Benzos made it worse!

[[Ba...]]

After a serious family crisis (still ongoing), I was put on zoloft - started at 30 mg, then upped to 60 mg and vallium - 10 mg up to 2 per day for acute anxiety. I thought it would be for a short period of time but 18 months later (crisis still unresolved) I went off all my meds cold turley because I hated the way I was feeling. Four to five days later EVERYTHING went totally crazy. I experienced almost every symptom I have read about except convulsons.

 

I am now 5 months post and the acute symptoms have gone but the wildly beating heart, cold burning hands and feet remain and nothing tastes and smells the way it is supposed to. I am also still having trouble concentrating and cannot seem to get back to my "pre-benzo" self. My family thinks I've pretty much lot my mind and some days I agree with them. I am determined to just wait this out and hope and pray that someday this nighmare will be in my rear view mirror. If this doesn't kill me, I will NEVER, EVER take another drug for stress. This is so much worse than the reason I took the meds in the first place.

[[me...]]

Welcome to the forum!  We're glad to have you as a new member.  The symptoms you are having are, unfortunately, not unusual five months after a cold turkey.  It can take a long time to heal, but healing will come eventually.  Time itself is the healer in benzo withdrawal.

 

You'll find plenty of information and support here.  Our members have gone through all aspects of withdrawal, and you're likely to see  people who understand what you're going through and can tell you what has worked for them.  For those who are currently tapering, we suggest reducing no faster than 5-10% every 10-14 days, and some taper even slower than that.  One exception: very short-term users of a few weeks or less may be able to taper faster than that.  Having some withdrawal symptoms is normal, especially near the end of a taper and for a month or so after discontinuing the medication.  The most common symptoms are anxiety and insomnia, but these are temporary and will go away in time.

 

Here are a few links you may find useful:

 

Post Withdrawal Support Board

 

The Ashton Manual is an authoritative source on what to expect in withdrawal and recovery.  Dr. Ashton is an expert in the field.  She describes and explains withdrawal symptoms in Chapter III, and there is also a section with withdrawal/taper schedules.

 

Please take the time to Create a Signature.  This will allow others to see where you are in the process so they can better support you.

 

Again, welcome!