Did anyone who's now off benzos find that they were the cause of a health issue?

[[Mr...]]

As we have seen, they gave me cancer for a time. It is gone and has like no chance of coming back according to a fairly intelligent oncologist.

 

I seriously doubt that benzos caused a malignancy. Just calling it out because a post like this could spread hypochondria to vulnerable peoiple.

 

Keagan, there is a lot of evidence to show that benzo usage is correlated with higher rates of cancer. In some types, this is several multiples higher than control groups. I posted a large meta-analysis of studies on this on page 2. There are also many studies showing a direct causal mechanism, azalea kindly posted some of these.

 

 

Your post came across as quite dismissive and invalidating of someones suffering. While it is partially true that we cannot prove that benzos directly caused cancer in each individual instance, I don't believe it is anyone's place to tell another person about the causes of their own experiences and long term suffering. None of us are qualified to do this, especially in anonymity, without knowing them and the research they have done. Doing so is just likely to rattle members who are already suffering a lot.

 

 

In terms of the risks of benzos, all we objectively can talk about is likelihood and probabilities. It's impossible to understand exactly what is going on inside each individual, and the constellation of causes that may have lead to illness like cancer. It is likely far more complex than a direct causal mechanism, with lots of interacting genetic and historical factors.

 

 

And in any given year, the chances are very low, which while being raised slightly by benzo usage, still do remain quite remote. So it's also true that members should not fear the worst possibilities and make the automatic connection of benzos to cancer. So thank you for pointing this out. Objectively, we take many risks on a daily basis that probably exceed the risks of benzos, yet these aren't often considered, so preoccupation is certainly corrosive and can lead to disproportionate fear that in itself is not good for anyone's health.

 

 

My intention with this thread was not to fear monger - that would be unhelpful - but instead, mainly to share accounts of the resolution of health issues after tapering benzos.

 

I think this is hopeful, as many who have posted so far found that what they thought were distinct or unrelated problems had actually been side effects from benzos. It's also reassuring for instance, to know that tapering is decreasing the risks of benzo associated illnesses.

 

[[Sw...]]

Very well said Mr Eggplant 

 

Sweet pea

[[Sc...]]

My regular chronic migraines disappeared as soon as I started tapering klonopin.  (Ironic, considering one doctor wanted to raise my klonopin dose to help with migraines.  I do still get some severe "migraines" that are due to severe muscle spasms from benzo withdrawal, but the typical chronic migraines are virtually gone).  My depression also lifted as soon as I started tapering.  I am having some digestive issues during withdrawal, but some of the other issues and food intolerances I had while on klonopin is no longer an issue.  I also have fewer nightmares and vivid dreams.

 

I had no idea these issues were all due to klonopin, which I was on for insomnia for over 11 years.

My regular chronic migraines disappeared as soon as I started tapering klonopin.  (Ironic, considering one doctor wanted to raise my klonopin dose to help with migraines.  I do still get some severe "migraines" that are due to severe muscle spasms from benzo withdrawal, but the typical chronic migraines are virtually gone).  My depression also lifted as soon as I started tapering.  I am having some digestive issues during withdrawal, but some of the other issues and food intolerances I had while on klonopin is no longer an issue.  I also have fewer nightmares and vivid dreams.

 

I had no idea these issues were all due to klonopin, which I was on for insomnia for over 11 years.

 

Are you still having these symptoms: Current symptoms are major muscle issues; severe muscle spasms, trouble walking, and involuntary movements

 

Did you have them throughout your taper?

 

When if ever did they stop?

 

Was your taper pretty fast?

 

Sounds like you’ve had many benefits since tapering. Do they balance out the withdrawal symptoms?

 

Scaredie; you said in another thread you were diagnosed with ms and that there were definite markers that they look for? Did those markers ever show up for you?

 

If not; Do you truly believe you have ms?

Yes, unfortunately I have markers for ms. I’ve had a second opinion with an agreeing confirmation  that I do have ms. I have symptoms as well, but it’s all pretty new to me, so much to learn about it. I begrudgingly do believe I have ms. I’m waiting to see a very good ms specialist who will once and for all confirm or deny the diagnosis and be my treating neurologist, hopefully helping me better understand the disease as well. So it’s hard to say if my symptoms are from ms, benzos, benzo withdrawal etc. I presume it’s a combination of both benzos and ms when it comes to sxs, many are in the same categories or are the same, cognitive, for example. It makes me extra nervous because ms can cause so many central nervous system sxs & I don’t want to exacerbate them.

[[Gr...]]

I had tons of withdrawal symptoms, which I now know what they are, while I was just taking benzos regularly.

 

One, that I often got antibiotics for, was UTIs.  I often would have pain when urinating, and the feeling of not being able to fully empty my bladder and this would lead me to think I had a UTI.  Many times the doctor would test my urine, and about half the time, it would come back that I didn't have anything wrong with me.  This started to really mess with my head, as I would have all the symptoms and it wouldn't make sense. 

 

Another time, I had a rash, a terrible rash, and this was during a rapid taper, and the doc gave me to steroid cream and said it looked like poison ivy, but I had no exposure to that.  The cream worked and it went away.  Flash forward to THIS taper, I again, had "poison ivy" which noone really questioned, because I had been gardening, but seriously, I am pretty sure it was just withdrawal. 

 

I'm not completely off of these yet, so I guess I probably still have more surprises in my future. 

[[Sc...]]

I had tons of withdrawal symptoms, which I now know what they are, while I was just taking benzos regularly.

 

One, that I often got antibiotics for, was UTIs.  I often would have pain when urinating, and the feeling of not being able to fully empty my bladder and this would lead me to think I had a UTI.  Many times the doctor would test my urine, and about half the time, it would come back that I didn't have anything wrong with me.  This started to really mess with my head, as I would have all the symptoms and it wouldn't make sense. 

 

Another time, I had a rash, a terrible rash, and this was during a rapid taper, and the doc gave me to steroid cream and said it looked like poison ivy, but I had no exposure to that.  The cream worked and it went away.  Flash forward to THIS taper, I again, had "poison ivy" which noone really questioned, because I had been gardening, but seriously, I am pretty sure it was just withdrawal. 

 

I'm not completely off of these yet, so I guess I probably still have more surprises in my future.

Did you have frequent urination and or nighttime waking to urinate while on your normal benzo dose. I’ve spent the last year being checked for utis for these reasons, always negative except once. Didn’t know if it was ms or benzos or both. Sucks though I try to stop drinking liquids by 6:30pm every night, that really sucks hope it’s benzos, not ms and will go away when they do which I know is unfortunately going to take a long time. Oh and ceasing liquids early doesn’t always help, but mostly has, would be much worse if I didn’t restrict.

[[Gr...]]

I had tons of withdrawal symptoms, which I now know what they are, while I was just taking benzos regularly.

 

One, that I often got antibiotics for, was UTIs.  I often would have pain when urinating, and the feeling of not being able to fully empty my bladder and this would lead me to think I had a UTI.  Many times the doctor would test my urine, and about half the time, it would come back that I didn't have anything wrong with me.  This started to really mess with my head, as I would have all the symptoms and it wouldn't make sense. 

 

Another time, I had a rash, a terrible rash, and this was during a rapid taper, and the doc gave me to steroid cream and said it looked like poison ivy, but I had no exposure to that.  The cream worked and it went away.  Flash forward to THIS taper, I again, had "poison ivy" which noone really questioned, because I had been gardening, but seriously, I am pretty sure it was just withdrawal. 

 

I'm not completely off of these yet, so I guess I probably still have more surprises in my future.

Did you have frequent urination and or nighttime waking to urinate while on your normal benzo dose. I’ve spent the last year being checked for utis for these reasons, always negative except once. Didn’t know if it was ms or benzos or both. Sucks though I try to stop drinking liquids by 6:30pm every night, that really sucks hope it’s benzos, not ms and will go away when they do which I know is unfortunately going to take a long time. Oh and ceasing liquids early doesn’t always help, but mostly has, would be much worse if I didn’t restrict.

 

I did have frequent urination, and not so much the nighttime waking while still on normal benzo dose.  I think I often was trying to get my last bit of pee out and accidentally hurt myself trying to pee, which then resulted in painful urination, which, on its own, would go away in about 3-7 days.  It was such a nasty cycle, cause once it would start, I could not tell the difference between a UTI and what was happening to me.

 

HOWEVER, now, I do know this, and I never try to force pee out to the point can strain anything.  I also restrict liquids a little bit a night, but it doesn't seem to help much anyways.  During my taper, I wake up at night to pee frequently. 

[[Sc...]]

Psychiatric drugs cause disease. It's scientifically known but hidden from the public and patients. Drug makers know so do the doctors who prescribe them.

[[Sc...]]

I had tons of withdrawal symptoms, which I now know what they are, while I was just taking benzos regularly.

 

One, that I often got antibiotics for, was UTIs.  I often would have pain when urinating, and the feeling of not being able to fully empty my bladder and this would lead me to think I had a UTI.  Many times the doctor would test my urine, and about half the time, it would come back that I didn't have anything wrong with me.  This started to really mess with my head, as I would have all the symptoms and it wouldn't make sense. 

 

Another time, I had a rash, a terrible rash, and this was during a rapid taper, and the doc gave me to steroid cream and said it looked like poison ivy, but I had no exposure to that.  The cream worked and it went away.  Flash forward to THIS taper, I again, had "poison ivy" which noone really questioned, because I had been gardening, but seriously, I am pretty sure it was just withdrawal. 

 

I'm not completely off of these yet, so I guess I probably still have more surprises in my future.

Did you have frequent urination and or nighttime waking to urinate while on your normal benzo dose. I’ve spent the last year being checked for utis for these reasons, always negative except once. Didn’t know if it was ms or benzos or both. Sucks though I try to stop drinking liquids by 6:30pm every night, that really sucks hope it’s benzos, not ms and will go away when they do which I know is unfortunately going to take a long time. Oh and ceasing liquids early doesn’t always help, but mostly has, would be much worse if I didn’t restrict.

 

I did have frequent urination, and not so much the nighttime waking while still on normal benzo dose.  I think I often was trying to get my last bit of pee out and accidentally hurt myself trying to pee, which then resulted in painful urination, which, on its own, would go away in about 3-7 days.  It was such a nasty cycle, cause once it would start, I could not tell the difference between a UTI and what was happening to me.

 

HOWEVER, now, I do know this, and I never try to force pee out to the point can strain anything.  I also restrict liquids a little bit a night, but it doesn't seem to help much anyways.  During my taper, I wake up at night to pee frequently.

Thanks for the response. Sorry about your frequent waking. Are you able to get back to sleep. I’m not sure what’s up with me when the night time wake peeing happens. Good luck😊

[[...]]

This is something I have been wondering for a long time.  I am convinced my muscle issues could be related to the long term use of clonazapam, not the result of withdrawal. A lot of my symptoms started before I ever even started to taper. I am at a constant holding pattern at my current dose not knowing where to go from here.

 

I've had major muscle problems, too, even before I started tapering and never thought to connect it to the benzos until shortly after starting the taper. But I suspect the muscles will be better once I'm off. 

[[Sc...]]

This is something I have been wondering for a long time.  I am convinced my muscle issues could be related to the long term use of clonazapam, not the result of withdrawal. A lot of my symptoms started before I ever even started to taper. I am at a constant holding pattern at my current dose not knowing where to go from here.

 

I've had major muscle problems, too, even before I started tapering and never thought to connect it to the benzos until shortly after starting the taper. But I suspect the muscles will be better once I'm off.

What kind of muscle issues are you referring to? I’m having very bad upper back, shoulder blade, well & entire back pain. Not sure if it’s muscle related. Thanks

[[...]]

This is something I have been wondering for a long time.  I am convinced my muscle issues could be related to the long term use of clonazapam, not the result of withdrawal. A lot of my symptoms started before I ever even started to taper. I am at a constant holding pattern at my current dose not knowing where to go from here.

 

I've had major muscle problems, too, even before I started tapering and never thought to connect it to the benzos until shortly after starting the taper. But I suspect the muscles will be better once I'm off.

What kind of muscle issues are you referring to? I’m having very bad upper back, shoulder blade, well & entire back pain. Not sure if it’s muscle related. Thanks

 

Muscles fatigue extremely easily--I can't do normal things like go to the store or whatever.

[[Sc...]]

This is something I have been wondering for a long time.  I am convinced my muscle issues could be related to the long term use of clonazapam, not the result of withdrawal. A lot of my symptoms started before I ever even started to taper. I am at a constant holding pattern at my current dose not knowing where to go from here.

 

I've had major muscle problems, too, even before I started tapering and never thought to connect it to the benzos until shortly after starting the taper. But I suspect the muscles will be better once I'm off.

What kind of muscle issues are you referring to? I’m having very bad upper back, shoulder blade, well & entire back pain. Not sure if it’s muscle related. Thanks

 

Muscles fatigue extremely easily--I can't do normal things like go to the store or whatever.

Oh, ok. Thanks for the response. Hope you feel better soon. 

[[sk...]]

Horribly weak legs.  My sister insisted there was something wrong with my heart, but as soon as I stopped the benzos, no more weak legs.

[[Pl...]]

Horribly weak legs.  My sister insisted there was something wrong with my heart, but as soon as I stopped the benzos, no more weak legs.

Did your weak legs keep you from walking at all or standing long ; etc...

[[Jo...]]

Following. 

[[ho...]]

My muscle issues are mostly cramping and twitching. My left leg gets very tight when I make the smallest of cuts. I have cramping in other muscles as well.

[[Sc...]]

My regular chronic migraines disappeared as soon as I started tapering klonopin.  (Ironic, considering one doctor wanted to raise my klonopin dose to help with migraines.  I do still get some severe "migraines" that are due to severe muscle spasms from benzo withdrawal, but the typical chronic migraines are virtually gone).  My depression also lifted as soon as I started tapering.  I am having some digestive issues during withdrawal, but some of the other issues and food intolerances I had while on klonopin is no longer an issue.  I also have fewer nightmares and vivid dreams.

 

I had no idea these issues were all due to klonopin, which I was on for insomnia for over 11 years.

My regular chronic migraines disappeared as soon as I started tapering klonopin.  (Ironic, considering one doctor wanted to raise my klonopin dose to help with migraines.  I do still get some severe "migraines" that are due to severe muscle spasms from benzo withdrawal, but the typical chronic migraines are virtually gone).  My depression also lifted as soon as I started tapering.  I am having some digestive issues during withdrawal, but some of the other issues and food intolerances I had while on klonopin is no longer an issue.  I also have fewer nightmares and vivid dreams.

 

I had no idea these issues were all due to klonopin, which I was on for insomnia for over 11 years.

 

Are you still having these symptoms: Current symptoms are major muscle issues; severe muscle spasms, trouble walking, and involuntary movements

 

Did you have them throughout your taper?

 

When if ever did they stop?

 

Was your taper pretty fast?

 

Sounds like you’ve had many benefits since tapering. Do they balance out the withdrawal symptoms?

 

Scaredie; you said in another thread you were diagnosed with ms and that there were definite markers that they look for? Did those markers ever show up for you?

 

If not; Do you truly believe you have ms?

I thought I answered this already, but yes I’ve got the markers for ms & have been diagnosed by two nuerologists, going to a renowned ms specialist for final 3rd opinion & treatment @ months end. I do believe I have it. If not then something else very similar. This guy will know for sure.

[[Sc...]]

While I was still completely off Klonopin from c/t, I became regular and didn’t have the pain in my legs and body like I did prior.  I’d been diagnosed with IBS-C, Fibromyalgia and CFS.  Since reinstating, I have a return of these issues.  So, I now believe these are directly related to benzos.  I didn’t have any of it before starting on them back in ‘94.  I never considered Klonopin to be the culprit.  I’m sure there are ,ore health issues it’s caused but I was only off for 35 days and in such a DR/DP, terror state I can’t remember them all.  But there were more I realized at the time.  Can’t reeeeeeemember now 

 

That's very interesting. So you saw relief from CFS and other symptoms during the time you were off klonopin? What made you reinstate?

 

Very glad to hear this - this should give you a lot of hope of at least a partial recovery down the line 

 

I strongly believe that benzos and abrupt withdrawal caused my fatigue issues. I have a diagnosis of CFS but the only origin was psych drugs and abrupt withdrawal.

 

I believe that this might contribute to CFS symptoms in a few ways. Firstly, benzos significantly suppress a lot of neuro-hormones like cortisol, which (among other things) is associated with and responsible for adaptive changes to the environment. For example, I noticed that my temperature regulation while on 5-10mg valium was awful. Slightly too hot or cold would make me feel sick. This largely resolved as my doses got lower. Likewise, I experienced my first profound "crashes" after first starting valium. I would be walking and suddenly hit a wall and not be able to go any further. Like all energy had just ran out.

 

What gave me a possibly unique insight into this is that I was having extensive endocrine investigations during my initial valium taper. I saw how baseline cortisol levels, cortisol response and loads of ways in which I was unable to adapt to environmental changes all improved as I reduced my dosage. In fact, valium suppressed my cortisol and response so much that they suspected Addison's disease and I even began treatment for this. Guess what happened as I tapered ? They told me they must have made a mistake. Valium directly caused endocrine suppression and Addison's symptoms.

 

I still have extreme fatigue, but am hoping that the trend of improvement continues as I get to 0 and beyond.

 

Second, I believe usage and withdrawal of psych drugs including benzos can lead to a state very similar to PTSD. Chronic overactivation of the limbic system - being stuck in fight or flight. This being experienced as tired yet wired, hypersensitivity, energy crashes, etc. I believe that just like viral, chemical or other causes of CFS, psych drugs can create a neurological injury and a pattern of overactivation that will perpetuate itself until some kind of intervention.

Yes I’ve felt that tired, wired feeling before & I always s feel tired now. So what kind of neurological injury? Permanent? And ‘it will perpetuate itself until intervention’. what kind of intervention??? Thank you

[[Sc...]]

Hi all,

I posted this in the fibromyalgia section too.

It’s been suggested to me by 2 chiropractors that I may have fibromyalgia. Never been tested, don’t know who tests that.

My main symptoms are severe upper back, spine, shoulder blade, neck, & shoulder pain that is so painful shower water hurts to touch that area. It feels like the whole area is tensed up. Almost locked up. I admit to not being active & also the pain worsens the longer I sit on my I pad.

 

I was diagnosed with ms last year & it was around that time that I started having these symptoms. I went to pt & she said my vertebrae was twisted & she manually twisted it back & had me work on strengthening the shoulder blade area. I had to quit pt because I had a crazy medical year last year & eventually the pain wained or at least became manageable or not very noticeable for awhile until a few months ago & it’s back with a vengeance.

 

Does this

1. Sound like fibromyalgia?

2. Sound like a possible benzo side effect

3. Sound like a benzo withdrawal side effect-I’m not into my taper but doc let me up & down dose my clonazapam over the past two years from .5-1.5mg, the as needed thing, so don’t know if I unwittingly caused withdrawals

4. If you have this kind of pain, what natural things do you do for it?

 

Hope you are all well thank you

 

[[Be...]]

My fibro and CFS were post viral. Lots of things happened all at once. All within one year I had endometriosis surgery and they accidentally severed the  inferior epigastric artery. This led to an emergency laparotomy and a very long healing time. I also had a virus which was later found out to be Epstein-Barr virus. A few months later I was in a terrible car accident. I flipped over in an open jeep and suffered a head concussion along with some other fractures: cheek, ribs, stitches on my head. It took a while to heal From that but I kept bouncing back. Then I got Parvo virus which was the straw that broke the camels back. I was very sick from it and never really recovered. I feel

Like I have he flu every day. I started .5 Ativan after all these things happened to me. I always bounced back and praised myself in being the unsinkable Molly Brown. Parvo changed all that. I want bouncing back and went from doctor to doctor. I was finally diagnosed with Fibro/CFS. I had trouble sleeping and was intolerant To so many medications. That’s when I was given .5 mg of Ativan at bedtime. It helped for the longest time.  I dealt with the fibromyalgia as best I could. The fatigue was unrelenting.  Realistically, I don’t think stopping the benzo‘s will miraculously  heal or  make my fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue go away but I am hoping that I will physically feel better not being dependent on Ativan. I started to notice that when I did not have my doses I was getting withdrawl symptoms.  Also my anxiety seems to be getting worse as I withdrew from each last dose.

I’m taking one step at a time and trying to do the best that I can each day. It’s not easy with all

The other health issues but I really can’t imagjne staying on Benzos for another 20 years will actually help my health.

My psychiatrists kept pushing it and basically made me feel that I was this anxiety ridden individual with this disorder that needed to have this medication to get through life. I would joke to my friends “I have a disorder” and my doctor wants me to take his medication. I would explain it this way: my body can’t tell

The difference between a lion chasing it an Fortunoff closing! I have ge same reaction....it’s a disorder! I have to take my medication. Well the jokes on me....dealing with trying to get off his stuff while still dealing with anxiety from health issues.

[[Sc...]]

My fibro and CFS were post viral. Lots of things happened all at once. All within one year I had endometriosis surgery and they accidentally severed the  inferior epigastric artery. This led to an emergency laparotomy and a very long healing time. I also had a virus which was later found out to be Epstein-Barr virus. A few months later I was in a terrible car accident. I flipped over in an open jeep and suffered a head concussion along with some other fractures: cheek, ribs, stitches on my head. It took a while to heal From that but I kept bouncing back. Then I got Parvo virus which was the straw that broke the camels back. I was very sick from it and never really recovered. I feel

Like I have he flu every day. I started .5 Ativan after all these things happened to me. I always bounced back and praised myself in being the unsinkable Molly Brown. Parvo changed all that. I want bouncing back and went from doctor to doctor. I was finally diagnosed with Fibro/CFS. I had trouble sleeping and was intolerant To so many medications. That’s when I was given .5 mg of Ativan at bedtime. It helped for the longest time.  I dealt with the fibromyalgia as best I could. The fatigue was unrelenting.  Realistically, I don’t think stopping the benzo‘s will miraculously  heal or  make my fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue go away but I am hoping that I will physically feel better not being dependent on Ativan. I started to notice that when I did not have my doses I was getting withdrawl symptoms.  Also my anxiety seems to be getting worse as I withdrew from each last dose.

I’m taking one step at a time and trying to do the best that I can each day. It’s not easy with all

The other health issues but I really can’t imagjne staying on Benzos for another 20 years will actually help my health.

My psychiatrists kept pushing it and basically made me feel that I was this anxiety ridden individual with this disorder that needed to have this medication to get through life. I would joke to my friends “I have a disorder” and my doctor wants me to take his medication. I would explain it this way: my body can’t tell

The difference between a lion chasing it an Fortunoff closing! I have ge same reaction....it’s a disorder! I have to take my medication. Well the jokes on me....dealing with trying to get off his stuff while still dealing with anxiety from health issues.

Bella girl,

I’m so sorry to hear of all of your suffering. Your strong to notice your dependence & need to wean off despite all of your other issues. Best wishes on your journey!

 

I’m listening to the book medical medium & it’s going on & on about the Epstein bar virus. All these different case examples that I can relate to. Have you ever read the book? I’m now wishing I’d gotten the hardcover instead of the audible one as she talks about all these healing nutritional things etc. I’ve been dosing in & out of sleep as I listen & I just can’t grasp what she’s getting at to heal yourself or if one has it or not?

 

How were you diagnosed with Epstein bar & how were you rid of it? Did you ever have mono?

 

What about the cfs & fibromyalgia? How were those diagnosed? How treated?

 

I’ve been diagnosed with ms.

 

It’s been suggested to me by two chiropractors that I might have fibromyalgia, but I havnt investigated it.

 

I’m seeing an ms specialist at the end of the month as my 3rd & final opinion for ms, then maybe treatment.

 

I have much fatigue that I’m attributing to my high benzo dose.

I have much body pain especially in my back & joints that I’m not sure what it’s from, maybe benzos too or ms or something else.

I suffer from treatment resistant depression, thought that to blame for much, but I’ve not the energy nor desire to do much at all.

 

Sorry for the novel. Good luck you’ve got this as you sound great & like you said you’ve bounced back from so much.

[[az...]]

Psychiatric drugs cause disease. It's scientifically known but hidden from the public and patients. Drug makers know so do the doctors who prescribe them.

 

Scooby99 says it simply and truthfully yet again.

[[az...]]

Thanks azalea32 for all the information you researched and provided to us.  I am thrilled? Hmm for lack of a better word, to look through the volume of studies to increase my understanding of this horrible scourge that has befallen us.  It is a prickly mine field of data that cannot easily be put into understandable forms.

 

Sweet pea

 

I know, I’m really sorry.

[[Sc...]]

I'm very curious about this.

 

There's a lot of talk here about withdrawal symptoms but not much about the negative side effects of the benzos themselves. Although I'm aware these side effects are the reasons many of us choose to taper off.

 

For instance, I know my fatigue got far worse when I started taking benzos daily.

 

For those who have come off benzos, did you find any long term health issues you thought might have been unrelated (e.g. fatigue, agoraphobia, anything?) were actually caused by taking the benzo?

 

Would love to hear some stories like this 

 

 

Long lasting mental symptoms with benzos or any psychotropic drug withdrawal is rare. They do not last long. The physical symptoms are long lasting. These drugs also cause disease like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, liver disease etc.. these toxins age the body fast and shorten life span.

[[Sc...]]

Ok I didn’t read back through thread but your all scaring the crap out of me I’ve had depression off on for years, I’m very med resistant, but it just got bad very bad again, so I’m trying lexapro(escitalopram) again, has helped in the past, right now feel it’s making me worse, hopefully before it will make me feel better. I know psych drugs suck, but what about not treating depression causes it to progress too??

 

I need some positive input that taking lexapro temporarily May help me & be worth it & not harm me. I’m fragile right now. Please give me some hope only. Thanks SC