Mental Health In Benzo Tolerance Withdrawal Hell

[fuzzydunlop44]

I've been on benzos for going on three years to treat panic/general/social anxiety disorders. I started with Ativan, was told to take three pills a day everyday by my doctor and naively without doing my own research that's what I did. Since then I've been switched to Xanax and eventually Klonopin which I've been on for a little over two years. I'm experiencing so many negative side effects from this drug that all I want to do is come off of it but even making the tiniest of cuts (.25 every two weeks of the 2.5 I take daily) results in an increase in negative side effects that is pretty much unbearable.

I've tried many other SSRI's, none of which really had any positive effect. Recently I was given a choice of Celexa and Effexor, neither of which I wanted to take, but after a week of Celexa all of my symptoms have just gotten even worse (I know SSRI's can take 4-6 weeks to work but I just feel very "off" on them and if they aren't going to help my taper then I want no part of them) I've tried many natural supplements with similar results. I've done and continue to do CBT and meditation but is there anything that anyone who have been through benzo tolerance withdrawal or just the tapering process in general that you could offer as advice because I'm scared that I won't be able to do this and none of the medical professionals I've ever seen seem to grasp the idea of how bad the side effects of long term daily benzo usage can be. I'm really feeling lost and in need of help and don't know where to turn. I know what my end goal is, but is the only way to get there to suffer through horrible withdrawal symptoms for months? Also since I've already reached tolerance withdrawal am I only prolonging the inevitable but not starting my taper now? I certainly don't want to go up on the dosage and make this already ridiculously long and terrible process even longer. I wish there was a survival guide or something because I consider myself a strong willed person but I truly don't know how people get through this as it is absolutely brutal both mentally and physically.

 

[cj]

Thankfully I have never been through benzo withdrawal so this isn't first hand info. From everything I have ever heard or read you are in for a painful fucked up experience. My best advice is too taper as slowly as possible. I know you wont to rush but as your finding out that's not such a good idea. If cutting by .25 is too distressing then cut by .1. As long as you are going down or at least staying the same then its progress. Shitty situation.

 

[fuzzydunlop44]

Yeah. the very slow taper seems to be the only option I have. If only I could get my family and doctors to understand that...

 

[cj]

Oh is this like a forced taper or something? How fast are they tapering you? Have you communicated your concerns and symptoms to your doctor and parents? It might be in your best interest to either find a new doctor who has a clue or find pills and do the taper at your pace. At the end of the day it is your health after all. Love your username BTW The Wire is my all time favorite tv show.

 

[paranoid android]

If you want to get off Clonazepam the most painless way would be to do a slow Valium taper. As you take 2.5mg's (i have been on 6mg's for about 10 years ffs) that would be 50mg's of Valium just about. Valium has the advantage of having both a really long half life of 200 hours and being super easy to adjust the dose slowly as you can get pills as small as the 2mg ones you can split. Some people are more sensitive to benzo wd then others so if your getting withdrawals this severe go as slowly as possible. Better to be overcautious then to have a seizure.

 

[What was it?]

If you want to get off Clonazepam the most painless way would be to do a slow Valium taper. As you take 2.5mg's (i have been on 6mg's for about 10 years ffs) that would be 50mg's of Valium just about. Valium has the advantage of having both a really long half life of 200 hours and being super easy to adjust the dose slowly as you can get pills as small as the 2mg ones you can split. Some people are more sensitive to benzo wd then others so if your getting withdrawals this severe go as slowly as possible. Better to be overcautious then to have a seizure.

Agree with the above. Clonazepam is deceptively powerful. When I switched back from clon to diazepam I couldn't believe how much off it I needed. Some people also use librium to taper or a combo of phenobarbital with diazepam. Ashton Manual pretty much just advocates taper with diazepam but it doesn't work for everybody. You just have to feel it out and go with what your body tells you. best of luck and godspeed. (oh, I also used Lyrica at the end of my taper in combination with diazepam)

 

[never2L82Heal]

I hate to hear your going through this. I've detoxed off a many things and Kpin is a doozy!! I remember reading somewhere that when the plants talk to you, pay them no mind... just politely speak back and go on about your business.... not trying to scare you but this certainly does happen... what helped me was knowing it was the detox and not me going crazy... I just kept telling myself this will end.. Valuim taper is the best. Kpin has a long as half life and valium is much easier to taper with... Good luck it will end.

 

[Moreaux]

I was scripted and took Xanax for ten years to help with anxiety. When I went to rehab for my alcoholism I was cut off Xanax cold turkey and given antiseizure meds to help with withdrawals. This was back in February 2010. I can relate to what you're going through. Once out of rehab I decided to stay off the benzos. The true misery of stopping Xanax didn't hit until about 30 days out, and it got horrible before it got better. Trust me, do the taper as its a lot less painful then cold turkey.

Unfortunately, there isn't really a way to comfortably get off benzos, but know it does get better. I recommend seeing a good psychiatrist, and a good counselor who will collaborate on your treatment plan. Cognitive behavioral therapy along with mindfulness and meditation are very helpful. When I have sleep problems I take melatonin, passion flower, and l-theanine - it knocks me out. I did take trazadone 50mg the first coming off benzos to help with sleep. It's not a usable and you probably won't build a tolerance for it. As far as an antidepressant to facilitate the withdrawal, I cold turkey quit Zoloft during the process and after about 6 months was so miserable I did my own research and decided to try Effexor. It did seem to help. I stayed on it for year before I tapered off (currently medication free ?). I also keep Indural (beta blocker) on hand for extreme difficulties - now I maybe take one once a month. I my ealry benzo withdrawal days I took Indural once a day for about a year - it really helped to keep the panic attacks at bay.

The first year and a half after getting off of benzos sucked. I was server my depressed and suicidal. My anxiety achieved levels I didn't realize were humanly possible, and I thought I had lost all grip on reality. It started getting better after the 6 month mark. I've been off benzos for five years now and feel so much better.

If you follow a taper I don't think your withdrawal is going to be as extreme as mine was. It's not going to be fun, but it's definately doable. Always keep in mind that it is temporary, and it will eventually pass and get better. Try to find activities that you find relaxing - for me I started getting weekly massages and would also go to the spa. Exercise does help as well. I was never motivated to exercise, but found I felt much better after a five mile walk. If you find yourself in the kindle of an anxiety attack remeber to breath deep long breaths. Acknowledge that you're having the attack, and that its just a harmless physiological response that will last maximum twenty minutes. Seeing it for what it is really helped me get through them. Feel free to hit me up with questions. Good luck!