Benzos Benzo headaches?

[《Plasticity》]

Okay so lately I'm guilty of indulging in benzos a little more than usual (Mainly Etizolam and Alprazolam with the occasional Lorazepam and Diazepam use) and I noticed I'm getting some brutal headaches when I'm not on them, usually throughout the night. I have two questions, first off I'm assuming I'm teetering on the edge of addiction right? I don't get what I would consider withdrawals when I'm not on benzos, just rebound anxiety and the occasional sleepless night but I do have GAD so idk. Like I said I've completely ceased benzo use and only plan on using them for comedowns or the sporadic small recreational dose with my weekly heroin or kratom dose so please.. NO LECTURES! I'm more than aware of the hell that is benzo addiction and I'm not mentally addicted so cutting benzos out won't be hard.

My next question is for those who have suffered these horrendous "pressure" headaches, what do you guys find works best to combat these headaches? I can't use NSAIDs due to duodenal ulcers and opiates and Acetominophen don't do shit. I am capable of toughing them out but some relief would be great so I can get some better sleep. The lack of sleep is definately adding to the pain and making me more 'fuzzy headed'.

 

[RTrain]

I've found using a muscle rub on my neck and upper back can help. That is the source of most the tension headaches, so loosening up the neck muscles can be beneficial.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

If benzos aren't an option then cannabis (vapor) and pregabalin will usually take away most of the headache for me. If I'm looking for the knockout I'll add in a low dose of mirtazapine, I have yet to find a headache that's capable of keeping me up on that. I sometimes still wake up with a headache but it's nowhere near as bad as what it was the night before.

 

[《Plasticity》]

If benzos aren't an option then cannabis (vapor) and pregabalin will usually take away most of the headache for me. If I'm looking for the knockout I'll add in a low dose of mirtazapine, I have yet to find a headache that's capable of keeping me up on that. I sometimes still wake up with a headache but it's nowhere near as bad as what it was the night before.

Benzos are the cause of my headaches, I usually never get headaches but after abusing benzos I them developed these headaches which seem to be a withdrawal sympton so no, benzos are not an option . Weed makes these headaches 10x worst. After smoking I feel like my heads gonna explode. I'll have my GF give me a massage but these headaches seem to span around my head, think of a headband. They are worst on my left side around my temple but can spread to the back and right side of my head as well. I guess there's nothing to take besides maybe excedrin but that shits expensive and never works. These headaches feel like my brain is swelling and its putting pressure on my skull, of course "feel" is a key word here. It's not like my brain is actually swollen.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

Benzos are the cause of my headaches, I usually never get headaches but after abusing benzos I them developed these headaches which seem to be a withdrawal sympton so no, benzos are not an option . Weed makes these headaches 10x worst. After smoking I feel like my heads gonna explode. I'll have my GF give me a massage but these headaches seem to span around my head, think of a headband. They are worst on my left side around my temple but can spread to the back and right side of my head as well. I guess there's nothing to take besides maybe excedrin but that shits expensive and never works. These headaches feel like my brain is swelling and its putting pressure on my skull, of course "feel" is a key word here. It's not like my brain is actually swollen.

I got that I meant I often use benzos to relieve my headaches but if I was in the process of cutting back on my benzo use then I use weed and Lyrica. As long as I vape (not smoke) then weed usually makes my headaches better. I don't abuse my benzo script in the traditional sense but after a week or so of pretty much daily use I'll get a migraine type headache when I stop, coincidence? I haven't gotten one of those headaches in a while but then again I can't think of the last time I've gone more than two days without taking a benzo. Unlike you though I am mentally addicted to mine.

 

[RedRum OG]

It's an early symptom of withdrawal, when its in the mild, barely noticeable stage.

 

[RTrain]

I got that I meant I often use benzos to relieve my headaches but if I was in the process of cutting back on my benzo use then I use weed and Lyrica. As long as I vape (not smoke) then weed usually makes my headaches better. I don't abuse my benzo script in the traditional sense but after a week or so of pretty much daily use I'll get a migraine type headache when I stop, coincidence? I haven't gotten one of those headaches in a while but then again I can't think of the last time I've gone more than two days without taking a benzo. Unlike you though I am mentally addicted to mine.

No kidding, its very easy to become dependent on benzos the way some doctors prescribe them.

 

[kayaker318]

CaptainKratom - It sounds to me like you have migraines. I would try a triptan. You need a prescription. I take Naratriptan (Amerge) 2.5 mg which works amazingly well. But it can be a bit expensive - go for the generic. It's well worth it. I am all too familiar with migraines and being in so much pain that you can't sleep. Hopefully this will help.

Snake_Eyes - Do you really find that cannabis (vapor) works? I've avoided pot mainly because I didn't want to smoke it or take the pill form. I have heard that it can help migraines.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

No kidding, its very easy to become dependent on benzos the way some doctors prescribe them.

Yeah, I was able to take them only twice a week for over a year. I've been prescribed 30mg temazepam "as needed" for almost 2 years and daily for the last 9 months or so. Since getting on Lyrica a year ago I've been splitting the capsules in half sometimes quarters and building a stockpile just in case. With how frequently I've been taking them this past year I can't how I couldn't be dependent. My last appointment I mentioned the possibility of tapering off mainly because I have thousands of milligrams built up and only take around 15mg. They just said "lets just keep you on what works" and wrote me another #90.

@kayaker it always has for me, it's certainly has never made it worse.

 

[RTrain]

Ugh I just typed something kinda long and it got deleted. Not reqriting so...

Basically I was saying rebound anxiety from benzo use might cause jaw clenching (particulary while asleep so no noticed) which will cause head aches. Plus when on benzos you might be more prone to forward head posture, causing a lot of stiffness in the neck muscle and from that tension headaches.

 

[《Plasticity》]

Thanks for all your replies, you guys are great. I'm on day 5 of no benzos and they seem to be gone, I also slept great last night.. completely headache free. I have no doubt in my mind that this was from minor withdrawal. I'm a frequent teeth clencher/grinder in my sleep and am familiar with the sore jaws that it causes and this was not it, nor was it your everyday average migraine. I can only describe it as a pressure headache that spans around the head like a sweatband would. If you google benzo withdrawal headaches it appears to be a rather common symptom.

I had my GF rub me down the night of this post and I can't say it helped, in fact nothing helped so I just tuffed it out and they dissipated. I can smoke buds without having these headaches now as well so I think I'm through what very minor withdrawals I had. I found these headaches the worst from day 2-4 of no benzos but they started around 24 hours after my last dose of xanax and the lack if sleep they cause only makes things worst. I'm going to take at least another week off and go to using them once a week, maybe twice if I'm on a bad comedown but I'll be sticking with Alpraz and etiz due to their shorter Half-lives.

 

[Spadez87]

Okay so lately I'm guilty of indulging in benzos a little more than usual (Mainly Etizolam and Alprazolam with the occasional Lorazepam and Diazepam use) and I noticed I'm getting some brutal headaches when I'm not on them, usually throughout the night. I have two questions, first off I'm assuming I'm teetering on the edge of addiction right? I don't get what I would consider withdrawals when I'm not on benzos, just rebound anxiety and the occasional sleepless night but I do have GAD so idk. Like I said I've completely ceased benzo use and only plan on using them for comedowns or the sporadic small recreational dose with my weekly heroin or kratom dose so please.. NO LECTURES! I'm more than aware of the hell that is benzo addiction and I'm not mentally addicted so cutting benzos out won't be hard.

My next question is for those who have suffered these horrendous "pressure" headaches, what do you guys find works best to combat these headaches? I can't use NSAIDs due to duodenal ulcers and opiates and Acetominophen don't do shit. I am capable of toughing them out but some relief would be great so I can get some better sleep. The lack of sleep is definately adding to the pain and making me more 'fuzzy headed'.

If you can't take Advil or other NSAIDs which are not a good idea anyway during benzo W/D. Then Tylenol is pretty much your only option.

I've been tapering down from 180 mg daily of diazepam since jan 2013 ( I'm at 5mg now) and I get these headaches like mad.

My advice is avoid bright lights and loud sounds. I sit in the dark a lot and when go outside or am driving I'm always wearing sunglasses. It really helps preventing them.

 

[coelophysis]

If you can't take Advil or other NSAIDs which are not a good idea anyway during benzo W/D.

Really? Why is that?