Dad may never be the same :,(

March 20, 2017

Hello I am so thankful to find this!

I do not know for sure Xanax is my father's problem but highly suspicious and not knowing what to do. I am fearing for his life. He can no longer dress, bathe, function independently. I am trying to do everything I can to get him back.

His Taper:

2mg Xanax 20 yrs

Rapid Taper off Xanax (from 2mg to 1mg) 1/26, ReInstated 1/28 to 2mg, Hospitalized from ER 2/2, Xanax held until 2/4, RI 2/5 at 1mg until dose corrected back to 2mg on 2/7

Cut to 1.5mg Xanax 2/9 Emergency Haldol and Ativan for Agitated Psychosis

Cut to 1mg 2/12 - - Switch to Ativan 2/14

My father is 67 years old and still in hospital recovering. Lost his wife 3 yrs ago. He is unresponsive much of the time. 3/20/2017

Very scared and wanting to do whatever I can to help.

I realize the hospital should not have gone so fast on the taper, but I think it is too late to do anything about this :'(

They are still testing for other causes of the confusion, immobilization, sudden psychosis, lack of voice and inability to write, read, do mere anything.

My father also has severe neuropathy, possibly stemming from degenerative disease such as dementia, but still cannot find cause, which began 2011, and worsened greatly after his wife (my mother) passed away.

Thank you for reading.. I am so thankful to receive advice/support from people who have been there!

March 20, 2017

Hello CR,

Welcome to the forum... Wow you sure have a mess on your hands, my heart aches for you and my prayers have been sent that God will shed healing light and understanding to all of those in his circle of care...

My only thoughts on this very unique and extraordinary case are; Xanax is a particularly pernicious drug and much of what you describe could be because of or exacerbated by the Xanax usage over 20 years. I would recommend getting a very good addiction and taper expert involved and try to get him off of the benzos by way of a slow and steady daily taper. Due to the short half life of Xanax and even Ativan symptoms can be severe. Things like psychosis and confusion can certainly be attributed to benzo use especially in the elderly. Will things get better by getting him off of them? I don't know, but it is certainly worth a try. Perhaps a crossover to a much longer lasting benzo like Valium would be worth a try, it sure makes a daily taper easier.

I also think that getting a good nutritional expert on board may also be helpful in supporting his CNS during all that he is going through. I would look into amino acids as an adjunct therapy. Also getting vitamin and blood levels analyzed by a good specialist is a great place to start and address any deficiencies that may be present. I'm sure his physicians have looked into anti-psychotics and AD's as well, monitor that closely during his benzo taper.

Your case is challenging and I would not expect a lot of advice to come here at BB, it is beyond what most of us see. But do know that many who read your heart breaking post will pray for you and your Dad. Perhaps the power of prayer will be the one thing that helps him recover as that may be.

Stay strong and keep the faith, with love and prayers,

Wilson

March 21, 2017

Thank you so much for the support and prayers!

It could be the only thing that helps. I think part of what happened was his own feelings of shame and being alone in this crazy circus of health problems that no one can really figure out.

I am hoping if this whole situation is due to his changing from 2mg to 1 mg Xanax late January (and stressing and panicking over this like a mad man - despite it only being 2-3 days that he cut it to 1mg, before moving it back up to 2mg - that his anxiety over this change and realizing how addicted his body was, put him in a nervous breakdown, which hopefully hopefully this means that this can be reversed. The hospitalization occurred after several days of being back on his 2 mg regimen.

He has moments, far and few in between, that he is feeling back to himself - but as the benzo level drops back down in his system, it brings him right back into a catatonic state.

I really hope he is not fully aware, he remained motionless today while the nurse gave him a shot in his belly...but at the end of our visits, when I say bye love you, he is able to respond in sounds that resemble he is saying love you too. Which is incredible as no other sounds nor motions occurred from him for hours before this.

Yes he has had antipsyc meds (AD's do nothing for him but turn him into a zombie). It seems like the only medicine that ever really helps him is the benzo. He was also trying a Parkinsons medicine before his body shut down unresponsive again.

I am wondering if I should stress him being back on a benzo med consistently instead of just rescue doses when he is already in psychosis states?? , and also I am concerned with these months going by and that he is still not medically cleared to try Psych because of his anxiety and depression being so bad, so severe, along with the cessation of many medications including the Xanax, that the anxiety and depression are completely taking over his body. He has neurologists looking after him, and I do not know how much of experts their Psych will be but this process being so slow is really concerning. Also I wander if a slow taper is just going to leave him in this torment longer, and since this taper is medically monitored and supervised that going for it all the way quickly is best?

I really appreciate your heart and your prayers more than words can possibly say.

<3333

March 21, 2017

If you have time, look at the Ashton manual regarding taper rates. I think you are on the right path to tapering your Dad off the xanax but at a much slower rate. 2mgs to 1mg is a huge cut in dosage and I missed - how long was he on xanax?

. Many of us even use a jewelers scale to scraping tiny amounts off every 2 weeks. This you could do once he is stable enough to go home. It is, indeed, very stressful when you realize that your body is dependent on the drug but there is hope for your dad. There will be others here with more advice. 67 is not so old and your Dad may recover from this. Make sure you take care of yourself, too. WBB

March 21, 2017

I would taper him slowly, probably with built in holds at times, untill you work out a pattern that is working ok..

The medical supervision in hospital for a fast taper will address his vitals, but not the murid of sx symptoms that he may be left with...

A complicated situation, so pls adjust this opinion to suit...

Yes, look after you also...

Best wishes...

March 21, 2017

THANK YOU EVERYONE

I believe one of his problems was he had such severe anxiety before the Xanax even, which is why he was on it 20 years. He is a brilliant retired electrical engineer, very sweet, very friendly and gentle man, that used to be a very active tennis player, hiker, and motorcycle fanatic (atleast as far as taking the bikes completely apart n putting it back together his own creative ways with new cooler parts). He has been VERY depressed over the loss of his wife, the pain she suffered the last 6 years of her life- spinal surgery after spinal surgery, along with a poor immune system, and VERY depressed over his neuropathy that rapidly worsened after my mom passed, as he cannot get out and do any of the things he really enjoys for any length of time, and he has been declining in what he can do and while I am there to help, the anxiety and depression over this seems to worsen his health greatly. My brother thinks its the anxiety that is so bad, that causes him to freeze up and not be able to do things, but we have not heard this at all from any doctor. I can't say I agree, though NOW it probably is as he's withdrawing, and immobile without any Xan/Ativan in his system. He was able to motorcycle and bicycle with me just 2 years ago, which he loved and had planned on taking a motorcycle ride road trip, before his balance and neuropathy stopped him.. So I am wondering if after 20 yrs, instead of reducing his dose - his body was yelling at him to increase it possibly? And if Xanax contributed to his physical problems like I have been reading it could cause, especially since they still cannot find the underlying cause? Maybe a switch to Valium longer acting will help him..

They are not sure he has Parkinsons, but say he has Parkinsonian features such as the bradykinesia, tremor. They have been suspicious of this as well as Dementia (his father had Alzheimers at about 75yrs). He has some moderate nerve damage, we had been on trips back n forth to UCLA trying to figure out what was going on with him. No knee reflex.

I have read over time, Xanax increases anxiety.. more so than other benzos.

Sorry for all this rambling.. The doc has him on Lamictol for seizures and I need to get back to hospital soon -

THANK YOU A MILLLION to everyone who is reading and thank you soo much to cantfly, wannabebetter, and Wilson!

I read him some things from this site - first things he's been able to hear me read aloud- gave him hope he isn't crazy, n possibly, possibly, hopefullly not losing it completely!

WHAT ARE SX SYMPTOMS?

He is young and I want to do everything I can to help him recover.

<333333333333 Love<3 Shannon

March 21, 2017

THANK YOU EVERYONE
I believe one of his problems was he had such severe anxiety before the Xanax even, which is why he was on it 20 years. He is a brilliant retired electrical engineer, very sweet, very friendly and gentle man, that used to be a very active tennis player, hiker, and motorcycle fanatic (atleast as far as taking the bikes completely apart n putting it back together his own creative ways with new cooler parts). He has been VERY depressed over the loss of his wife, the pain she suffered the last 6 years of her life- spinal surgery after spinal surgery, along with a poor immune system, and VERY depressed over his neuropathy that rapidly worsened after my mom passed, as he cannot get out and do any of the things he really enjoys for any length of time, and he has been declining in what he can do and while I am there to help, the anxiety and depression over this seems to worsen his health greatly. My brother thinks its the anxiety that is so bad, that causes him to freeze up and not be able to do things, but we have not heard this at all from any doctor. I can't say I agree, though NOW it probably is as he's withdrawing, and immobile without any Xan/Ativan in his system. He was able to motorcycle and bicycle with me just 2 years ago, which he loved and had planned on taking a motorcycle ride road trip, before his balance and neuropathy stopped him.. So I am wondering if after 20 yrs, instead of reducing his dose - his body was yelling at him to increase it possibly? And if Xanax contributed to his physical problems like I have been reading it could cause, especially since they still cannot find the underlying cause? Maybe a switch to Valium longer acting will help him..
They are not sure he has Parkinsons, but say he has Parkinsonian features such as the bradykinesia, tremor. They have been suspicious of this as well as Dementia (his father had Alzheimers at about 75yrs). He has some moderate nerve damage, we had been on trips back n forth to UCLA trying to figure out what was going on with him. No knee reflex.
I have read over time, Xanax increases anxiety.. more so than other benzos.
Sorry for all this rambling.. The doc has him on Lamictol for seizures and I need to get back to hospital soon -
THANK YOU A MILLLION to everyone who is reading and thank you soo much to cantfly, wannabebetter, and Wilson!
I read him some things from this site - first things he's been able to hear me read aloud- gave him hope he isn't crazy, n possibly, possibly, hopefullly not losing it completely!

WHAT ARE SX SYMPTOMS?
He is young and I want to do everything I can to help him recover.
<333333333333 Love<3 Shannon

Of course your welcome... We are not doctors but due to reading many stories and methods here at BB I believe that this communities input can be very helpful in focusing treatment options.

Your Dad is very lucky to have you so involved. Let him know that there is every reason to believe that he will have his life back very soon, keep him positive.

I can tell you that when I cold turkeyed Xanax I thought that I was going insane, I had paranoia, audible hallucinations, extreme anxiety, so many other symptoms I don't even want to dredge them up... Very quickly I learned here at BB that I needed to get back to my Xanax fast, design a good crossover to Valium and then start a steady taper. Once I did that, Immediately ALL of the above symptoms stopped! There is hope for your Dad.

Pray with your Dad, remind Jesus of his promise in John 14:13 when he said "You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father." We'll be praying too...

Wilson

March 21, 2017

Wilson

Thank you so much, I just left hospital in tears.. your support means so much to me, You are an seriously!

When I got there, he was laying down with what looked to be peacefully, but when he responded to me, he said they are going to dunk him in ice cold water. I told him I would make sure that didn't happen, but he didn't believe me :'(. I asked the nurse to give him something for anxiety - she had come over because she saw him getting up on the camera in this medical observatory room- and she said because he has just been too difficult to wake up that it might sedate him too much. I told her how they needed the Ativan to wake him up enough for PT (physical therapy) at the other hospital, but she said after they gave it to him here he wouldn't wake up which is true after the IV Ativan, he was unresponsive for a long time..this also happened at the last hospital sometimes, and the one before that - 3 total hospitals now since 2/2 in which he himself had called 911 for help due to confusion/fear.. but anyway, I got her to write it down to switch him to Valium, and write (yet another)note about him needing a slower taper schedule with Valium after getting it approved by the doctor (every hospital switch they take him off all his medication to find his baseline to do medical testing) Thinking about calling his psychiatrist with what I think would be a good taper schedule so they can try to follow it at the hospital. Unfortunately, he was sleeping soundly when the nurse came over with some antianxiety medicine. I notice this is a problem at the hospitals, after he get his antianxiety medicine, he tends to sleep too long to the point he wont wake after they give him the benzos- maybe we can avoid this with the Valium! That would be wonderful to get him more even and hopefully where they will stop having to skip doses to do his physical therapy. Its a good sign he was willing and able to do the PT today with hardly any benzo in his system this past week other than a couple IV ativans,.. Maybe that was a window.

How long did it take after you returned to your Xanax that you were improved?

What I find scary is that my dad only tried 1mg from 2mg for two days, then he had about 10 days where he was still in the psychosis at his normal 2 mg dose. I feel soooo HORRIBLE that I wasn't watching over his medicine better. I felt like I should give him the independence to control that since he didn't like my weekly container ideas and wanted to do it on his own. I knew he gets confused but I thought he was perfect on his medicine, even though there's other times in the past he would run out from forgetting to fill his bottle on time and things like that I should have been watching better :'( :,( but all I can do is try to fix this mess the very best I can

Again seriously Wilson, my deepest thank you for the bottom of my <3

You are such an to listen to my rants about this and offer advice!

I will be on the boards more soon too, especially if I can get internet fast enough on my phone to do it from the hospital<3

Thank you every one for reading and supporting me ~ my warmest regards to you all who I know are struggling as well

At least at the other hospital, he was able to feed himself, but my poor dad is havin a rollercoaster of symtoms from to to $:-\$ to

March 21, 2017

Cutting 1 mg of X from 2 mg after 20 years of use is a sure way to experience hell on Earth. Lots of people here view the word "reinstatement" as a dirty word but it's not. There are times when there is so much suffering and instability that the benzo needs to be reinstated at whatever level is necessary to ease the suffering. That's step one. Step two is to get him out of the hospital and into a caring environment. Then you can decide where to go from there, perhaps grief therapy followed at some time down the road with crossing over to a longer acting benzo. Maybe in a year or so, if he makes progress, he can try a slow taper. But you know, it's possible that getting him off of benzos completely is not a sensible goal. All of us are just grasping for straws...we don't know the details but maybe one of us will say something that makes sense to you. Tough situation, you are on our minds and hearts.

March 21, 2017

I wish i knew more to help, I have only ever taken Valium, so not the experiences Wilson has...

But I agree that stability on a benzo to start with would be best, and be a huge help in defining whats benzo related and whats not, enabling better diagnoses and treatment plans. Sometimes raising a dose beyond tollerence levels, to find stability, can be a little non linear and take time and a hold at the higher dose...

I hope others can chip in with their opinions and experiences on this...

SX -is the abbreviation for symptoms, often used as WD (withdrawal) SX...

-your reply above just came through... sedation can be an issue, but there should be a balance, particularly on a long acting benzo like valium..

A good source of info, on tapering and cross over times, if you havnt found it yet, Is Prof. Heather Asthon Manual...

one of the best things you can do is just be that familiar, safe, re-assuring person... as they slowly brought me out of my induced coma, i was very confused and seriously haulucinating, and fearing all things bad... -knowing a familiar face was there, or would be there was a slice of heaven...

Stay strong...

March 21, 2017

Hi crAzee,

What was the reason that your father dropped from 2 to 1 mg of Xanax? Was accidental?

If yes, maybe the best idea is to get him stable on the same dosage and then reconsider the situation.

My father is 80 years old and he is still taking diazepam (one or two pills of 10 mg per week). This has been going for the last 50 years. I fear all the bad effects but in his case stopping it I do not think is an option. He would not accept it either.

Different story with my husband who is benzo free.

March 21, 2017

I'm sorry for all that has happened with your Dad. Why doesn't the medical community know.. he isn't one in a million.

I do want to let you know that I find valium more sedating than Xanax or Ativan. This is just to inform but not to overwhelm you. I pray you find a good doctor that will work with your dad and get him stable.

Your story makes me glad I am going off benzos now at 55 rather than put my daughter through what you are going through.

Stay strong. We care. <3

March 21, 2017

Wilson

Thank you so much, I just left hospital in tears.. your support means so much to me, You are an seriously!

When I got there, he was laying down with what looked to be peacefully, but when he responded to me, he said they are going to dunk him in ice cold water. I told him I would make sure that didn't happen, but he didn't believe me :'(. I asked the nurse to give him something for anxiety - she had come over because she saw him getting up on the camera in this medical observatory room- and she said because he has just been too difficult to wake up that it might sedate him too much. I told her how they needed the Ativan to wake him up enough for PT (physical therapy) at the other hospital, but she said after they gave it to him here he wouldn't wake up which is true after the IV Ativan, he was unresponsive for a long time..this also happened at the last hospital sometimes, and the one before that - 3 total hospitals now since 2/2 in which he himself had called 911 for help due to confusion/fear.. but anyway, I got her to write it down to switch him to Valium, and write (yet another)note about him needing a slower taper schedule with Valium after getting it approved by the doctor (every hospital switch they take him off all his medication to find his baseline to do medical testing) Thinking about calling his psychiatrist with what I think would be a good taper schedule so they can try to follow it at the hospital. Unfortunately, he was sleeping soundly when the nurse came over with some antianxiety medicine. I notice this is a problem at the hospitals, after he get his antianxiety medicine, he tends to sleep too long to the point he wont wake after they give him the benzos- maybe we can avoid this with the Valium! That would be wonderful to get him more even and hopefully where they will stop having to skip doses to do his physical therapy. Its a good sign he was willing and able to do the PT today with hardly any benzo in his system this past week other than a couple IV ativans,.. Maybe that was a window.

How long did it take after you returned to your Xanax that you were improved?
What I find scary is that my dad only tried 1mg from 2mg for two days, then he had about 10 days where he was still in the psychosis at his normal 2 mg dose. I feel soooo HORRIBLE that I wasn't watching over his medicine better. I felt like I should give him the independence to control that since he didn't like my weekly container ideas and wanted to do it on his own. I knew he gets confused but I thought he was perfect on his medicine, even though there's other times in the past he would run out from forgetting to fill his bottle on time and things like that I should have been watching better :'( :,( but all I can do is try to fix this mess the very best I can

Again seriously Wilson, my deepest thank you for the bottom of my <3
You are such an to listen to my rants about this and offer advice!
I will be on the boards more soon too, especially if I can get internet fast enough on my phone to do it from the hospital<3
Thank you every one for reading and supporting me ~ my warmest regards to you all who I know are struggling as well
At least at the other hospital, he was able to feed himself, but my poor dad is havin a rollercoaster of symtoms from to to $:-\$ to

Hello again good daughter,

First of all, go easy on yourself. You have no reason to feel guilty for what has transpired; Doctors did this. You had no idea what could happen, you trusted them and you now have learned a few things. I do think that from this point forward your Dad will be well served by you taking charge of his care for a while. Do you have a limited power of attorney for his care?

Answer: It took less than 2 days after I reinstated before all of my hellish symptoms went away. Things slowly became very manageable. Then I crossed over to valium and dosed once a day and things leveled out nicely, normalcy returned, stability, no more wild rides of anxiety and other symptoms.

Skipping and or missing doses is not good at all especially during a taper. Getting Dad on a steady dose and schedule is critical to his comfort and recovery.

The fact of the matter is that the Xanax has probably led to much of your Dad's anxiety and at his age he needs to get off of it for many other cognitive reasons. Benzos exacerbate if not cause dementia in the elderly, now is the time.

See if you can get his shrink or call around and find one who will help with a slow, long and steady taper, ideally after a crossover to Valium. (Valiums extremely long half-life also makes once a day dosing possible). Then I would not depend on him to take the dose, I would hand it to him as needed. Again, missing and skipping is a really bad thing to do, someone needs to make sure he doses on time. His brief drop from 1 to 2mg started his withdrawal that was acute for 10 days, this cannot happen again. Kindling is real and complicates this process immensely. Different hospitals and doctors randomly cutting him off for PT and switching meds and doses is borderline malpractice and sadistic if you ask me. You need to take charge and stop this abuse.

Again, find a good doctor who understands and agrees with the above plan and stick to it. There is every reason to believe that your Dad will stabilize and be fine in a very short period of time. Not to say that the eventual taper and cessation will be a cake walk, but most of his acute symptoms will be manageable.

So pray a lot, learn everything that you can, direct the treatment plan, cry when you need to but steel yourself for what needs to be done. But no guilt or anger, just methodical and non-wavering action, you have to.

So many here are pulling for you, your not alone, stay strong. Power prayers are coming!

Wilson

PS: Of course your welcome, all of us here feel so deeply for others having been there ourselves.

March 22, 2017

I just want to add that being in the hospital for any length of time can cause issues--I believe they call it sunsetting, it's almost like they become psychotic while in the hospital. So all of what you are seeing from your dad while he is in the hospital may not be how he would be at home. My dad had multiple lengthy hospital stays before his death (was never on benzos) and he was truly out of his mind and crazy while in the hospital, fine once he was at home again. It was unbelievable. If I were you I would do my best to get your dad stable and out of there. I would not even think about tapering at this point. Get him home and stable and then figure out your best options. Try to find a good doctor to help--they are out there. It sounds like they switched his drug? I would find out why and if he was fine on the first drug why switch? But really--don't panic by what you are seeing now, just get him home. Good luck. I know it is hard.

March 22, 2017

I just want to add that being in the hospital for any length of time can cause issues--I believe they call it sunsetting, it's almost like they become psychotic while in the hospital. So all of what you are seeing from your dad while he is in the hospital may not be how he would be at home. My dad had multiple lengthy hospital stays before his death (was never on benzos) and he was truly out of his mind and crazy while in the hospital, fine once he was at home again. It was unbelievable. If I were you I would do my best to get your dad stable and out of there. I would not even think about tapering at this point. Get him home and stable and then figure out your best options. Try to find a good doctor to help--they are out there. It sounds like they switched his drug? I would find out why and if he was fine on the first drug why switch? But really--don't panic by what you are seeing now, just get him home. Good luck. I know it is hard.

Good point! I've read about that.

March 22, 2017

I just want to add that being in the hospital for any length of time can cause issues--I believe they call it sunsetting, it's almost like they become psychotic while in the hospital. So all of what you are seeing from your dad while he is in the hospital may not be how he would be at home. My dad had multiple lengthy hospital stays before his death (was never on benzos) and he was truly out of his mind and crazy while in the hospital, fine once he was at home again. It was unbelievable. If I were you I would do my best to get your dad stable and out of there. I would not even think about tapering at this point. Get him home and stable and then figure out your best options. Try to find a good doctor to help--they are out there. It sounds like they switched his drug? I would find out why and if he was fine on the first drug why switch? But really--don't panic by what you are seeing now, just get him home. Good luck. I know it is hard.

Is this more for older people??

I did get frustrated and irritable... kinda over getting cut open and stuff...

But i dont recall psychotic...

Somewhat institutionalised at times...

But then, it was only a couple of years... I guess it could have been just around the corner for me...??

-I just thought it would be more a care/medication/diagnoses thing..??

Not saying it doesnt exist, but why...?

March 22, 2017

I just want to add that being in the hospital for any length of time can cause issues--I believe they call it sunsetting, it's almost like they become psychotic while in the hospital. So all of what you are seeing from your dad while he is in the hospital may not be how he would be at home. My dad had multiple lengthy hospital stays before his death (was never on benzos) and he was truly out of his mind and crazy while in the hospital, fine once he was at home again. It was unbelievable. If I were you I would do my best to get your dad stable and out of there. I would not even think about tapering at this point. Get him home and stable and then figure out your best options. Try to find a good doctor to help--they are out there. It sounds like they switched his drug? I would find out why and if he was fine on the first drug why switch? But really--don't panic by what you are seeing now, just get him home. Good luck. I know it is hard.

Is this more for older people??
I did get frustrated and irritable... kinda over getting cut open and stuff...
But i dont recall psychotic...
Somewhat institutionalised at times...
But then, it was only a couple of years... I guess it could have been just around the corner for me...??
-I just thought it would be more a care/medication/diagnoses thing..??
Not saying it doesnt exist, but why...?

It's called "sundowners" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundowning - not psychotic. But the OP (crazze) should understand that the medication may be causing sxs that mimic sundowners. Most sundowners is agitation and confusion in seniors. WBB

March 22, 2017

Love you all! Thank you!

First of all this afternoon and evening went much better than usual, and I contribute that to you guys! When I got back there, he was feeding himself and eyes wide open but not in fear at all! He did great in PT too, and we don't know what contributed to this, if its cuz the IVIG treatment for his nerves (we had been trying to him more IVIG for the last last two years) or cuz the L Dopa is helping or cuz he hit another window, or some combination.. All I know, is you guys make both my dad and I not feel so lost and alone in this!!! I have been reading him some of the notes and some awesome posts about how the brain works and tips on anxiety, and we have been praying together. I am so glad you recommended prayer! Mydadas been wanting off his Xanax when he realized how bad it was for his memory and he hated that he was even more confused because of it, but he just couldn't seem to cut back on that one, even though he was easily able to with all his other medications. He tried about 10 years ago to get off cold turkey after his pills ran out, I think 10 days, he ended up having a seizure, and the hospital made him wear an ugly recorder white mask on his head afterward to monitor him and his brain, plus wasn't allowed to drive for 6 months. He said they treated him like him a druggie at that hospital, which I hate they would treat him that way.. hospitals have left my mom on a bed in a hallway screaming in pain and having diarrhea that she could not control with ppl walking around! Talk about making someone feel dehumanized :,( because of her spine being so bad lost use of those muscles. It makes me beyond sick thinking about it. After my mom passed, he decided he wanted off the medication, ambien, adderal, and buprenorphine, klonopin. He easily eliminated those, and reduced the buprenorphine- I don't see a reason he should be off that one at his low dose with how much it helps him with depression, but I support whatever he wants to do, but sometimes he would lose bottles of that (he has a tendency to forget about filling ones/losing bottles of ones he wants to be off of), which is why I wanted to and should be watching over this - I will definitelyfrom now on be handing him his pills!

It wasn't completely the doctors faults because my dad told them his medicine is making him confused and wants to get off it safely and monitored. We asked to be transferred to Psych hospital from the very beginning, never got there, though I thought that is where they said we would go but their rehabilitation ctr wasn't what I thought, and was suddenly taken there the one night I wasn't there. And after times of really really struggling, my dad would agree with me that it would be ok if I asked the doc to put him on his Xanax but when I finally got to tell the neurologist he needed his Xanax, by that point my dad would change his mind and say he is feeling fine and we need to listen to the doctor. It wasn't til the boards where I could read your guys wise words, that he believed what was going on with him was at least partially the fast taper. The rehab lplace crossed him over to Ativan I think cuz of cognition problems that Xanax is known for. My brother is Power of Attorney as well as me, and he did not think dad was ready to come home and wanted to get him to psyc afterrehab hey still were going to discharge him anyway, but then we couldn't wake him up and so the doc felt like he had to send him there cuz that is abnormal. I've asked my brother about petioning for him to come home since they were so flakey at 3rd hosp to get him to Psyc but he felt like it was important he gets his med straightened out there before coming home. It is ridiculous how long its taking and if they will really have more expert of an opinion than his psychiatrist I doubt! I will have another conversation with him about all this. So it appears I need to have my dad back on Xanax before switching to Valium, or can he just start at 40 mg Valium a day? I am planning to be at hospital all day waiting for doc so I can ask to do that or be discharged as its taking them too long to send us to Psyc which is the reason we came.

Thank you again for all this support! I dk where I'd be or what we would do without it!

Thank you all so much for your advice and support!

<333333333333333 Biggest Hugs<333333333333333333

March 22, 2017

I just want to add that being in the hospital for any length of time can cause issues--I believe they call it sunsetting, it's almost like they become psychotic while in the hospital. So all of what you are seeing from your dad while he is in the hospital may not be how he would be at home. My dad had multiple lengthy hospital stays before his death (was never on benzos) and he was truly out of his mind and crazy while in the hospital, fine once he was at home again. It was unbelievable. If I were you I would do my best to get your dad stable and out of there. I would not even think about tapering at this point. Get him home and stable and then figure out your best options. Try to find a good doctor to help--they are out there. It sounds like they switched his drug? I would find out why and if he was fine on the first drug why switch? But really--don't panic by what you are seeing now, just get him home. Good luck. I know it is hard.

Is this more for older people??
I did get frustrated and irritable... kinda over getting cut open and stuff...
But i dont recall psychotic...
Somewhat institutionalised at times...
But then, it was only a couple of years... I guess it could have been just around the corner for me...??
-I just thought it would be more a care/medication/diagnoses thing..??
Not saying it doesnt exist, but why...?

It's called "sundowners" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundowning - not psychotic. But the OP (crazze) should understand that the medication may be causing sxs that mimic sundowners. Most sundowners is agitation and confusion in seniors. WBB

Thanks WBeBetter...

Much clearer now for me... so hard to tell what is and what isnt benzo in many cases... my SX have a huge relationship to daylight... I often say im nocternal, or alergic to daylight... and there are real reasons for this... Nothing surprises me anymore...

March 22, 2017

Well, we are really animals. We all have a little sundowners that manifests in different ways. It is influenced by the limbic "primitive" brain. When I worked with seniors in hospital settings it was very common to prescribe benzos for sundowners - especially in nursing homes so that the staff could manage the patients. WBB

March 23, 2017

Crazee.. I'm a little confused as to what your Dad is on right now. If he is on Xanax regularly then he should cross over to valium a little at a time. If he has not been taking the xanax he can probably go right to valium. Also he can dose valium once a day at bedtime and sleep off the drowsy part. Hope this helps.

March 23, 2017

Thank you George! And everyone! You are all true

I managed to get his doctor to agree to let me take him home Friday. Being POA helps.

Trying to tell the hospital that my dad needs his medicine so he doesn't have protracted withdrawal Sx is like pulling teeth

In this current hospital they have pretty much disapproved of every medication that helps his prostate/urination, gout, neuropathy, periodic paralysis med,.. they said they have to do this to find his baseline for the medical testing. I am SOOO glad I'm getting him out of there! They are willing to try to give him 2 mg of Valium tonight, but I bet they don't give it to him because he was sleeping when I had to leave. He was very down and depressed and weak all day. Not surprisingly.

They say he has gotten better, when they have made him worse!

They're like last night he woke up and was fine, moving well - when I am sure he got up confused, extremely restless pulling his IV out (which is the cause of him being on this video monitored floor and why they run in when he just sits up) The other hospitals were not near so bad as this. They had at least done their best getting him on scheduled doses of the benzos, and made sure he got all his necessary medicine, which is why we were able to get him out of his delusional state!! I cannot believe this hospital's ethics are horrible - to take away all medicine this long for testing! I have told them relentlessly that what they are doing is making him have psychosis! But now he has gone 2 weeks with only 2 rescue doses of IV Ativan total. After discharge, I will only have the Xanax and Ativan meds to give him - unless the doctor writes out a script of Valium. Perhaps I should ask his psychiatrist for a script of Valium for him, but I don't know because I don't want him to feel bad about my dad going to a different psychiatrist..

So I made an appointment for him with a functional medicine psychiatrist - it will be a 2 hour appointment that focuses on him as an individual instead of just doing more tests to try find diseases. I think this will be really good for him. I told him about it and its one of the first things he sounded hopeful at all about. He has been through so so much, and has very little real support. I think stress has been a major factor in his health, so I am glad to find a doctor who will really listen to his story and try to understand how his body is reacting to these stressors, so he can find better long term health! And hopefully higher quality of life. At least this is what I pray for. He has worked hard his whole life, is a very good person and deserves happiness.

Something strange has happened with his voice since this whole experience - his voice is extremely low and hoarse and he can only get out a few words at a time - which I can see is a struggle for him and hate making him do. It gets better and worse, I think it might correlate with how disconnected he feels, because it will get slightly higher when he is feeling more interconnected I think...

Has anyone else noticed a hoarse, very low voice during withdrawal? To where it is difficult to speak?

March 23, 2017

Others with more experience will chime in but I think it is important to keep your Dad on a consistent dose of the same med until he is more stable before you start a taper. Also, - do not worry about the feelings of the psychiatrist. We are all health care consumers and allowed to make choices. I would think your Dad's voice will return once back home on a schedule with regular diet, etc. WBB

March 23, 2017

I agree with what Wannabe said, all of it... During my early taper one of my symptoms was extremely dry mouth which made my voice hoarse, I used Biotene mouthwash and it helped. Drug combinations possibly from the hospital can also cause dry mouth and hoarseness.

Wilson

March 23, 2017

Others with more experience will chime in but I think it is important to keep your Dad on a consistent dose of the same med until he is more stable before you start a taper. Also, - do not worry about the feelings of the psychiatrist. We are all health care consumers and allowed to make choices. I would think your Dad's voice will return once back home on a schedule with regular diet, etc. WBB

:thumbsup:

Please Donate

Dad may never be the same :,(

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