Is withdrawal for everybody ?

[[co...]]

Hi-bonjour,

 

There is a question I can't keep asking to myself when I go trough this forum: all that pain, all these people suffering and suffering again in inhumane proportions : could it be that for some person withdrawal is just impossible or to be more precise that for a category of people, you need to take benzo's to go on with your life ? It seems to me that when I read some testimony, it's just too much. Too much suffering. I feel so sorry for them.

 

( sorry for the english, I'm french)

[[sm...]]

I can not answer your question yes or no directly. What I want to say is that I read all these horror stories and it scares me too, but i'm not going to let it scare me from trying. I will take this one taper and one day at a time to borrow from 12 steps.

 

I will say that when I indicate abuse and CT in my signature I am talking about taking massive does for 1-2 months and abruptly running out of medication. In that situation my life was every bit the hell people describe, I have small scars on head from banging my head in seizure and I'm lucky I'm not dead.

 

My experience with taper down from 4 mg over years starting 2012 and now a control taper the last month is much less painful so far. It stinks but I'm not living the hell some people describe, or that I have experienced myself going CT.

 

So maybe there are some people better off for life and I would not judge them, but I will not let that influence my own recovery from this.

[[pn...]]

Consul giving up the benzos is often not a matter of choice. Some doctors cut patients off, horrible as that sounds. Other people (me included) reach a point where the drug no longer works and the inter dose withdrawal becomes intolerable. Here in the US we live under the

threat of benzo becoming nearly impossible to prescribe so people get off now while they can at least participate in planning their withdrawal.

 

That said, yes I see some people who might be better served by just staying on the pills.

 

Your English is wonderful.

[[Sc...]]

Hi-bonjour,

 

There is a question I can't keep asking to myself when I go trough this forum: all that pain, all these people suffering and suffering again in inhumane proportions : could it be that for some person withdrawal is just impossible or to be more precise that for a category of people, you need to take benzo's to go on with your life ? It seems to me that when I read some testimony, it's just too much. Too much suffering. I feel so sorry for them.

 

( sorry for the english, I'm french)

 

Benzo withdrawal is very difficult for some people and most difficult when one takes it for a long period of time (years) and attempts to get off. People who take a low dose for a few months to a year usually don't have severe withdrawals and some symptoms are exaggerated. The most difficult are those like me who had withdrawals back to back like antidepressants, opiates and benzos which takes the biggest toll on the body.

[[Ca...]]

Firstly, I see plenty of people low dose, short term with significant problems.. we are all unique in our situations..

 

Now, The problem I see with continued use for many is dose esculation, running ahead of ever increasing tolerance... As I found with another med, it gets to the point of ineffectual toxicity... or the like... -Other issues are created..

More so for some than others, and possibly not at all for a few that will take them to their last days...

 

A correct slow SX based taper would be the best option in most cases -IMO... -But one has to be ready and willing...

[[Su...]]

Withdrawal really is a prolonged soul-destroying de-humanizing experience. I dont think that is a reason in itself to remain on benzo's for life though. For one if you do eventually go off them, the longer you stay on them probably increases your chances of a harsh withdrawal. Being on benzo long term can cause you to go into tolerance withdrawal anyway and can cause cognitive deficits that increase the longer your on them. If the pain is too much maybe you just have to slow your taper right down, but the goal should be to eventually get off. Benzo's are horrible chemicals.

[[Mu...]]

Imo benzos should only be used in a hospital setting in case of emergencies, just like morphine, they should not be marketed for the general public, the risks simply outweigh the benefits, of course now it's way too late for any of that and we need an actual cure for this or at least some kind of treatment, enough is enough, there must be a chemist out there who can work something out, sorry for the rant.

[[...]]

I've been on benzo's for over 10 years. At my (using benzo's) peak I was taking 30 mg's per day, every day.

Now I am 3 mg's per day and I see myself being benzo free. In answer to your question, Yes, everyone can come off this drug but and the but is important  with care and at one's own pace (if possible). Each case is unique and needs to be looked at by a caring physician.

It is true to say that for some of us the suffering will be heavy but not indefinite and doable. I truly believe that as we gather resources (we have them and we can create them), we suffer less' we still suffer but it is diminished, transcended by the support we claim and the creativity we nurture.

[[Ch...]]

There may be people who can take them for life, but I would read Cantfly's post about dose escalation, which is a problem for most people.

 

In my personal opinion and experience, it is possible for anyone to get off benzodiazpines, but it's important to find out how to do it before starting, then important to cut slowly and carefully so no taper mistakes are made.  Taper mistakes can bring on symptoms (like the ones you are reading about here) that don't go away for quite some time.

[[Ma...]]

Muilav, they do have flumazenil but it is not readily available. It seems like it works if administered correctly and can help someone taper and reduce tolerance. It doesn't seem to work well for rapid detox though. There are also things you can take to make it easier. The worst thing about benzos is the side effects of being on them. Just being on doses equivalent to 0.2mg of Xanax numbs you too much. Honestly, you just need to embrace the pain, it is the only way to get through this. Hopefully, they will come out with something helpful for benzo dependence soon. There are so many sick and desperate people trying to get off and they just ignore your cries. It is understandable that some people are not built for benzo wd but I believe everyone can quit if they have the proper help and mindset. Benzo wd is a learning process, and you just get better at it as you go along.

[[co...]]

In fact, I was asking this because I had a really interesting session with my psychiatrist the other day, a very kind and helpful man very aware of the danger of the benzo's ( he is nearly 80's and has a lot of experiences ). After failing in my tapering - I was unable to function at 2.2 mg of valium; been back to 3 mg and was feeling well- I ask him what should be my next step. To my big suprise, he just told me '' Maybe we have to stay here - How that ? - Maybe 3 mg is your limit - huh ? - Maybe you can't go down. When we start to work together you were at 8 mg. You're now at 3. It's already a great achievement. ''

 

We go on talking this way. At the end, we were agree to keep on the withdrawal but by reducing very, very slowly. 0.02 mg by 0.02m every 10 or 2 weeks. I've calcutate that at this rythm, I will finish my withdrawal...in my coffin !

 

 

[[Ca...]]

In fact, I was asking this because I had a really interesting session with my psychiatrist the other day, a very kind and helpful man very aware of the danger of the benzo's ( he is nearly 80's and has a lot of experiences ). After failing in my tapering - I was unable to function at 2.2 mg of valium; been back to 3 mg and was feeling well- I ask him what should be my next step. To my big suprise, he just told me '' Maybe we have to stay here - How that ? - Maybe 3 mg is your limit - huh ? - Maybe you can't go down. When we start to work together you were at 8 mg. You're now at 3. It's already a great achievement. ''

 

We go on talking this way. At the end, we were agree to keep on the withdrawal but by reducing very, very slowly. 0.02 mg by 0.02m every 10 or 2 weeks. I've calcutate that at this rythm, I will finish my withdrawal...in my coffin !

Thats the Idea..!!  You have done great so far... re-assess and continue on your terms... -its great to have an understanding dr too...

Just for your info, nothing more... -but plenty of people here taper slower than your proposed 0.02/fn... like 2X slower... They have (mostly) very managable SX and little to no problems at the end, from what I have seen...

But your rate will work fine, -just adjust or hold if needed...

-no race, if your feeling ok time is less important...

My Best...