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Benzos Post benzo withdrawal

H

hotelyorba

Greenlighter
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
47
Just wondering if theres anybody out there that took benzos daily long term and can now say that they are back to normal? If so, how long did you take benzos and how long did it take to return to normal?

I was on klonopin .5 for 8 months + 4 month taper, ambien for about 8 months before that. Sometimes I think I am never going to "heal".

My biggest concern is that I will never be able to drink again. Whenever I drink, my withdrawal symptoms that I dont normally have sort of "come back" and I feel out of whack for a few days (this is from getting only mildly drunk).
Has anybody out there had this problem with drinking post benzos but eventually was able to tolerate drinking again?


Thanks so much for the feedback!
 
Yes, I'm pretty much back to "normal", if you could call it that. I was on temazepam, lorazepam and alprazolam for a good 15+ years. At first I took it occasionally for insomnia and anxiety but over time it became daily. It took a good 1-2 years trying to taper down and finally off. I've been clean for about 6 months now. It was hell trying to stop, but I'm glad it's behind me now. I stopped drinking before I got off benzos. It's tough trying to quite one drug when you're inebriated from another.
 
i hope when im done my kpin taper i return to "normal" ASAP cuz i have enough mental issues as it is, but the massive dose of Zyprexa i am on will mask any weird feelings or strange thoughts i get.. never been through benzo w/d before because i always had a supply.. now my doctor is taking me off em. I just finished w/d's from suboxone and in 2months will be w/ding from kpins.. life's tough.. but imma suck it up and take it like a man (until im in fetal position crying rocking back and forth lol) good luck OP and i hope you get back to your "normal" as soon as you can! :D
For the record i was on 10mg/day, lowering .5mg/month and am at 1mg/day now.
 
I kicked a very big alpraz habit by switching first to diaz. The answer's yes, you do get better. Don't go back; think of all the work you've done!

S
 
The "successful taper thread" isn't really relevant to the OP's question. Tapering and stopping use is one thing, but getting back to normal -- pre-benzo anxiety levels, regular sleeping cycles, the twitches and jerks, the abdominal probs etc. -- is another entirely. I have not had a benzo for about 14 months and still have issues, my worst is the sleeping. I still have several vivd dreams and awakeneings each night. This is adrug like no other in terms of so-called "addiction." I've heard the physical symptoms of heroine wd only last a month if that. It may be that this drug does cause damage or changes to nerves, maybe akin to frequent MDMA can lead to depression etc.
Obviously this problem isn't always easily fixed in the body. I too have my doubts about recovering 100%, but there are lots out there that do. Sometimes it takes years. It seems like being on a low dose for a short time, tapering, and being young are the only factors that seem to decrease recovery time.
Like you however, I don't here a lot about successful recoveries from benzo use. Anybody else got good news to share like suessmayr did? It is always nice to have hope! Love to hear from people who not only stopped benzos but actually are sleeping well and not having any other PAWS symptoms!
 
i stopped benzos and i sleep well, have no twitches or jerks and no abdominal problems. however, i do have other PAWS symptoms that drive me crazy.
 
Cognitive impairment makes sense. I could see that. How's your blood pressure burn out? Is it higher then normal? With klonopin you taper. It's effects tend to become quite paradoxial after taking it for awhile. So quiting or switching benzo's can help many people. Give it about 3 months to feel better,6 months- 1 year or so to be back to normal.
 
i dont think my bloood pressure is higher than normal but i havent taken it except when i donated blood to a research study. i dont remember what they said it was.
 
If I ever wanted to stop I would go from the shorter half lfes to smalled. I disagree with the get off one to get off another. Maybe reduce both, but perhaps think of a less physically addictive drug such as marijuana or tramadol to ease WDs. Put it this way: In jail the only way they care about drugs is if you're on Benzos or Alcohol. And maybe you get lithium or an advil. If you say you're dope sick you get an extra blanket and solitary. The blanket is for the chills (ha ha.) At least in county.
 
^^90 days if you are lucky! The thing about this post acute shit is you never know when it will get better. Could be a month or two or a year or two. I'm 14 monts now and still have lingering problems.
burn out I get the dysphoria, anhedonia, and a little cog impairment too. The cognitive impairment is one of the effects I've had the most improvement in. I also get some tinnitus too which sucks. I'm really tired of waking up at least 4 times at night though -- very stressful for me. I had waves of head pressure too but have been ok for a while with that.
^I don't think tramadol is a good choice but maybe for some.
 
In time you'll be feeling better.. Try doing some healthy activities, exercise, go to the beach.. get some sun.. try and be active.. eat some nice healthy foods.. I know it can be awkward feeling like this but in due time you'll be better than ever..

I'm currently recovering from a massive opiate addiction. I know it's not quite the same as benzo wd but I know that feeling of feeling off and waiting to just be "normal" again..
 
I've been off diazepam for over six months now, and I'm still feeling protracted withdrawal effects. I could write a whole list of symptoms but I wouldn't bore you with it. The main thing that bothers me is that the crippling anxiety problems I had before ever starting benzodiazepines a decade ago are creeping back in. I'm now feeling somewhat like I did before I ever started taking them, which is a horrible situation to be in.

Alcohol does tend to cause a slight rebound effect, yes. I definitely get the twitchy muscle jerks, skin and folicle tightening, and other somatic effects after a couple of drinks has worn off. I can tolerate it every now and then though. I think I'll lose my mind if I can never have another sedative again in my life. I might seek out some Kava and experiment with it to see if it works without causing rebound.

Sometimes I wonder why I'm doing this to myself.
 
In my view - and certainly in my case - the real 'cognitive impairment' attended my use of benzos and disappeared when they were stopped.

You will certainly be more anxious and uncomfortable without benzos, at least for a while, but on the plus side your head will be working alot better, you'll make better and more accurate sense of things, you'll see the world as it really is, you'll understand people and emotions better (even if exagerratedly), your moods will get back to normal...benzos are highly toxic, unlike opiates, and in my case at least really did terrible things to my head and body.

Not to mention you will have a memory again!

S
 
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