1. < Addiction & Recovery

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!

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lindasmith1222 | @lindasmith1222 | Aug 1, 2022
In reply to @sage50 "I have a question similar, but different. I've been on 1mg Ativan 4x/day for 13 yrs...." + (show)
@sage50

I have a question similar, but different. I've been on 1mg Ativan 4x/day for 13 yrs. I question its effectiveness at this point bc I've been on it so long.
I recently came off Zyprexa bc I gained 100lbs and was becoming diabetic. Bc Zyprexa is so calming, I'm more anxious now that I'm off it.
Idk if my Dr on Monday says I want u to go back on it....this is about my future health. I've lost 30lbs in 2mos so far off of it. Amazing things are happening to my body without all that weight. I plan to keep losing.
Anyways, my point is bc the Ativan is not doing its job, I have to take more than prescribed to cut the terrible anxiety.
This concerns me. It's all that's carrying me through. I'm in an extremely stressful time right now...abusive marriage that I've filed divorce finally after 4 yrs of taking it....she activated dormant crohns disease that they found 5yrs ago,but I never had symptoms. I'm sick with stomach pains all the time...have to take meds to stop spasms...and to quiet crohns.
I'm not an addict looking for a benzo buzz....im trying to get through the stress without ending up in the hospital...bc sometimes it's so intense..I feel like I'm near my end....and have had bad thoughts.
Should I ask my Dr on Monday to switch me to a different benzo?..bc his office is cutting pts off them bc of pressure from ??? Idk. My PA..who I've seen for 7yrs now, says I'm an exception bc they believe I'm one pt who truly can't function without them.
I'm scared of him. I only see " the big guy" every year...he is intimidating. I'm afraid if I ask him for a stronger benzo he will cut me off and shove me on an antipsychotic.
What do I do???.... im eating about 6 Ativan a day....and unless I take 2 at a time, they don't work.
Please understand this and why.
Thank you much.....Audrey

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Greetings. I understand. My house burned down a year ago and I lost everything. I am 70 years old and I literally just had the clothes on my back, watching my home burn down and I lost my dog to smoke inhalation. My doctor put me on 6 mg a day of Valium, I needed it. I see him tomorrow. I have cut myself down to 2 mg at night to sleep. I have PTSD from the losses. But my life just keeps getting better and I have hopes of just needing 1 mg at night. I hope my doctor will understand and keep prescribing Valium to me.

Losing your marriage and the grief/losses can be very overwhelming for some of us.

I suggest you be truthful with your doctor today about all of it--not wanting a buzz, your divorce your health, etc. Best wishes.

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1 reply
sage50 | @sage50 | Aug 1, 2022
In reply to @lindasmith1222 "Greetings. I understand. My house burned down a year ago and I lost everything. I am..." + (show)
@lindasmith1222

Greetings. I understand. My house burned down a year ago and I lost everything. I am 70 years old and I literally just had the clothes on my back, watching my home burn down and I lost my dog to smoke inhalation. My doctor put me on 6 mg a day of Valium, I needed it. I see him tomorrow. I have cut myself down to 2 mg at night to sleep. I have PTSD from the losses. But my life just keeps getting better and I have hopes of just needing 1 mg at night. I hope my doctor will understand and keep prescribing Valium to me.

Losing your marriage and the grief/losses can be very overwhelming for some of us.

I suggest you be truthful with your doctor today about all of it--not wanting a buzz, your divorce your health, etc. Best wishes.

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I am truly sorry for your multiple losses. My dog is my best friend...he knows when I'm hurting....and he comes to me to soothe me.
I could only imagine the grief that caused.
It is encouraging to hear things are improving....I thank you for the positive feeling it gives me this moment as I start my day.
When we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give permission to others to do the same ...as we are liberated from our own fears.
Bless You...and may your appointment today go as you wish.
I hope mine does as well...its 2 hrs away from now...and I'm nervous like crazy.
✌️ Peace. Audrey

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1 reply
lindasmith1222 | @lindasmith1222 | Aug 1, 2022
In reply to @sage50 "I am truly sorry for your multiple losses. My dog is my best friend...he knows when..." + (show)
@sage50

I am truly sorry for your multiple losses. My dog is my best friend...he knows when I'm hurting....and he comes to me to soothe me.
I could only imagine the grief that caused.
It is encouraging to hear things are improving....I thank you for the positive feeling it gives me this moment as I start my day.
When we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give permission to others to do the same ...as we are liberated from our own fears.
Bless You...and may your appointment today go as you wish.
I hope mine does as well...its 2 hrs away from now...and I'm nervous like crazy.
✌️ Peace. Audrey

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Please let us know how it goes. I haven't seen my doc in 6 months, and I know he is under pressure from the clinic to quit prescribing benzos. At my age, does it matter? Not to me. He did prescribe Dayco once for sleep and that is equally as addicting as benzos which we both agreed upon--thus stayed on benzos.

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sage50 | @sage50 | Aug 1, 2022
In reply to @laurine7 "Thanks for your feed back its important. I was prescribed Lorazepam, a short term drug for..." + (show)
@laurine7

Thanks for your feed back its important. I was prescribed Lorazepam, a short term drug for 17 years. Of course I tapered, obviously this is the only comment you have read. You need to find everything I have written on Benzodiazepines. I am sorry if it was upsetting, believe me that was not my intent. My comments are only to let everyone know what I went through, much have been through worse. Also, to give areas of research to try and avoid many HORROR stories.

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What kind of horror stories are u talking about???
It scares me...im on the same med now for 12 yrs??
I've developed a tolerance to it...im pretty sure...its not really working unless I take more.
Asking my Dr right now for something stronger....is that bad???

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2 replies
laurine7 | @laurine7 | Aug 1, 2022
In reply to @sage50 "What kind of horror stories are u talking about??? It scares me...im on the same med..." + (show)
@sage50

What kind of horror stories are u talking about???
It scares me...im on the same med now for 12 yrs??
I've developed a tolerance to it...im pretty sure...its not really working unless I take more.
Asking my Dr right now for something stronger....is that bad???

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What MED have you been taking for 12-1/2 yrs, and what is it? I took Lorazepam, which they say is for short term only, HA HA.! Why are the Dr's allowed to prescribe it for years? I was taking it for Restless Legs Syndrome, it worked. For 17 years of 6MG every night. Just received medical records from my Dr because I wasn't sure how long I took it. Taking it was not the problem, stopping is the nightmare. What I would have done if I knew then what I know now, research, research, research, and research. I was not in control, the Dr and Psychiatrist were. You are the only one who knows how you feel and you need someone who pays attention to what you are telling them while tapering. Once your taper is finished, it's too late to start over, they say it could be worse than the first time. Unfortunately, Drs. DO NOT KNOW HOW TO TREAT YOUR SIDE EFFECTS of the issues you have with a taper gone wrong because of the incorrect information you were given or not listening to you. I have become very angry and want to know why THEY CAN PRESCRIBE A MEDICATION FOR YOU THAT THEY REALLY DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT.

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shrink85 | @shrink85 | Aug 17, 2022

Does anybody here know if the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix offers the Ashton Method or similar slow tapering methods for Clonazepam? I have been taking 1 mg daily at bedtime since 2006. I have always taken it as prescribed, never abusing it . . . .but it sure abuses me when I try to stop. A doctor recently recommended a quick taper that had me quite messed up (dissociation, intense anxiety, etc) after 5 days. Another doctor, with whom I have an appointment in two weeks, recommended that I resume the 1 mg per day. While this new doctor has good reviews with long tapers, I'd still kind of like to know what is available in Phoenix and other parts of AZ. Thanks!

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2 replies
lesley62 | @lesley62 | Aug 18, 2022
In reply to @shrink85 "Does anybody here know if the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix offers the Ashton Method or similar..." + (show)
@shrink85

Does anybody here know if the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix offers the Ashton Method or similar slow tapering methods for Clonazepam? I have been taking 1 mg daily at bedtime since 2006. I have always taken it as prescribed, never abusing it . . . .but it sure abuses me when I try to stop. A doctor recently recommended a quick taper that had me quite messed up (dissociation, intense anxiety, etc) after 5 days. Another doctor, with whom I have an appointment in two weeks, recommended that I resume the 1 mg per day. While this new doctor has good reviews with long tapers, I'd still kind of like to know what is available in Phoenix and other parts of AZ. Thanks!

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I am not in Phoenix, but a good addition psychiatrist should be able to put you on a slow taper using Valium. Ask your insurance company for some one who specializes in this.

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1 reply
sears | @sears | Aug 18, 2022

This is sears. I asked for no horror stories.

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1 reply
lesley62 | @lesley62 | Aug 18, 2022
In reply to @shrink85 "Does anybody here know if the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix offers the Ashton Method or similar..." + (show)
@shrink85

Does anybody here know if the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix offers the Ashton Method or similar slow tapering methods for Clonazepam? I have been taking 1 mg daily at bedtime since 2006. I have always taken it as prescribed, never abusing it . . . .but it sure abuses me when I try to stop. A doctor recently recommended a quick taper that had me quite messed up (dissociation, intense anxiety, etc) after 5 days. Another doctor, with whom I have an appointment in two weeks, recommended that I resume the 1 mg per day. While this new doctor has good reviews with long tapers, I'd still kind of like to know what is available in Phoenix and other parts of AZ. Thanks!

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That was the route I went and it worked great

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1 reply
shrink85 | @shrink85 | Aug 18, 2022
In reply to @lesley62 "That was the route I went and it worked great" + (show)
@lesley62

That was the route I went and it worked great

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Awesome! Did you do it at Mayo, or a private addiction psychiatrist?

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