[bewise93]

For anyone that has read some of my posts, i was taken off my valium and ativan suddenly by a psych nurse who was kind of ignorant. I have been off them for about a month and have gone from panic, agorophobia, depressipn, drinking, hypomania, irritability, to going on multiple walks a day with my dog, being more focused, having mild anxiety, and feeling pretty good. The gp was kind of shocked about the nurse practitioner so he said today that he would put me back on them. Its tempting. But i feel better. I still have problems with keeping a clean home, but thats getting better too. I could request PRN, but even that is going to get me to want to take my lrevious full dose. I dont know what to do.

[Sunflower123]

You could tell the pdoc you want to hold off for now but keep the options open for taking them at a later time should you need them.

[RedDawn]

I spent the last six months of 2016 titrating down off way too many benzos that my pdoc seemed to use for everything. Sleep. Anxiety. An add on to my mood stabilizers.

It was my choice to come off all of it, and it wasn't a ton of fun, but I'm incredibly happy I did it.

I'm cognitively clearer, I have more motivation, I have more ambition and I've spent less time depressed.

I have some serious sleep issues right now and I'm working hard to curb my anxiety, but it's still worth it to be off the benzos.

[Travelinglady]

It's best if you can do well without them, so you can ask to hold off and try to find other ways to deal with benzo-related issues, IMHO.

You got off the benzo, you improved, so I don't see what there is to consider. Why take something you do not need ya know? If your functioning went up after stopping the benzo, I'd say they were holding you back and were not the correct medication for you. Stick with what you are doing and you sound like you will be a-ok. If you can't trust yourself to take the PRN as instructed then it's not the best choice to have one. Keep on keepin on.

[CloserToTheMid]

I'm so much better off those pills. And the temptation to abuse them was too high for me. Take that nurse's unwelcome interference as a blessing.

[~Christina]

I was off Valium for about 6 months. I did go back on it for a couple reasons , I have incredible problems sleeping it helps a bit with that but more so it helps with my fibromyalgia, just diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and my rheumatologist is happy I am taken it since it's almost impossible to get actual pain meds which I would not want anyway.

Benzo meds have a place for some situations.

[WildcatVet]

Stay clean if you can...healthier mind and body...benzos were never meant for long term use and can have terrible long term effects.

[Guiness187055]

You sound like your through the worst of it. Why take two steps back when you have already taken a step further.

[RedDawn]

I don't want anyone to misread my comment as anti-benzo.

I want people to have access to the meds they need. Full stop.

That said, if you can make it work without benzos, I think you're better off.

Benzos come with risk. If you feel better without them, why take that risk?

My p doc won't prescribe them, and my regular doc had negative response to these. I guess all docs are different as are patients.

[*Laurie*]

The thing with benzos is that you might be fine off them for a while...months, even. But if your anxiety returns, it can come slamming back with a vengeance. If been on Klonopin for over 20 years and gone through the off/on situation several times. If I were you, I'd make it clear to your pdoc that should your anxiety return, if it's anxiety that's overpowering, you will consider at least a prn prescription for a benzo.

Originally Posted by bewise93

For anyone that has read some of my posts, i was taken off my valium and ativan suddenly by a psych nurse who was kind of ignorant. I have been off them for about a month and have gone from panic, agorophobia, depressipn, drinking, hypomania, irritability, to going on multiple walks a day with my dog, being more focused, having mild anxiety, and feeling pretty good. The gp was kind of shocked about the nurse practitioner so he said today that he would put me back on them. Its tempting. But i feel better. I still have problems with keeping a clean home, but thats getting better too. I could request PRN, but even that is going to get me to want to take my lrevious full dose. I dont know what to do.

I’m a AS FEW MEDS AS POSSIBLE guy. You feel better without the benzodiazepines, you’ve already been through withdrawal; I don’t know why you’d want to get back on them?

You don’t know what to do? Sure you do!

You’re no addict? That crap is addictive. You’re off. Stay off.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by ciderguy

I’m a AS FEW MEDS AS POSSIBLE guy. You feel better without the benzodiazepines, you’ve already been through withdrawal; I don’t know why you’d want to get back on them?

You don’t know what to do? Sure you do!

You’re no addict? That crap is addictive. You’re off. Stay off.

Hopefully and for the most part - absolutely.

A problem that can happen with benzos is that anxiety and/or panic can reappear and be completely disabling, even physically disabling. For example, I have recently had to slightly increase my Klonopin dose because of a painful condition the anxiety is causing my body to have. There is nothing to turn to except a benzo. (Yes, I meditate...have for 36 years...practice breathwork, etc.- It all helps, but I still awaken with disabling panic and physical symptoms.)

There are good, solid reasons for sometimes using benzos. When my sister was battling cancer, she couldn't get sleep because she was having panic attacks. Benzos allowed her to sleep and to get rest.

Emotional addiction and physical dependence are two different things. And so on.

[Fuzzybear]

Benzos are the only med I'm not allergic to

I suspect that if they stopped the benzos I'd be further into the ****

[RedDawn]

There is a difference between habituation and addiction.

The body become used to having benzos and adjust accordingly. There is serious withdrawal if benzos are stopped quickly. This is habituation.

Addiction requires a psychological component.

This is not a slam at all on people who suffer from addiction, but just because your body is physically used to benzos doesn't mean you're an addict.

[bewise93]

Originally Posted by RedDawn

There is a difference between habituation and addiction.

The body become used to having benzos and adjust accordingly. There is serious withdrawal if benzos are stopped quickly. This is habituation.

Addiction requires a psychological component.

This is not a slam at all on people who suffer from addiction, but just because your body is physically used to benzos doesn't mean you're an addict.

i

I agree completely. I think i should start out with a prn valium or ativan. Just for severe anxiety. And see how that works. I have lived without benzos b4, but it was kind of difficult.