Protracted Benzo withdrawal

AarnThis is WAY TO FAST in coming off benzos. Not sure how long you have been on the benzos, but I have been on either xanax or klonopin (3-5mg. per day) for over 25 years. I have tried 3 times to get off of them in the past 10-years and psychiatrist just don't seem to "get it" when it comes to HOW TO SAFELY TAPER!
I got fed up with the "mental health industry" as a whole when I went in-patient for the 3rd time in October 2015 to taper off 4mg. of Klonopin & they took me off in less than 14-days. The withdrawal was horrific. I was delusional & felt like I was going crazy.
End result: Just like the 1st 2 times I tried to taper & it was unsuccessful because it was too fast, my psychiatrist but me right back on them. I am now on 1mg. of klonopin 3 x day (am, noon, pm). I am going to my PCP & they are going to start a very slow taper by adding Valium. You could do the same thing with the Ativan.
Check out "The Ashton Report" taper schedules. Just google "The Ashton Taper" & it will come up. It is from the UK, but I swear the UK seems to be so educated & knowledgeable about benzos. I have done extensive research on this tapering schedule & it won't hurt to check it out. There are different tapering schedules for all of the different benzos.
There is a 6mg. Ativan taper schedule in the Ashton Report Taper Schedule. I strongly suggest you talk to your doctor about this. I know you said you are on 8mg. Ativan, but they can always "tweak" it to add that extra 2mg.
Wish you the best of luck! I sure hope it works for me!

I have been on klonopin for approx 16 years for a neurological condition Dystonia. I decided to try to go off of it this year and it been beyond horrible. I decided to go back on a couple of weeks ago because I realized it was helping my condition but I can’t seem to get reestablished. Had to go to the hospital over the weekend Cedar sani medical center in Los Angeles. All this time I’ve only been on.5 I’m jittery wobbly no appetite. Any suggestions.

Hi, @vickyann, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry your experience going off Klonopin has been beyond horrible and you ended up having to go to the hospital.

I'd suggest you might want to look through this Connect discussion specifically on Klonopin Withdrawal and perhaps post there, if you'd like: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/klonopin-taper/bookmark/?ajax_hook=action&_wpnonce=dcf1f5dbae

Wondering how it's going for some of you who were in the process of tapering off of benzodiazepines (benzos) or after your taper. Hoping your experiences will also help other members in this discussion on this journey.

@mel6415 - how is the very slow taper adding diazepam (Valium) going so far?

@lesbatts - how have things gone being off of the benzodiazepines?

@aarniek - are you still experiencing muscle tightness and spasticity you had after stopping the benzo?

Now over 5 years off and this year I lost my long term memory,and I didn't ever know what 9-1-1 was until my wife told me! I will be getting a 3rd brain MRI and a second MRA of my neck to check blood flow to my brain! Last one showed a 50% blockage in one of them! My neurologist says 50% is not a problem,and I have not lost long term memory,just the ability to access it! Not that I see a difference,just maybe some day I will be able to access it again ,I guess!

I don’t know if you are still suffering, but if you are look into IV NAD+ treatment, it’s shown efficacy for treating PAWS especially from benzos. It can be pricy depending on where you go but the results have been very promising.

X it was 5-1/2 years ago when I was taken off in a few weeks and just a couple of months ago a new neurologist gave me KLONIPIN as he thought if I took it for less than 30 days it would relieve my symptoms and then I could just stop it! Wow was he wrong as I took 1 mg and I was screaming out and in agony ,so it looks like going back on and doing a proper taper is not going to help and most likely it's because of the 5-1/2 year time span ,so I may die from this withdrawal as it just keeps getting worse and now I am going on 81 ,so doctors ruined my life and my wife's life and there is no help out there as I have now seen 4 neurologists !

@aarniek Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT )can help with Brain injury. I'm going through benzos brain injury myself (I don't think "withdrawal" is the right word for benzodiazepines. What kind of withdrawal last 6 months-years? When it comes to benzos, it's a brain injury. The recovery time/process from this drug is similar to recovering from TBI). It's extremely physically painful, not just mentally. My doctor prescribed me both Xanax and Klonopin at the same time (yes, I was on 2 benzos) daily for over 2.5 years... it's a miracle that I'm still alive. I did a quick taper (3 months) and now I'm about 6 months off-from the last dose. I'm still suffering and still in a lot of pain. Personally, I'll never ever touched benzos ever again. I have never been so sick and so scare in my life and I lost everything. I can't believe your doctor put you back on it....this called "kindling" and it will be more difficult next time you try to come off it. Please taper and take it slow. I'm so sorry you are going through this hell. This dangerous drug needs to be restricted.

It was another neurologist who tried to put me back on it as he said if you go back on for only 30 days,it will relieve your symptoms and as long as you only take it for 30 days you can stop with no problems!! I was so bad and I was so desperate after 5-1/2 years of pure hell,I tried it ,but I only took 1/2 of a two MG tablet and I felt even worse and never took it again! Doctors have ruined my life and I could tell you horror stories from what 3 of my doctors did ! Right now I am in physical and mental agony with severe head pressure,tinnitus,muscles in my shoulders,head,neck and back contracted so strong I can't walk,have shoulders pulled up to my neck ,and severe back pain upon standing ! ( and NO LONG TERM MEMORY) ( this symptom happened in my 5th year after stopping my lorazapam!)

My dad has been on valium for 20 years. I’m so worrie for him because of all the negative effects I read online. He tried to taper many times but failed. Is it ever possible to wean off valium without going to rehab? He says he needs the valium to continue to work and since he can’t take time off work he can not afford to quit valium. I’m very very worried for him and I wish he had quit earlier but he says in the earlier days ssris weren’t available so he got hooked on valium as an easily available anti anxiety pill. He refuses to go for therapy either so I’m a a loss. Pls give suggestions.