Any positive stories about Benzo tapering? I need hope

I’ve by taking 10mg Zanex three times a day for about 20 years (it’s now 10/21/21). It was always prescribed by the VA. Now, suddenly, they, the VA, want me to stop taking ZANEX. I am terrified of side effects. I have never abused it or gotten any kind of highness. I DONOT use alcohol or other drugs. Only what I’m prescribed, Wellbutrin. I feel wonderful, energetic, social, clear headed & overall well and happy. I am 66, in good shape and I’m a high energy person. I began taking Zanex after a tragic event in my life, rendering me helpless to do anything. I do not like change. Im afraid. Wouldn’t detox be safer than weaning off Zanex? 30mg daily is a lot but haven’t I built up a tolerance?
Thanksgiving and Xmas is the worse & most stressful time of the year for me. I don’t want the frequent panic attacks to start again. I faint. I’m afraid I will get hurt, crack my skull, if I’m alone when I faint.

They may not have known many many years ago. True. But they have known for a very long time. The problem is that most don’t want to get involved in the tapering process. It can be very hard for some people and require a lot of their time getting patients through the process if done correctly. So they just leave you on. It was my idea to taper, which was when I was basically abandoned by my doctor.

I too asked my Doctor last year (2021) if I could start tapering off Clonazepam which he prescribed to me nearly 6 years ago. I have Anxiety issues and OCD. When I asked him about tapering he scolded me. This Benzo (Clonazepam) is making me feel "dull" and causing memory impairment. I tried tapering myself but have relapsed, only to start the medication again. I feel at a loss to try again. Leah09

What did your doctor say to make you think he was scolding you?

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.

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.

I have been with the same Doctor for over 30 years and he knows how I have suffered with OCD/GAD/Depression for the long term. He even said to me while I was in his Office that when he looks up Anxiety in the manual he sees my name there. At the present moment, I am in a state of Depression. Some of it is seasonal, some of it is family-related problems and the rest of it is my mental health issues. Leah09

I understand. You just need to hope he outlives you. Finding a new doctor to prescribe Benzos for life will not be an easy task. That’s all I was trying to say. It’s something to think about. God bless.

Let us know what your doctors says.