So I've used the search engine on this one and read quite a few things that were helpful.
I thought I would post though as I am after some advice - I've read this - http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm - She seems to be pretty in the know when it comes to Benzos.
I'll give a quick rundown of what's going with my situation.
Two or so years back I had a binge on Xanax that lasted for 6-9 months, it was daily usage and a fair amount (for me at least - 2mg+ a night). I ran out and felt the withdrawals big time - feelings of impending doom, nervous system shot, anxiety, unable to focus eyes properly, motor-function retarded, muscle weakness, insomnia, unable to concentrate or complete simple tasks without feeling out of my depth etc etc.
I just stopped abruptly with no tapering so the WD I was experiencing was to be expected but damn it hurt quite bad! :D
After a week I couldn't handle it anymore so I went to the doc and she gave me some Diazepam which I attempted to use to taper, and was successful to a point. Regardless I ended up going through a year+ of insomnia. The anxiety and permanently scattered feeling went away after a few weeks (longest weeks of my life) but the insomnia stayed to haunt me for a LONG time.
As a result of that I severely drained my adrenal glands and ever since then have been experiencing adrenal fatigue symptoms.
I should note I am quite a healthy individual besides this; exercise, don't drink, eat extremely well, meditate daily etc. But all that is negated when you abuse a substance and then have resulting insomnia.
Now because I'm a genius I decided to buy some Xanax and Clonazepam a few months back and with the hell I went through only a distant memory, I proceded to take the Xanax daily. It didn't start that way and definitely wasn't my intention; initially taking it on the weekend and then 4 nights a week, then 5, then two weeks without a break so I'd freak and have two nights off. Think to myself 'oh that wasn't so bad' so I would start taking it every night again.
-The end result is I've been taking 2mg a night (sometimes a little more) for about 6 weeks, possibly longer, it's amazing how quickly time passes before you wakeup to what you've been doing.
So because it hasn't been that long to cause alarm I just stopped abruptly.
-I started taking the Clonazepam for a week before I planned to stop altogether, figuring it was longer acting etc. The last dose was last Tuesday night when I had 1.5mg of Xanax and 1.5mg of Clonazepam.
-I felt fine on Wednesday, Thursday and then Friday was hell.. Coordination out the window, extreme anxiety, muscle cramps, driving a car became a stressful activity etc etc.
-On Saturday I felt still pretty much the same (like ass) but by Saturday night I felt a tiny bit clearer (after exercising especially, like the scattered fog had somewhat lifted).
-Today is Sunday and I felt OK for a little while, although still foggy and scattered but no where near back to normal. By the time the afternoon hit I was in full blown scatter mode again.
I'd had enough and reading about tapering on benzo.org.uk I took a bit less than 0.5mg of Clonazepam 30 minutes ago.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
My question is was that a mistake? Should I have just copped the pain and waited a week? The issue is that I have important work to get done this week so I really can't be out of it, and after reading Dr Ashton's work it seems like if one tapers they can avoid a lot of the WD symptoms.
Second to that question; does anyone have any advice considering the relatively short time I had been on daily Xanax on how I should taper?
I only have Xanax, Nitrazepam and Clonazepam. I figure Clonazepam is the best to taper with..?
I have melatonin for sleep (thank jeebus!), GABA and my usual daily vitamins. I think I will buy some L-Theanine as have heard that helps (may have to wait a week or so for delivery though).
Thanks for any advice you can give me and excuse the essay!
Peace,
Nic
I thought I would post though as I am after some advice - I've read this - http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm - She seems to be pretty in the know when it comes to Benzos.
I'll give a quick rundown of what's going with my situation.
Two or so years back I had a binge on Xanax that lasted for 6-9 months, it was daily usage and a fair amount (for me at least - 2mg+ a night). I ran out and felt the withdrawals big time - feelings of impending doom, nervous system shot, anxiety, unable to focus eyes properly, motor-function retarded, muscle weakness, insomnia, unable to concentrate or complete simple tasks without feeling out of my depth etc etc.
I just stopped abruptly with no tapering so the WD I was experiencing was to be expected but damn it hurt quite bad! :D
After a week I couldn't handle it anymore so I went to the doc and she gave me some Diazepam which I attempted to use to taper, and was successful to a point. Regardless I ended up going through a year+ of insomnia. The anxiety and permanently scattered feeling went away after a few weeks (longest weeks of my life) but the insomnia stayed to haunt me for a LONG time.
As a result of that I severely drained my adrenal glands and ever since then have been experiencing adrenal fatigue symptoms.
I should note I am quite a healthy individual besides this; exercise, don't drink, eat extremely well, meditate daily etc. But all that is negated when you abuse a substance and then have resulting insomnia.
Now because I'm a genius I decided to buy some Xanax and Clonazepam a few months back and with the hell I went through only a distant memory, I proceded to take the Xanax daily. It didn't start that way and definitely wasn't my intention; initially taking it on the weekend and then 4 nights a week, then 5, then two weeks without a break so I'd freak and have two nights off. Think to myself 'oh that wasn't so bad' so I would start taking it every night again.
-The end result is I've been taking 2mg a night (sometimes a little more) for about 6 weeks, possibly longer, it's amazing how quickly time passes before you wakeup to what you've been doing.
So because it hasn't been that long to cause alarm I just stopped abruptly.
-I started taking the Clonazepam for a week before I planned to stop altogether, figuring it was longer acting etc. The last dose was last Tuesday night when I had 1.5mg of Xanax and 1.5mg of Clonazepam.
-I felt fine on Wednesday, Thursday and then Friday was hell.. Coordination out the window, extreme anxiety, muscle cramps, driving a car became a stressful activity etc etc.
-On Saturday I felt still pretty much the same (like ass) but by Saturday night I felt a tiny bit clearer (after exercising especially, like the scattered fog had somewhat lifted).
-Today is Sunday and I felt OK for a little while, although still foggy and scattered but no where near back to normal. By the time the afternoon hit I was in full blown scatter mode again.
I'd had enough and reading about tapering on benzo.org.uk I took a bit less than 0.5mg of Clonazepam 30 minutes ago.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
My question is was that a mistake? Should I have just copped the pain and waited a week? The issue is that I have important work to get done this week so I really can't be out of it, and after reading Dr Ashton's work it seems like if one tapers they can avoid a lot of the WD symptoms.
Second to that question; does anyone have any advice considering the relatively short time I had been on daily Xanax on how I should taper?
I only have Xanax, Nitrazepam and Clonazepam. I figure Clonazepam is the best to taper with..?
I have melatonin for sleep (thank jeebus!), GABA and my usual daily vitamins. I think I will buy some L-Theanine as have heard that helps (may have to wait a week or so for delivery though).
Thanks for any advice you can give me and excuse the essay!
Peace,
Nic
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