@TheDanishGirl, don't want to scare you, but I'm going to and sorry to spoil the party. When I belonged to the group BenzoBuddies there was a woman on the forum who was taking the benzo Xanax. I don't know how much she was taking, but I think it had got to the stage where it wasn't helping her fall asleep and giving her insomnia. So she was drinking wine to help her with sleep. One morning her husband couldn't wake her up!! She died in her sleep. There's a reason why they say don't consume alcohol with benzos and antipressants!! I think she was taking 2 mgs.
Benzo Withdrawal — Does This Look Like a Reasonable Plan?
- Thread starter TheDanishGirl
- Start date
What benzo are you on, and how long have you been taking it?
If you have been on one very long, this looks pretty fast to me. Those quarter pill reductions are pretty large in percentage terms, and they become larger as the dose gets smaller. However, to do it slower, you would need the help of your doctor as it can take quite a while to stop if you do it very slowly, and your doctor must be willing to prescribe the drug during that time. Some will, and some won't. The fact that you need alcohol to cope with the symptoms should be a red flag.
Member- May 7, 2015
- 1,063
- Tinnitus Since
- 29.09/2014
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Acoustic trauma using headphones
Combination of benzo and alcohol is one of the most hardcore drug abuse one can do! Been there, done that. And now I´m suffering for it! Groundhog day for 2,5 years!
I just wanted to add everyone is different. My husband is 6 ft tall and weighs 190 lbs. and I am 5ft 3 and weigh 115 lbs. A 10 mg muscle relaxer sleep wise did nothing for him but 1/4 of the same muscle relaxer knocked me out all night and I was groggy in the morning. A low dose benzo knocks me out also. Would probably take a horse tranquilizer to knock him out. But just wanted you to know to just be very very careful!!!
Maybe, but I was also very stressed yesterday and had no spike....now it has definitly raised in volume, it sounds twice as loud
Tinnitus has a direct impact on the way that we think and vice versa. Anything that we can do to relax and be calm will usually lower our perception of the tinnitus. I know I refer to the early days of tinnitus quite a lot, because many people in this time period do feel stressed and negative about this condition. To counter this try and distract yourself by doing things that you find interesting as there will be times when the tinnitus doesn't feel so intrusive.
As I mentioned to you on tinnitus chat, when you're able to, read the success stories from other members in the "positivity thread". If you have a printer, print a few that you like and place then in a folder for future reference. I mention this because it's important to reinforce "positive" thinking. As laborious as this seems it works. Reading positive messages and success stories can help uplift us even in the down times. I have written positivity posts and advise you and other readers of this thread, to access them in my "started threads" and read them often. Either print them or send them to your Kindle book reader (if you have one) or mobile phone, where they can be read regularly on the move. These documents and success stories are therapy and helps to condition the mind into moving forwards with a positive mindset. It takes time and patience but the rewards come eventually.
The same way positivity has an impact on the mind and can be uplifting. Negativity has an impact too and can bring us down. I am not saying never to be negative because that's just not possible, but everything has to be kept in balance. Try not to let negativity become all consuming.
Michael
- May 24, 2017
- 1,622
- Tinnitus Since
- 05/2017 (H since 06/2017)
- Cause of Tinnitus
- long term noise exposure (headphones), maybe some stress.
Sadly that does not scare me, because that would be my greatest wish (besides being tinnitus free) to just die in my sleep and never having to fight anymore.
- May 24, 2017
- 1,622
- Tinnitus Since
- 05/2017 (H since 06/2017)
- Cause of Tinnitus
- long term noise exposure (headphones), maybe some stress.
Suffering how?? I have had a couple glasses of wine like 3 times during my time with T. I dont think I will turn into an alcoholic any time soon.
- May 7, 2015
- 1,063
- Tinnitus Since
- 29.09/2014
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Acoustic trauma using headphones
Mixing the two will, in my opinion, over time, speed up the down regulation of our GABA-receptors.
Possible result: tremors, anxiety(ten fold), body ache and spike T and H.
Its just a bad mix, is all. To easy to fall in love with too!
It´s also specially important avoid alcohol, when tapering from benzo.
Possible result: tremors, anxiety(ten fold), body ache and spike T and H.
Its just a bad mix, is all. To easy to fall in love with too!
It´s also specially important avoid alcohol, when tapering from benzo.
As I have mentioned in my previous post. I am not advocating the taking of alcohol and medicines to anyone. We are all different. Tinnitus can be a very debilitating condition when it is severe. Sometimes a person needs to do what they feel to do. What might work for them might not for another. I was prescribed benzo (clonazepam) in 2010 and only took it when my tinnitus was severe. However, for the first few weeks took it regularly once every other day and then as required.
I was advised of its addictive nature and in seven years, never had a problem with it, and found it very helpful in lowering my tinnitus when severe. Occasionally I have drank alcohol and had no ill effects but only take clonazepam a maximum of up to 3 days. Your information may indeed be true but not exactly helpful in this instance. Unfortunately, negative advice such as this, rarely helps someone when they are going through a difficult time and trying to find a little happiness just for an evening to bring some normality back into their life.
Michael
- May 7, 2015
- 1,063
- Tinnitus Since
- 29.09/2014
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Acoustic trauma using headphones
To inform about the dangerous nature of mixing alcohol and benzo is hardly a negative advice.
Pissing your pants in the Siberian cold will also give you a little happiness, but very short lived.
I agree, one will react differently, and it is a question of quantities and duration.
I don´t dare to advcocate any other way myself regarding benzo alone.
Its a two -edged sword.
But I dare to strongly advice against mixing it with alcohol, especially during a benzo-taper(relevant to the author) as I know it will prolong and fuck up the withdrawal no matter how severe it is!
- May 7, 2015
- 1,063
- Tinnitus Since
- 29.09/2014
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Acoustic trauma using headphones
I´m really sorry St. Michael.
That f-word certainly was´nt called for and I can see how it would offend you.
Seriously, I can see how:
"Fuck you" or "fuck off", would be considered a profanity and not suitable on this forum.
But "fuck up" as regards to "disturbing a process", I can not!
So pretty please, with sugar on top, get the fuck down from your high horse and continue with your supposedly "positive thinking"-stories and TRT-advertising.
- Aug 29, 2015
- 7,072
- Tinnitus Since
- 2004
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Meniere's Disease
@grate_biff ,
Please could you edit your post as it's not nice to read swearing.
The forum members range from young children 12-13 up to the elderly.
I have asked you nicely .
Love glynis
Please could you edit your post as it's not nice to read swearing.
The forum members range from young children 12-13 up to the elderly.
I have asked you nicely .
Love glynis
fishbone
Member
- May 5, 2016
- 2,594
- Tinnitus Since
- 1988
- Cause of Tinnitus
- loud noise and very bad sickness
Grate does have a point. mixing benzos + liquor is not a good choice at all.
I don't see where and why all the cussing is coming from. Toning it a bit down does help, people on this forum are very sensitive and don't need negative stimulus like this....
I don't see where and why all the cussing is coming from. Toning it a bit down does help, people on this forum are very sensitive and don't need negative stimulus like this....
- May 7, 2015
- 1,063
- Tinnitus Since
- 29.09/2014
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Acoustic trauma using headphones
- May 24, 2017
- 1,622
- Tinnitus Since
- 05/2017 (H since 06/2017)
- Cause of Tinnitus
- long term noise exposure (headphones), maybe some stress.
Just to let you guys know.....I reduced my daily dosis from two halfs of a pill, to only 1, about a week ago, and it has been a great succes.....absolutely no withdraval symptoms! 
In a few weeks I will try to only take a half pill every second day, and then I will eventually let go of it completely.
In a few weeks I will try to only take a half pill every second day, and then I will eventually let go of it completely.
@TheDanishGirl
That's good news. I hope that you don't mind me saying the following and only mentioning this, as I know you have been through a difficult time but have made good progress. Please follow the advice of your doctor regarding reducing the benzo medication. I would prefer you not to come off it completely for a while and adhere to a low maintenance dose. You are still in the early stages of tinnitus. I don't mean to be a killjoy but talk from experience as tinnitus can be very unpredictable in the early stages. It can be a delicate process and takes time for habituation to be reached, so please take things easy.
I wish you well.
Michael
PS: taking the clonazepam every second day is a good approach when you feel the time is right.
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