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Benzos Arterial fibrillation and withdrawal

N

Nimshie29

Bluelighter
Joined
Jul 27, 2011
Messages
33
Location
Darwin
Hi Guys,

I have been tapering off clonazepam using diazepam over about 5 months and am down to one 5mg at night. I am getting palpitations and have been diagnosed with Arterial Fibrillation? Could the AF be due to withdrawal symptoms and if so is there anything that can be done medically to help with this? It is not permanent and comes and goes but the longer I have it the more likely it is to stay. I read an article on the 'darker side' about seeking medical help for palpitations that mentioned clonidine??
Also I have started to spend most of the night awake. Is there any solution to the insomnia please?
Thanks in anticipation,
Nimshie29
 
Most importantly, are your doctors aware that you've been tapering off benzos for some time now and have reached a low point?

A doctor might put you on a small nightly dose of an anti-depressant that doubles as a hypnotic to assist with the insomnia. Trazodone is very safe and a wonderful sleep aide at doses (25-50 mg) that wouldn't have a serious AD effects on you throughout the day. It's not at all fun, but will knock most people out cold and it's something you could request by name without your doctor raising an eyebrow. There are various tricyclics and tetracyclics prescribed for sleep as well that won't leave you feeling like a zombie all day. Finally, there's carisoprodol (Soma), which anyone with a computer can easily find access to (though I've heard Aussie customs can be rough, assuming you're from that Darwin :P). Not as many docs prescribe it nowdays, but it's still common. You can become dependent on it, but if you can't get the aforementioned ADs, short-term low-dose carisoprodol dependence isn't the worst thing you could temporarily pick up to boot benzo addiction while still getting decent sleep.

As for newer solutions, it's my opinion that the Z-drugs likely aren't going to do much for WD insomnia for someone used to knocking themselves out with benzos, at least not in prescribed dosages. Some respond better than others to this class, though... The older drugs are a heavier-handed, more certain solution.

First, though, I would inform your doc about the WDs if you haven't already... You can't be stingy or evasive about giving information relavant to a heart condition, even if you look like a bit of a script abuser.
 
Maybe see a doctor, someone I know has atrial fibrillation and I know there's medications you can take for it.

As for the withdrawal itself--it suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks.
 
Thanks. I'll ask my GP about Trazadone. I am already on Pritiq so a swap may be required or a dose reduction and add a small dose of Trazadone? The side effects include heart problems (QT interval) so it may not be suitable. Soma may be OK for a few weeks but I guess it has its own withdrawal problems but I will investigate further. I have used Lyrica a few times and gotten to sleep but suspect it will result in anxiety later the next day if I use it regularly.
Take care,
Nimshie
 
Antihistamines are amazing when tapering off of benzos. I would suggest to use 25mg of doxylamine succinate to get a feel for what it's like. You may need to increase the dosage.

Diphenhydramine hcl also works but is not preferred in my own personal experience. Hydroxyzine hcl is hands down my favorite antihistamine. I'd start with 25mg for all of these btw. Hydroxyzine is probably the easiest to push the dosage up with, as it has less side effects than the other two.

For the record - I recommended doxylamine succinate because it's exceedingly sedating compared to the others.
 
Sorry, Nimshie, I didn't realize the possible heart contraindication with Trazodone. I was basing its safety primarily on difficulty to overdose and its relatively fewer side effects (besides extreme drowsiness) compared to similar older ADs. Soma would indeed be a short-term solution just when you're nearly finished tapering, and shortly thereafter. I've taken 350 mg Soma nightly before for 6-8 weeks and experienced WDs, for what it's worth.

Captain.Heroin, How sedating is doxylamine compared to (non-OTC) promethazine?
 
Interesting--I didn't know that about Trazadone either. But since the QT wave actually refers to ventricular depolarization and repolarization (as opposed to atrial), it may not be a problem in your case.
 
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