Endless withdrawal from benzos and pregabalin

Thanks, I wish you luck as well. I think it’s a lot tougher for us older folks. How long have you been on valium? My first doc in San Francisco was terrific and got me off valium by putting me on baclofen. This worked but now getting off baclofen has been a six year long nightmare. We moved way north after my wife retired and I have a new doc who is working with me. Very frustrating. I hope you’ll keep me posted on your progress. Best, jody

I’ve been on sleep meds for 20 years. None were effective and I’ve tried and failed to wean at least a hundred times over the years. Trying once again and this is about a week now. Insomnia is terrible , even worse than the last time. I’d much rather have physical pain, anxiety-anything but insomnia. I’m on two meds- a benzo and the god-awful baclofen. The doc wants me to do one med at a time but I’m done with that idea. This may be my last shot at getting off. Hang in there. Sounds like you’re making progress.

Hi I have been addicted to Clonazepam for 10 years now ..since 2014 my dad passed away ..knew nothing about benzos.. didn’t even Google ( 3 months later ) when I couldn’t go to work ? Crying . Omg I felt like I was having a nervous breakdown the anxiety , severe depression, sadness .. finally I realized ? I did stop taking my clonazepam 1 day earlier … looked it up and BOOM ! I found out quickly what I was going through . Fast forward to June 2023 .. after recovering from shingles … I ended up with after effects … nerve pain . Terrible ! My dr put me on 2 (75 mgs) pills per day .. they said it takes about 2 weeks to work .I found it to work after the first week .. but I also noticed I no longer needed my clonazepam??? Which was in my purse at all times for 10 years ! I wasn’t reaching for it and still haven’t for almost 3 weeks . I have a new refill and have put them on my top shelf . I told my dr what had happened and he said that they have used it in connection with tapering from Benzodiazepines, but never as a straight exchange ? My pharmacist said she’s never heard of 150 mgs replacing the effects of clonazepam but maybe if it works I could be a “ case study “ I did ask .. am I replacing one drug for another ? As I’ve tapered before with cpam ! Nightmare …I ended that on month 2 !! I figured at some point I would try the micro tapering As advised in the Ashton publication . But to come off of 150 mgs of pregabalin in another week or so … sounds easier than the clonazepam wd mess !! But I’m still not convinced .. as this isn’t supposed to happen .. will the wds of cpam come back ? But dr said “ no , I may have cravings or think of taking one of those (90) pills on my top shelf after something bad has happened “ so I’ve only been on this for 4 weeks now and I’ll give him my cpam .. but he promised if I start having terrible wds after pregabalin? He doesn’t know how as cpam is completely now out of my system … he will give me my prescription back ..lol I’ll keep you updated ? Idk what will happen but it sure worked for me ? Killed some nerve pain ..75% but took need for cpam , completely away …. I still can’t believe it .

Unbelievable. One person has been on 75 mg of benzodiazepines and has now tapered to 25 mg!
Do you know how high that is? I’m having trouble getting off a 1 mg klonopin!

People think they are addicted to benzodiazepines but I beg to differ. Benzodiazepines themselves are not addictive. It’s the withdrawal symptoms that keeps you on them. That technically is not an addiction.

Benzodiazepines have good benefits as well for other things. I’m only on half a benzodiazepines in the morning and 1 mg at 4 pm.

I was in the hospital as I am on blood thinners that went into overdrive. My INR was over 12. I’m supposed to be at no more than 3.0 maximum. The hospital called it Coumadin poisoning. I was bleeding internally heading towards bleeding to death. I was literally dying. However this forum is about benzodiazepines.

The hospital took me off klonopin cold turkey because I had gone to the ER for bleeding and they lost the list of medications I was on. Including benzodiazepine.

They didn’t have it so they went into their computer and gave me medication from 3 years ago. I was not on klonopin then so they didn’t give me any for 2 months while inpatient.

It was a nightmare. I’d rather die than go through the awful withdrawal symptoms I experienced.

I came to realize that I’m not addicted to Klonopin but addicted to the withdrawal symptoms. I can’t stop! And that’s only one and a half Mg’s per day.

I’m still on them with no problems because as soon as I came home from the hospital I took a 1 mg of klonopin and within a half hour I was no longer feeling withdrawal symptoms.

Thanks very much for replying . Sounds like you’ve had some tough times yourself 🥲….yes you’re absolutely right about the Clonazepam (klonopin) it’s def . The wds .. they should have told me back in 2014 when I went looking for help , as I was a mess after my dad passed ..just like anyone I guess but first time I actually lost someone who I loved so much , my dad . It was scary . If they would have said “ I’ll give you a 30 day prescription , take 1 mg pill twice per day ( as needed ) AND you will be taking this for the rest of your life “. Bc that’s how I felt after multiple failed attempts at tapering . Problem is or was (lol) so far …. I finally ended up with a new dr. Who didn’t give out Benzodiazepines of any kind … I said “ well that’s fine .. yes you all were told that Benzodiazepines can be just as bad as opioids , especially if abused.. which at times by the end of my monthly refill , I’d be sweating bullets making sure I had enough and not short .. bc I may have took two extra throughout the month .. and nobody is giving you an early release lol .. not anymore ..so even for one day to start the wd process bc I took 2 instead of 3 for 2 days .. it was felt ( let’s just say ) mentally , I don’t get the physical wds .. but I feel like someone has thrown me in to some type of mental torture test .. it’s bad .. however … started the “ pregabalin “ I just woke up ( I’m retired) since 50 I’m 55 now .. and I’m going out .. I’ve been up for 1 hour now . I have no wds for cpam .. I took the one pregabalin, just now . I do have nerve pain but it’s getting better . So I honestly agree with the dr if I’ve gone 3 weeks now without Clonazepam and no wds . Due to taking Pregabalin twice per day 75 ( mgs) and only on it for 3 weeks ? So next week we’re still going to taper me off of this one as well .. just in case … lol so I’m hoping if I get through 1 month without anything in my system ? I will take the new refill full of clonazepam and return it to pharmacy. I’m still afraid the wds will come back but As each day passes and I have nothing. ? I’m amazed.. bc I just fell into this . Bc of shingles but it took place of clonazepam? Lol I tell this story as it helped me .. and if it can help me it must be able to help someone else ? But I would do a complete switchover like I did …. Keep the clonazepam.. bc it does take at least one to two weeks to feel the full effects of pregabalin. But it was at the end of week one that I just happened to notice … I wasn’t grabbing for my purse at noon or whenever ? I wouldn’t take pregabalin at a tapering method .. for me ? It obviously wasn’t needed . This so far has worked for me .. but I’ll keep you updated after I taper off of the pregabalin next week … cross your fingers for me ❤️

I'm currently tapering off of 30mg of Valium. Aprox 15 years on. I had no idea it was so invasive. I promptly found myself a new Dr who's helping me with the taper. I'm down to 20mg since 6/29 but I feel that was a bit aggressive so with Dr's approval, I plan on reducing 2mg (and if its a problem 1mg every 3-4 weeks). Dr even OK'd taking short breaks if needed. Bottom line is I'm looking at 8-10 months before cessation.
What has helped me so far: Dr split the dose into 4 rather than 3. That made a big difference and he OK'd THC if I have any bad feelings. I typically take 1 puff (literally) in the early afternoon and 1 before bed. It really helps.
Best to all dealing with benzo withdrawal. If you're having difficulty, slow the taper down by time or smaller drops. Finally, for insomnia, try sleep restriction. Look it up on YouTube.

I have now stopped daily Lorazepam and Seroquel, one for anxiety and one for sleep. I can still take the Lorazepam when I need to (when I’m around my mother and sisters mainly).

I was able to do it quickly because of changes I made to my diet and activity level.

I exercise vigorously (different for everybody) radically changed my diet to a modified Keto ( high protein and fat, very little carbohydrates and no refined sugar. I also cut my caffeine intake by seventy five percent.

All of these changes and those to come followed the reading of a book by a psychiatrist by the name Palmer. The book is called “Brain Energy” it may have saved my life as I had planned my suicide.

Turns out I have very low testosterone the symptoms of which mimic depression, just got the test results.

I was not surprised to find that all but one of the remaining medications suppress testosterone production.

I’ve been sick since I was six years. Nine years of therapy in my twenties and my life flourished.

I was put on a low dose of Zoloft at 35. I am 60 now and a month ago I was on twelve meds, six psych meds and six meds to deal ( ineffective at that) with the side effects.

They do not know for sure what causes mental illness of any kind but the have hundreds of meds to treat it.

Therapy cost $200 to $400 a session unless you’re in a big city, then the sky is the limit. Fifteen minutes to prescribe a med, $90.00. Exercise free. Dietary changes actually saves you money.

The big difference; no one makes any money if you start walking a mile or two eat better food and get healthier. No doctors no insurance companies, no pharmaceutical companies, just us!

Up until a month an ago I was an adherent, just give me another pill. I have had just about every intervention they have. Suicide seemed like the only option. For years I was suicidal planning and looking for opportunities. This time I was ready to do it and somthing. told me to start doing my own research. I found the book I wrote about and kept digging and I keep digging.

What I have learned is I must take responsibility for my own care.

The doctors don’t have any real answers (ECT the gold standard for many disorders is only 65% effective) and I must take responsibility for healing.

I’m still on a lot of meds and I have a long way to go, but I’m off two I never thought I would be able to stop.

All the changes have been with my doctors support, sometimes I had to point in the direction I wanted to go, but to her credit she has supported and encouraged me.

I feel the best I have in decades. I am no longer suicidal. I have hope and I feel better about myself. What started as an effort not to kill myself has lead to the possibility that the years I have left could be useful and productive.

I wish you all the best on your journey. Changing anything can be hard let alone something that has so completely hijacked ones brain chemistry.

Be well and know that you are loved!

I am trying to do the same thing, seriquel
and Klonopin
Been on this poison for six years. I liked it at first now I can’t think I’m having trouble feeding myself. I’m thinking I may have to go into a nursing home
I’m only 63 I’m now also on gabapentin
However, I need to grab a pen I have injured my left arm. Have you found any help yet?

Your story is amazing and I wish you all of the best. You are a very good writer too!

I was on 6 mgs Xanax- down to 2 mgs daily at the moment. Thanks 4 sharing this!!!!