Hi, I'm ZenTexasGirl and I'm NOT an alcoholic, however...

[[Ze...]]

Here to give support, tell my story, and get advice on how to best deal with this prescription-drug tolerance and withdrawal systems.

Ambien 10 mg, at night for sleep

Xanax 2 mg, .5 4x day for anxiety

Remeron 15 mg,

Effexor XR, 375 mg

 

Rapid-taper from Xanax impatient for medical supervision. Last dose was on April 4th. C/T the Ambien. 11 day process. 

Just jumped from .5 mg Ambien 2 nights ago.

LET THE HEALING BEGIN!!!!! I am ready!

[[Ch...]]

Glad you're here, ZenTexasGirl.

 

Congrats on being benzo and z-drug free!  I'm sure it hasn't been easy, cold turkey is a tough way to get there, but yes, let the healing begin!!

 

Here are two boards you may want to read and post to for support:

Post Withdrawal Support

Cold Turkey, Detox and Rapid Withdrawal

 

We highly recommend the Ashton Manual simply for information about the withdrawal process.  It does provide a lot of good information and is written by an expert in the field.

 

Please take some time to Write a Signature. This will help other members understand your history so they will be better able to support you.

Go to the top of the page and select Profile, then choose Forum Profile, insert drug history/timelines into the text box and click Change Profile.

 

~Challis 

[[Ce...]]

Hi ZenTexasGirl,

 

Welcome to the forum. What a wise decision! We're here to give you all the support you need. Some great ppl on here. Lot's of wisdom and some fun mixed in at times.

 

How's the ct off Ambien going? And do you miss Xanax at all? You say you got off Xanax in the hospital, or was it detox?

 

Keep posting!  ~CeCe 

[[Ze...]]

Hi,  there!  This is my first post;  I am now approaching the end of month nine.

Let's see if I can get some coherent thoughts together.

 

Thank you so much!!! 

 

The rapid withdrawal was done in a detox facility,  medically supervised. They did the typical (and misguided) switch over to Librium for 5 days then a cold turkey with Depakote on board as a hedge against seizures. At this point,  I also cold turkey-ed the Ambien. This was a miserable experience,  but it was just the beginning!

 

After 6 weeks or so I started taking half my regular dose to get some sleep. I didn't understand at the time that z-drugs were also "benzos" to me.

Of course,  the efficacy wore off almost immediately, so I eventually just jumped from the 5 mg per night dose to zero. It couldn't get any worse!

 

Do I miss the Xanax? I was so incredibly sick in tolerance that I have had zero desire to reinstate. The severe abdominal pain sending me to the ER and specialists was unbearable. I couldn't function.

 

I can't "function" yet,  but once the Xanax was out of my system,  the abdominal pains just stopped. Benzo Belly is 100 percent real! 

 

Would I love to be able to go to sleep in five minutes?  Yes! Would I risk horrible side effects?  Nope!

 

Happy holidays!

ZTG

 

 

[[Ce...]]

Hi again ZTG!

 

Was thinking about you and wondering how you are doing. Sounds pretty good, really...love your upbeat no-nonsense attitude. It will get you far! You are a good influence for us here...hope you post often, we can help each other!  Happy New year to you! 2017 is going to be the year of positive changes for us!! http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z315/pqsy4ka/478641f0.gif

[[Ze...]]

Such kind words! Thank you, CeCe! I'm so isolated that I think I've forgotten how to have a "conversation." I intend to do more to help others by posting from here on out. I'm definitely in BB debt!

 

Happy New Year!

Talk soon!

Lee Ann

[[Fe...]]

I also like your attitude! What do you do to cope?

 

I think you are doing an amazing job. Keep on going,

Take care!

[[...]]

Hello Zentexasgirl

Just gotta love your attitude!

Big welcome to BB