Long Term Users Staying On Benzos.

[[wa...]]

I have been reading about quite a few older people that are taking valium and they

have all decided to stay on them.

 

Many have been taking valium for over 40 years , some take 20mg daily some are sticking at 7mg daily.

I must admit I feel confused now on whether to taper down anymore or stay where I am.

 

Anyone wish they had stayed on  or anyone decided to stay on or gone back on benzos ?

Would like to hear others thoughts on this.

[[De...]]

I have been reading about quite a few older people that are taking valium and they

have all decided to stay on them.

 

Many have been taking valium for over 40 years , some take 20mg daily some are sticking at 7mg daily.

I must admit I feel confused now on whether to taper down anymore or stay where I am.

 

Anyone wish they had stayed on  or anyone decided to stay on or gone back on benzos ?

Would like to hear others thoughts on this.

 

Hi there,

 

I had been taking my benzo for over 30 years before I tapered off and staying on them for life just wouldn't have been an option for me because I had very little quality of life during the latter years. My only chance of getting my life back was to come off the benzo so certainly going back on benzos would not be an option for me. If you remain on your current dosage almost certainly tolerance will set in after a while and if you didn't increase the dosage you then may experience withdrawal effects. If I was you, I'd continue with the taper. Were you feeling okay before you began tapering?

 

 

Debbie

[[me...]]

I'm in my mid-60's, and though I was "only" on Xanax for 13 years, I was on a high dose for anxiety/panic attacks.  I took Xanax from age 49 to 62.  When it finally dawned on me that although the drug did lessen my anxiety, its effect on my life as a whole was very negative, I decided to get off for good.  I went through a very difficult withdrawal and didn't heal completely for two years (see story below).  But to me all that was worth it because I now recognize and connect with myself as the same  person I remember from my younger years.  My creativity is returning, and everything is brighter and clearer. 

 

I know there are many older people who stay on benzos forever, and don't seem to be negatively effected by them.  Members of my own family have done this - my mom went on and off valium till her mid-80's (she took small amounts for insomnia) without any apparent problems.  My sister-in-law, who is my age, is on it for the same reason.  It's a matter of personal choice for them, but in my case the choice was clear.  I'm off and I'll stay off...

 

[[No...]]

 

      Interesting OP

 

              There are those individuals in the general population whom can and

                do take benzodiazpines intermittently throughout their lives. They suffer

                no problems,  go off and on them. Some stay on low doses for years.

 

                My husbands 95 year old Aunt was on Valium until she passed.

                My Mother took Librium during the sixties and seventies. Then

                ativan in her later years. Numerous others also

 

                None of them were sick, had symptoms on nor going off.

 

                Not everyone is affected by these medications. I believe it's pre  determined

                by our bodies individual gene make up. Not genetically passed down either.

 

                More of a "allergic reaction" to these types of medications. IMO

 

                I definitely wanted to be benzo free.

 

                Notforme

 

[Guest [he...]]

My pdoc told me she has many patients in their 70's taking 2mg. klonopin.  she even said that many have tapered with no problem.  Very encouraging, but i was in interdose wd's, so it was not even possible for me to continue, or even taper for that matter.