Benzo withdrawl or what?

Hi again to all of you!

Wow, I hav'nt been here in a LONG time. I went off on my own for a month to work on a project and have also been dealing with some pretty severe anxiety issues which may be just plain old GAD/Panic -or- drug/withdrawl induced. I'm not sure. Anyway, it's good to be back

See, back when this first started (this time around) I had something trigger my anxiety and so I took a Xanax. The next day I took another and the following day and for many days thereafter, the same thing. Then I switched to Ativan and took that every day for about 3 weeks. Then my doctor gave me a huge supply of Oxazepam and I have been taking that ever since. So I have been on benzos for about 2 months straight now and I've NEVER taken them regularly like that before!.

During this time I have begun noticing some very disturbing symptoms that seem to appear once the benzos wear off (in between doses) and this is why I'm beginning to wonder if maybe these symptoms are being caused either by the benzos (or withdrawl in between doses from them). Or maybe it's some kind of "rebound" effect or perhaps it's just my regular, old anxiety - but I doubt it because it has been coming and going steadilly for months now and hitting me very hard.

Here are my symptoms on any given day...

1) Shortness of breath or gasping for air that leaves me panicking with fright.
2) My whole body feels like it's trembling or shivering from deep within.
3) My eyes are always fuzzy, blurry or images are sometimes distorted. Also, trouble focusing sometimes.
4) I get this sensation like I can feel every heartbeat, breath, inner rumblings and everything else going on in my body and it freaks me out.
5) Spasming or some kind of heart/lung fluttering sensation going on there from time to time (this is super scary!).
6) Muscle twitching in neck, face, hands and other places (this happens only occassionally).
7) At times, when I'm trying to say something I'll get all confused and my words/sentences come out all backwards and messed up.

Can anyone here relate to any of this?

The only listed symptom that I have between doses of Xanax is #7. However, I do become withdrawn and stoop over and take very small steps. I also get a strange look on my face---like a deer in headlights, according to my family.

Hi Goose,

I reached tolerance on my daily dose of xanax and had to back off a bit and surviving it was terrible. Your symptoms of shaking inside and confusion seem especially like what I endured. The others can also be symptoms, but that doesn't mean something else is not involved.

I want to stress to you that the very best thing you can do is talk to your dr or hopefully, pdoc about this. What ever happens, do not try to cut your meds cold turkey. It's very dangerous.

I hope you feel better soon and it's nice to see you again.

January

What u describe sounds like "break through anxiety" - the effect of your benzo has worn off, and its not time for another dose. I had most of those symptoms while on Xanax. They are a short acting benzo's (as is Ativan), with a half life of 4 hours - you get max results at 2 hours, and the next 2 hours u are losing their effect. Once I got off the Xanax (HIGH DOSE) and went on Klonopin I have been panic free. I get no break thru panic and anxiety. Klonopin HAS to build up in your system. It has a long half life - from 24-50 hours (wide range due to different people and the cause of the PAD). I take 1/2 mg in the AM, and 1 1/2 mgs ( I MAY HAVE POSTED INCORRECTLY IN ANOTHER THREAD ABOUT MY DOSEAGE- I TAKE 2 MG A DAY, I MIGHT HAVE SAID 3 - SORRY ! ) at night (I really could take it all at once and it would probably do exactly the same, but since I started it this way, I have continued it). MANY days, I forget to take the morning pill - never have anxiety or panic, because of the long half life. Then I just skip that pill (meaning I do not take it at night along with regular dose at night).

I think talking to your PDoc is a good idea here ! Perhaps you should be on a longer acting benzo to prevent break through symptoms. My reference for information is in a great book : "Panic Disorder"What You Don't Know May Kill You" by Dr. William D. Kernodle. Good luck ! Hope you are soon feeling better !

Goose,
I've experienced all of the symptoms you mentioned. I've been taking Klonopin daily for about nine years, along with antidepressants and mood stabilizers for my bp disorder. At this point I'm physically dependent on the bloody benzo. Even with its long half-life, my attempts to taper off Klonopin have all met with failure. My only advice would be that it might be best to avoid getting into the habit of reaching for that bottle every day if you can. Sometimes beta-blockers -- like propranolol -- can do a good job of knocking down those sharp and disabling jabs of anxiety, too -- and they're not habit-forming. Ta. Cheshire Cat

Hello
I'm new to the forums but here is some information that might help you. I've been taking Klonopin for approx 5 months and only .25mg at night. I was on Xanax first and I felt really good for about two months until my panic returned. The truth is that Xanax does have a short half life and Klonopin is a better solution longer term. Take note that although these drugs seem to help short term they are near impossible to get off from long term. I've read that your body becomes dependent in as little as 3 days on these benzos. If your on them for panic or anxiety you should look into getting or trying an antidepressent. Most docs will start you on the benzos first because they are fast acting and start you on a antidepressent - try the SSRIs. More times than not the SSRI will start to relieve the symptoms and you can come off the benzos.
I've been on 15mg of Paxil for 4 months and it seems to work but I'm struggeling to get off the Klonopin. Over time your body will need more of the benzos. Some docs say that's not the case and some say it is. My experience is that over time you will need more to get the same effect.
The best advice I can give is find a good doctor and stick with it.

REgards and good luck.
Matt

i had terrible withdrawal from zanex in particular. i don't think this is a good drug after my experiences, many of which you have had. i even had blackout periods where i remembered nothing and i wasn't abusing it just taking the one tablet a day as prescribed. i take klonopin now 1mg./day and it does the trick. pdoc said it was a safer drug with far less problems than zanex which my reg. doc had put me on.
hope this helps...

im a bad recovering alcohlic & xanax acts just like alcohol on me. even all the next day i feel like im having alcohol withdrawals all day long & thats not good cuz the only way i used to cure alky withdrawal is to dring. anyways i take 3mg klonopins a day but i have to let a family member keep them cuz i abuse them if i have them. they work very well for me with 200mg of zoloft a day. pdoc wants me on bipolar med but i dont like any of them ive tried. anyways ive abused my klonopins before & ran out early---you talk about sick. i think benzo withdrl might be right up there with heroin. a family member was even giving me xanax to help me get thru but it has such a short half life & my body was wanting the klonopin because its also an anti convulsant for me. i sweated dry heaved chilled the brain chem gaba is dependent on the med so my brain would have waves of "feeling dry of that chemical" & i was very close to seizures i guess the xanax was enough to keep me from going into one. anyways i found some on the street to buy to get me thru to my script. the klonpn works great for my brain chem & nerves but i just have to let a family member manage it for me.