Kicking the benzos

I've decided, I'm gonna quit using benzos daily and instead keep a small supply to use PRN (as needed). This isn't gonna be easy though, considering I've been taking them daily for 7 years. I'll start with the diazepam, which I've only been using for about 6 months or so, and wean myself off it by 5mg's a week (I'm prescribed 20mg's a day, so that should take 4 weeks if all goes well).

Then I'll deal with the clonazepam, which will be much more difficult. I could either taper down the clonazepam I'm on now (6mg's a day) by, say, one milligram a month. Or I could switch it over to the equivilant dose of diazepam which is 120mg's (0.5mg's of clonaz = 10mg diaz) which many people find easier to do, and then taper down from that. I'll probably need to discuss the clonazepam with my doc next time I see him, cos I've been on it for a very long time and I don't wanna risk having a seizure from the withdrawals. The seizures I've had from benzo withdrawal have always been bad - I'm talking life-threatening. And the thought of going into status epilepticus scares the hell outta me.

 

Good luck, benzo w/d was the most fuct up thing I have ever experienced. Its the duration that drove me mad, 8 yr habit, it took me about a year to get better and than I decided to kick my opiates now I have taken kpins for the last 30 days and I am psychologically psyching myself into thinking I am feeling w/d. Am I? I am really not sure I am going to stop in a couple days and dose up on neurontin which helps ease the comedown.

Its like I struggle sooo hard to get off something than of course my addict mind tells me I have to take something to get off of something. lalalala crazy.

Best wishes.
seedless

 

Clonazepam was a bitch for me but because I didn't wean the first time, I just did cold turkey and it fucked me up. I had to go back on but half the dose...well .25 (twice a day) instead of 0.5mg three times daily. So I took that for a week (thats all I could get anyhow) and then when it ran out, I didnt even notice anything for a week after. A week after I noticed that I was sweating again (hyper hydrosis) which sucked but in the last couple weeks I've been great.
Oh and sex greatly improves after you stop Clon, trust me LOL

 

^ The diazepam taper is going well. Haven't noticed any bad side effects yet. But yeah, I'm dreading the clonazepam taper (mostly because of the length of time that I've been on the stuff). Glad to hear sex improves when you stop the clonaz - that's definitely a good incentive to quit.

 

Oh hell yeah, I've become a sex freak since I stopped...my man is in heaven HAHA! I have never reached climax with him in 5 years and now after I stopped clon, OMFG! Sex is my new DOC

My mom told me about diazepam, she was on it for years upon years, it messed up her nervous system, gave her the shakes and stuff (dunno why though) and she got off of it cold turkey, which must have been hell for her I assume, and she hasn't touched it in about 10 years now I think, she has started taking it again in the past year though ...which is disappointing she went 10yrs without them...
Clon was the worst W/D i ever had in my life, but I knew staying on clon was not an option it was slowly messing up my body and mental state, cognative ability was going to shit and still my mind isn't 100% yet, I still have memory issues...
Though I must admit I had some pretty awesome vivid dreams on it, and I miss those dreams....

 

^ If you don't mind me asking, are you on T yet? I'm sure that'll boost your sex drive even higher lol!

 

no Ive been waiting until family court is done. god help me after T

 

^ Fair enough. E (estrogen, not ecstasy lol) did the complete opposite to me... my sex drive has gone on an extended vacation which can be very frustrating for me and my partner. Drugs often help though.

 

As much & as heavy as my habit has been....or even is on maintainance, I've never had a seizure from opitate, barbs, or meth w/d's. Granted, they were quite unpleasant, but never had to deal with seizures thank Christ. Was it you I asked the Ibogaine question to? I understand they don't wanna give it to detox if you have weak heart or seizures. I think I'd be more inclined to taper the slower way, a little bit every month. Hope it works out for you. Every time I quit meth, even for a day, I sleep all day. It's got a hell of a grip on me...Slower is probably more likely to stick long term, but talk to your doc.

 

^ You're lucky - the seizures are one of the worst benzo withdrawal symptoms for me. Fortunately I usually get auras before they happen, so I have a chance to lie down in the recovery position and call out to someone. And no, I don't think I've talked about Ibogaine with you...