Looking for support

[[Lu...]]

Hi, I came across this group whilst searching for info on how to ease withdrawal symptoms to Frisium (Clobazam). I am generally anxious person, but after overworking myself in 2015 and early 2016 it lead to an increase in my anxiety levels. My Dr therefore prescribed a stop gap measure for me in September with Frisium. My anxiety continued so she put me on 150 mg of Wellbutrin (which I had been on a few years back).  I was taking Frisium 5 mg twice daily and tapered to once daily and then to once every other day. These changes were not so bad, but when she asked me to taper to every three days, I made it past doing this twice (6 days) and she had to put me back on every other day and increase my Wellbutrin to 300 mg daily. That was at the beginning of December. I started back every three days sometime shortly after christmas and am now on the fourth cycle (12 days) of doing this. I had no idea that my symptoms would be like this from being on this drug.  I am afraid to drive, I feel my anxiety coursing through my body when I wake up, my heart feels like it is beating hard some of the time, my head feels like it is going to go crazy with thoughts sometimes. It is quite a nightmare. And to boot I am perimenopausal, I have a 20 year old daughter on the autism spectrum who was having frequent meltdowns before christmas. I am just hoping to know I am not alone and that this will pass. It surely is very scary.

[[Ch...]]

Welcome to BenzoBuddies, Lulu.

 

If it's of any reassurance, the symptoms you describe are very common in benzodiazepine withdrawal.  Strange thoughts, anxiety, fear of driving, palpitations… along with insomnia, muscle issues, reluctance to leave the house…all unpleasant and disturbing, but common and temporary.

 

The taper plan you describe has been tried by others and frankly, not successfully.  It seems to make sense, but because of the way benzodiazepines affect the body, it is actually counterproductive to a smooth taper.  Clobazam has a moderately long half-life, so it can take a few days or more for withdrawal symptoms to show up, and then more time for the next dose to be of much help.

 

I've put a link to the Ashton Manual below, which is the taper protocol we recommend, which is no more than 5-10% cuts from your total daily dosage every ten days to two weeks, giving your body a steadier course of withdrawal than up and down dosing.

 

Here are a couple of pertinent links so you can post to the wider membership, as the above is simply my personal opinion:

 

General Taper Plans 

Withdrawal Support 

 

When you have a chance, I highly recommend that you take a look at The Ashton Manual, which is an authoritative source on what to expect during withdrawal and recovery, authored by Dr. C. Heather Ashton, who is an expert in the field. It provides a great deal of information that can be very reassuring during any stage of this process, including a list of common symptoms with helpful explanations on the reasons for their existence.

 

Please take some time to Create 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 

[[Lu...]]

Thanks Challis

 

This is all new to me so I was following the Dr's instructions and even the pharmacists suggestions. I will have to call the Dr next week to ask if I can taper differently. The tablets are 10 mg tablets I cut in half. Not sure how to taper down from that effectively so that the dose remains the same.

 

I am not understanding what is meant by a moderately long half-life. Can you explain please?

 

Is the suggestion then to try for a smaller dose than 5 mg every day.? Not sure how I can cut the tablet that it would be the correct dose, if lowered say to 4 mg every other day. Taking it every other day was not giving me any withdrawals. I actually felt OK.

 

Its so helpful to know that how I feel is from the drug and not me going crazy. Its kind of like a roller coaster, the feeling can change from minute to minute. Waking up can be very difficult, so when I wake up I listen to a guided meditation, which helps to relax me, as well as breathing exercises. I also wish to start exercising but have not found the right time as I dont wish it to be something that takes me far from home.

 

Just plugging on at the moment, and trying to keep active so I dont have a panic attack!

 

Best

 

Lulu

[[Ch...]]

Here's a link to the equivalency chart from the Ashton Manual: http://www.benzo.org.uk/bzequiv.htm

 

If you compare the column of half-lives (how long it is somewhat effective, although that may be oversimplifying), some benzodiazepines are effective as short as 2 hours, some up to 200 hours.  Most are somewhere around 4-20 hours.

 

You may want to ask in General Taper Plans  about how to best cut the tablet to taper, or maybe even ask about switching over to Valium in an equivalent amount.  Valium is felt to eliminate the ups and downs (roller coaster feelings you mentioned) of shorter-acting benzos.  Valium also comes in much smaller tablets, I think down to 2mg, making it easier to cut.

 

 

[[ho...]]

Hi Lula and welcome. I don't know much about Clobazam but i think you are cutting far too fast and often . Take challis advice and read the Ashton Manual and as a general rule 5 to 10 % every 2 weeks is usually what is suggested. Best of luck!   

[[Lu...]]

Thanks guys! The more I am reading, the more I am realizing this and wondering why my Dr is trying to get me to cut so fast. I still have to function for work (thankfully I can do from home). Trying hard not to let it stress me out. I definitely will put a call into my doctor next week and see if we can plan a different tapering. Whilst it does not seem as I have been on this as long as some, the most I was on it before was maybe 2 weeks max. Never longer and then since that I ised it sparingly and mostly when I fly. So as I said before I am now finding out about all these wothdrawal symptoms first hand and after doing some reading online and asking the pharmacist realising they were indeed withdrawal symptoms.

[[ho...]]

Lulu you should print off a copy of the Ashton Manual and take it to the doc with you. Maybe help! 

[[Ch...]]

Thanks guys! The more I am reading, the more I am realizing this and wondering why my Dr is trying to get me to cut so fast. I still have to function for work (thankfully I can do from home). Trying hard not to let it stress me out. I definitely will put a call into my doctor next week and see if we can plan a different tapering. Whilst it does not seem as I have been on this as long as some, the most I was on it before was maybe 2 weeks max. Never longer and then since that I ised it sparingly and mostly when I fly. So as I said before I am now finding out about all these wothdrawal symptoms first hand and after doing some reading online and asking the pharmacist realising they were indeed withdrawal symptoms.

 

This is pretty typical…most docs aren't well informed on benzodiazepine tapering protocol.  If you can simply get him support you by looking at the Ashton taper schedule and going with whatever plan you decide to follow, he's a good and supportive doc.