Any positive stories about Benzo tapering? I need hope

Posted by sears @sears, Nov 9, 2019

Would love to hear some positive stories from people whom have tapered off benzos. Positive only please. Give me some hope. No horror stories! I need some encouragement!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Addiction & Recovery Support Group.

Ellen | @helenfrances | Nov 15, 2019

In reply to @grandmaj5 "Thanks for telling me about the Ashton Method of tapering. I haven't looked it up yet,..." + (show)

@grandmaj5

Thanks for telling me about the Ashton Method of tapering. I haven't looked it up yet, as I just read your blog. I am almost thinking about cancelling my appointment with the NP Psychiatry. I haven't even seen her yet. No one asked me how long I have been on Clonazepam. My Internist doesn't understand either and is going along with the NP Psychiatrist (since she has to bridge my medications until May). Actually, the NP Psychiatrist was supposed to call me back 2 days ago and she never did. I feel that I must really need this medication, due to my psychological/physical problems. I am also on disability due to my problems. I think my body is used to it but also must need it. I don't think to myself, "I can't wait to take it". I do not like this new Benzo rule from the FDA. Physicians seem scared about this and are now telling patients to get off their Benzo medication. They are afraid you are going to sell it on the streets. One time, I had to do a urine test to make sure I was taking my Adderall and not selling it. I asked a Pharmacist what I can take to help me get off Clonazepam. He told me to take a super B complex. He was perplexed though, because I have ADHD and anxiety. People ask me how I can take Adderall and Clonazepam together; they think each drug will cancel the other out. It is something my Psychiatrist did about 10 years ago. There must have been a reason for doing this. I am wondering (or I know) if some Physicians & Psychiatrists need more information on tapering or take a class about tapering. I am losing trust in Physicians. They cannot treat every patient the same with tapering. I think I know my body better and I can tell exactly what this is doing to me. It is actually a cruel thing to do to a patient. They don't seem to care, call you to see how you are doing, or have you come in for regular appointments. It is nice that your doctor says he'll work with you as long as it takes. I wish I could find someone like that. I am sorry, but I cannot say anything positive about tapering Benzos. I also think that if you do not obey the Physician's way of tapering, they will get mad at you or dump you.

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I hope the NP is able to help you. Let us know.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Nov 16, 2019

In reply to @grandmaj5 "I have been on 3 mg a day of clonazepam for about 8+ years. I had..." + (show)

@grandmaj5

I have been on 3 mg a day of clonazepam for about 8+ years. I had to find a new Psychiatrist. It took so long to find one. I can get into a NP Psychiatry in May 2020. When I called her office, she told the receptionist that she wouldn't see me until I got off clonazepam. She gave me a tapering dose for 3 weeks. I feel that this tapering is for everyone. I tried the tapering and kept getting worse. I got so bad that my heart was going fast. I was unable to do anything. I could only go to bed. I feel like a Zombie. This is happening right now, so last night I started up clonazepam again (taking 1.5 mg daily) to get through the holidays. I believe that my tapering was incorrect. I have not met or talked to the NP Psychiatric. I am not sure that she knows how many years I have been on clonazepam. I get anxiety attacks, have anxiety, have PTSD, depression, and ADHD. I believe I should call her back, but because she said she can't see me in May until I am off clonazepam, I am afraid she will not give me a proper tapering schedule and not see me. I only have so many pills left, so I have to be careful. My primary care physician just gave me a prescription of clonazepam of 50, 1 mg pills. At this time, I am unable to function. I feel I am living a nightmare. I feel extremely irritated. I feel bad for my husband. I am trying to fake my way through these feelings. I read that clonazepam is worse to taper off than opioids. I believe that a pharmacist would know more about tapering. I really do not know what to do. I am worried that the NP Psychiatry will not understand me (which she should). I don't know if I should contact her office or my Internist first. The reason I am saying this is because I have never met or spoke with the NP. I cannot believe that some medical practitioners cannot properly taper clonazepam. I have been studying this on the internet and I believe it should take more than 3 weeks for me to discontinue. I have been wondering if practitioners have been fully trained in tapering clonazepam differently for each individual. There is no way I can do this in 3 weeks. I have never felt so awful. I wish they could experience this feeling for just a minute. I am having company for Thanksgiving and then a birthday party. I started out preparing; now I cannot do anything. I am very scared that this will not work out. I am actually very lost. I am also afraid of what my Internist and NP Psychiatry will tell me. I was thinking of asking a Pharmacist first to get an idea. Does anyone have suggestions? Thank you.

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It sounds like the tapering has been rough thus far, @grandmaj5.

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Pharmacists would be a good resource related to tapering questions.

Another discussion you might be interested in on Connect is this one on Klonopin (Clonazepam) tapering https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/klonopin-taper/.

grandmaj5 | @grandmaj5 | Nov 21, 2019

In reply to @helenfrances "I hope the NP is able to help you. Let us know." + (show)

I am sorry to say that I will not be able to tell you about the NP Psychiatrist being able to help me. In the beginning, I was told by her nurse that I couldn't see her unless I tapered off my clonazepam. I decided I would, because there was no one else I could get in to. I am not able to see the NP Psychiatry until May 2020. I never met or talked to her. When the tapering was making me crazy, I called and never received a callback. I found out there is a new Psychiatrist at another clinic and I am going to try to see him. I am going to cancel my appointment with the NP Psychiatrist, as soon as I know I can get in to the Psychiatrist. I believe the NP Psychiatrist does not know enough about tapering benzos. Her nurse gave me the instructions for the 3-week tapering and I wrote them down. No one asked me how long I had been on clonazepam (8+ years). When I called back to her office, the receptionist or nurse?? told me that it could not have been a 3-week taper. I tried telling her I was. She asked who told me and I couldn't remember the nurse's name. I checked my notes and found her name and what I wrote down about the tapering. I am correct, but they don't want to own up. In the middle of all of this, I got a prescription for clonazepam from my Internist, which I didn't know about. She had different instructions for tapering in 4 weeks. I don't understand so many mix ups and then they deny what they told you. They really do need the "Ashton Method of Tapering". If I were a physician, I wouldn't even consider a taper unless I knew what I was doing. I also would be concerned about the patient. I got a free copy of "Ashton Method of Tapering" on the computer and was able to send it for free to my Kindle. I am able to listen to it. It is quite interesting and the woman who wrote it is so good and smart. I found out she passed away. She was a Professor. She knew everything about tapering. I just cannot comprehend why doctors would not want to know the best way to taper and personalize this to each patient. I am now doing the tapering myself. I am taking 1/2 of my daily dosage and I feel fine. I really feel that if you are aware of how your body reacts and how you feel, you should taper yourself. It is sad to me that I am unable to communicate with both of my providers.

grandmaj5 | @grandmaj5 | Nov 21, 2019

In reply to @lisalucier "It sounds like the tapering has been rough thus far, @grandmaj5. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect...." + (show)

Thank you Lisa for your input. Many times I believe the Pharmacists are smarter than doctors concerning what medication to give a patient. I heard (no sure if true) that doctors only take 1 semester of pharmacology. I had a doctor that had to look up a drug in a pharmacy book while I was in the exam room.

JeffBomb | @jeffbomb | Nov 21, 2019

I would try to visit with your primary care physician to discuss your plan to taper off medication. If I’m not mistaken Benzodiazepines, like alcohol, can be very dangerous to taper off of. Just maybe something to consider.

grandmaj5 | @grandmaj5 | Nov 21, 2019

In reply to @jeffbomb "I would try to visit with your primary care physician to discuss your plan to taper..." + (show)

Thanks @jeffbomb for your input. I read what can happen to you when tapering benzos too fast. You can have a seizure, heart racing, irritable, not able to do things, plus more.

serinitynow | @serinitynow | Nov 21, 2019

I have been tapering off diazepam for months now. This is not my first time trying, but this time I've learned from previous shortcomings. My plan was to try and trick my body to not notice the change. This means slow and steady. So for example, if I was a custom to taking 20mg a day. Week 1 I would go down to 19mg(this can be challenging depending on how easy it is to divide the pills). Every week I removed another mg from my daily regime. It took 5 months! But by reducing the amounts so slowly I think it helped my body and mind adapt without having to deal with withdrawal symptoms. It's really important that you do not cheat and tell yourself that you deserve a bit more because you've had a rough day. Stay strong, focused and proud of yourself for doing the right thing for your health and family. For extra support, I did start incorporating CBD oil and I believe it did help me and I still take it daily.

Sundance(RB) | @sundance6 | Nov 21, 2019

In reply to @grandmaj5 "Thank you Lisa for your input. Many times I believe the Pharmacists are smarter than doctors..." + (show)

That is so very true about Pharmacists! Learned that 60 years ago from an old anut! Then again when I was in retail and the Pharmacy was one of my departments!
Doctors are idiots concerning medication! It depends upon which Pharmacutical rep came in last or what golf tournament they played in sponsored by a drug company!
Sundance(RB)

sears | @sears | Nov 21, 2019

In reply to @serinitynow "I have been tapering off diazepam for months now. This is not my first time trying,..." + (show)

Very interesting! How did you make those small cuts?

grandmaj5 | @grandmaj5 | Nov 21, 2019

In reply to @sundance6 "That is so very true about Pharmacists! Learned that 60 years ago from an old anut!..." + (show)

Hi @sundance6, I am glad that another person understands the Pharmacy problem concerning Physicians. They have to be a concerned Physician, who cares about their patients and studies/keeps up with medications, and other new information. I believe there aren't as many Pharmacy Reps now. If you notice, Physicians do not give out free medication samples like they used to (at least in my case and others have told me this). It is hard to find a good doctor. It is like you, yourself, have to do a study, ask others, read reviews, and make sure they are okay with the Medical Board. My daughter went to a Psychiatrist in Minnesota. I looked him up and he had been disciplined at least 3 times for taking his own drugs (2 other states too). Then, he went to Florida and was still practiced in Minnesota via Skype. He was in to Florida to detox. My daughter had an appointment with him over Skype. She assumed he was in Minnesota. There was something about him I didn't trust. When I looked him up, I was shocked. I called the Clinic he worked at in Minnesota and had to report this. There are some Physicians out there that we know nothing about. I used to be a Medical Transcriptionist. I chose my Physicians by transcribing their reports. I could tell how they treated their patients, how detailed their reports were, if I would be able to understand their accent, plus other factors. This actually worked out well, plus working at a hospital, you know more about the Physicians. My previous Physician was so good and he retired. I am no longer working and picked out a horrible new Physician that my husband and I could get into (very long story); we quit going to him after 1 appointment. Everyone should at least check if the Physician has been disciplined.

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