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.

cgs | @cgs | Feb 17, 2023

In reply to @sears "What are you referring to? It’s hard to keep up with these threads sometimes." + (show)

I'm sorry I seem like some of the people on here talking about I'm stopping their medicine without their doctor's help I just was wondering about that

sears | @sears | Feb 18, 2023

People come here because the vast majority of doctors have no idea how to taper their patients off of physchiatric medication.

wordsnbooks | @wordsnbooks | Feb 20, 2023

I started weaning during the holidays unable to get a refill from absent doctor. When I did see her, she refilled a smaller amount as I had been into the tapering process for almost a month. Would have been screwed had I not had a "stash". According to all I've read, there is a schedule for tapering depending on dosage and time used, therefore a doctor would be essential to provide refills until reaching the end of the taper. Apparently, my doctor, who has been kind and thorough with other matters is not experienced with this particular issue therefore I have used the most conservative approach of reducing 1/4 at a time for at least a couple of weeks. Mine is a low dose long term dependency so may not be relevant for you. Good luck.

kathy5645 | @kathy5645 | Feb 20, 2023

In reply to @sears "Thank you!" + (show)

My understanding is that ltheanine goes to gaba a receptors and shouldn’t be taken during a taper. What is your understanding of that information from the Benzo coalition. I am struggling with a Valium taper.

kathy5645 | @kathy5645 | Feb 20, 2023

In reply to @wordsnbooks "Usually, 400-600mg a day in 200mg doses on an empty stomach. I understand from google sources,..." + (show)

According to the Benzo Coalition ltheanine goes to gaba a receptors so shouldn’t be taken during a taper. Would like your take on this. Am struggling with a Valium taper.

wordsnbooks | @wordsnbooks | Feb 20, 2023

Searched "l-thanine/taper" with no results on Benzo Coalition. Could you send a link to that specifically? Why would that make a difference? If benzos cripple gaba production seems you need all the help you can get when weaning off. Likely mine is a flawed assumption as I certainly am not qualified in the science. L-theanine has been helpful to me. Good luck to us both! This is no small thing. I quit hydrocodone for pain years ago and switched to exercise. Quit cigerettes with the lozenges for a short term help. This is a different animal. Part of me would be highly pissed off because I wasn't given the info 20 years ago about what could happen. Then decided I'm too old to waste my time being pissed off about something I will have to fix myself. Again, good luck!

meo0624 | @meo0624 | Feb 21, 2023

my wife, diagnosed schitzo-affective, takes an anti-psychotic, fluphenizine, that keeps her sane, but leaves her depressed with insomnia... her psychiatrist recommended many anti depressants and sleeping pills over the last 40 years... most worked initially, provided her with hope to feeling better.... and then over time, as tolerance to the "med" began, dosages increased, side effects increased, becoming intolerable, and back to the dr, requesting something "better" or "new" or haven't tried yet. She now gets 60, 30 mg capsules, of the benzo Temazepam, Rx 1-2 per day at bedtime, 60 mg/day, and is totally aware of taking that much doesn't even keep her asleep 3 hours. She has discovered that when she takes no temazepam... AND endures the withdrawal symptoms: craving, then nausea, dry heaving, loss of appetite, and at times, vomiting... the next day, a 30 mg, puts her to sleep for 5-6 hours, leaving her with hope again, till it all begins again. Her goal is to only take 30 mg per day at bedtime, accumulating the prescribed capsules, for a really, really emotionally bad day, but cutting back to 30 mg immediately, with all the withdrawal side effects that come,hopefully just not as intense as they are now. This is her plan... she has been struggling, for the past 6 months, on this roller coaster, dr offering zero support, except to say, "...be sure to take the temazepam after eating, so it doesn't upset your stomach...". The reality, which all benzo users know, is that the med "...works better, on an empty stomach...". Oh, and our dr never, ever indicated this should be taken for no more than a week to 10 days.... found that info on line... drugs.com, even Wikipedia.

Im hoping, that in her determination, she finds that the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms diminish after the first 10 days... further increasing her determination to persevere over the protagonist temazepam.

stringz | @stringz | Apr 21, 2023

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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Oh no, this is 4 yrs ago. I will say that I have been in this situation myself. I have found that many doctors have no idea what the consequences of doing this are and many do not care. I hope that you found a new one that would actually listen to you. I have been on these for an anxiety disorder for decades now. And it was already decades when I was not able to get a new script. I have issues with many doctors because of this. They will say taper for just a few weeks when it makes no sense and can cause severe problems!!!

sears | @sears | Apr 22, 2023

In reply to @kathy5645 "According to the Benzo Coalition ltheanine goes to gaba a receptors so shouldn’t be taken during..." + (show)

Ltheanine has no interaction with Benzos or antidepressants. If in doubt consult your pharmacist.

cgs | @cgs | Apr 22, 2023

I was on dozens of meds,benzos saved my life from living like a zombie since 1994 I was prescribed 1 mg klonipen 3xs a day.Over the years I forgot to take my miday My phyciatrist said" good the less you meed the better.Just do not stop quickly.