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Protracted Benzo withdrawal
Taken of 8mg of Ativan daily in 3 weeks and suffering terribly nearly 4 years now! Unable to walk ,have insane muscle tightness,no memory,tinnius is unbearable,unable to picture things in my mind ! After 45 months it's worse than ever and 2 neurologists have tried only medications which all made me even worse!
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@lg1963 @aarniek
How are you doing? Any changes? I've been taking Klonopin for 12 years. I started taking it for anxiety, but discovered that a benefit for me and my wife is that I don't act out my dreams. As in running, riding a bike or kicking. That's why I still take it.
A few years ago I decided to taper off as many of my meds as I could. I got off a few things, but when I tried to taper off Klonopin, I couldn't sleep. I only backed down from my 1mg prescription to .75mg. I didn't try for very long because I need my sleep. I guess I didn't really taper off enough to experience other withdrawal. After reading this discussion from start to finish, I'm not sure I want to stop taking it anytime soon. I think that if I couldn't taper off without long term withdrawal, I would rethink my decision to stop taking it.
@aarniek Have you talked with a new doctor? If mobility is what's keeping you from getting to the doctor, I'm absolutely certain that there are organizations which would be honored to transport you and help you in any way they could. How about giving them a chance?
Jim
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3 ReactionsI was on 2mg of estazalom for 10 years. I went into tolerance withdrawal and decided to titrate off the benzo. My first attempt was to cold turkey. It was pure hell with constant panic attacks and almost total insomnia. I had never before had a panic attack, but I was on benzo’s to sleep. I reinstated, stabilized and then went on as low titration that took 18 months. My last tiny little bit of V was March of 2017. I have had a pretty rough time since then, particularly with insomnia. I also get panicky sometimes when I’m in unfamiliar places. According to Dr Ashton it can take 18 month to two years to normalize. After that it is considered protracted. I’m a tiny bit better than the last few months. My main symptom is insomnia.
Welcome to Connect Rosie. I realize it's been a tough road, but congratulations on getting this far. I'm glad to hear that things are slowly getting better. You might be interested in joining some of the discussions about insomnia in the Sleep Health group. For example:
Insomnia. Nothing seems to help. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/josephene-i-am-having-terrible-insomnia-as-well-nothing-seems-to-help/
- Sleep Hygiene https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sleep-hygine/
- Meditation prior to sleep https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/meditation-prior-to-sleep/
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1 ReactionThank you!
Klonopin is a tough one to get off. Many ppl do not know this but klonopin is actually more potent than xanax. I never could direct taper klonopin. It was pure agony. I am now slowly trying to get off valium (because of tolerance) using the Ashton protocol but it has been pure hell!
I crossed over from Estazolam to Valium June of 2015. My Estazolam wasn’t working anymore and I was in tolerance withdrawal. It was either stop the benzo or up the dose. It took me 18 months to get off the V and now, 10 months later I am still experiencing insomnia and some cognitive dysfunction.
I went to two neurologists and one was the one who gave me the lorazapam ,doubled from 4mg to 8 MG from one script to the next and after over 5 years told me not to come back as he could not help me ! The other one tried what he could including Botox and also gave up on me ! ( I would like to have tried flumanizil ,but they would not give it to me ,so I am suffering so badly ,it's beyond belief!)
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1 ReactionHi all,
A post made today has been removed. As per the Community Guidelines: "Profanity, vulgarity and abusive language are out-of-bounds. Personal attacks against members or health care providers are not acceptable. Such posts will be removed."
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2 Reactions@lg1963
I was on Klonapin years ago for seizures and I like to never got off it. I detest Benzodiazepines and refuse to take them. Give me a Barbiturate any day.
If you do go off Klonopin go off SLOWLY. I cut my Klonopin so many times I was taking fragments.
Best of luck to you.
Jake
@colleenyoung
Hi Colleen,
Jeez, and it wasn’t even me, I am amazed. I am trying to obey the rules although I still may slip occasionally.
I’ve been in the hospital for the last 3 weeks and I don’t have the kindest things to say about my captors which is why I haven’t posted about my ordeal.
Take care,
Jake