Staying on benzos

[[Bl...]]

Is there ever a good reason not to get off them?

[[ma...]]

No

[[...]]

No I can not think of any good reason to stay on them 

 

[[be...]]

They are really only meant to take for several weeks or less for a variety of reasons.  Taken past that a dependency can develop in as little as a few weeks and they can be very difficult to get off of taken long term.  At some point tolerance is often reached.  For some that might take years and for others just eeks or months.  Tapering becomes much more difficult once tolerance is reached. It can be extremely difficult to stabilize between cuts and a taper can be miserable.

[[be...]]

A good reason is to want your life back and live it to the fullest. Not be a slug-a-bed with a lot of s/x...........

[[Do...]]

The only reason someone might choose to stay on would be if you have a seizure disorder or a movement disorder and all other options have been exhausted.  Even if you stay on and it seems to help you now, you may very well develop tolerance, and have an even harder time getting off in the future.  Additionally, many doctors are starting to back away from benzos, and some clinics have adopted a "benzo free" policy.  Think of how terrible it would be if you stayed on them another year or two, and they seemed to be helping somewhat, but your doctor decides to no longer offer them, and you are forced to rapid taper over a few weeks (since doctors think this is all the tapering needed).

[[Su...]]

Is there ever a good reason not to get off them?

 

Well, as you can see, I was on them -- Librium, Ativan, Diazepam --  for 50 years with no problems whilst taking them and overall that time they appeared to control my anxiety problems very well.  It's difficult to look back in hindsight because obviously if I had had the knowledge and information I have today I most certainly would not have considered it even an option because there are so many other ways of dealing with these problems now eg Mindfulness, Distraction, Exercise etc etc .... and IMO it's a matter  of education even now!

 

I feel I was lucky to manage to get off them even if it was too little too late and feel very grateful that my life is still good after all I have been through because of ignorance on the subject matter which has only really come to light fully in recent years.  However, I feel I have had a very lucky escape judging the current trend of the ignorant (GPs, Psychiatrists and their ilk) forcing people off them without care or thought that these drugs need to be respected and for withdrawal to be done at a rate each person can humanely tolerate!  One thing I can't understand, if they have all this knowledge why do they keep prescribing them in the first place?! 

[[be...]]

My only fear is NOT getting off them. I'd like my life back. B

[[be...]]

Is there ever a good reason not to get off them?

 

Well, as you can see, I was on them -- Librium, Ativan, Diazepam --  for 50 years with no problems whilst taking them and overall that time they appeared to control my anxiety problems very well.  It's difficult to look back in hindsight because obviously if I had had the knowledge and information I have today I most certainly would not have considered it even an option because there are so many other ways of dealing with these problems now eg Mindfulness, Distraction, Exercise etc etc .... and IMO it's a matter  of education even now!

 

I feel I was lucky to manage to get off them even if it was too little too late and feel very grateful that my life is still good after all I have been through because of ignorance on the subject matter which has only really come to light fully in recent years.  However, I feel I have had a very lucky escape judging the current trend of the ignorant (GPs, Psychiatrists and their ilk) forcing people off them without care or thought that these drugs need to be respected and for withdrawal to be done at a rate each person can humanely tolerate!  One thing I can't understand, if they have all this knowledge why do they keep prescribing them in the first place?! 

 

50 years? Good for you!!!!!

[[be...]]

Gotta love ya Susie J. 

[[Su...]]

Is there ever a good reason not to get off them?

 

Well, as you can see, I was on them -- Librium, Ativan, Diazepam --  for 50 years with no problems whilst taking them and overall that time they appeared to control my anxiety problems very well.  It's difficult to look back in hindsight because obviously if I had had the knowledge and information I have today I most certainly would not have considered it even an option because there are so many other ways of dealing with these problems now eg Mindfulness, Distraction, Exercise etc etc .... and IMO it's a matter  of education even now!

 

I feel I was lucky to manage to get off them even if it was too little too late and feel very grateful that my life is still good after all I have been through because of ignorance on the subject matter which has only really come to light fully in recent years.  However, I feel I have had a very lucky escape judging the current trend of the ignorant (GPs, Psychiatrists and their ilk) forcing people off them without care or thought that these drugs need to be respected and for withdrawal to be done at a rate each person can humanely tolerate!  One thing I can't understand, if they have all this knowledge why do they keep prescribing them in the first place?! 

 

50 years? Good for you!!!!!

 

Thanks 

[[Su...]]

Gotta love ya Susie J. 

 

Thanks -- this made me smile 

[[lo...]]

Is there ever a good reason not to get off them?

 

I would not recommend staying on them.  I was on nitrazepam for 40 years and it ruined my life.  Even if you do feel reasonably okay on them, you have no idea how they are affecting your brain, your nervous system and therefore your body.  When you are younger you might cope with any side effects, if you are fortunate.  As you get older the body can't metabolise them so well, so side effects get worse and ability to function deteriorates.  Again some folk might be lucky and not notice any difference.  When you get older and notice that things are getting worse and decide to come off the drugs, you can have a harder time getting off them because of the length of time you have been on them though again this varies from individual to individual. 

 

I stayed on for so long because I had myoclonic epilepsy ... benzos are needed for a few conditions as mentioned by another poster above .... but otherwise I would say don't take them.  I no longer have epilepsy so don't need them any more.

 

Fiona 

[[Ma...]]

The only time we should ever consider staying on or taking benzos, is if our lives depend on it.

[[Su...]]

Let's get everything into perspective, if I was offered the same today, with hindsight I definitely would never take it -- in fact I have an emergency ID bracelet informing whosoever NO BENZOS! 

[[be...]]

Let's get everything into perspective, if I was offered the same today, with hindsight I definitely would never take it -- in fact I have an emergency ID bracelet informing whosoever NO BENZOS! 

 

I plan to get one too once I am off. But I think I'll need two, as FLUOROQUINOLONE ANTIBIOTIC is long........