Ok, my friend has been taking either xanax for the most part, or a little klonopin or valium to sleep for the last 2 months, his tolerance has gone way high and needs around 6-8mg of xanax to get to sleep now, he is fixing to quit taking them to sleep, he only takes them at night when he goes to bed and not during the day, other than not being able to sleep good for the first night or so should he have any withdrawal symptoms? thanks, also what would help with the withdrawal or the sleeplessness the best?
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Question about benzos and withdrawals?
- Thread starter fidel
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fairnymph
Ex-Bluelighter
Benzo dependence is one of the most severe drug dependences, and your friend will need to taper SLOWLY off the xanax, or he will be in hell. For the first week he should reduce his dose by .5 mg as reguarly as he can stand, and for the next weeks he should reduce his dose by .25 mg until he gets completely off it.
Well he only uses them to sleep, not during the day at all, maybe once or twice to take a nap but other than that, only at night, how long does xanax stay in your system, thing is unless i take my usual dose of benzos i will be up all night with no sleep.
fairnymph
Ex-Bluelighter
Even if you are only using it to sleep, if you are using it regularly you will develop dependency issues. It is NOT just about how long the xanax stays in your body...if you have been using it for a period of time your brain has undergone adaptive changes and it will take time (and gradual tapering off the benzo) for the brain to return to its normal state.
Anyways, this is why benzos make poor long-term medications...less addictive/dependence-inducing sleep aids are better.
Anyways, this is why benzos make poor long-term medications...less addictive/dependence-inducing sleep aids are better.
A Benzo habit is the worse. There super tuff to quit. If he goes cold turkey he's going to have trouble sleeping for at least a week and be very irritable. Most likey it will be days before he can even get some sleep. I would take FairNymph's advice and have him lower his dose gradually. This way he can get some sleep and not have a strong craving. It's gonna take a while though to kick it. Good luck...
Just an update, I have had no side effects, last time I used any benzos was sunday, I used a combo of valium and klonopin sunday night to sleep and then quit cold turkey, and have had no withdrawals at all, I started taking Celexa at 20mgs/day and using OTC sleep aids and a little bit of alcohol to sleep and have slept just fine, as a matter of fact I just took a nap. Am I ok now, I plan on using the celexa for a few more days, and then eventually going to sleep naturally without any help.
It hasnt even been 48 hours yet. Hopefully tomorrow you'll be able to give a similar update. Dont count on it though. With the longer acting benzos like kpins and valium accute withdrawl symptoms usualy arent noticed till the 3rd or 4th day after discontinued use.
What is Celexa doing for you as far as benzo wd goes? I would guess nothing but maybe you know something I dont.
OTC products that help me thru benzo withdrawl are diphenhydramine and DXM...lotsa both.
[ 01 August 2002: Message edited by: Snitch ]
What is Celexa doing for you as far as benzo wd goes? I would guess nothing but maybe you know something I dont.
OTC products that help me thru benzo withdrawl are diphenhydramine and DXM...lotsa both.
[ 01 August 2002: Message edited by: Snitch ]
I took the last dose Sunday night, now it is Wednesday night, I realize it is a short period but so far so good. I just started taking the Celexa as I read in another post that it helped another person kick a benzo habit. I am going to stop taking the Celexa tommorrow probably.
kristofire
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2002
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i may of over looked it but how long have you been on benzos? if it hasnt been very long and you only take them at night you'll be fine. alot of it is in your head cause your so use to taking them everynight to sleep. good luck
kristofire
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2002
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ok i re read he post. 2 months? cmon your friend will be fine.
"alot of it is in your head cause your so use to taking them everynight to sleep"
No. Since when does the reason that you take a benzo determine whether or not you become physically dependent? A nightly dose of a benzo will no doubt result in physical and psychological addiction.
However, I do agree with you in that he shouldnt have too many problems after just using for a couple of months. I, on the other hand, seem to be super prone to benzo withdrawl, and will go thru severe symptoms after just a couple of weeks of use. That most likely has something to do with my years and years of abuse of these drugs.
I hope fidel gives an update to this thread. Interested as to how last night went.
No. Since when does the reason that you take a benzo determine whether or not you become physically dependent? A nightly dose of a benzo will no doubt result in physical and psychological addiction.
However, I do agree with you in that he shouldnt have too many problems after just using for a couple of months. I, on the other hand, seem to be super prone to benzo withdrawl, and will go thru severe symptoms after just a couple of weeks of use. That most likely has something to do with my years and years of abuse of these drugs.
I hope fidel gives an update to this thread. Interested as to how last night went.
Last night I slept just fine, only thing I have been using to sleep is a few benadryl tablets, and a vodka and sprite drink, I am staying asleep for 10 hours at the time also, so the quality of the sleep is just fine it seems. The only thing is that I am now used to going to sleep at 4AM and sleeping til 2PM, so I may take some klonopin tonight to make sure I get to bed early because I have to be awake early tommorrow. But my last dose of benzos was Sunday night and it is Thursday evening now and no withdrawals, I have learned my lesson from reading this forum just how addiciting and how tough it is to get off benzos though.