Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

[Lindsay]

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Medications

Drugs (by generic name) associated with Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

The following drugs and medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal. This service should be used as a supplement to, and NOT a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

http://www.drugs.com...al-generic.html

 

[mmdrodrigues]

I will hopefully have to start benzo withdrawal one day, Been on them for 6 months now, stopped the anti depressants as they did nothing...... kind of figuring what to do next...

[BetsyLu]

I was completely terrified about going off of xanax, but I waited until I felt psychologically ready (Ie: not much anxiety), and that has helped the withdrawal process tremendously.

I've also done a few posts about neurofeedback and how much it's helped me. It's not for everyone and is very expensive, but it really has done wonders for me. I'd say it's worth looking into for anyone who can afford it... it's helped me become calmer overall, helped me with withdrawals, helped my depression and PMDD. I was skeptical of it at first but it's very clear to me now how much it has helped so I want to just let people know about it in case they want to look into it.

[Shilias]

For 2 years I was on Alprazolam every day to combat my anxiety. My psychiatrist told me they were not harmful, nor would I get addicted to them. They served me well, as I was able to live again and face life. I was on them along with Mirtazapin before bedtime and Effexor in the morning. I could cope. After a year, I stopped taking Mirtazapin. The withdrawal symptoms were tough but NOTHONG next to what I have been through lately.

After 1 year on Alprazolam, I wanted to stop taking them, because 1) I starting hearing from others that they are very addictive and poisonous, and that you really are not supposed to be on them every day, and certainly not for two years!! And 2) I was on a much higher dosis than I started out with. I was taking up to 5 to 6 mg every day. I started out only taking 0,5 mg every day. So, I asked my psychiatrist for a withdrawal plan, but she said that it was not harmful for me to take them, and that in her opinion, I should just continue taking them, because she meant that I really still needed them.

Then in March of this year, I found the strength to quit them on my own. After quitting them I found out that I had not withdrawn as slowly as I was supposed to. Mildly put: I have been through hell and back. Especially the first 3 and a half months after I quit them. I had every withdrawal symptom you can imagine, including severe suicidal thoughts. I cried uncontrollably several times a day. In the middle of June, I was so distraught and depressed, because the suicidal thoughts were haunting me every day, and I had gotten to a point, where I could no longer convince myself that it was the abrupt withdrawal of Alprazolam that was messing with my brain.

In addition, I had no appetite whatsoever. I was loosing weight and physical strength. I felt I was loosing it all together and really I didn't want to live anymore. In the end, my sister came by and took me to a psychiatric ward. They started me up on Seroquel. I was there for approx a week. I now take 100 mg Seroquel before bedtime and 150 mg Effexor in the morning. Since I started Seroquel my suicidal thoughts have almost completely vanished. Left is my crying several times a day, my feeling of apathy, hopelessness and just utter depression. I feel there is not much to live for, and that is despite my beloved son who will be 11 next week. Although, I know it is my depression and anxiety talking, I just can't seem to feel happy or motivated about anything, and it is eating me up from the inside. Plus I literally hardly have no energy, because I have no appetite, so I don’t get enough nourishment. Today, I went to the pharmacy and bought a good deal of energy drinks, the ones you drink, if your appetite is very small. Then at least I will hopefully get some energy back, and I will know that I am getting the nutrients and vitamins that my body needs. Fingers crossed!

Regarding my current state of depression and anxiety: I have to wait until August 17th for a professional opinion on my medicine, which I feel is no longer working the way it is supposed to. After quitting Alprazolam on my own, I lost all faith in my psychiatrist. I never want to see her again. At the hospital the doctors told me that she had been very irresponsible in prescribing me Alprazolam for so long and in such high dosages. Plus the fact that she had told me that I would not get addicted to them was not true.

During my horrible aftermath, I have now become an expert on benzodiazepines, and I have learnt that a drug such as Alprazolam is 40 times as addictive as alcohol. I will never take any form of benzodiazepine ever again.

August 20th, it will be exactly 5 months since I took my last Alprazolam, and I am still suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Not at all as severe as they have been, but they are there and I think they are also part of the problem with my antidepressants not working. I don't know. It's a notion I have. I hope though It is mainly due to a "medication poop out", which I've learned from you guys here on DF. Thank you.

Now, back to the reason why I have to wait 17 days before I can get a professional opinion on my current state and medicine. I have been waiting in line to see a new psychiatrist, as there is no way, I would ever go back to my old psychiatrist. So, until August 17th, I will have to hang in there, which I have already been doing for quite a while now. For every day that goes by, I feel more and more distraught. But I just have to try to stay strong.

Seeing my doctor about this matter is not an option. I tried that already. She said she would not change or do anything - that she would leave it up to my new psychiatrist. She offered me some benzodiazepine to get by on, until I see my new psychiatrist, but I have turned that offer down. I refuse to take Alprazolam ever again. There must be another way out of my misery.

It sooths me to be able to tell my story here. Thank you. And God bless all of you.

Kind regards from Denmark

[Hope2016]

I'm so sorry that you are going thru all this and I can relate very much. I quit lexapro cold turkey 8 weeks ago and it's been the hardest 2 month of my life. My doctor also said it was no problem to just cut the 10mg pills in half a few days then just stop.

I've been in the deepest depression of my life since. I also take Xanax 1mg every night before bed and dread getting off that next. I will certainly not go cold turkey like I did with lexapro.

I'm going to see a new doctor also, to try to get myself out of this deep dark place. I have 2 babies and a 10 year old to care for but I'm so afraid to start the wrong pill.

You're not alone ?

[NC86]

Benzo withdrawal can go on for years since your last dose.  You must wean off them correctly or you will likely continue suffering.   Your psychiatrist absolutely lied to you.  I dont trust any word that comes out of any doctors mouth.  They simply are accountable to no one so that alone makes them untrustworthy not to mention the countless times they have collectively been dishonest to me.  I educate myself on every medication and treatment and have the final say in all matters related to my healhcare.

 

Look up the Ashton manual for proper benzo withdrawal tapers.  It may very well mean that you must go back on them and wean off them properly or continue to suffer severe and prolonged benzo withdrawal.

[matchaallover]

Alttough  it is true that a lot of doctors are bad, and benzo withdrawal should be treated seriously and should only happen under any form of professional medicinal assistance. This is at least my experience with it. 

[LongBlackDream]

My last withdrawal involved slow tapering combined with gabapentin supplementation. It was by no means easy, but there may have been some slight alleviation. I did not have seizures or an ER visit, thankfully. Effects that persisted long after withdrawal were palpitations and depersonalization.

[Aisling]

Hi all, I’m new here. I know this topic hasn’t had activity in awhile...but thought I might make a go of it. I’ve been on and off Klonopin for 18 years I’ve been back on full time for 7 years. I go periods where I (and these are really heavy quotations) “don’t need them.”  So I withdrawal from society, don’t sleep for days, and get sick...not from the actual drug withdrawals ( trust me I’ve been through it 10 years ago). But my mind, won’t shut up. Therapy did t help hasn’t helped since I was a kid...so what do I do? Or anyone suffering? I take Celexa. It’s helps. I take topomax (200 in the morning and 200 at night) and a mood stabilizers but there’s something’s that just won’t go away in the dark. So ok...maybe I shared too much. 😖 but 20/20. If you read it, thank you for taking the time to listen to me. I appreciate it. And if you have an answer other than more therapy a warm bath, milk, and spray lavadar on your pillows I will try it...anything! Thank you kind souls!

[tage]

On 4/28/2018 at 9:30 AM, LongBlackDream said:

My last withdrawal involved slow tapering combined with gabapentin supplementation. It was by no means easy, but there may have been some slight alleviation. I did not have seizures or an ER visit, thankfully. Effects that persisted long after withdrawal were palpitations and depersonalization.

Wow, that sucks. Are you doing ok now?

[tage]

On 3/28/2019 at 8:51 PM, Aisling said:

Hi all, I’m new here. I know this topic hasn’t had activity in awhile...but thought I might make a go of it. I’ve been on and off Klonopin for 18 years I’ve been back on full time for 7 years. I go periods where I (and these are really heavy quotations) “don’t need them.”  So I withdrawal from society, don’t sleep for days, and get sick...not from the actual drug withdrawals ( trust me I’ve been through it 10 years ago). But my mind, won’t shut up. Therapy did t help hasn’t helped since I was a kid...so what do I do? Or anyone suffering? I take Celexa. It’s helps. I take topomax (200 in the morning and 200 at night) and a mood stabilizers but there’s something’s that just won’t go away in the dark. So ok...maybe I shared too much. 😖 but 20/20. If you read it, thank you for taking the time to listen to me. I appreciate it. And if you have an answer other than more therapy a warm bath, milk, and spray lavadar on your pillows I will try it...anything! Thank you kind souls!

Hi Aisling! I'm sorry you're going through this, and I guess the advice I would have would be: do you have any relaxing media that you enjoy? Music? Calming videos? Audio books? Playing these while trying to sleep could distract you from your thoughts so that you can sleep. It helps me, when I'm not suffering medication induced insomnia.

[Rob2020]

Is it possible to be dependent on two separate Benzos at the same time.  I got experimenting between Lorazepam and Alprazolam , really to see which suited me best.  I’ve taken Lorazepam for a year or two but Xanxax for a few weeks.  If you are addicted , are  you just addicted to benzos generically or is it specific ?