Connect
← Return to Any positive stories about Benzo tapering? I need hope
Discussion
Any positive stories about Benzo tapering? I need hope
Addiction & Recovery | Last Active: Oct 12 9:38am | Replies (374)Comment receiving replies
My Doctor said he wants me to remain on this Benzo medication for life because of my "previous track record" of having terrible anxiety and suffering with OCD. I am 62 years old and have been on various prescribed medications but only Clonazepam works to help ease my high level of anxiety. He is a good Doctor and I feel ashamed asking him to taper but I am afraid of what this long term use is doing to me and wondering if I could ever taper off it. I have had too many relapses.
Replies to "My Doctor said he wants me to remain on this Benzo medication for life because of..."
We are in a catch 22! Once you start a taper and then stop, going back to try again is NOT RECOMMENDED AT ALL. I have read many articles that if you are not having any side effects and have been on it for a long period of time, just stay on it. However, the longer we are on them the more difficult it is to get off, whether you taper or not. We never know what effects might pop up!
Connect
I hope your doctor is young and feels this way. The older docs are more lenient with the benzos than the younger ones. You wouldn’t want him to retire and leave you hunting for a new doctor willing to prescribe Benzos for the rest of your life. I would bet he has no idea how to taper. That’s the problem all of us benzo patients are dealing with.