sleep for 15 years

[[li...]]

hi all.  I needed a place to talk about help and support with my benzo problem.  Did not know there was a problem until I started to try to  find the reason for my memory problems.  My Grandmother died years ago from Alzemerzes and I just knew that was it.  For 6 years I thought that this was the reason for my lose of memory. 

I started now 16 years ago with Xanax because of sleep.  And did I sleep, for many years, 15 I think.  Oh course my dosage increased over this time until Oct.  I decided to stop it and told my dr. I wanted to stop. She changed me over to valium 15mg a day, at night in my case. No problem really that I noticed well I don't remember it at least.  \

I just woke one morning and said to myself, If its going to change I have to be the one to do it.  So here I an at 4mgs and hell.  Oh I have had addiction problems since 13 or 14 and now here I am!

[Guest [Le...]]

Hello, lifeforgot  - welcome to BenzoBuddies!

 

Congratulations on your decision to come off of Xanax and Valium, and well done tapering down so much already! It certainly can be a hellish process, but you've definitely come to the right place to plan a more comfortable taper. 

 

I'm so glad you decided to join the forum - you'll find plenty of information and support here. Our members have gone through all aspects of benzodiazepine use and withdrawal, so you'll be able to connect with others who understand what you're going through and can tell you what has worked for them.

 

Please feel free to post your questions (from above) to any of the specialized boards, which can all be accessed from the BenzoBuddies Community Forum homepage. Based on the information provided in your introduction, the following link may be a good starting place for you.

 

  General Taper Plans

  Withdrawal Support

 

When you have a chance, we 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 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.

 

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. 

 

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

 

Again, welcome!

  Leslie 

[[ma...]]

I also slept for 15 years .

[[Ch...]]

Sleep problems led me to Klonopin for 10 years.....during the withdrawal and first 7 months of recovery the insomnia was unbelievable...now that I am well into recovery the (not MY) insomnia is somewhat still present but different from the original insomnia pre Benzos...in those years I had problems going to sleep and the Xanax the Klonopin were a miracle...until they weren't.....now I am able to fall asleep but rarely stay asleep for more than an hour or 2 at a time....I have restructured my life around the chronic tiredness and continually hope for a whole night of sleep.  The difference is that if it does not happen I just get up and start my day early without getting frantic about it.

Best wishes for sleep and memory recovery.

[[Pe...]]

Hello Lifeforgot,

 

Welcome and it is good to find you here.

 

I just joined today and your story is so familiar.  I was also diagnosed with possible early Alzheimer's (I had been trying to hide the symptoms for years).  The psychiatrist said it might be caused by Benzos and that is why, like you, I am trying to come off.

 

I have been on Benzos for 28 years due to insomnia and am now on 30 mgs of Pax (Diazepam) and about to try to come off again after two failed attempts, though I did get off 3 pills of Zopimed (Imovane) and one Dormicum per night.  That was quite easy -- the  Diazepam seems really hard beyond belief. 

 

I am amazed at how fast you have tapered, though I hear you are in HELL  :'( .  Our stories are similar in some ways, so I hope we can keep in touch and encourage each other not to give up.  If you would like to share what it was like for you, and how you coped to get where you are, it would be very welcome.

 

My warmest wishes to you! 

[[ma...]]

Maybe i can give advice... I tapered myself crossing fr.o.m. Xanax to 30 mg Diazepam . IT has really been a long way out. . Take care..

[[Pe...]]

Thank you for sharing.  You say it has been a long way out -- like how long?

[[ma...]]

Hi, actually IT took me 1 year to taper 30 mg Diazepam . I was not here, that time. I was alone . Am 10 months out now, and well ITs going ok. Life is different now, but i Will never take a pill again. I was also scared fr.o.m. The beginning . I did not know i was addicted . Too high to know..