a question about kindling

[Guest [sa...]]

i don't know if this kind question is alloweed here but here it is:

 

a kindling happens only after you failed a taper while on the drug or when you c/t?

 

 

after kindling, how long will it last to the cns to come back to normal?

 

i have searched on this forum and read on the cns and cound't find a answer for this.

[[Ju...]]

A sedative hypnotic kindling 'might', (notice I said "might"), occur if a person stops, (withdraws), and then restarts a benzo.  What this means is that a subsequent withdrawal experience may be more difficult than the first or second, etc. withdrawal. 

 

People who experience this kindling phenomenon heal too.  There is no way to predict how long it will take our CNS to come back to our norm, because we all heal at different rates, (both kindled and not kindled folks).  But we do heal. 

[Guest [jc...]]

Juliea,

If there was a 20 year gap between your two withdrawals, is that still considered kindling?

[[Ju...]]

Juliea,

If there was a 20 year gap between your two withdrawals, is that still considered kindling?

 

Kindling to me is more of an experience, rather than something as concrete as the question you're asking.  It just means that a first withdrawal might be easy and then another later withdrawal might be MUCH more difficult.  So, my question to you is how does this withdrawal differ from your previous withdrawal?  If it's much harder and more severe, then yes, maybe, you might be experiencing a touch of this kindling phenomenon.  There is no way to measure this except by a previous withdrawal experience.

 

And some people who have never previously withdrawn experience pretty severe symptoms when withdrawing.  So, it's all pretty subjective.

[[Hd...]]

Hello,

I have a few of the same questions regarding kindling. I was cut c/t after abt 4 years of benzo use. During an 8 month period, the first 3 months were so horrifying, it's hard to take my thoughts back to that place! Anyway, after that I'd have waves that would last for a few weeks but always seemed a little worse than the one before. Finally, by month 8, another wave came but this time it was much worse than the initial very first experience when I was cut off. It lasted for 3 1/2 months and during that time I was hospitalized a few times and finally for two weeks where I was reinstated.

 

My question is, was I kindling during that time? And if so, does that mean that during my taper, I'm going to go thru this again and again even if I get to a point where I can jump, after that will this continue? Is it due to being hypersensitive to the drugs?

 

I'm very confused about this process so any insight would be greatly appreciated .

 

Heather

[[Ju...]]

My question is, was I kindling during that time?

 

It it was your first time stopping a benzo, then no, I can't see how you were kindling.  You were just suffering from a cold turkey cessation and hit a very difficult wave, IMO.

 

And if so, does that mean that during my taper, I'm going to go thru this again and again even if I get to a point where I can jump, after that will this continue? Is it due to being hypersensitive to the drugs?

 

It is the act of reinstating that might cause a kindling phenomenon to kick in.  Theoretically, kindling does not occur after just one withdrawal.  Yes a first withdrawal may be severe, (ESP. CT), but this is not called kindling.  But now that you're on a second withdrawal kindling might be a factor.  You just never know.  All kindling means is that a subsequent withdrawal 'may' be more severe.  A second withdrawal is in no way a guarantee that it will be more severe.  I'd just taper off and stay off this time.  I'm not certain what causes kindling, but my guess is that it's caused by our receptors being sensitized from previous benzo use.  Good luck Heather and try not to worry.

 

[[Hd...]]

Thank you so much for the insight! I truly appreciate it

 

That makes more sense now. I was thinking that I was kindling the entire time and was expecting that to start all over again and it got me a little freaked out.

 

Thanks again

Heather