I need help please

[[Un...]]

Hello. I am tapering benzos per instructions by my doctor. I have been taking .25 mg of klonopin for sleep for around 2 years and .25 zanax for breakthrough anxiety daily for about 1 year.  I recently started feeling depressed and lethargic and terrible memory problems, so I decided to quit taking these drugs and work on my sleep & anxiety with natural methods. My doctor suggested that I increase the klonopin while tapering the Xanax, but I didn't want to do that so I'm still taking .25 nightly klonopin and reduced Xanax from .25 to

1/2 if that for 14 days. I thought I was doing fine but around the time to reduce again, I started a very healthy and strict Whole foods plant based diet due to help reverse plaque in arteries and eliminated all sugar (to which I was addicted) and processed foods. Now I am having the following symptoms & I can't tell if it's the benzo withdrawal or the new "diet" :  I feel horrible in the morning & can't seem to get out of bed. I feel almost like I have a flu--weakness and just weird. I can't explain it very well. My blood sugar is usually in the upper 70's in morning & blood pressure usually normal.  I thought it was just low blood sugar because I might not be eating enough calories, so I have greatly increased my good carbs--, "potatoes, grains, legumes, etc. and I'm trying to eat 6 times a day, but I still feel weak, exhausted, sometimes short of breath upon very little exertion (although I am fine when I'm at the gym). I have noticed that I start to feel better in the morning after taking Xanax at the pre taper dose. But I

have also eaten breakfast, so it's hard to tell. Then around lunchtime (4 hrs later) I start feeling shaky & weak again.  My question is, how can I tell if the symptoms are Xanax withdrawal or low blood sugar from new diet. Can benzo withdrawal mimic symptoms of low blood sugar and cause shortness of breath? And has anyone cleaned up their diet at the same time they taper benzos.  pS. I feel miserable everyday, although not all day long. It seems to come and go.

I appreciate your comments!!!

[[be...]]

Hi  Welcome to BenzoBuddies!

 

I am glad you found us today. Withdrawal can mimic the flu. All your symptoms are classic.The recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks. Some have to go even slower.

 

Other medications

 

 

You might like to check out The Ashton Manual it is an authoritative source on what to expect in withdrawal and recovery.  Dr. Ashton is an expert in the field. 

 

Please feel free to post to any of the dedicated boards, we have a wonderful community of people here, who will give sound advice. Members have been through all aspects of benzodiazepine use and withdrawal and are more than willing to share their experiences.

 

General Taper Plans

 

Please take the time to Create a Signature.  This will allow others to see where you are in the process so they can better support you.

 

Again Welcome! 

 

benzos-R-cruel

[[ti...]]

welcome to BB.  Glad you are here.  It gets better I promise. 

[[Un...]]

Thank you!  I feel better already just knowing there's help when needed. I'm interested in reading about how to do this with the least amount of pain. And I am a believer in the power of prayer.

[[Tr...]]

Thank you!  I feel better already just knowing there's help when needed. I'm interested in reading about how to do this with the least amount of pain. And I am a believer in the power of prayer.

 

Hi universal,

 

In order to see what caused what, you could either reinstate the foods temporarily or the doseages temporarily (I would do the foods if it was me).  It sounds more like the withdrawal BUT I have a feeling it's a combination.  Our bodies go through a different type of withdrawal from discontinuing or lessening of certain foods, especially sugar filled or caffeinated foods!  Each week you can add or subtract 1 food item to see how you feel.  It's great that your aiming to be more healthy, believe me I get it!  That said, you can look at the diet like benzo withdrawal.  Do it slowly and track/see how you feel.  Good luck

[[Un...]]

Hi, Trying to be positive!!  How are you doing on your taper so far?  And, just out of curiosity, why do you hate Lorazepam?  My sister is on it, and even though I have talked to her about the dangers of taking benzos for any longer than 2 weeks, she thinks Im just been a hypochondriac and that there's really no reason why I should be having wd symptoms on such low doses of Xanax and Klonopin!  Im just wondering what she may be dealing with down the road.