Prolonged benzo withdrawal syndrome

[tudymagrudy]

I am a new member and need a lot of help. I am suffering from "Prolonged Benzo Withdrawal Syndrome.

A psychiatrist had me on Klonopin for 4 years never telling me of the horrible withdrawal that would happen if I ever decided to stop taking them. The reason I stopped taking them is because of the cost. (I have no Insurance). I went into horrible withdrawals so I got my husband to place me in to a five month rehab (at considerable cost). The rehab believed in "Cold Turkey" after about a week of phenobarbital tapering. Somehow I made it but on returning home I found withdrawal symptoms back full force and this is after 5 months of not taking anything. I have been everywhere, including the hospital who totally ignores the Benzo withdrawal syndrome theory and put me on the antipsychotic seroquel, which my husband has studied and found to be counterproductive for Benzo Withdrawal.

Here is my problem, I can't do the tapering method because I am already off the drugs. But I have heard that such medications like: Trazodone, Gabatril, Neurontin or even Lyrica might help me with the prolong withdrawal symptoms. I have lost hope as I read that this could go one for another year. I can't take this pain for another year.

Any help or suggestions would be grateful.

Tudymagrudy, hopeless in Florida

 

[spork]

Heya Tudymagrudy. I'm gonna move your thread over to Other Drugs where it should be able to get more views and better insight. Feel free to come back to New Member Introductions and make an intro thread. I also changed the title of the thread to be more specific to the subject. I wish you all the best

 

[tudymagrudy]

Thanks, just wondering is this the right forum for the answers that I am looking for.

 

[podsnomo]

Tudy, don't be hopeless.

There is always hope.
I have a strong suspicion that prolonged benzo WDS may not be the culprit. I've never heard of this much of a problem after 4 years of a serious habit, not to mention an MD-prescribed regimen. Were you on crazy high doses?

I'm also confused how you could not afford klonopin but get to a 5 month rehab? I take 1.5mg klonapin/day, and it's pretty cheap, way cheaper than rehab.

Without question, you should have tapered the benzo. I think the CT rehabs are doing it cut costs and using poor reasoning to back up immoral care.
But, that's done.

With this much problems, I'd wonder why you wouldn't go back on the klonopin. It's got to be cheaper, figuratively and financially than the hell you're going through.
What was your dosage? Did your doc let you go up and up, or did you keep it low?

But even without considering going back to klonopin, just, main thing here, DO NOT give up. Keep seeking care in different places from different docs. You could have something that is going undiagnosed.

What are your symptoms, all of them? When there's something like a kloponin past, docs don't usually look further. Maybe try going to a new doctor and when they ask about your past, don't tell them shit. Then maybe they'll look into what else it could be. Don't wanna scare you or turn you into a hypochondriac, but Lyme disease, mono, and other diseases that are common, difficult to diagnose, often misdiagnosed, and that can last for a long long time are all possibilities.

My biggest advice is to keep seeking care until you get the care you need. Read, study, and research too. And keep all your options open. If your dosage of klonopin was low and manageable, then going back to 3 .5mg doses a day wouldn't be a bad deal, not if it bought you your sanity back. My dosage and tolerance to benzos are not going up, and so long as they work, if I have to be on them all my life, then so be it. For some people, they work, and that's just the way it is.

Let me know if I can be of more help, and please fill in more details regarding your past dosages, your age, your symptoms, any other drugs you have taken or are taking, any conditions you have been diagnosed with in the past, and anything else that might be a factor, even if it seems irrelevant. (Any travel? Do you hike? Any tick bites? etc.)

Hope this helps.
Just hang in there for now.
It will get better, somehow, some way.
IT WILL GET BETTER!!!!

Peace and love,
podsnomo

 

[RobotRipping]

protracted benzo withdrawal can last up to a year or more. For me, things improved significantly around the 6 month mark, just hold out it will get better. In the mean time look into valerian root as it acts on the same receptors as benzodiazepines do but in a way that does not cause dependency or addiction. I'd also advocate doing some exercise, it really does make a difference in treating many of the symptoms. You've made it 5 months, it sucks but it will gradually improve, you are almost there.

 

[BobJillespie]

Benzo withdrawal sucks. If you're not at risk of seizures/dying, just wait it out. Exercise, sleep well, meditate, eat well, fuck lots. I went cold turkey from 300m/400mg a week of Diazepam for 10 months. I didn't die. But fuck me, the ANXIETY! Won't touch Benzos now. In my opinion they're some of the worst drugs to abuse.

 

[Workin2005]

I feel for you. Benzo withdrawal is terrible. I recently quit taking Xanax after a few months of abusing it. I wasn't on for years like you, but still had some withdrawal symptoms. I went on Gabapentin and it helped tremendously...I mean it alleviated 90% of my withdrawal symptoms.

Everyone is different but I would think gabapentin, or another similar drug, would give you at least some relief and maybe a grwat deal of relief.

I wish you all the best...you will get through this.

 

[burn out]

Hi tudy. I am very experienced with benzodiazepines and I will attempt to help you. First of all, it is generally recommended NOT to take other drugs during the benzo withdrawal process, as they can aggravate symptoms and/or prolong the healing process. This isn't true in all cases, and it is definitely possible to recover even if you add in other drugs but I would just recommend you try to get through this naturally and let your body heal. Eat a good healthy diet and try to get some (but not a whole lot) of exercise. Rest is very important, sleep as much as you can and try to avoid stress and over exertion.

The bad news is that what you read is correct. It can take another year or potentially even longer, for you to heal.



The good news is that you WILL recover. And you will be so happy to get your life back again and you will come out a stronger person having gone through this experience. Don't even think about giving up or going back on benzos, you will feel so good once this ends and you will be proud of yourself for having made it through one of the most difficult challenges a person can face. Seriously, I have seen benzo withdrawal compared to being in a concentration camp. I didn't believe it, I thought it was an exaggeration and I never would have believed it had I not experienced it myself.

There is NO reason for you to hopeless. That is silly. Look on the bright side, you don't have cancer or MS or ALS or some disease that is going to be permanent. You are going to get better, you just have to be patient and focus on getting through one day at a time. Regarding the time frame, yes, it's possible it could take you another year or longer to get better, but it is also very possible that you will get better sooner than that. So don't think "I can't take another year", you may not have to. A lot of people notice improvements after six months.

I also must tell you to disreguard pretty much everything podsnomo said. I'm sure he means well, but is uninformed.

I have a strong suspicion that prolonged benzo WDS may not be the culprit. I've never heard of this much of a problem after 4 years of a serious habit, not to mention an MD-prescribed regimen. Were you on crazy high doses?

Actually this is very common. DO you not know anything about benzos? Just google benzo withdrawal. Also see benzo.org.uk and benzobuddies.org. I am 99.999 percent sure what the OP is experiencing is benzo withdrawal. OF course its always possible she has other health problems bu tthere is absolutely no reason to think so based on what she said.

With this much problems, I'd wonder why you wouldn't go back on the klonopin. It's got to be cheaper, figuratively and financially than the hell you're going through.
What was your dosage? Did your doc let you go up and up, or did you keep it low?

More bad advice. Why would she want to go back on one of the most harmful drugs on the planet? The drug which caused her current misery. Not only does reinstating as its called, not always work but then she'll have to go through this all over again and potentially much worse next time she wants to get off. If you think it is wise to just take benzos your entire life, well I'm afraid I must disagree. They can cause so many problems over the years. New side effects develop that were not present in the beginning. They made my life a living hell.

Keep seeking care in different places from different docs. You could have something that is going undiagnosed.

This is also questionable advice. First of all, few doctors understand benzo withdrawal. Secondly, there is not much they can do. They will throw more drugs at her, which could potentially complicate the withdrawal or have other side effects. They will not want to treat her if she refuses to take the drugs they prescribe.

The cure for benzo WD is time. There is some evidence that flumazenil can help also, but you need to go to a special doctor for that. I tried it and it did nothing for me, but some report some success with it.

Anyway tudymagrudy, you might want to visit the forum I told you about (benzobuddies.org) if you wish to speak witbh others going through the same thing. The negative side to the forum is that it can be scary to read of people who have been off benzos a longer time than you and were on a lower dosage and still havent recovered. I would recommend reading the success stories section. Benzoliberty.com is another site with some helpful success stories.

I am also willing to answer any questions you may have. I had a major xanax addiction (4-6 mg a day for 1.5 years) and come off it was a living hell. It was about two years before I had any significant improvement. What dose of k-pin were you on and what are your most troubling symptoms?

 

[burn out]

I feel for you. Benzo withdrawal is terrible. I recently quit taking Xanax after a few months of abusing it. I wasn't on for years like you, but still had some withdrawal symptoms. I went on Gabapentin and it helped tremendously...I mean it alleviated 90% of my withdrawal symptoms.

Everyone is different but I would think gabapentin, or another similar drug, would give you at least some relief and maybe a grwat deal of relief.

I wish you all the best...you will get through this.

Oh I should probably mention that one drug which did help me and doesnt work on GABA is kratom. Unfortunately it did eventually lead to me becoming addicted to opiates.

 

[laschenova]

Hi Tudy,

If you have insurance, I highly recommend seeing a addiction specialist (psychiatrist who specializes in addiction). He or she will have the best understanding of this syndrome, and be able to determine if you are suffering from it or if you have PAWS (post acute withdrawal syndrome) combined with anxiety and maybe depression.

I am inclined to think that you are having panic attacks and PAWS. Have you been going to support groups like AA or NA? How about therapy? Are you on any anti depression medication like paxil or effexor?

Since Kratom helped you I think effexor would be a good drug for you. Perhaps cymbalta, but that is a very expensive drug, and has no generic.

 

[burn out]

Hi Tudy,

If you have insurance, I highly recommend seeing a addiction specialist (psychiatrist who specializes in addiction). He or she will have the best understanding of this syndrome, and be able to determine if you are suffering from it or if you have PAWS (post acute withdrawal syndrome) combined with anxiety and maybe depression.

I am inclined to think that you are having panic attacks and PAWS. Have you been going to support groups like AA or NA? How about therapy? Are you on any anti depression medication like paxil or effexor?

Since Kratom helped you I think effexor would be a good drug for you. Perhaps cymbalta, but that is a very expensive drug, and has no generic.

I dont know for sure but from her post she gives no indication she was abusing the drug and she is not having problems with relapsing or anything, so I dont see much point in her going to NA. They are going to try to make her work the 12 steps which are geared toward people who can't stop using a drug, not those suffering from long term damage from psychiatric medication.

 

[laschenova]

I dont know for sure but from her post she gives no indication she was abusing the drug and she is not having problems with relapsing or anything, so I dont see much point in her going to NA. They are going to try to make her work the 12 steps which are geared toward people who can't stop using a drug, not those suffering from long term damage from psychiatric medication.

I have to disagree. I think NA is great for mental health. It isn't about quitting, it is about coping.

Of course, it is entirely up to OP to decide if she needs to go to a program like NA, but it is about emotional health and self respect. Any support group or therapist will be helpful, even if she isn't an addict. It can't hurt, and it is free...You can't say the same for starting back on benzos.

The reason I mentioned NA is that she mentioned rehab. I assume that she was told to go to meetings. In my opinion I really don't think people go to rehab for fun, they go for help. If she could have detoxed on her own she would have done so at home (I am speculating).

 

[burn out]

Have you been through protracted benzo withdrawal personally? It can be very difficult to detox at home. Brenzo addiction is NOT like other addiction to other drugs. With most addictions, the problem centers around craving for more of the drug. With benzodizepines the problem centers around the changes in the GABA receptor. Doing the 12 steps of NA is not going to fix that. I am not saying it will hurt to go, it's entirely up to her. If she wants to go, I have nothing against it. I am just warning her that NA is not a program that is geared toward benzo recovery.

 

[laschenova]

Have you been through protracted benzo withdrawal personally? It can be very difficult to detox at home. Brenzo addiction is NOT like other addiction to other drugs. With most addictions, the problem centers around craving for more of the drug. With benzodizepines the problem centers around the changes in the GABA receptor. Doing the 12 steps of NA is not going to fix that. I am not saying it will hurt to go, it's entirely up to her. If she wants to go, I have nothing against it. I am just warning her that NA is not a program that is geared toward benzo recovery.

Yes, I have in fact. I went to rehab a few times and was a very active member of AA. I was addicted to alcohol and benzos. I went to NA, but preferred the people and the style of AA better. I was sober for 5 years and sponsored many people. I no longer attend meetings but I do not drink or take any drugs other than my pain meds. I am on the fence as to whether or not I am sober. I also am hesitant to go to meetings in the town I just moved to because I am a medical professional and this is a pretty small town. But I digress.

It is not about what drug you are on or why you are addicted. You can detox at home, but you would need Tranxene or Librium. If you focus on how special and unique your situation is then you will never find a group where you feel comfortable in, 12 step or otherwise.

I also happen to be a Physician Assistant and I am quite aware of the dangers of seizures from withdrawals from alcohol or benzodiazepines. I have prescribed tapers of Tranxene for alcoholics and addicts who wanted to avoid detox centers.

You are entitled to your opinion, but I am also entitled to mine...as well as my experience.

NA or AA is geared toward recovery, period. The type of drug is quite inconsequential. Unless you are too closed minded (general you) to find the similarities then a cocaine addict can find recovery in AA if he or she desired. I would try to refrain from making sweeping statements about programs you are not familiar with. Saying it is not geared toward benzo recovery is quite misleading. It is geared toward recovery. If you have medical issues, see a doctor. 12 step ptograms are not medical guides, but they can help you discern the difference between a medical condition and simply experiencing emotions that addicts find the need to run from. Most of teh time you ahve a combination of mental and physical issues. However, what the OP is describing really sounds to me how everyone feels at 4-5 months sober, especially if they are not working a program or in therapy.

The fact is, recovery is tough, the first year blows. Emotionally and physically. I suggested seeing a doctor and going to meetings. I have no doubt that OP is experiencing issues caused by long term use, but a multi faceted approach is far more effective than trying to solve a pill problem with more pills, kwim?

 

[martin33]

im glad i dont take benzos the withdrawls sound horrible. i mean 5 months thats crazy. Methadone is the hardest thing ive had to withdrawl from. but even that HELL doesnt seem to be as bad as benzos, but i dunno, methadone was horrible.

 

[HCandKROD]

I was prescribed Xanax for 4 years the last 2 years on 6mgs a day. I started to get panic attacks while taking Xanax and my doctor wanted to take me up to 10mgs a day. I said no and he dropped me. I never abused the Xanax so I thought it would be easy to get off. I thought wrong!! I eventually went to outpatient detox and was stepped down using Valium. It took 6 months to step all way down and it has been 6 months since I have taken any benzos. I still feel like I'm going crazy!! My thoughts are disorganized and centered on death and doom.The ringing in my ears is maddening.I don't have any words of wisdom but I've read enough to know it won't last forever.It sometimes helps to know someone else is going through the same thing. I'll never take another benzo as long as I live.

 

[burn out]

Yes, I have in fact. I went to rehab a few times and was a very active member of AA. I was addicted to alcohol and benzos. I went to NA, but preferred the people and the style of AA better. I was sober for 5 years and sponsored many people. I no longer attend meetings but I do not drink or take any drugs other than my pain meds. I am on the fence as to whether or not I am sober. I also am hesitant to go to meetings in the town I just moved to because I am a medical professional and this is a pretty small town. But I digress.

It is not about what drug you are on or why you are addicted. You can detox at home, but you would need Tranxene or Librium. If you focus on how special and unique your situation is then you will never find a group where you feel comfortable in, 12 step or otherwise.

I also happen to be a Physician Assistant and I am quite aware of the dangers of seizures from withdrawals from alcohol or benzodiazepines. I have prescribed tapers of Tranxene for alcoholics and addicts who wanted to avoid detox centers.

You are entitled to your opinion, but I am also entitled to mine...as well as my experience.

NA or AA is geared toward recovery, period. The type of drug is quite inconsequential. Unless you are too closed minded (general you) to find the similarities then a cocaine addict can find recovery in AA if he or she desired. I would try to refrain from making sweeping statements about programs you are not familiar with. Saying it is not geared toward benzo recovery is quite misleading. It is geared toward recovery. If you have medical issues, see a doctor. 12 step ptograms are not medical guides, but they can help you discern the difference between a medical condition and simply experiencing emotions that addicts find the need to run from. Most of teh time you ahve a combination of mental and physical issues. However, what the OP is describing really sounds to me how everyone feels at 4-5 months sober, especially if they are not working a program or in therapy.

The fact is, recovery is tough, the first year blows. Emotionally and physically. I suggested seeing a doctor and going to meetings. I have no doubt that OP is experiencing issues caused by long term use, but a multi faceted approach is far more effective than trying to solve a pill problem with more pills, kwim?

Uh, I find your post pretty offensive. Where did I suggest she solve the problem with more pills? I said the opposite.

It is not about what drug you are on or why you are addicted. You can detox at home, but you would need Tranxene or Librium. If you focus on how special and unique your situation is then you will never find a group where you feel comfortable in, 12 step or otherwise.

There are plenty groups geared specifically toward benzo withdrawal. Most are online but they can still be quite helpful.

I dont get your point, I said if she wants to go to NA she is welcome to. But it's a fact that they are not geared toward benzo recovery. The type of drug is NOT inconsequential when it is benzos, because benzos are very different from all the other drugs of abuse. If she is suffering cravings for the drug, then by all means, AA NA may help, but if her problem is simply the withdrawal symptoms than trying to work the 12 steps and go to meetings could be counter productive. When I was benzo sick, I wasnt even well enough to attend meetings. I also recovered without evger doing so.

aying it is not geared toward benzo recovery is quite misleading. It is geared toward recovery.

It is geared toward recovery from ADDICTION, not recovery from brain damage, which is what benzos cause. Some people get addicted to benzos, but other people were simply prescribed them by their doctor and took as prescribed becAuse that is what their doctor told them to do. Having these people admit they are powerful over benzos is ludicrous! they were just following their doctors orders and became physically depebndent.

 

[hotelyorba]

As another benzo case, I have to step in and say listen to everything burn out is saying. He is correct on almost everything.

Burn out, you said you had no success with flumazenil? Could you describe your treatment with it?
From my research, it seems like one many need to do a series of flumazenil treatments before something good can come of it.

 

[bayhead415]

I do not know if people have mentioned this, but there is an herb known as skullcap that has a variation of the species that has alkaloids that work in the benzo area... I am not sure if they cause an addiction like pharmaceutical benzos, but there is definitely a huge possibility. There is also a theory that cannabis works to promote the production of endogenous benzos although I am not positive as the article I read did not describe the study too much.

These may not be the best answers or a long term solution, but I bring it up for a possible short term solution when the W/D get really rough and unbearable.

 

[Choosing_Positive]

I do not know if people have mentioned this, but there is an herb known as skullcap that has a variation of the species that has alkaloids that work in the benzo area... I am not sure if they cause an addiction like pharmaceutical benzos, but there is definitely a huge possibility. There is also a theory that cannabis works to promote the production of endogenous benzos although I am not positive as the article I read did not describe the study too much.

These may not be the best answers or a long term solution, but I bring it up for a possible short term solution when the W/D get really rough and unbearable.

What species of "skullcap" are you referring to, specifically? As from what I found, there are many species of plans classified as "skullcaps"...

Valerian root is also a natural benzo type herb that can really help in the short term WD phase.