Do not go off benzodiazepines cold turkey. I was on them for a year due to panic attacks and then realized I needed a larger dose every day to achieve the same results. I worked with my psychiatrist and after one year as completely off them. What I realized is that on day six ( after reducing the dose for one year) I had tremendous nightmares. In the middle of the night I woke up screaming and called my psychiatrist at 4 am. I felt like my brain was bouncing up against my skull. I also thought I was having a seizure. He told me I could have a seizure. It was six months of “ rebounding” until I was finally free of this drug family ( I was on Xanax). So my message here to you is that you never want to cold turkey. Look at all that can happen even when you work with your doctor.
Since I posted this question, I have done some research and have decided not to go forward with the treatment. My therapist has suggested I start some gaba and l-tryptophan supplements and a more holistic approach. This is due to the past efforts of various ssri, snri and other anti anxiety and anti depressants which I have had negative results.
Will follow up later as we make more choices as results come to light. Thank you.
Since I posted this question, I have done some research and have decided not to go forward with the treatment. My therapist has suggested I start some gaba and l-tryptophan supplements and a more holistic approach. This is due to the past efforts of various ssri, snri and other anti anxiety and anti depressants which I have had negative results.
Will follow up later as we make more choices as results come to light. Thank you.
Thank you. I have looked this up and will continue to learn more as I really want to get myself back from this weird place in life I have found it to be.
Since I posted this question, I have done some research and have decided not to go forward with the treatment. My therapist has suggested I start some gaba and l-tryptophan supplements and a more holistic approach. This is due to the past efforts of various ssri, snri and other anti anxiety and anti depressants which I have had negative results.
Will follow up later as we make more choices as results come to light. Thank you.
@nitalisa It's good you have a mental health therapist you can talk with.
I'd like to suggest that one should work their physician on mental health medications and ask how supplements interact with these.
Perhaps your therapist suggested a trial of medication with L-tryptophan? It is out of the scope of practice for a mental health therapist to even suggest a specific medication. They do not have the training or license to do that. Doctoral level psychologists can prescribe medications in specific states within the US but only with additional training.
@nitalisa It's good you have a mental health therapist you can talk with.
I'd like to suggest that one should work their physician on mental health medications and ask how supplements interact with these.
Perhaps your therapist suggested a trial of medication with L-tryptophan? It is out of the scope of practice for a mental health therapist to even suggest a specific medication. They do not have the training or license to do that. Doctoral level psychologists can prescribe medications in specific states within the US but only with additional training.
Thank you for this comment. My therapist, physician and myself are all working together with a psychologist specializing in pain medicines. We are all in contact with each other. I'm feeling very good about approach.
Thank you. I have looked this up and will continue to learn more as I really want to get myself back from this weird place in life I have found it to be.
I was taken off a 2 mg./day dosage of Klonopin/diazepam in 10 days. BIG MISTAKE. 6 months of my life I'll never get back. Stevie Nicks said that when they took her off diazepam it was like like the gates of Hell opened and someone pushed her through.
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Not a good idea. It has to be tapered
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5 ReactionsSeizures and a good chance of having a very very long drawn out withdrawal. A lot depends on your dosage and how long you took Benzos.
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4 ReactionsDo not go off benzodiazepines cold turkey. I was on them for a year due to panic attacks and then realized I needed a larger dose every day to achieve the same results. I worked with my psychiatrist and after one year as completely off them. What I realized is that on day six ( after reducing the dose for one year) I had tremendous nightmares. In the middle of the night I woke up screaming and called my psychiatrist at 4 am. I felt like my brain was bouncing up against my skull. I also thought I was having a seizure. He told me I could have a seizure. It was six months of “ rebounding” until I was finally free of this drug family ( I was on Xanax). So my message here to you is that you never want to cold turkey. Look at all that can happen even when you work with your doctor.
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6 Reactionsmy doctor is recommending me for effexor. what is that?
Since I posted this question, I have done some research and have decided not to go forward with the treatment. My therapist has suggested I start some gaba and l-tryptophan supplements and a more holistic approach. This is due to the past efforts of various ssri, snri and other anti anxiety and anti depressants which I have had negative results.
Will follow up later as we make more choices as results come to light. Thank you.
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1 ReactionThe Ashton Method gets good results. There are schedules for whatever benzo you are on and the dosage.
Thank you. I have looked this up and will continue to learn more as I really want to get myself back from this weird place in life I have found it to be.
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1 Reaction@nitalisa It's good you have a mental health therapist you can talk with.
I'd like to suggest that one should work their physician on mental health medications and ask how supplements interact with these.
Perhaps your therapist suggested a trial of medication with L-tryptophan? It is out of the scope of practice for a mental health therapist to even suggest a specific medication. They do not have the training or license to do that. Doctoral level psychologists can prescribe medications in specific states within the US but only with additional training.
About Prescribing Psychologists
-- https://www.apaservices.org/practice/advocacy/authority/prescribing-psychologists
Thank you for this comment. My therapist, physician and myself are all working together with a psychologist specializing in pain medicines. We are all in contact with each other. I'm feeling very good about approach.
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI was taken off a 2 mg./day dosage of Klonopin/diazepam in 10 days. BIG MISTAKE. 6 months of my life I'll never get back. Stevie Nicks said that when they took her off diazepam it was like like the gates of Hell opened and someone pushed her through.
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