Asking for help again!

[[si...]]

I am asking for help again. I started a taper off Klonopin  1.5-2 mgs about 2 months ago. Got down as of 7-2-17 to 1 mg.  It has been very hard and today has been my worse day. I have been bedridden most of the day and have thought about going to ER because i just feel like my BP is real hi and have been having skipped heartbeats.  Would appreciate any comments/replies/suggestions/encouragement.  I have been on some kind of benzo for close to 40 yrs and am 69 yrs old with a history of MVP and Hypertension plus anxiety and depression.  Thank you in advance for any reply!

[[me...]]

Hi again,

 

Are you on medication for your hypertension?  If you're on a beta blocker, that should help reduce your bp and palpitations.  I was/am on atenolol for my hypertension and it helped a lot with the skipped beats and other physical manifestations of anxiety.  I'm 67 and otherwise in good health. 

 

Getting off benzos is not easy, even for young people.  It was the hardest thing I've ever done.  But if you taper slowly, live one day at a time, and actively distract yourself from your worries, you can do this. 

 

[[je...]]

Hi.  Unfortunately it does get worse as we taper down.  Sounds like today is a real troublemaker for you.  If your BP is high (not sure you just say it feels high), I'd just be prompted to ask if you are under a doctor's care with your taper.  40 years is a really long time for your body to now start adjusting.  My first guess is that you should be going MUCH slower in taper than you are (just because of age and length of time on drug).

 

Other Buddies thoughts??

[[si...]]

thanks for the reply.  Yes i am on 4 bp meds and one is a beta blocker  Bystolic.  I do have a psychiatrist helping me with the taper.  He has suggested i try Valerian root  or perhaps even seroquel. Anybody tried that?

 

[[Ch...]]

Withdrawing from a benzodiazepine does cause most of us to have a higher BP for awhile.  I was 61 (30+ years on a benzodiazepine) with no prior history of high BP when I went through withdrawal.  At times my BP went to 185/95, particularly during times of stress or anxiety.  I chose not to have it treated with meds and within six months after my taper ended my BP was back to normal.

 

Is your doctor keeping an eye on your BP currently so he can up your medication if he thinks it's at a dangerous level?

 

Skipped heartbeats are also par the course.  They are usually benign but again, I'd be sure my doctor was informed.  At times I had more skipped beats (palpitations) than normal beats in a minute's time.  Yeah, I counted them.    After my taper ended I had a full cardiac eval and all was well.  But these things can feel scary, and being frightened/anxious can make these worse.

[[si...]]

thank you again for your support and advice!

[[Do...]]

If you have any type of heart issues, I would consult with a heart doctor and fully explain your situation to him/her before continuing your taper.  I know there have been a few cases where a heart doctor has sent a note to a psychiatrist requesting that the doctor slow down the patient's taper due to stress on the heart, because the rapid taper was causing the patient (who already had a pre-existing heart condition) major problems. 

[[ly...]]

 

 

I think your body is telling you to slow it down.  Best to listen.

[[...]]

So sorry you are suffering sickoldman! I'm 68 years old and have been right there with you for the last 2weeks! I'm starting to feel better, but it is so frightening. My blood pressure is usually high but during this last wave it's been very low. Also rapid heart rate and heart palps. It is so scarey! You hang in there and keep an eye on your blood pressure. I am a big believer in a very slow taper! Good luck!🙏

[[si...]]

thank you sjs!

[[Go...]]

thanks for the reply.  Yes i am on 4 bp meds and one is a beta blocker  Bystolic.  I do have a psychiatrist helping me with the taper.  He has suggested i try Valerian root  or perhaps even seroquel. Anybody tried that?

 

In my mid 30s and on 2 bp meds... I tried seroquel, but it wasn't for me. Felt like I was putting poison in my body. For others it works great for sleep and psychosis... But if you choose to try it, be careful, it's highly addicting too.

[[mi...]]

I am asking for help again. I started a taper off Klonopin  1.5-2 mgs about 2 months ago. Got down as of 7-2-17 to 1 mg.  It has been very hard and today has been my worse day. I have been bedridden most of the day and have thought about going to ER because i just feel like my BP is real hi and have been having skipped heartbeats.  Would appreciate any comments/replies/suggestions/encouragement.  I have been on some kind of benzo for close to 40 yrs and am 69 yrs old with a history of MVP and Hypertension plus anxiety and depression.  Thank you in advance for any reply!

 

I can relate.. be strong and know that it will pass. I get the skipped beats and high pulse but neither are harmful.

[[la...]]

Hi Sickoldman. I fully understand how you feel. I have MVP too. Have had PVCs for as long as I have been on benzos. But they got REALLY BAD late in my taper and have been the absolute worst symptom throughout this journey. I also had POTS. I was so scared this was permanent. So now at 14 months off I can say that things do improve with time. Slowly but they do. My heart is slowly getting better. Now, the one crucial thing I strongly recommend that you work with your cardiologist during the withdrawal. I think if I didn't I would not have made it through. He was there when I got POTS and he prescribed beta blocker and then when my PVCs got sky high non stop, he put me on flecainide. All the meds were temporary and they got me through the worst. I had tests and his support and understanding throughout. Especially at your age (I'm not far behind you!) you must be especially careful. And do do do go slow slow slow with your taper. You have been on the benzo a very long time so a few more months will not make that much difference and you will make your recovery so much easier. Good luck

PS. And if you don't already, please take some good quality magnesium. My cardiologist told me to take 400-600mg a day, but ask yours. However, not all cardiologists are into magnesium. Mine is very up to date and open minded.

If you need any more help for me please feelto pm me.