How long for serious benzo WD to develop?

[somewherehappy]

My advice to you is to not rely on them for too long nor too heavily during any one period in your life.

Exactly. Like I mentioned I've seen dependence, it's unavoidable even if you switch benzodiazepines. I've personally dealt with tolerance and addiction for it. Through a prescription which I didn't abuse and took 3 years.

I can say with 100% it's a bad end taking long term. However you really can use benzo's and get effects! I advise no more than 1 per week, with 7 days in between doses minimum. For me that has worked ok, slight tolerance from my past long term use has stayed after even 2 years benzo free. Anyway, you can use them responsibly and then when you need something for real, it will work. Or you can take daily and your life will go downhill and you'll have no relief when you really need it.

New in depth and large Clinical studies confirmed this, anxiety increases with long term use and the condition worsens. They've also noted cognitive decline with long term usage (lower IQ and worse memory).

Science aside, I've known many friends, also one family member who have been on benzodiazepines, they like myself all experienced bad result. For me after a while anxiety started to increase. Not just tolerance but after pill started to have no effect, then anxiety literally it became worse than originally, with time like much worse i'd literally say 10x worse (after taking it even!) then another 10x that if you miss a dose. I'm fortunate I withdrew off mine, it was hell. Now I very rarely use them, like once a month if I'm having an unbearable panic attack or rarely if using coke. I always leave minimum 7 days between another use.

A dear family member who was once vibrant and loved going out to meet people, was confident and social now can barely leave the house, they go out 2 times monthly to see the dr and talk about their fears of being ill. They were put on for anxiety attacks that occured during stressful times. No idea why dr's prescribe them in daily doses instead of as needed. This person now doesn't enjoy life, they need someone to be with them to leave house and have anxiety so bad it's difficult to see them so unhappy.

My other friend is still on them and is having increased panic attacks despite taking high doses of benzo's since they've been on like 2 years. She started out with bad anxiety and sometimes attacks but now it's out of control, like screaming and crying "what am I going to do?" She says "It helps my anxiety as soon as I wake up I'm unbearably panicking with knot in stomach and I literally run to the kitchen to take my pill." They think it's helping but I see it's severe addiction the body goes through minor withdrawal over night leaving them desperate for re-dosing. She's now taking more than dose thinking it's her life stresses but she actually has less now than she did at time she started. It's awful to watch her grow more and more anxious and panicking. I told her why but..she is convinced that since when she misses a dose she has horrible attack that it means she needs them. I'm worried what will happen if she doesn't get off soon..

This is just me and 2 others I know. Please read online and learn other people's experiences.

Sorry for long response but I wanted to make the point these drugs if used daily long term will ruin your life. It's not a question of if but when your quality of life will go downhill and anxiety will get to a point that makes normal tasks unmanageable.

I saw your post you'll probably take that person's advise and try to go off. It's your decision, just hoped to give you some stories about what I've learned and seen to help you make up your mind about it.

Final thing I'll say is if your going to get off Valerian root really helps! It helped me get to sleep easier during withdrawals. It certainly won't knock you or have effect your used to of Benzo's but it did ease it a little, you can take during day too.

Take care! Remember withdrawal will make anxiety worse but it definitely gets better with time!!

 

[twato]

Many thanks for taking the time and writing such an extensive post about your and your friends' benzo experiences, somewherehappy!

I've been off them for over a week now with very little negative effects, and since I'm not taking them for anxiety, rather because of sleeplessness, I really consider them a last resort, just in case everything else fails and I absolutely have to sleep that night. Normally, a cup or two of hops/valerian root tea (which is really great, as you mentioned) and a hot bath with some relaxing ingredients is all it takes, sometimes some indica weed or hash to complete the mixture (the latter is the best sleeping aid I know of, IME).

Also, while they're great for opiate potentiation, DXM and DPH are fully sufficient for me in that department, so no need for benzos there as well. I even find they often potentiate TOO well, making me fall asleep instead of getting that blissful nod I'm after and wasting much of the high (and a lot of money as a consequence).

So I totally agree with your point of view, benzos are really useful if you need them and it can't hurt to have some lying around, but caution and restraint need to be exercised carefully, otherwise one will inevitably make matters worse.

Again, thanks for the nice reply and good tips again, much appreciated!

 

[pally pete]

I could write an essay on this but il try and keep it short, when i was an infrequent yet heavy user/abuser i quit many times for upto 2 months but i Always relapsed even if the withdrawals were never that bad something always triggered me to go back to benzos.

Ive had this problem for 3 Years.

Best of luck

 

[pillpopper420]

All i can say is iv been thru the cold turkey from benzos and i had my first seizure at work and have had at least 20 to 30 in the past 7 months every time when my script runs out i tell myself next month ill ration them better im on 2mg 3x a day
im shaking like a leaf right now had seizure last week feel one coming on today trying to stay on something soft

 

[Escapedysphoria]

Benzo withdrawal is actual hell. Take the worst panic attack you've ever had and put it on steroids and even when that subsides you're still having a panic attack.

Currently coming off a prescribed benzo habit. Been on them for over a year and a half (1.5mg clonazepam, then 1mg alprazolam xr, then 12mg diazepam). Without this 900mg of Lyrica (pregabalin) (300mg 3x a day which is over the recommended maximum dosage) I'd be going insane and most likely having seizures. Still the derealization and anxiety shines through and can become unbearable. Keep in mind this Lyrica is powerful all my friends that have tried it has felt a buzz or euphoria... I have not.

 

[ms4104]

A month of use will give aynone withdrawals. And once you have that initial detox withdrawals come on quicker and worse. Seroiusly I hate benzo withdrawals. They are worse and 10x scarier than even the worst of the worst opiate wtihdrawals. I have never been CLOSE to going to the ER for any drug except benzo withdrawals. They are fucking so scary. Especially seizures. It;s your life...its not a game/