Survey for study on withdrawal

My experience in UK is taper off one med completely, before changing to another. I managed Paxil without tapering, just stopped it and a week later changed back to Prozac. That was 20 years ago when no-one much had recognised the problem. Anyhow, I don't remember any problems, but if I had any I would most likely have put them down to depression anyway.

I came off Zoloft without tapering too, I developed an allergy so there wasn't any choice in the matter. Again I had to do a week without meds before starting a new one. Again, I didn't have any problems, perhaps because of the recognition that another allergic reaction might kill me? Just a theory.

I've been on and off Prozac many times over the years, no problems and came off Celexa no problems either. Coming off Effexor was harder than the others but I could cope with the symptoms, bloody mindedness on my part because I wasn't having a good time with that drug anyhow. I managed five days med free and then the doc moved me back to Celexa and then on to Cymbalta (I'd only been on Celexa 10 days and he just let me change in 1 day - no tapering). So far so good with Cymbalta fingers crossed and in my case legs crossed too

You are right in my Dads case. But why did he get the click and it was easy compared to sheer will power because he knew it was life or death.

No no one close to me died or anything. I hit the proverbial bottom. Every ones bottom is different. Why was it so easy for me after that click? If you knew me before that you would know I was a serious addict who tried many many times for years to quit under all the will power I could muster. Under my own will power. As soon as I realized I couldn't do it under my own power something clicked.

There are tons that would say it was Gods direct intervention. I don't believe that myself. I believe there is some power in the universe that we don't perceive or understand but that we can tap into. Sometimes we get glimpses. There is a whole lot to the universe we can't perceive or understand. I am sure you will say that well there is some straight forward logical explanation. But in many peoples experience, myself included. logic just doesn't get it. I have had a number of experiences where logic just didn't get it.

Yep I think you're right about that one Lauliza, typical UK and its "evidence based medicine" - there's impirical evidence about serotonin syndrome but they probably count evidence on withdrawal as anecdotal because it suits them to do so.

Maybe your dad experienced some sort of hypnosis state and the doc just made the suggestion. No doubt my uncle and my father were given the same speech and nothing. My uncle is text book case of smoking=cancer=death. Just didn't have enough to fight for. If you have seen the undead on game of thrones... That would be my father. Just keeps going.

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Well this was the 1990's when she went to rehab for klonopin, but I suppose even then who knew?

We had it all over my house when I was a kid. Valium too.

she could have been on it easy 30 years ago , your focusing on when she opened up about the abuse .

I started xanax about a year ago and it was adding to my depression so i had my doctor take me off it starting last fall I started the slow taper a .25 mg drop a week from 3 mg a dya it has been a night mare ever since I t started with an awfull craving sensation for alcohol nicotine caffeine and of course xanax have had a constant uncomfortable anxious agitation shakes fine trimers and panic attacks about every tree days
And i usually have no panic attacks even before the benzos like i daid this went on for months until about a month ago i called my dr and had him put me back on .5mg twice aday. I no longer get the panic attacks but still have the cravings and uncomfortable anxious agitation but it is more managable but know i am a legal xanax addict oh and i started to drink alcohol since last fall to handle the withdrawls really bad call cuz now i have a habit of drinking like twice a week so there is a good chance i am a mild alcoholic
I have read that other people have experince withdrawls at the 2 year mark and 18 month mark and 6 month mark if only i did not get the panic attacks that drove me to drink cuz i could not take more xanax cuz that would be abusing it and i did not want to break my doctors trust
I know i am a special case here usually people do not have as hard of a time getting of xanax as I have but it has and still is hard even on a reduced dose

This article is by the same group. As I understand it the survey was for the upcoming presentation in the UK.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/feat...ion-drugs.html


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I'm sorry you are going through this. I don't know if it helps but a lot of people drop out of the system because they can't get support within the system. I personally believe it is much more common but it is much harder to get stats. People that drop out aren't as likely to be here either. I wish more were because except for a few notables it could be a more supportive and empathetic place. There are people that clearly benefit appropriately but there are also people that were medicated inappropriately and are dealing with the consequences as you unfortunately know. I know I have learned a lot. Boy I am on a lot of soap boxes today. Good thing I have to go to work.

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I don't know that I am included as a "notable" but I kind of take offense to that. I don't think anyone here on this forum would not be empathetic and supportive to someone going through serious benzo withdrawal. I have never heard anyone deny it is a very serious and horrible problem for a lot of people.

I am very empathetic to anton11415 and what he is going through and I wish there was an easy way for people to be free of benzo's. I usually refrain from commenting on it because I have such limited experience with it. I have made a few posts relating to my experience. I believe it has been Lauliza who has warned us all not to get on the benzo train. I have taken all the warnings and readings on it very seriously.

I truly hope that anton finds a way to be free of them if that is what he wants.

You're not in that list.

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Actually. I apologize. I intended to say "except for a few notables who are not very supportive". Most people are. It takes some people some dialog. The notables never learn. I suppose it's always possible. But there are well meaning people that seem more defensive. Actually I have seen this change here but in person I have had some horrible experiences with people who do not want to hear anything negative about their drugs.

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I am glad I am not on the list. Thanks for clarifying. I have not been here that long and it is unfortunate if there are notables.

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