEP EATING LOTS OF THE KLONOPIN.

Lol, I have no self-control. I'll probably have another seizure once the Klonopin runs out. I have 60 .5mg and 90 1mg Klonopin. Plenty to have a good taper, but also plenty to get real fucked up then run out and go grand mal seizure during cold turkey. AHHH

 

[S.M.F.G]

bro... sorry to say, but i thinks u need to find urself a good doctor, b honest and get urself tapered profesionaly.. im fighting benzo addiction also and have just moved away from the xanax.... imo its a great drug for those who need it but can disagree with time and have a reverse effect as i found out.
in Aus if u got a good doc they will help u ya jus need to b honest with em if u really want the help they will see that and taper you accordingly.
not ideal maybe in your way of thinking? but imo truly the best option
wishing u luck hey all the best!

 

[sinzz]

You are lucky to be taking such low doses of Xanax and Klonopin. 2mg of Xanax would do barely anything to me. I was eating like 10 Xanax after drinking lots of grapefruit juice and just 3 weeks of this I quit cold turkey.... Grand Mal Seizure.

And stupid me goes to the doctor and got a #90 1mg Xanax script, eat em all up and had to go to a Psychiatric Emergency Room to get Klonopin so I don't have another seizure. Now I am TRYING to taper, but KEEP EATING LOTS OF THE KLONOPIN.

Lol, I have no self-control. I'll probably have another seizure once the Klonopin runs out. I have 60 .5mg and 90 1mg Klonopin. Plenty to have a good taper, but also plenty to get real fucked up then run out and go grand mal seizure during cold turkey. AHHH

What does grapefruit juice do?

 

[villian]

You are lucky to be taking such low doses of Xanax and Klonopin. 2mg of Xanax would do barely anything to me. I was eating like 10 Xanax after drinking lots of grapefruit juice and just 3 weeks of this I quit cold turkey.... Grand Mal Seizure.

And stupid me goes to the doctor and got a #90 1mg Xanax script, eat em all up and had to go to a Psychiatric Emergency Room to get Klonopin so I don't have another seizure. Now I am TRYING to taper, but KEEP EATING LOTS OF THE KLONOPIN.

Lol, I have no self-control. I'll probably have another seizure once the Klonopin runs out. I have 60 .5mg and 90 1mg Klonopin. Plenty to have a good taper, but also plenty to get real fucked up then run out and go grand mal seizure during cold turkey. AHHH

I was on doses of benzos similar to you, i was scripted klonopin but I bought at least 100 bars a month on top of my klonopin. I had multiple seizures over a period of a couple years from running out early, I was bad with self control as well. I ended up cold turkeying, I tried to taper at least 5 times but I always ended up saying "fuck it I wanna get high"

I ended up getting 100mg of phenazepam and doing a very unscientific taper over about a week, and I didn't have a seizure that last time, and I've been clean since

i can totally relate to you on knowing you need to take meds properly and eating a dozen at a time though. benzos annihilate any amount of self control I may of had..cold turkey was def. the only way I could get clean

i tell you what though man -- the feeling of not depending on a pill to function everyday is incredible. life is alot simpler now for sure... not to mention the horribly dumb things I was doing during blackouts...it's depressing I honestly don't remember 80-90% of about a 4 year period..

benzos are bad news

 

[MeddieFrac]

I was on doses of benzos similar to you, i was scripted klonopin but I bought at least 100 bars a month on top of my klonopin. I had multiple seizures over a period of a couple years from running out early, I was bad with self control as well. I ended up cold turkeying, I tried to taper at least 5 times but I always ended up saying "fuck it I wanna get high"

i tell you what though man -- the feeling of not depending on a pill to function everyday is incredible. life is alot simpler now for sure... not to mention the horribly dumb things I was doing during blackouts...it's depressing I honestly don't remember 80-90% of about a 4 year period..

benzos are bad news

Yeah I had a Grand Mal Seizure from cold turkey after only like a month binge of grapefruit juice and ~10 xanax a day. I am right now cold turkey from xanax but these Klonopin are helping with the w/d. Also, I'm about to get some roxies which will help.

Hah, I hear ya on not remembering a large portion of months/years. I guess I lived with a girl for like a week once and we had sex every day but I only remember bits and peices of it.

Wish I had never touched benzo's, or at least wish I had never gone above the therapeutic level of a mg or two.

@sinzz -- Grapefruit juice does something to an enzyme in your liver, so that when you take say 3 mg of Xanax it is just like taking 6 mg, double potent because the grapefruit messed with the liver enzyme. Real bad thing to get into.

 

[MeddieFrac]

Everyone seemed to enjoy my presence when I was fucked up on benzo's, I was like real out going and never awkward in any situation, could talk to any girl, get people together, start parties, get laid. Can't say it wasn't fun while it lasted.

 

[MeddieFrac]

(I still get laid, but not as often, hah.)

 

[MeddieFrac]

That w/d when I had a seizure was so terrible leading up to the seizure. Worst days of my life. Literally torture. Felt like my brain was being torn apart. Could barely speak without stuttering and got real bad vertigo. Lots of other symptoms, but basically benzo w/d is just pure, ugly, intense pain.

 

[sinzz]

Everyone seemed to enjoy my presence when I was fucked up on benzo's, I was like real out going and never awkward in any situation, could talk to any girl, get people together, start parties, get laid. Can't say it wasn't fun while it lasted.

WOW! This is me to Meddiefrac >but now i just get calm. The most xanax i have ever done at once i think is 5 or 7.. Now a good buzz for me is like 2 and coffee 30 minutes then take like 2 or 3 more. then more coffee. But i have not got what u say buzzed in 3 or 4 months. The benzo help me because i worry over stupid stuff at work most of the time and some days. I have trouble dealing with people .. there are just days i worry over this or worry over stuff i can not control! I started foolin with benzo before i took a test for my job .On my job i have to keep certifications up and i get bad nervous before i take a test the certs are like ever 2 to 3 years.

 

[MeddieFrac]

WOW! This is me to Meddiefrac >but now i just get calm. The most xanax i have ever done at once i think is 5 or 7.. Now a good buzz for me is like 2 and coffee 30 minutes then take like 2 or 3 more. then more coffee. But i have not got what u say buzzed in 3 or 4 months. The benzo help me because i worry over stupid stuff at work most of the time and some days. I have trouble dealing with people .. there are just days i worry over this or worry over stuff i can not control! I started foolin with benzo before i took a test for my job .On my job i have to keep certifications up and i get bad nervous before i take a test the certs are like ever 2 to 3 years.

Yeah, Benzo's are really wonderful if used responsibly. I mean, if you got like 20 1mg Xanax a month, and only ate 2-3 when you really needed them (like before a job interview or a test,) then you would be golden.

I remember at age 14 when I ate my first xanax. It was a 2mg bar; I was at my friends house just down the street. He hooked me up, told me to swallow it. By the time I started walking home it REALLY kicked me. I had never felt so free, like I was floating, not even walking. I was so happy; I knew this was the ideal state that I would forever seek to stay in. Sober me is nothing compared to that freedom of Xanax.

Back then, I only used like 5 times a month. Say I was going to a party, I would pop a couple xanax so I could really socialize. Then I would go a week or more before using it again. I used only when I needed to.

Then I started mixing Xanax with a Roxie and some Coke and snorting it. It was great. About the time I started doing Roxies regularly I started doing benzo's a lot.

Age 18-20 were my golden years so to speak. Every day was a party, I had connections for everything and I knew everyone. And benzo's facilitated everything for me. I could do anything on Xanax. Literally I felt I was like superman, and in a sense I was a super me, hah.

But as depression and anxiety started kicking in, I started taking Xanax all the time just to feel normal, and took handfuls to be that party guy everyone liked.(the depression was probably from all the drugs I did: MDMA, coke, had major roxie hookups, lots and lots of dank bud where I'm from, and of course lots of benzo's, heroin, acid, mushrooms, various combinations of all the aforementioned drugs, alcohol, one time I snorted some coke laced with something nasty that may have been bad for me.)

Don't know where I'm going with this, just did a huge line of roxie HAH and am forgetting all about the xanax w/d I'm going through right now. Think I'm gonna buy some subs tomorrow; two or three suboxone and I feel nice. Think I'm gonna snort one more roxie right now.

Oh yeah, now I remember where I was going with this, back when I first started using benzo's I only used when I felt it necessary, and probably only 4-5 times a month. A person could keep that up their whole life and be fine. But when you cross the line into addiction you will really regret it. Keep the mg's at 1 or 2 and never go above that if your going to do Xanax. But when you have no self-control like me, I just keep eating until I am blacked out (still functioning, and really out-going and fun, but sort of unconscious, and never remember a thing.)

 

[MeddieFrac]

sinzz, I'll just tell you what is really helping me quit Xanax cold turkey. I'm not encouraging you to do the same, I'll just tell ya what helps me.

Okay, So I went cold turkey off Xanax, and immediately started taking daily low doses of Klonopin (I take 2mg a day and am going to taper that,) also roxicodone 30's are really helping to take the edge off the w/d (gives me some happiness, and I snort like 120mg daily.) And to help me sleep, I take a bunch of benadryl and smoke a big bowl of dank bud directly before I hop into bed. This has been the easiest cold turkey from Xanax I have ever done. Also, I like to spend time with my family and with my new puppy to take my mind off things. The doctor also put me on Paxil to help with anxiety, which I reallly think is helping.

GOD, should have done this the last time I went cold turkey off Xanax; probably wouldn't have had a seizure.

 

[bagochina]

Man getting off benzos was the worst thing I have ever put myself through. Benzos were always around at my first job I used to work at a Mom & Pop pharmacy, I was 13. I would check the 'Little Black Pill Book' from the high school library. That book outlined the most abused prescription drugs at the time. I remember having ziplok's fulla Roche v-cut valiums. Right around 3rd hour things would just be a blur.

I didnt pick up a habit with those till many years later, klonopin/ativan. Supplemented with loads of other benzos [wagon wheels, bars, ampuls of diazepam/lorazepam, halcion, etc. etc.]. I sat on daily dosing for 8 years, doctor prescribed. 8mg klonopin/2mg ativan. Tapered down to roughly [2mg k/1mg a] in about 6 months because I was going to check into a treatment center to get help. Than switched to valium and believe it or not did a 10 day taper on that. Than NOTHING [benzo-wise]. I was a huge mess, I think my body was shaking and convulsing for many months like 10 months real bad.

I was a wreck my head was just all over the place, all these little things that I would never even give a 2nd thought just immensely bothered me and I couldnt get out of my head. Eventually I was shaking so bad [1.5 month mark] I went to the ER and got some phenobarbital syrup and checked into another program. It was horrible to put it mildly. I than went on Neurontin to help me with the shakes at about 2 months. It worked slightly but than I would notice that eating those pills would increase my shaking, so I stopped them. Took Trazadone for sleep. I still get shaky at times and thank god that is far and few in between because it is coming up on 2 yrs away from them. I did take them for 2 months to get off bupe but whatever. This past 1.5 yrs have been well rough.

Looking back I tapered way to quick but I did not have any seizures. I just wanted off pills so bad and was willing to put myself through hell. Things are much much better now. My cognitive abilities weaned for awhile they are starting to come back but not like I think they should be. scary

peace.
seedless

Now a daze when I am real stressed and feel like I am tied up in knots the first thing I think about is a xanax melting under my tongue and how much relief that would bring. I dont let myself do it though.

 

[sid3]

sinzz, I'll just tell you what is really helping me quit Xanax cold turkey. I'm not encouraging you to do the same, I'll just tell ya what helps me.

Okay, So I went cold turkey off Xanax, and immediately started taking daily low doses of Klonopin (I take 2mg a day and am going to taper that,) also roxicodone 30's are really helping to take the edge off the w/d (gives me some happiness, and I snort like 120mg daily.) And to help me sleep, I take a bunch of benadryl and smoke a big bowl of dank bud directly before I hop into bed. This has been the easiest cold turkey from Xanax I have ever done. Also, I like to spend time with my family and with my new puppy to take my mind off things. The doctor also put me on Paxil to help with anxiety, which I reallly think is helping.

GOD, should have done this the last time I went cold turkey off Xanax; probably wouldn't have had a seizure.

You most likely wouldn't of had a siezure provided the klonopin dose was close in comparison. After taking ativan for a number of years I can relate with the poster that mentioned benzos having the opposite effect after awhile. Opiates willl definitely help with the wds, the downside being benzos are really helpful when you want to kick the oxy. It gets to be a vicious cycle. Good luck with the taper, after a couple seizures your pushing your luck if you keep abusing any benzo IMO.

 

[sinzz]

Yeah, Benzo's are really wonderful if used responsibly. I mean, if you got like 20 1mg Xanax a month, and only ate 2-3 when you really needed them (like before a job interview or a test,) then you would be golden.

I remember at age 14 when I ate my first xanax. It was a 2mg bar; I was at my friends house just down the street. He hooked me up, told me to swallow it. By the time I started walking home it REALLY kicked me. I had never felt so free, like I was floating, not even walking. I was so happy; I knew this was the ideal state that I would forever seek to stay in. Sober me is nothing compared to that freedom of Xanax.

Back then, I only used like 5 times a month. Say I was going to a party, I would pop a couple xanax so I could really socialize. Then I would go a week or more before using it again. I used only when I needed to.

Then I started mixing Xanax with a Roxie and some Coke and snorting it. It was great. About the time I started doing Roxies regularly I started doing benzo's a lot.

Age 18-20 were my golden years so to speak. Every day was a party, I had connections for everything and I knew everyone. And benzo's facilitated everything for me. I could do anything on Xanax. Literally I felt I was like superman, and in a sense I was a super me, hah.

But as depression and anxiety started kicking in, I started taking Xanax all the time just to feel normal, and took handfuls to be that party guy everyone liked.(the depression was probably from all the drugs I did: MDMA, coke, had major roxie hookups, lots and lots of dank bud where I'm from, and of course lots of benzo's, heroin, acid, mushrooms, various combinations of all the aforementioned drugs, alcohol, one time I snorted some coke laced with something nasty that may have been bad for me.)

Don't know where I'm going with this, just did a huge line of roxie HAH and am forgetting all about the xanax w/d I'm going through right now. Think I'm gonna buy some subs tomorrow; two or three suboxone and I feel nice. Think I'm gonna snort one more roxie right now.

Oh yeah, now I remember where I was going with this, back when I first started using benzo's I only used when I felt it necessary, and probably only 4-5 times a month. A person could keep that up their whole life and be fine. But when you cross the line into addiction you will really regret it. Keep the mg's at 1 or 2 and never go above that if your going to do Xanax. But when you have no self-control like me, I just keep eating until I am blacked out (still functioning, and really out-going and fun, but sort of unconscious, and never remember a thing.)

Meddiefrac> This sounds just like me but i do have some self control. Like when i broke over the other night i think on the 25 and done 2mg i been clean since then.IF i could control this like in ur post 20 ..1 mg tablets i would b golden no kiddin .. I like ur post Meddiefrac ..u sure do shoot straight!!!! thanks to everybody i like this site..

 

[Luij]

sinzz

I'm a valium addict so I know a bit about benzos. Firstly, most doctors and psychiatrists are clueless. You should find the aston manual helpful, a manual written by a british professor who studied benzos and had a benzo clinic.

Her taper plans are quite aggressive though, and are guidelines only.

Since I'm tapering off Clonazepam I was reading the Ashton Maual as well. What do you exactly mean with "her taper plans are quite aggressive"? I thought that the really slow tapering she recommends is less aggressive compared to fast tapering others suggest.

 

[sinzz]

MeddieFrac PM me some time ..would like to talk with u