Do I Try To Reinstate Then Taper?

[[Pi...]]

This c/t after going back on Klonopin a year after I microtapered is killing me. I went back on due to severe reactions to antibiotics that almost killed me. I took 14 Klonopin .5 mg over a few weeks so starting and stopping. I stopped taking any Dec 30 2016 and life is hell. I have insomnia, constant brain zaps, muscle twitches, gut pain, burning skin, massive anxiety, severe tinnitus. I've tried herbal GABA and l-theanine and not much help.

 

Do I reinstate and do a microtaper again slowly. I never had any of this daily microtapering. Please help. I'm going to lose my husband, job and life over this.

 

Pin

[[Da...]]

I think that is a decision you have to make for yourself. I believe that is the easiest way to do it. I quit CT in rehab and it has been really difficult. Don't lose everything because of it. It has cost me so much in so many ways. I believe eventually you may have to go through these symptoms eventually anyway.

[Guest [ch...]]

What antibiotic did you take? If it was a quinolone (e.g. Cipro) then your symptoms could still be from that. It takes a lot of time to heal from quinolone antibiotic damage.

 

You did such a good taper last year, it seems like a shame to undo it all. If at all possible try to stay off the benzos and let time do its healing. But of course only you can make the decision whether to reinstate benzos. We'll support you no matter what your decision.

 

Love,

CP

[[Pi...]]

I took Cipro 2 years ago and then lately it was Xifaxan for bacteria infection.

 

I know can you believe I had such an awesome Taper! I'm BEYOND devastated! I need to keep my life though and get some sleep. This burning skin and tinnitus and anxiety is killing me!

[[er...]]

If your signature is accurate, I think you'd have to be seriously crazy or just a masochist to want to re-instate and then taper again.. I mean, you're off of the damn benzos now, so why go back on them?  What do you really think will get better from taking these God forsaken pills again?

 

You're going to have to go through the pain, we all do.  I believe if you re-instate, you will really regret it, and you will be kindling, so I think it would be best if you just suck it up and deal with it all now, rather than deal with a helluva lot worse later..

[[...]]

Hi PinHead, replying to your pm here for broader discussion ... also, because it's against BB rules to give withdrawal advice via pm.  (For good reason because, as you can see, you'll get a lot of conflicting opinions).

 

So sorry you're in this situation.    So tough to make a decision when it's all such a crap shoot one way or the other ... and yet the suffering in the meantime is so horrific.  I know you're not in the mood to hear this now, sorry, but I do hope once you get through this mess, it's apparent that benzos are no longer your friend ... never again ... if in your shoes, I'd be scared off for life, not even once or twice to get over a hump.    Hugs.

 

Talk it out.  Questions/thoughts to ponder. 

 

-)  You reinstated Dec 6 for six days due to a physical reaction to the antibiotic - OR - due to general health anxiety?  Asking because, as alluded to by Chess, have you ruled out your sxs being from the antibiotic?  As in, what nearly killed you, and how did the benzo save you?

 

-)  You reinstated again Dec 21 for a different reason from above?  Meaning, is this when the insomnia/zaps/burning/etc. first began?

 

-)  When you reinstated Dec 21, how did you feel for those nine days?  All sxs vanished?

 

-)  Are you seeing *ANY* improvements at all in the two weeks since you jumped?  Any ebb and flow?  Any "worsening" or new sxs popping up?

 

-)  Lastly, what are your worst symptom/s?  Are you able to isolate?  Any one (two/three?) in particular which are the most intolerable and putting your marriage/job in jeopardy?

 

Like I said in the other thread, I'll never give advice, it's a responsibility I personally can't take on.  But maybe by airing it out, something someone says will make the most sense to you.  What does your head/gut tell you to do?  Or you're still going around in circles?

 

You've got a lot of positives in there, you know.  A successful microtaper, a good year off the benzo, plus short-term use this time.