8 Weeks Off Clonazepam - Short Term User

[[Ry...]]

In October of 2015 I visited the ER because of chest pains. As it turns out, I was having panic attack related symptoms. I had never had a panic attack before so the pain was very scary for me. The ER sent me home with a Rx of temazepam for sleep. I indicated to them that sleep issues were likely a culprit of my recent stress/anxiety as I had never had issues before. I took the temazepam 7.5 mg for 10 months and slowly stopped taking it. I was so lucky not to have major withdrawal symptoms.  A little foggy with poor memory and some mild sleep issues. This past March (six months off benzos), I was under more stress related to work and decided to give the temazepam another try. That was the worst decision I have ever made.

 

After two weeks on the temazepam, I started having terrible headaches and my heart would skip a beat and then race to catch back up. The headaches originated in the back of my neck, so my Dr. decided to give clonazepam a try. He wrote the Rx for 1mg (this I now realize is a significant jump in comparative benzos). I assume this was done to ease a potential issue with tolerance withdrawal. I took the clonazepam, only at night, for 2 months before not being able to stand the side effects. I was just doped up during the day and started to feel depressed. I asked my Dr. how to come off it and he said to reduce by 25% every two weeks. That may have been too quick, because after stopping completely, I am still having symptoms 8 weeks later. My initial w/d was harsh having only been on the Rx for a total of 3.5 months. Flu like symptoms, chills, hot/cold sweats, sleepless nights, etc. I lost 15 lbs. My symptoms have gotten better but I still have the following:

 

Sleep issues: Sometimes I sleep 4 hrs. and sometimes I sleep 7 hrs. It is always in 1-2 hour increments full of dreams. I am grateful for the sleep I am getting.

Appetite: I have NO appetite. I have to remind myself to eat.

Gastro: I have nausea in the mornings until about 11:00am

Anxiety: I don't really want to do anything but stay home. I force myself out of the house.

Headaches: Similar headache to the one mentioned above comes and goes

Memory: My memory is terrible

Depression: I have lost my desire to do many of the things I once did. I was always a very ambitious person and currently I am in a funk. I wouldn't say that I am severely depressed.

 

I have started taking a tincture of hops, passion flower, & skull cap to help with sleep. I take one teaspoon (1/3 of a teaspoon of each herb) each night. I would say this has helped me. But I have read where I could be potentially sabotaging myself with these herbs. I feel like I need something to get a little sleep as I have to function at work the next day.

 

I have been following several message boards and am truly grateful this site exists. My Dr. doesn't seem to believe my symptoms should be carrying on this long and there is no one really to relate to in my life. I have great support from my family, but they have never been through it so they don't exactly know what I am going through. The big question I have, and everyone else has, is how long will this last???

[[Ch...]]

Welcome to BenzoBuddies, Ryano467.

 

I'm sorry you're going through this, and hopefully it will be a bit reassuring to find out the symptoms you've listed are all common in recovery from benzodiazepine use.  As to having a more difficult withdrawal, it often happens that repeated courses of benzodiazepine use (and withdrawal) are more symptomatic and should be a consideration as far as future use of a benzodiazepine.

 

Here's a good place to begin posting for support:

Post Withdrawal Support

 

When you have a chance, I 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. C. 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 on the reasons for their existence.

 

Please take some time to Create a Signature. This will help other members understand your history so they will be better able to support you.

Go to the top of the page and select Profile, then choose Forum Profile, insert drug history/timelines into the text box and click Change Profile.

 

Take care,

Challis