Klonipoison Help

[[Mi...]]

I have been using and abusing benzos and alcohol for roughly five years and am now approaching 10 days completely sober. I was prescribed 1 mg of xanax twice a day for several of those years and just within the past six months, switched to klonipin 1 mg twice a day. I just got out of medical detox a week ago and I feel awful. I also took 60 klonipin pills at one time while drinking prior to detox and ended up in the ER. I did not taper off of this medication, as my entire prescription was gone and detox did not provide me with anything except anti seizure medication. I would like to use this forum for withdrawal support mainly, but I would also like to read success stories as I am scared I will never feel "normal" again. Thanks.

[[me...]]

Welcome to the forum!  We're glad to have you as a new member.  "Detox" is far from an ideal way to get off benzos, which should be tapered gradually and slowly, but many of us have been through it.  Symptoms from a hospital detox, actually a cold turkey, can be severe.  However,  they are temporary and will get better eventually.  Time is the healer.

 

You'll find plenty of information and support here.  Our members have gone through all aspects of withdrawal, and you're likely to find  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 and other symptoms 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!

 

 

 

[[Gr...]]

Welcome Mirror! We  are so glad that you found us. And you will feel normal again, it's just going to take some time.

[[Re...]]

Welcome!!!  Talk around with others, review the posts and the streams and try to get a 'global' perspective.  Also, don't let the horror stories scare you.  Somethings are tough, no doubt, but we are all individuals and our own experiences have great variability.  The most important thing is to simply put one foot in front of the other and carry on.  As I understand it, you've essentially CT'd at ER and are now looking at the future day-by-day.  The thing is, you can do it.  And if it gets really tough, people here can advise you on what worked as they went through exactly the same circumstances as you.  They got through it and you will too.