1. < Depression & Anxiety

Protracted Benzo withdrawal

Posted by aarniek @aarniek, Oct 30, 2016

Taken of 8mg of Ativan daily in 3 weeks and suffering terribly nearly 4 years now! Unable to walk ,have insane muscle tightness,no memory,tinnius is unbearable,unable to picture things in my mind ! After 45 months it’s worse than ever and 2 neurologists have tried only medications which all made me even worse!

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rosa66 | @rosa66 | Jun 14, 2022
In reply to @rpcollier "I just want to offer some hope to all of you who are suffering withdrawal side..." + (show)
@rpcollier

I just want to offer some hope to all of you who are suffering withdrawal side effects from benzodiazepines and Ssri's. I am finally feeling well. The RLS and tactile sensations on my feet and legs have subsided. It just took time. I am now sleeping well and feeling more confident that I have passed through the worst of this. I have stopped drinking alcohol as well. I believe that the rls was benzo withdrawal and the tactile pins and needles were from ssri withdrawal. Listen to your body. I refused to take Gabapentin or other heavy duty meds and just gave my body time to heal. I had been on benzos and ssris for 15 years. I am 73. Thank you and be kind to yourselves. Keep the faith.

Jump to this post

How did you taper the benzo?
I’ve been on ambien 5 and Ativan .25 three x/day for 7 weeks after Paxil WD crisis. They never told me about getting off them
I’m so afraid

REPLY
rosa66 | @rosa66 | Jun 14, 2022
In reply to @laurine7 "I am so sorry about your son. Unfortunately, I feel that to get off of Benzodiazepines..." + (show)
@laurine7

I am so sorry about your son. Unfortunately, I feel that to get off of Benzodiazepines you MUST have a Dr. Experienced with tapering. I went Cold Turkey after taking Lorazepam for over 10 years (very angry with the Dr. who prescribed them for so long) I was in terrible shape when I called my Primary Care Dr at 4:30 AM and got a prescription. I was then on 4 different medications to get through the withdrawal. I have been on Clonazepam for 8-1/2 months with a psychiatrist on ZOOM. She has made no plan for tapering and I just tapered myself. I am obsessed with researching about all the drugs I have been on to get off the one Benzodiazepine. I cannot stress enough to read, read, and read before making any decisions on the future of your son. You are your own best advocate. I know I will get better after looking back at where I was. That Dr. should be culpable for malpractice. Thank God I found Connect Mayo Clinic, it's been a WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND ADVICE.

Jump to this post

I need help!
I’m on ambien 5 mgs and Ativan .25 three x/day for 7 weeks….
They never told me about benzo’s, tapering, etc.
I had to go to the hospital may 3, terrible reaction to trying Celexa after 9 months of incredible withdrawal from Paxil which had worked well for 25 years then pooped out. Psych took me off too fast I found out later. Obsessive thinking and rumination about these drugs and so afraid. I’m in a small town and only have a psych nurse who wants me to taper Ativan with Hydroxyzine. And get off ambien with trazedobe. Researching that says Hydroxyzine makes you sleepy but doesn’t help tapering. Benzo sites say to cross over to Valium then taper that….can’t get in to a psych 3 hrs away for months and not sure if they taper properly….there is no way in my mental state that I can crush, weigh Ativan powder and I’m in deep despair.
And how to taper ambien?
Which one first?
I’m also on Primidone a phenobarb for essential tremor and the A and A say don’t use with other CNS suppressants….all three are a terrible mix😫
I’m so scared

REPLY
rosa66 | @rosa66 | Jun 14, 2022

Please tell me about your cross taper to Valium to get off the benzo!

I’m on ambien 5 mgs and Ativan .25 three x/day for 7 weeks….
They never told me about benzo’s, tapering, etc.
I had to go to the hospital may 3, terrible reaction to trying Celexa after 9 months of incredible withdrawal from Paxil which had worked well for 25 years then pooped out. Psych took me off too fast I found out later. Obsessive thinking and rumination about these drugs and so afraid. I’m in a small town and only have a psych nurse who wants me to taper Ativan with Hydroxyzine. And get off ambien with trazedobe. Researching that says Hydroxyzine makes you sleepy but doesn’t help tapering. Benzo sites say to cross over to Valium then taper that….can’t get in to a psych 3 hrs away for months and not sure if they taper properly….there is no way in my mental state that I can crush, weigh Ativan powder and I’m in deep despair.
And how to taper ambien?
Which one first?
I’m also on Primidone a phenobarb for essential tremor and the A and A say don’t use with other CNS suppressants….all three are a terrible mix😫
I’m so scared

REPLY
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