Tips on staying sane?

[Guest [ha...]]

Before this medication, I was a full functional individual with no mental health issues other than some anxiety and occasional panic. Fast forward to meds for panic and it's like my brain turned upside down. I don't know if it's the effects of the Clonazepam or a failed ssri attempt (stayed on for 10 weeks), but I have not felt mentally well since then...I don't feel or think normally; everything is disjointed and I have heightened fears; ex...hard for me to go from room to room in the house....just an ill at ease, no connection to things as I once felt. This is frightening b/c I fear if I lose it then am shipped off to the mental hospital, I'll have no control of what they give me. Then too, if I have a physical episode and end up in ER, they give benzos...so I'm walking a precarious road...just wanting to see what others do to break out of this odd state.

[[ne...]]

I just went to urgent care for ear infection. I told them I was allergic to benzos.

 

Get it on your chart and you can also get a med alert bracelet stating you are allergic or intolerant to benzos.

[[ne...]]

You are also early in taper. The anxiety goes away with time.

Mine is improving daily.

[Guest [ha...]]

Thank you nexttime...I'll do that! I hadn't thought of that before...Did you jump at .25? I'm so tempted to go down just a bit and do that b/c this is so hard...I'm just not strong at all.

[[ne...]]

I did jump at 0.25 mg but I don't know how smart it was. I didn't have a clue it would get as bad as it did.

 

Something I'm finding that is helping now is L-Theanine over the last few days.

 

I've taken 450 mg today and no side effects and I'm calmer and my sxs are better.

It's about the only supplement that seems safe with this WD from benzos.

 

I posted about it here:

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=167128.msg2229994#msg2229994

 

The studies also look encouraging.

Available in any supplement store.

Suntheanine process would probably be most consistent in strength from batch to batch.

[Guest [ha...]]

Thank you...at least you're free of being on the med..I might look into that supplement.

[[ne...]]

I wish you fast success. PM anytime for support or if you need to just vent / talk / cry.

 

NT

[Guest [ha...]]

Thank you NT...I'll do that :'(

[[Ju...]]

HTC, You'll feel better sooner than later.

Will your Doc mind if you hold at .5mg for awhile until your healing catches up ?

I find that I get slammed with side effects as soon as I start to rush my taper.

I also take Magnesium Malate, about 2000mg per day, and a good vitamin B

complex daily (B6/B12) , takes the edge off.

Acceptance is a big part of this. It's like missing a connecting flight,

and having to wait in a really annoying sky-lounge for 12 hours. But worse.

Just keep reminding yourself it's temporary, and no permanent damage.

You haven't been on these benzos too long, less than a year. I'm a 26 year man.

Good luck,

justaman

 

[Guest [ha...]]

Thank you Justaman...I haven't really found a doctor to help with the taper yet; they all seem to want to give me more horrible meds...Lord I pray to get through this...just thinking about what is to come and what has been is so discouraging. Thanks for the supplement suggestions too.

[[Ju...]]

You've got less than 6 months on Benzos; that weighs much in your favor.

The Ashton Taper method (which is what is advocated on this site, and in Europe)

recommends tapering 5%-10% each 1-2 weeks.

In our case, I'd start on the fast end and see how it goes, reduce by 10% each week.

I use a scale, some use the liquid method.

I know, it seems creepy at first. that will pass.

starting at 0.5 mg K

week 1  0.45 mg

week 2  0.43 mg

week 3  0.41 mg

week 4  0.39 mg

week next = 0.39 - (0.39 x .05) = 0.37mg

 

I'm rounding to the .01 place, some round to .001 decimal place.

 

When discussing tapering with a doctor, make sure he/she understands you may have to slow

down the taper if symptoms are very bad. I think that just showing the Doc

a basic taper plan will prove that you are serious about weaning off the klonopin.

-Justaman

[Guest [ha...]]

Thank you Justaman....I'm still confused on the measuring...so I need a scale?

[Guest [ha...]]

Is the vallium harder? I've heard many don't tolerate it....Knowing my luck, I would probably be one who couldn't tolerate it.

[[lo...]]

when I hard episode hit me, and lasted more then 2 weeks - I was like oh crap this is too much. but then suddenly on week 3 I felt great. Like old myself even better.

so simetimes you just need to push it through. improvement always comes. make sure you don't taper too fast. that can make a big difference. small/ moderate symptoms vs bad symptoms. and what i found you recover from small cuts faster. I also jumped the l-theanine train and bunch of other supplements. gabapentin 600mg at bedtime makes my sleep pretty good with no awakenings which helps as well

[Guest [ha...]]

Thank you locutus....I appreciate the tips; Today, I'm suffering some pretty bad nausea; not sure if this is related to benzo or not

[[lo...]]

me too, today sudden nausea and dizziness pretty bad. at least sleep was good. i think the gabapentin really makes sleep decent have to stick to it for now. i did a cut from 0.22 to 0.18K or so. its crazy how much such a tiny cut can affect you at lower dodes

good luck I hope your wave passes soon

 

Thank you locutus....I appreciate the tips; Today, I'm suffering some pretty bad nausea; not sure if this is related to benzo or not

[Guest [ha...]]

Thank you...maybe someday you can share how you're going down on your Clonazapam...I'm having a very difficult time even getting started...I wish I was nearer to the end.

[[Ju...]]

This is the scale many of us use; http://www.ebay.com/itm/Horizon-PRO-20B-20g-x-0-001g-Digital-Professional-Jewelry-Scale-001g-accuracy-/401205155645?hash=item5d69b0d73d:m:mrkP8BryFRDhHcEPq6rsbIA

 

measures down to .001 g = 1 mg.

 

Keep in mind that a 0.5mg Klonopin pill out of the bottle doesn't weigh 0.5 mg;

it just CONTAINS 0.5 mg of Klonopin. The actual pill weighs much more, because of fillers.

For example, if you wanted to take .43 mg of Klonopin, first you would

weigh an entire .5mg pill out of the bottle. Let's say it weighs 175mg as an example.

So you'd figure it as a percentage.    0.43 is what percent of 0.5 ? 0.43 divided by 0.5 = .86 = 86%.

Now figure out w/ calculator, what is 86% of 175mg ? .86 x  175 = 151 mg.

Now use the scale, zero it, then break of tiny bits of the 175mg (=.175g) pill

until the scale reads .151g (= 151mg). That is your dose, .43mg of K.

 

This is how I figure my doses, but with Valium.

I crossed over from Klonopin to Valium, which is recommended

by Dr. Ashton, but many taper directly from Klonopin with success,

and you are a good candidate for that, as you're a 6 month benzo user (shorty!)

Goodluck,

Justaman

[[Sy...]]

I m 4 months off and my mental sanity is definitely gone

Away...

Hellish benzos

 

[Guest [ha...]]

You're very lucky Sybase66x...best wishes.

[Guest [ha...]]

Thank you Justaman...I think I'm reeling still from ssri withdrawal...hope to feel better to begin taper soon

[[Sh...]]

I totally agree with Justaman.  Acceptance is half the battle. I've convinced myself that this stuff is really bad for me and that I will have to get off of it sooner or later. It has to be endured now or later.  There really is no alternative.