Protracted Benzo withdrawal

I checked in to Glenbeigh rehab , they call a hospital, last April. I had been prescribed 1.5 mg.of xanax a day for 24 years and was abruptly cut off then oct my GP abruptly discontinued effexor. The post accute withdrawal was the worst experience of my life. no need to go into all of consequences of PAWS those who have experienced it know. with the help of an amazing psychiatrist who had been thru effexor withdrawals herself, i’m doing better. still have bas days but i’m becoming me again. You need to seek help from a good psychiatrist trained in drug withdrawal. there is help. 4 years is too long to suffer

I checked in to Glenbeigh rehab , they call a hospital, last April. I had been prescribed 1.5 mg.of xanax a day for 24 years and was abruptly cut off then oct my GP abruptly discontinued effexor. The post accute withdrawal was the worst experience of my life. no need to go into all of consequences of PAWS those who have experienced it know. with the help of an amazing psychiatrist who had been thru effexor withdrawals herself, i’m doing better. still have bas days but i’m becoming me again. You need to seek help from a good psychiatrist trained in drug withdrawal. there is help. 4 years is too long to suffer

I have been looking for 2 years. No help from local does or neurologists that we traveled 5 hours to see who were really brilliant but refused to read any information given to the on prolonged benzo withdrawal syndrome. Wickepedia , under prolonged benzo withdrawal syndrome,has a fair amount of info. I just today discovered that hydrocodone works on the MU receptors so my husband can use it for muscle ( fasciculations, spasms)and bone pain. He had many other symptoms but he needs something for pain and this works. He had been on a prescription NSAIDS for arthritis and I discovered a year into his withdrawal symptoms that you can not take NSAIDS. Today I found out that any medication, herb, drink, food or supplement that attaches to the GABAreceptor site will worsen the withdrawal symptoms, so that means no caffeine, alcohol,vitamin B or D, magnesium, no anti depressants, also there is a group of antibiotics,Cipro is part of that group, that will intereact poorly on any one who is on benzos or in withdrawal symptoms from them. I hope this can be of help to you. Good luck.

If you found a doctor that helped at all,it would be life changing as I have been to 4 neurologists in my six years in PAWS and I am the worst I have ever been,and all said the ONLY THING THAT HELPS IS TIME,and as I am 81 ,I don't know if I have much time especially since each year ,I have gotten worse!

That is wonderful that you have a physician that is working with you. You mentioned that you cleaned up your diet of processed foods. Over the past two years of trying to find information that could help my husband who is in prolonged benzo withdrawal syndrome from 22 years of Xanax, I have come to think that the reason there is so much anxiety and depression is because our food is mostly junk and lacking in not only Vitamins but needed minerals. That was really smart to start off by improving your diet, wish I would have focussed on that sooner.

Have you tried a local hospital detox center?

If you found a doctor that helped at all,it would be life changing as I have been to 4 neurologists in my six years in PAWS and I am the worst I have ever been,and all said the ONLY THING THAT HELPS IS TIME,and as I am 81 ,I don't know if I have much time especially since each year ,I have gotten worse!

Believe me,I understand. It i stuff. ,whatever form it takes,all that. I recently stopped klonipin after about 10years. I know you are leery of taking other meds, but so far I've tried neurontin and lopressor to help, and Robaxin for the muscle tightness,it really works.
I use a noise maker and an air purifier for background noise.
They say there's a reversal drug called Flumazenil, it is an antibenzo benzo. Returns your chemistry in your brain to right,but it has to be done in a hospital by titrated IV.
Hope you're doing well

So glad you got the help you needed from a good professional.
I did a similar thing checking into a local hospital med rehab inpatient and in two weeks got off Xanax after many years on high dosage. Put me on Klonopin which acts a bit differently and will be completely off in about a week . Met with a psychiatrist every day to get the right med and dosage and have continued outpatient with a psychiatrist to monitor and with a psychologist for talk therapy for my anxiety . I highly recommend this route if you can take the time off ! I have my life back!