reinstate

[[nh...]]

i had to reinstate today i have a daughter on the way and need to get back to work, my question is im still having dizziness and balance issues, will this take a bit to get in the swing of things again?

[[La...]]

nhbuck, please keep in mind that benzodiazpines are known as "vestibular suppressants". That is, they work against one's system of balance. They interfere with the process of "vestibular compensation", which is your brain's way of normalizing your balance over time. Take care.

 

Here's the info:

 

http://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorders/treatment/vestibular-medication 

 

Can Medication Help Me Feel Better?

 

The use of medication in treating vestibular disorders depends on whether the vestibular system dysfunction is in an initial or acute phase (lasting up to 5 days) or chronic phase (ongoing).

 

During the acute phase, and when other illnesses have been ruled out, medications that may be prescribed include vestibular suppressants to reduce motion sickness or anti-emetics to reduce nausea. Vestibular suppressants include three general drug classes: anticholinergics, antihistamines, and benzodiazepines. Examples of vestibular suppressants are meclizine and dimenhydinate (antihistamine-anticholinergics) and lorazepam and diazepam (benzodiazepines).

 

Other medications that may be prescribed are steroids (e.g., prednisone), antiviral drugs (e.g., acyclovir), or antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin) if a middle ear infection is present. If nausea has been severe enough to cause excessive dehydration, intravenous fluids may be given.

 

During the chronic phase, symptoms must be actively experienced without interference in order for the brain to adjust, a process called vestibular compensation. Any medication that makes the brain sleepy, including all vestibular suppressants, can slow down or stop the process of compensation. Therefore, they are often not appropriate for long-term use. Physicians generally find that most patients who fail to compensate are either strictly avoiding certain movements, using vestibular suppressants daily, or both.

[[nh...]]

i was dizzy before i took the klonopin, i thought this was from withdrawl? im not understanding so the dizzyness wont go away?

[[La...]]

Have you had any medical checkups for this? Any ENT testing or seen a neurologist? It's important to rule things out.

[[nh...]]

i mean what else can it be? i had ekg showed nothing, all this stuff happened when i quit taking the klonopin 5 months ago i have ringing in ears and dizziness/ balance problems i thought this was a thing of klonopin withdrawal? its better then it was after i took the dose today

[[La...]]

Benzos can definitely cause dizziness, as can withdrawal from them. If the dizziness started while you were taking the meds or coming off them, it's likely that the cause is the meds. But reinstating won't make it go away. The meds interfere with balance.

[[nh...]]

then how come im not as dizzy? im not quite understanding, if your withdrawling from something that is causing it wont taking the med make it go away cuz your not withdrawling?

[[La...]]

In the link I posted above, it explains that the medications aren't meant for long-term use because they can interfere with vestibular compensation. Of course, I hope the dizziness is gone for you, but keep in mind that these medications make people fall all the time. They are known for that. The vestibular system has numerous neurotransmitters, so any of the psychiatric meds can make people dizzy because they affect neurotransmitters.

 

A vestibular suppressant is something that interferes with the balance system. So, benzos, antihistamines and anticholinergics are on that list. Continuing to take them for long periods of time isn't a good idea.

 

The other issue with reinstatement is "kindling", and that can happen when you start and stop the medication. It can make it a bit harder to come off the next time. So, it's important to keep that in mind too.

 

Anyway, falling is a huge risk with benzodiazepines, so please take care. In my case, I became dizzy while on the meds, and didn't understand it was the benzos for quite awhile. If I'd known, I would have tapered off much, much earlier. Dizziness sucks, as I'm sure you know now. 

[[nh...]]

so if the dizziness and balance are from the withdrawl it wont go away? if it is from the withdrawal can it take a bit to get back so im not dizzy?

[Guest [Le...]]

so if the dizziness and balance are from the withdrawl it wont go away? if it is from the withdrawal can it take a bit to get back so im not dizzy?

 

Are you still taking propranolol? That can cause dizziness, too.

 

im already on propranolol what else can i do to help this, i am friggen scared now all my ekgs were fine what did u do?

[[La...]]

Just to clarify, dizziness is common BOTH while taking benzodiazepines and when coming off them. Dizziness can go on for awhile during the post-taper withdrawal period. I've been dizzy for quite awhile, but for others, it's a short-lived part of their withdrawal. The point is that if you keep taking the benzo, there's a chance that the dizziness will continue because that's a very common side effect. I had it for two years before I figured out it was causing the problem.

 

The best plan is a controlled taper, at a pace that you can handle. The dizziness may or may not continue for you, but again, it's common, so lots of people get it.

 

It looks like you haven't put a signature in your profile, so I'm not sure what you took or for how long. You mentioned Klonopin, which is clonazepam here in Canada. That's what I took. I crossed over to diazepam for my taper, but my dizziness continued the whole time. I regret that I didn't stop sooner, i.e. as soon as the dizziness started. That's when I should have started tapering but no one could explain the dizziness.....until I found BB.

[[Da...]]

Man I hate to see you reinstate you made it a long way. I know personally I could never start going through this from the beginning again. I have to not reinstate for that reason. I believe you would be better for you daughter not taking benzos. My brain feels likes it fried because of benzos and every benzo you take is going to make that worse. Take of yourself and think about what you are doing.

[[La...]]

Dizziness is no joke. I wouldn't go near any psych meds or strong pain meds again or any of the vestibular suppressants. Once you understand how sensitive the vestibular system is and how crappy it feels to be dizzy, you never want to feel that way again.

[Guest [Le...]]

so if the dizziness and balance are from the withdrawl it wont go away? if it is from the withdrawal can it take a bit to get back so im not dizzy?

 

Are you still taking propranolol? That can cause dizziness, too.

 

im already on propranolol what else can i do to help this, i am friggen scared now all my ekgs were fine what did u do?

[[nh...]]

metoprolol but it was at 6 am i was wondering about the bp thing, idk how long it would take to get out of system

[[La...]]

How long have you been on Klonopin and at what dose?

[[Tr...]]

Hi. I have really bad dizziness starting Month 4 post withdrawal. I don't remember if I have any dizziness while on benzo.But month 4 I had really bad dizziness that I never NO idea and went to the ER they gave me meclizine , helped a bit, but I was so scared of medications. So then after I Went home from ER I felt better for a few weeks but starting month 5 I had it BAD until now. There are days I notice improvement, but I still suffer with it EVERY SINGLE day. Sometime it was so bad that I had to HOLD on to the wall to walk. I always felt like I am going to fall. It's really bad on tops of that I have panic attacks everyday too and extreme head pressures lately. But I notice that it got better then worse again etc. But overall, I think mine is improvement VERY SLOWLY. If I were you, I would hang on and not to take benzo, but that is just my opinion. I can't imagine taking another benzo after knowing how much it has done to my body and mind for the last 7 months. But everyone is different. Hope you feel better soon.

 

Tracy

[[La...]]

Tracy, I'm glad your dizziness is getting a little bit better. Even a little bit of improvement is a nice break, and hopefully allows you some relaxation. If I have a less dizzy day, I just feel calmer and more hopeful. Today's a very dizzy day for me, and I'm hating it.

 

nhbuck, the issue with benzos is not just that they stay in your system for a long time, it's that they wreak havoc on your central nervous system. That takes time to heal.

[[nh...]]

if the dizziness is from withdrawaling wont reinstating make it go away?

[[La...]]

Nope. Did you read the link or the info I inserted above? Have a look again. It says that the brain needs to FEEL THE SYMPTOMS without the interference of the meds in order to correct itself or "compensate". If you keep taking the drugs, it could keep going.

 

The dizziness is from the drugs AND/OR withdrawal. BOTH can do it.

 

Anyway, you have the info above. Have a look. I've posted lots of articles on our Dizziness Group thread too, which I gave you the link to yesterday.

 

I hope you'll take a few minutes to read the info. It's quite clear. A fall is a serious thing, so do be careful. If you choose to continue taking the medications, just be aware of the possible consequences.

[[Gr...]]

I reinstated once and I felt awful,  dizziness included, for about six months.  I was not dizzy BEFORE I had started withdrawal and yes it did go away but it took like six months. 

[[so...]]

Buck,

 

Lapis has repeated herself several times and gave you links to explain.  I believe the answer to your question is No.  No, you will not make the dizziness go away magically while taking benzos.  Unfortunately, the only way out of this is through it.  Reinstating does not work for the majority of people who do it.  Even if they experience temporary relief, it usually gets worse rather quickly, then they kindle, then they are stuck.

 

I feel for you, Buck.  You have a baby on the way and you need to get back to work.  Bad timing this whole withdrawal is for everybody, but especially at a time where you are feeling desperate to get better fast.  Withdrawal is not a fast process.  It is painfully slow with very subtle improvements over a lot of time.  I am praying for you.  I fear you have made things worse for yourself by reinstating, but some people say the key to reinstating successfully is to reinstate at the right dosage, then stabilize, then slowly micro taper.  I CT'd and never reinstated, so I am not at all in your shoes.  You may want to ask the tapering members what you should do.  Reinstating is tricky.  You have to take a high enough dosage to get relief, but even that is a waiting game.

 

Sofa

[[nh...]]

whats a waiting game?

[[nh...]]

idk how reiinstating can make you worse makes no sense at all to me i just might as well fuckin drink and say fuck it

[[La...]]

nhbuck, we all want to say, "Eff this!" sometimes, but I'm not sure how that will help. It's your body. You only get this one. You have a choice to make. Do you want to get better? Drinking or taking benzos have well-known long-term risks, including falls, fractures, motor vehicle accidents and even death, if you combine the two.

 

If, as I've just learned, you have a baby on the way, then think of that child. That's your future. You have an important reason to get better. And I can tell you that the benzos won't lead you in the right direction. I'm sure that's why you joined BB in the first place. Something led you here. Ask yourself some tough questions today about what you want for yourself and your family. Withdrawal sucks, but it's the only way out of the trap that we all found ourselves in.

 

Dizziness is a brutal symptom. I can say that from MUCH experience. I wouldn't reinstate EVER. The drugs need to be out of your system and your body needs time to heal. Who knows? Maybe you'll be lucky and not have a rough ride. There's no way of knowing at this point. But continuing to take the drug and then possibly taking a drink of alcohol could slow your respiration enough to kill you. It's no joke. There are lots of recent stats from the Emergency Room visits. I've been posting those studies a lot. Scary stuff.

 

Think for a bit. Reflect. Consider your family. Consider your future. There are good people here who want to help. And now is a good time to get this problem sorted out.