[Fuzzybear]

I've decided to cut down on benzos. I'm not sure that they are helping much any more. I've been taking them every night for 10 plus years. I was taking the equivalent of 3 x 10mg temazepam/(Restoril?) at night.

For the pasts 2 weeks I have only taken one temazepam (or 5mg diazepam) at night, most nights. Some nights I have taken two. I am not feeling any ill effects from this.

The GP surgery had told me a while back they wished to stop my benzos. I was not happy with this as they offered no alternative (I'm allergic to seroquel). I have not been back. I am trying to do this without their input (which from past experience would be minimal)

Someone else in this forum had mentioned (I think) how it can be scary when doctors try to stop meds we need (such as benzos or pain meds) I agree. But now I think I want to reduce the benzos, for me. I have found I have quite severe rebound anxiety and depression from them during the day. This now seems to be less. I wonder if this is because of the reduced dosage (?)

Sorry about the long post. I noticed a post in the check in thread in this forum re cutting down on benzos, and as I am already trying to cut down, I thought I would post this.

Love all around

[Soupe du jour]

I hope your benzo reductions go well, Fuzzy. If you start to feel very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, you can always add just a little more for a while and then reduce a bit again. That's how it worked for me when I was slowly weaned off of Ativan. You can do it, though! It sometimes just takes patience.

[fern46]

I want to wish you well with this. I know benzo use is a difficult choice due to the difficulty of stopping. No words of advice other than to take it slow and trust your body. Much love to you Fuzzy!

[Fuzzybear]

Thanks for the support Soupe du jour and fern. I appreciate it!

[Fuzzybear]

Maybe it would have been better if I'd put benzo tapering in the title.

I seem to be cutting down quicker than is generally recommended. I guess I'll find out if I'm tapering too quickly.

My dose is 30mg temazepam or 15mg diazepam a day.

[MuddyBoots]

I hope it goes well, Fuzzy

[Fuzzybear]

Thanks Sapien!

[Fuzzybear]

Grrrrrrrrrr I wasn't tired so came onto the computer. Not a good idea. Two things have made me feel like SHYT... One diazepam tonight..

[Breaking Dawn]

Good luck with your tapering, Fuzzybear! Hugs & love to you!!

[*Beth*]

Thank you, Fuzzy, for starting this thread. I am grateful to you for providing a place for information and support.

So, my clonazepam (Klonopin) story.

I was initially prescribed Klonopin in 1990 for anxiety. At that time, I was told that the medication was an entirely safe anxiolytic, an "upgraded valium". The belief was that any time a patient wanted to stop taking it, no problem. Just stop.

I was on Klonopin for about a year and it was really helpful with lowering anxiety. I stopped taking it because SSRI's were becoming popular as both anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds. I started taking an SSRI.

Then some years later (I was around 37) someone prescribed Klonopin for me and I was fine with that. It was helpful for 2 or 3 years, but I had to increase the dose for the med to remain effective.

Around that time mental health providers came down hard on benzos because of the potential for dependence and/or abuse. It was a huge change, and definitely not what I had been told by my first prescriber.

Twice I tried to stop taking Klonopin. The first time I tried to stop it over a 1 month period. I was so ill that I couldn't walk from my bedroom to my car in the driveway; my legs were so shaky and I felt so sick. I gave up and went back on the Klonopin.

The second time I tried to stop over a period of a year. I shaved tiny bits off each tablet. So bit by tiny bit I managed to get down to 1mg, then to 1.5 mgs. At that point I started having severe anxiety. I don't know if the anxiety was from titrating the K-pin down, but I decided it wasn't the best time to continue with my withdrawal.

Yesterday I spoke with my pdoc and told her that I would like to come off Klonopin. I know that my body is dependent upon it, but that it isn't doing anything beneficial for my mental health anymore, and hasn't for many years.

I am so lucky because my pdoc is supportive and has come up with a plan for me. What I'll be doing is choosing 1 day of the week and, on that day, I will take my usual 1mg. A.M. dose, but will take only 3/4 of my (usual) 1mg. bedtime dose.

I'll see how I feel during that week. For the first month I'll reduce the amount by only 1/4 per week. And so on from there.

It will be slow, but it's a start. I have hope that - even if it takes 5 years - I will eventually be able to stop taking a benzo.

[Fuzzybear]

I read somewhere that some people's bodies do not become as physically dependent on benzos as others (as in its easier for some to taper right down and even stop the meds). I don't know if that is true. I hope so, I'm not having any bad effects yet (after 2 weeks of a reduced dose). I had a terrible time withdrawing from Paxil. I tried to stop it several times. Eventually I had put on so much weight I just tapered off and put up with the severe anxiety .... (much worse than the anxiety I had had before I started taking it) I was taking the benzos still... they were prescribed together with the Paxil.

[*Beth*]

I hope you have as easy a taper as possible, Fuzzy.


Withdrawing from SSRI's was always a nightmare for me. But, eventually it happened.

[Coolbreeze74]

When I came off lorazepam I was switched to diazepam. Then I went off that 2 mgs once a month. It took about 9 months. But now I have 3-6 hour long panic attacks. Just a warning. I was on 2mgs a night of lorazepam for 7 yrs....

[bpcyclist]

Hugs, Fuzzy!!

[Fuzzybear]

I took one diazepam again last night/this morning. All is well.....

[fern46]

So glad to hear it.

This video came out today. I thought it might have something useful for anxiety should you have any rebound anxiety.

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I hope you have as easy a taper as possible, Fuzzy.


Withdrawing from SSRI's was always a nightmare for me. But, eventually it happened.

Thanks Beth. Withdrawing from the Paxil was definitely a nightmare. I was reading some reviews and information on that med last night (very mixed reviews, as with other meds probably) There was a site online some years ago which was exclusively for withdrawing from Paxil. I did not join but read there occasionally. There was a lot of information there (and support... etc...) Some people posted there for 10 plus years if I recall correctly (but I could be wrong)

I did not withdraw from it with liquid titrations as was recommended on that site. I doubt if that option would have been available in this country (and if it was........

(edited)

I think the official line is still that Paxil is ''not addictive'' and that withdrawals last >>?? I do not know. It's a while since I read any official info re this. I am hoping the benzo withdrawal will not be as rough... or maybe it will be ''worse''...

I'm going to dance a bit to try to get some of this.... stuff... out of my head.

Love to all


ETA Papa bear has been at home all day. We had a ''visitor'' today.... (mending our loo).

He does not want me to talk (this will probably be so for the rest of this day)

I had asked him if he would read this post to check for typos .. etc.

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by Coolbreeze74

When I came off lorazepam I was switched to diazepam. Then I went off that 2 mgs once a month. It took about 9 months. But now I have 3-6 hour long panic attacks. Just a warning. I was on 2mgs a night of lorazepam for 7 yrs....

I'm sorry. That sounds very rough...

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

Hugs, Fuzzy!!

Thanks bpcyclist. Hugs to you!

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by fern46

So glad to hear it.

This video came out today. I thought it might have something useful for anxiety should you have any rebound anxiety.

Thanks for this fern

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

Thanks Beth. Withdrawing from the Paxil was definitely a nightmare. I was reading some reviews and information on that med last night (very mixed reviews, as with other meds probably) There was a site online some years ago which was exclusively for withdrawing from Paxil. I did not join but read there occasionally. There was a lot of information there (and support... etc...) Some people posted there for 10 plus years if I recall correctly (but I could be wrong)

I did not withdraw from it with liquid titrations as was recommended on that site. I doubt if that option would have been available in this country (and if it was........

SSRI's are notoriously difficult to withdraw from (but most pdocs refuse to believe that) - unless you cross over immediately to another SSRI.


(edited)

I think the official line is still that Paxil is ''not addictive'' and that withdrawals last >>?? I do not know. It's a while since I read any official info re this. I am hoping the benzo withdrawal will not be as rough... or maybe it will be ''worse''...
Yes...


I'm going to dance a bit to try to get some of this.... stuff... out of my head.

Love to all


And to you


ETA Papa bear has been at home all day. We had a ''visitor'' today.... (mending our loo).

He does not want me to talk (this will probably be so for the rest of this day)


Why doesn't he want you to talk? Maybe because he has no loo right now

I had asked him if he would read this post to check for typos .. etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[bizi]

I am hoping for a smooth detox from klonipin for you.
I only take 1mg for sleep at night.
I don't know the equivalent dose of the diazapam.
My provider took me off with out a taper and
I freaked out. I could not sleep.

how is your sleep going?
Now I have a new provider and gave me my klonipin back.
you are being very brave in wanting to do this.
I assumed it was your choice or is this your providers decision?
((((((HUGS)))))))
bizi

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by bizi

I am hoping for a smooth detox from klonipin for you.
I only take 1mg for sleep at night.
I don't know the equivalent dose of the diazapam.
My provider took me off with out a taper and
I freaked out. I could not sleep.

how is your sleep going?
Now I have a new provider and gave me my klonipin back.
you are being very brave in wanting to do this.
I assumed it was your choice or is this your providers decision?
((((((HUGS)))))))
bizi

Thank you, bizi. One of my greatest fears has been that a provider would take me off Klonopin with no taper, or too fast of a taper. I'm so sorry you went through that. It's dangerous. I have read many times that Klonopin is more difficult, and much more risky, to stop taking than heroin is. From friends I've had and people I've known I believe it.

My sleep is not good, but I haven't yet cut back on the K-pin. I take a small amount of Seroquel and ZzzQuil to sleep. Those help.

It is my choice. I'm tired of taking a medication that isn't helping me in any way anymore. I would have to take 6mg. of K-pin all at once for it to affect me.

[bizi]

Hi fuzzy, how is it going?
how long in between tapers?
how slowly can you go?

I hope it goes smoothly for you.
when my pdoc took me off the klonipin that I had been on for years because I drank....I could not sleep.
How is your sleeping?
much affection to you,
bizi

[Fuzzybear]

Hi Bizi and Beth and all,

I decided to taper as the temazepam was not working as well as it used to and this month my supplies were running very low (fang appointments etc). I also have diazepam prescribed.

The taper is going well at the moment. I took 5mg diazepam last night ... and also 2 piriton which are also prescribed for allergies.

The prescribed dose was (/is) higher than this, 30mg temazepam at night or 3 x 5mg diazepam.

I have also heard of providers abruptly stopping other peoples’ benzos. I’m sorry a provider did that to you Bizi That probably factored into my decision to taper without their input.

I’ve been sleeping ok.