Benzos Help with xanax w/d please read

[brandonh354]

Ive been taking Xanax prescribed to me I liked them alot I started taking more and I found a friend who go xanaxx bars I got so bad I was taking so many a day I couldn't control it and then a bout a year ago go I ran out and I couldnt get anymore. I started going through w/d I was going crazy I kept thinking someone was trying to kill me when my son go home from school I accused him of hiring people to come and kill me he balled his eyes out and I called my mom and told her something's wrong with me I need you to call the ambulance a cop showed up at my door tLked me and my son and I left with him to st johns. I went to the crazy people part of st johns I started hallucinating seeing chinese people out my window the next morning. I'm back with my family now but I'm not the same I'm always sweating and burning up and I just can't stop shaking.... I just want to know if this is happened to other people or if this is normal idk what to do

 

[Ohayou]

Hell yeah that's normal for benzo WD, I've been through it and had horrible hallucinations and unbearable agony and seizures, and I wasn't %100 again for months. BZD WD is worse that opiate WD imo.

 

[jazz hands]

Yeah, Xanax w/d is insane like that. Try talking to a doctor to see if they can stabilize you with something like Librium (chlordiazepoxide). If you have bowel issues this should be fairly easy. Just explain that it is due to Xanax withdrawal (prescribed Xanax, of course-- no need to describe your extra use) and that you need to calm your nerves somewhat and get bowel function back to normal.

 

[brandonh354]

That's the thing man it's been 1 to 2 years I still shake all the time get heat flashes I can't sleep I don't like people I don't leave the house because i think something's waiting to get me it's hard to explain but when I do go outside I'm scared of something but idk what I'm scared of I'm constantly looking around making sure no ones trying to sneak up on me

 

[brandonh354]

I will do that, that's what my wife told me to do I'll see a doctor soon. idk if this relates to the bowels being messed up but I poop blood everymorning and everytime I start going through heat flashes

 

[jazz hands]

^ You have to find a doctor that understands benzo withdrawal. There are people who maintain on a low dose of benzos for the rest of their lives so that they don't have the reaction you're describing. The drug I mentioned, chlordiazepoxide, is used for this, as are a few others such as diazepam. You could take low doses of Xanax as well, but it is ill-suited for long term use.

 

[jazz hands]

I will do that, that's what my wife told me to do I'll see a doctor soon. idk if this relates to the bowels being messed up but I poop blood everymorning and everytime I start going through heat flashes

Yes, it is related. It is because your gastrointestinal system is highly stressed by benzo withdrawal. It's post benzo withdrawal IBS essentially. I had a bout of colitis from Xanax withdrawal myself, though it sounds like it was much milder than what you've experienced.

 

[brandonh354]

Ill definitely keep that in mind. I kind of want to stay away from Xanax now on tho because once I have that first pill I'll be right back where I was taking handfuls of them, and I don't want to hurt my family any more than I already have

 

[burn out]

Benzo withdrawal can take as long as 5 years to recover from. Keep your chin up and march onward, things will improve eventually. Just don't ever give up.

 

[jazz hands]

Ill definitely keep that in mind. I kind of want to stay away from Xanax now on tho because once I have that first pill I'll be right back where I was taking handfuls of them, and I don't want to hurt my family any more than I already have

Yeah, I totally understand. Like I was saying, Librium is what makes the most sense for your situation. It is a benzo that is used for IBS. Just explain to your doc that you need to figure out something, but won't take Xaanx again. I'm sure they will get you situated.

 

[brandonh354]

Thanks so much for the support and feedback I really thought I was going insane I didn't think I'd get out if this rut but this gave me alot of hope and the confidence to talk to my doc about my situation.... Thanks again everyone have a great night

 

[burn out]

There's nothing your doc can do. Not that there is any harm in talking to him, having an understanding doc can be very helpful. Just be wear of any new drugs he might give to you and don't be too upset/disappointed if he doesn't believe you.

Time alone heals benzo withdrawal. If you are a religious/spiritual man, pray to God for help. There is no cure though, I even went as far as to find a doc to give me flumazenil which is a benzo antagonist and it did nothing for me. That's when I resolved to being patient and just waiting it out. Things started to improve a lot after about 2 years off xanax.

 

[DexterMeth]

Try phenibut (DON'T USE IT OFTEN) when the withdrawals get really bad, as that is 100% legal.

Everyone will most likely disagree with me on this (including myself to a great degree), but GHB was the only thing that kept me alive when I had to detox off kpins. Xanax is easily just as bad for detox, but at least the post-acute phase is shorter lived. Months? Definitely.
Ride it out. Jogging, swimming and the like, as well as plenty of sun and a well-balanced diet help A LOT.

Good luck. It's the hardest thing you will ever have to do, so consider yourself lucky, if that makes sense.

 

[andghosts]

Unfortunately, withdrawal from Benzodiazapene's is comparable in severity to that of alcohol and heroin. Medical detoxification is not just less painful, but necessary. Your body will be facing a myriad of physiological symptoms that may range from moderate to potentially fatal (if care is not taken), amongst other things, not to mention the havoc said withdrawal wrecks on the pysche.

Each and every time I withdraw from Benzo's (with Valium having been the worst) my symptoms become profoundly more severe than the last. My withdrawal from alcohol was quite possibly the worst (with heroin a close second) and most longest (aside from coming off methadone), but only because of the serial seizures. Point is, find a doctor, get into a clinic and taper. Whatever you do, do not go cold turkey.

 

[DexterMeth]

Ya, the only real safe way is to taper. I forgot to meantion that, because the OP said they went to St. Johns. The risk of seizures is extremly high without a long slow, and very painful taper.

 

[thevines2]

Hell yeah that's normal for benzo WD, I've been through it and had horrible hallucinations and unbearable agony and seizures, and I wasn't %100 again for months. BZD WD is worse that opiate WD imo.

benzo withdrawal makes opiate withdrawal look like the common cold

you need to taper with benzos unless your gunna lock yourself in a room for a week or 2

alcohol and weed got me threw it

drinking helped the mental and shakes a lot for me

also took opiates in low doses days i didnt drink

i was taking 40mg ativan at a time

or about 250mg valium

the withdrawals were soooooooo bad

hold in there and ride it out

 

[jazz hands]

If you read the OP's posts, he has been off of Xanax for two years and is still paranoid and experiencing colitis. It's not reasonable for him to ride it out at this point. From what I've read on this type of situation, the best course of action is to start a low-dose of chlordiazepoxide to treat the colitis and take the edge off of the anxiety. He may have to remain on the pills for life, or he can taper it very slowly, but for now, it is clear that he has to take action.

 

[thevines2]

If you read the OP's posts, he has been off of Xanax for two years and is still paranoid and experiencing colitis. It's not reasonable for him to ride it out at this point. From what I've read on this type of situation, the best course of action is to start a low-dose of chlordiazepoxide to treat the colitis and take the edge off of the anxiety. He may have to remain on the pills for life, or he can taper it very slowly, but for now, it is clear that he has to take action.

oops my bad must have over looked that =p

but ya if its still been that long him taking chlordiazpoxide is prob his best bet cuz i still have some problems from my benzo abuse in early 2010

i have horrible horrible anxiety attacks untill i pass out and end up on the floor

luckily im not like some other people i know and pot makes the paranoia and shit worse its the only thing that helps me other than benzos

 

[burn out]

If you read the OP's posts, he has been off of Xanax for two years and is still paranoid and experiencing colitis. It's not reasonable for him to ride it out at this point. From what I've read on this type of situation, the best course of action is to start a low-dose of chlordiazepoxide to treat the colitis and take the edge off of the anxiety. He may have to remain on the pills for life, or he can taper it very slowly, but for now, it is clear that he has to take action.

This is terrible advice. Of course it is reasonable for him to ride it out. Just because something is difficult doesn't mean you just give up. If going on a low dose of benzos would fix everything and not cause any further problems, I'd say sure but that is not the case. Being on benzo for life poses many problems, including things such as serious depression and paradoxically worsening anxiety. What evidence is there to suggest he would be any better of in that situation than he is now? I know how much protacted benzo withdrawal sucks, I suffer from it myself. It's been 2 and a half years for me. However, things continue to gradually improve. SOme people take up to 5 years to recover. Going back on benzo, no matter how low the dose, will ensure that recovery will never happen. It will not ensure a symptom free life. So why not take the option where recovery is it at least a possibility?

 

[jazz hands]

^ You say you have gone through this for two and a half years. Are you still shitting blood and psychotic? I, too, experience protracted benzo withdrawal to this day, but not nearly to the extent of the OP. He can get on a low dose of chlordiazepoxide or a similar benzo to stabilize his body and then taper extremely gradually if he wants. At this point, his body is still not reasonably coping with a change that happened two years ago. With you and me, we're coping well enough that we don't have to do this. It doesn't sound like this is the case with the OP.

If you are basing your opinion off of Professor Ashton, etc, keep in mind the emphasis they put on a smooth taper. OP clearly didn't go slow enough and his body is still in shock.