Protracted Benzo withdrawal

Thank you @jakedduck1, I was wondering if that would be the way to go. I have been searching to find ideas to talk over with my doctor, and thought this might be a good way to go. Obviously I need to go very slowly from now on. It feels good to know that there is support here. My husband is also very supportive which is important. This is too hard to do all alone. I’ve learned that from experience. Thank you again.

@debra51
Hello again,
I have never had a problem stopping medication except when it came to the Benzodiazepine Anticonvulsant Klonopin. I was taking flakes of it at the last. You may need to remind your doctor that people react differently. Although I personally do not like Benzodiazepines and refuse to take them they do help some people. They replaced the Barbiturates. I’ll take Barbiturates anytime over Benzos but try finding a doctor to prescribe any these days. If studied long enough any drug will be found to be dangerous. Phenobarbital, a Barbiturate has been studied over 100 years now. Research is beginning to show the Benzodiazepines aren’t the great replacement that they once thought. Bet you a buck these drugs eventually go the way of Barbiturates.
I’d be curious of what your doctor suggests. Hope you keep up updated
Best of luck,
Jake

Hi Debra - you might want to check out the Ashton Manual on benzodiazepine withdrawal. Dr. Ashton had decades of experience in successfully titrating people off of benzo's. The first step is converting your dose from lorazepam to diazepam. Diazepam (Valium) has a much long half-life than lorazepam (Ativan). That means it stays in your system for almost twice as long, making a withdrawal more gradual (and tolerable!) There's absolutely nothing to gain by going fast. It's odd that your doctor would voice concern about Ativan's addictiveness. It would make sense if he'd been concerned six years ago. But now? You're already dependent on it. Or "addicted" if he insists on using a pejorative. So you need help to get off of it safely and compassionately.

Just an update on my titration process. This coming Sunday I reduce my diazepam dose from 3mg to 2mg. Throughout my discontinuation process I noticed what became a predictable pattern. On the third day after a dose reduction (every two weeks) I would feel lousy. Fortunately it would resolve in a day. But my deduction to 3mg has been a little more difficult. This discomfort that set in on the third day hasn't entirely abated. I'm hoping having come down with a chest cold is the explanation. I have been studiously avoiding a constant monitoring of bodily symptoms. At least as much as I can. The down side of that is it took me a few days to realize I was sick. Duh! The lack of yoga and daily walks has a really noticeable effect on my anxiety level. I'm a little intimidated by the upcoming dose reduction to 2mg. It's counterintuitive to me that if would get more difficult at such low levels. Then again, *cough*, I'm sick so feeling tired, shaky and rundown shouldn't be too much of a mystery.
Until this chest cold hit, my titration process had been withdrawal-free since I started using the protocol in the Ashton Manual!!! Here's a few things that have been helpful as well - the audio book "Anxiety Relief" by Martin L. Rossman, MD. In it, he walks you through a guided imagery process that I guess could be called mediation. It's very soothing. My anxiety is worse in the morning and more often than not, listening to a section of this book is how I start my day.
Also, "Power Yoga" by Rodney Yee. He incorporates diaphragmatic breathing through the whole routine. The intensity of the routine is easily varied. It could be a cardio workout if done with enough enthusiasm. I prefer slow and calm. Today I'm limiting myself to a casual dog walk. Maybe. Wow, sitting around during this process is the pits!

Thank you @jakedduck1 for the suggestion of a compounding pharmacy. I called one that happens to be close by to see if they would do such a prescription for me. With that information, I had my doctor’s appointment today and I now have a plan. I will go down by .05 every month as long as I can. But if I notice it getting too difficult, I can stay at that level until I even out. If I notice that my anxiety is too much, we may just stop at that level. So I now feel like I have some control in how this goes. I also know that if I need to I can request that my prescription be decreased by a smaller amount. I am so glad that I did some homework before I went, and that my doctor was so supportive. Now to journey forward. Slow and steady.

thanks

Have you tried cbd oil? It has helped me tremendously

No,as it's said nothing one can take will help,but send me exactly what helped you and I will try to get some and try it!

Hi.. I'm just trying to determine the difference between whether I have a mental health problem or I'm just going through benzodiazepine Tolerance/Withdrawal?? When I was 22yrs old huge into sports living a great life, my doctor proscribed me Klonopin 1mg at night & 1mg in the morning for very mild anxiety, at first it felt amazing! I thought to myself I never have to worry about anything again, well I was defiantly wrong! After time went by I'd say around 3 months later I was working & I started having some sort of anxiety that I had never felt before the medication, like I would kinda get a shaky/trembling type feeling & I still remember I would get off my 8hr shift at work & go to my car & I would literally be sweating & feeling so unrelaxed, so I knew there was something not right, i thought it was only my anxiety getting worse so I would go home & take more of the klonopin.. Anyways after time this problem got worse & worse I started having horrible sleeping problems that I never had before, then I started getting headaches, nausea, muscle tension, agitation & heart palpitations, I guess from just lack of quality sleep from what was going on I'm not really sure.. So the doctor put me on a very low dose of seroquel for sleep which helped for awhile then it lost its effectiveness so now it's been about 7-8yrs down the road I'm now 29yrs old & have almost no life because I cant sleep & feel good, I can barley even work.. I just want to know & I've been wanting to know for along time because I cant get any answers from my doctors what the heck is going on?? I've tried coming off the medications & it literally feels impossible because I'm already having a lot of horrible symptoms.. So my biggest question to everyone, does it sound like I have a mental illness or have I been going through tolerance withdrawal from the medication for years?? Has anyone out there went through anything like this? I'm just trying to get my life back.. Any input or advice would be awesome & greatly appreciated.. Thanks so much..

Hi, @num1boxer1919 - wanted to let you know I've moved your post here, just because there are so many members present in this conversation about benzo withdrawal I thought may have some input for you on whether you may be experiencing mental illness symptoms or side effects from benzo withdrawal.

Just to clarify, @num1boxer1919, so other members here can offer what they have gleaned from their experiences: Are you talking about effects from withdrawing from clonazepam (Klonopin) or just diminished response from this drug at this point? You are trying to determine whether you are experiencing one of these or whether your symptoms are from an anxiety disorder? What was your diagnosis when the doctor put you on the clonazepam (Klonopin)?