Benzos

[David S]

Here is a comparison of different benzos (from a Scandinavian University hospital). Believe all of us want to face those out but in the beginning they could be your only way to cope.

For the first 4-5 weeks I was on
50mg Zolfot
25mg Sobril
7,5mg Zopiclone

Now I managed to get down to
50mg Zoloft
15mg Sobril

The Zopiclone is short lived, it just gave me a few hours of sleep. It was not worth it, so I decided not taking them anymore. Also as you can see they are equal to my daily dose of 15mg sobril. Now I am on 5mg Sobril 3 times a day. I terms of sleep 5mg sobril at night are doing a better job. Typically they give me 5-6 hours sleep and better REM. Alos it felt like I was taking extra sobril during the day just to compensate for the Zopiclone. Will try to get rid of the Sobril the next 4-6 weeks.

 

[LadyDi]

I will tell you that in the beginning, alprazolam (Xanax) saved my life. I think the secret to benzos is keep the dose as low as possible and taper off as soon as possible.

However, goes without saying that zopiclone, zoloft and zolpidem aren't benzos although they are used in a similar way sometimes. Again, this is tricky chemistry best overseen by a mental health professional, not a GP.

 

[My T Sucks]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...
Benzos are dangerous medications that should always be taken with caution. This chemical has an uncanny ability to stealth fully remove you from yourself. I'm not saying that there's not a place for them in the prescribing world but they were never meant to be taken for long periods of time. MD's are too willing to hand these out like Pez without forewarning their patients of the potential risks associated with long term use and cessation syndrome that may follow including protracted T which, for many of you on this forum, was the reason they may have been prescribed in the first place.

 

[yonkapin]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...
Benzos are dangerous medications that should always be taken with caution. This chemical has an uncanny ability to stealth fully remove you from yourself. I'm not saying that there's not a place for them in the prescribing world but they were never meant to be taken for long periods of time. MD's are too willing to hand these out like Pez without forewarning their patients of the potential risks associated with long term use and cessation syndrome that may follow including protracted T which, for many of you on this forum, was the reason they may have been prescribed in the first place.

I agree, they are very tricky to deal with and most GPs don't provide the appropriate supervision needed to use these medications responsibly. Many more doctors have no idea about the impact the benzodiazepine withdrawal can have on certain individuals and people unknowingly get caught up in a vicious cycle of dependency.

They have their place and can be very useful when things get out of hand, but make sure you work with a doctor who has a clear plan and won't let things get out of hand.

 

[My T Sucks]

I agree, they are very tricky to deal with and most GPs don't provide the appropriate supervision needed to use these medications responsibly. Many more doctors have no idea about the impact the benzodiazepine withdrawal can have on certain individuals and people unknowingly get caught up in a vicious cycle of dependency.

They have their place and can be very useful when things get out of hand, but make sure you work with a doctor who has a clear plan and won't let things get out of hand.

I wish I did just that. I can unequivocally attest to the fact that all my T woes were as a result of benzo cessation syndrome. I've had baseline T for as long as I can remember and had happily acclimated to it. But now...this is torturous with no end in sight. My guess is that it's a permanent footprint made in my brain that says "big pharma wuz here".

 

[kenji]

is there a medication to counteract ringing ,besides benzos

 

[RaZaH]

I absolutely hate this stuff and would rather suffer than take as much as ONE more hellpill .
Pretty much ruined my life, my ears and my personality.

Make sure to taper from this stuff.

 

[SleeplessSoul]

I cut my one Ativan in half last week and the t is screeching. I don't want to go back to the whole pill

I also take on .5 clonopin at night for sleep, fibro, muscle twitching.

My t was never this loud before I tapered. What did I do and is there any going back now? Will it fade or just keep getting worse with the taper?

 

[Johnster]

I have been on Benzos for almost 3 weeks. It has been a major game changer for me. I can actually function now. I have heard people taking it for 8 years, but I have read that the longest usage should be 9 weeks. This is really confusing. I am really freaked out about 'turning back into a pumpkin' if I stop taking Benzos. (I am on a low dose of Clonazipan) I've read that benzos halt habituation while on them. How do you know when to go off of it? How do you know if you are addicted? What's the alternative?

 

[ruben ruiz]

Benzos are a catch 22. I know a man who takes 6 mg of alprozalam a day.
My life is done, I dont see how I can get out of this. I have so much more left.

 

[physics13]

benzas are terrible you have an 84% increased risk of Alzheimer's
www.bmj.com

 

[SleeplessSoul]

I am on a low dose but for many years. Damage probably done.
Don't know how to press onward.
Tried to taper and got much worse. Stuck in hell now. T is so loud I can't mask it at night. Losing sleep, weight, hope and the will to live.

 

[SleeplessSoul]

@Kaelon ; this isn't in the right thread but I don't know if I told you I cut my one dose of Ativan in half three weeks ago and my t went nuts and won't settle down. I can't taper Anymore because of the t and I can't updose because I don't think it will reverse it

@Kaelon I think I did permanent damage. The audiologist didn't think so but said go back to your whole pill to see if that settles it down but I don't dare. Thoughts on benzo induced t?

 

[physics13]

klonopin slows down thinking speed I think by holding these neuron gates open so they are flooded with GABA. it seems to permanently damage the nerve signals for hearing.
www.bmj.com
84% Alzheimer's

my ears feel really congested and numb, is there anything for that. I mean you end up in a terrible situation having to consider taking nuvigil or provigil then but it's permanent damage from klonopin

 

[FlyFish]

If I could go back to the day my Dr put me on benzos daily for T I would have run out of his office so fast it would have broken windows.

Now I can't run, or work, or do anything as benzos destroyed my CNS. Take as needed and use sparingly or not at all.

 

[linearb]

my ears feel really congested and numb, is there anything for that. I mean you end up in a terrible situation having to consider taking nuvigil or provigil then but it's permanent damage from klonopin

I wouldn't be too worried about permanent damage. I've communicated with a loooooot of other people who have discontinued benzos after long term use.

It may take years, but people generally do end up feeling like they healed from the experience.

That said,

If I could go back to the day my Dr put me on benzos daily for T I would have run out of his office so fast it would have broken windows.

I also agree with this sentiment wholeheartedly.

 

[SoulStation]

I wouldn't be too worried about permanent damage. I've communicated with a loooooot of other people who have discontinued benzos after long term use.

It may take years, but people generally do end up feeling like they healed from the experience.

That said,

I also agree with this sentiment wholeheartedly.

I am coming off of like 6 years of using ativan (started pre t) .
I hate this shit and can't wait till I'm off of it. I am scared I may have really messed up my brain and CNS . I trust your knowledge on the subject as I know you have gotten off some benzos over the years... any advice? I'm down to .9 mg and am planning a 10% reduction every two weeks...
Thanks in advance.
sS

 

[Geo]

If I could go back to the day my Dr put me on benzos daily for T I would have run out of his office so fast it would have broken windows.

Now I can't run, or work, or do anything as benzos destroyed my CNS. Take as needed and use sparingly or not at all.

did u burn your cns from years of benzos?? dumb question but what exactly happens when you burn your cns what do you go through if you dont mind me asking.

 

[FlyFish]

Geo,
Benzos are not supposed to be prescribed for more than a few weeks. Many patients build up a tolerance to these drugs meaning you either have to take more of it to get the same effect or your body starts to have withdrawals even at the therapeautic dose. Benzos work by binding to your GABA receptors and they also depress the CNS. This can also lead to severe depression as in my case too. After a few weeks of use your brain says, "hey, I can stop producing GABA since Mr Benzo is doing it for me" and the receptors down-regulate. GABA is also involved in the complex mechanisms of your serotonin and norepinephrine receptors as well and when things turn ugly, your whole CNS gets dysregulated. In many cases, the very symptoms for which you started taking benzos become the symtoms of tolerance...only many times worse.

I am trying to taper and having severe withdrawal side effects. I was started on benzos in April 2014 and started getting sick in June. I thought I had MS and starting having an array of neurologic disorders. I figured it out in October and started tapering. Google up benzodiazepine withdrawal. It is 10 times worse than heroin. Not everyone will experience this...but if you do, the gates of hell will open. I would severe a limb to free of tinnitus...but benzo withdrawal is far worse. And there is no way to ease the suffering. My neuromuscular system is in horrific pain, my tinnitus is back only worse, my vision changes hourly, severe depression, anxiety I can't put into words, skin issues, constipation, etc. I am now on disability. 16 months ago I was a 5-mile/day runner. Now I can barely walk.

My Dr should have Rx'd as needed not as a daily med.

 

[Inge]

Flyfish,
I feel exactly like you. I have been in benzo detox hell for 9 months now with no end in sight. My fibromyalgia pain is off the charts, paired with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, spasms and of course the big T. F my life