Are people on here the norm?

[[su...]]

This site has really saved my life because without it I would have no idea that these w/d symptoms are normal. I know my normal psych symptoms in the past and all of this is very different but I have no idea if I could have navigated thru all this on my own. I've really been using this site to track my healing and though I wouldn't wish this on anyone having people going through the same thing helps. Although again my heart goes out to all of you dealing with this and I wish it was just me and you all weren't suffering too. I saw in a post here I can't find where someone posted stats of how a certain percent of people don't experience w/d at all. I'm skeptical thats possible but I'm just curious if this site is a good gauge for the norm of benzo w/d or if we are more of the percent that really got it bad? Not sure if I would believe the data but are there any stats on recovery time from benzos? I know if you google it it says it will take 4 weeks to recover from benzos. That what I thought I had to get thru during acute and then I thought my life would go back to normal lol. Maybe it was better I was as dumb about coming off these meds as I was going on them.

[[Ma...]]

This site has really saved my life because without it I would have no idea that these w/d symptoms are normal. I know my normal psych symptoms in the past and all of this is very different but I have no idea if I could have navigated thru all this on my own. I've really been using this site to track my healing and though I wouldn't wish this on anyone having people going through the same thing helps. Although again my heart goes out to all of you dealing with this and I wish it was just me and you all weren't suffering too. I saw in a post here I can't find where someone posted stats of how a certain percent of people don't experience w/d at all. I'm skeptical thats possible but I'm just curious if this site is a good gauge for the norm of benzo w/d or if we are more of the percent that really got it bad? Not sure if I would believe the data but are there any stats on recovery time from benzos? I know if you google it it says it will take 4 weeks to recover from benzos. That what I thought I had to get thru during acute and then I thought my life would go back to normal lol. Maybe it was better I was as dumb about coming off these meds as I was going on them.

 

Not according to the people on Facebook      really, I am just joking.  From everything I have heard and read, we are the most reliable benzo community there is online.  I don't know if statistics like that are kept.  BB is a privately operated and funded by only one kind generous human being who will not even take donations.  Mary 

[[su...]]

Mary5588 Wow! That sounds about right. I just wondered if the people coming to this site are the few suffering but it seems ti be the norm. Thank God for that one person funding this site. That is amazing. As I've said before I wish it was mandatory doctors read this site.

[[ke...]]

The vast majority of people can come of benzos quickly with minor symptoms. Very common. We are in the  minority.

[[Ca...]]

The vast majority of people can come of benzos quickly with minor symptoms. Very common. We are in the  minority.

I would tend to agree with this... But even here on BB the differences are vast...

I also think that some significant WD in the wider community is misdiagnosed as pre existing but getting worse, or a new condition...

My Dr accepts my situation, but the onus is on me being particularly sensitive to medication... -as opposed to her other patients... Her couple of other "problematic" patients have significant alcohol histories... -or "need" ADs... etc..

 

I wonder if we will ever know the exact truth...  My caution would be to not Expect the worst...

 

[[id...]]

I'm skeptical about people not having benzo withdrawal. It's like saying majority of people coming off of heroin don't have a withdrawal. How's benzo different?

 

I think most people just don't realize they are in benzo wd. When I stopped phenibut I was suffering for a long time and then ended up on benzos. I now know I was in phenibut withdrawal and remember instances of interdose withdrawal when I would stop phenibut because I didn't know any better. But at the time I thought I had weird physical and mental issues, even went to Endocrinologist and moved out from an apartment that I thought might have mold because I thought hormones or mold were causing my issues.

 

My friend believes she developed epilepsy out of nowhere. She's not connecting this with stopping benzos. I sent her resources but she refused to get educated because she's a nurse and thinks she knows better. She's having seizures and saying benzos don't cause withdrawal. Denial is a strong phenomenon.

[[De...]]

I did some research regarding Heather Ashton's statement which said 10 to 15% of long term benzo users have severe and/or protracted withdrawal symptoms. She footnoted her statement citing this book, "Clinical Textbook of Addictive Disorders". I went to my local library and checked out the first edition (this is the one she footnoted - 1991) along with the latest 4th edition (2016). There's a chapter in each of these editions on benzodiazepines and both cite the same study done apparently by one of the doctors, Dr Robert L DuPont, who wrote the article.

 

The article states that 50% of long term benzo users will have little or no withdrawal symptoms. I know both of my parents took valium for several years and stopped cold turkey without any symptoms.

 

The book also states on page 257 of the fourth edition: "About one-third of medical patients with long-term use of a benzodiazepine have clinically significant withdrawal symptoms, even after gradual tapering, and about one in eight patients stopping a benzodiazepine will have protracted and/or severe symptoms (DuPont, 1988)".

[[Yu...]]

My coleague took valium 10 mg for 2 years, CT with no withdrawal.

[[Tr...]]

I think that many are getting completely wrong diagnoses: "fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, ALS, MS and more. My doctor said that even though I did a CT after 25 years, my diagnosis was "anxiety". And "you are healthy after 3-4 months".

If I hadn't found BB, I would have thought that this was the truth. And a mental illness.

 

I read a book, that was a bestseller about a healing -"this had saved him from ALS".  But the author had finished sleeping pills. WTH.....

 

[[id...]]

I think that many are getting completely wrong diagnoses: "fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, ALS, MS and more. My doctor said that even though I did a CT after 25 years, my diagnosis was "anxiety". And "you are healthy after 3-4 months".

If I hadn't found BB, I would have thought that this was the truth. And a mental illness.

 

I read a book, that was a bestseller about a healing -"this had saved him from ALS".  But the author had finished sleeping pills. WTH.....

 

Exactly! People get not only serious diagnosis like MS, but also get their thyroid gland removed because of "thyroid storm", get on hormonal therapy, keep treating Lyme at a Naturopath's office.

 

I was never bit by a tick, all of my Lyme panels, even alternative ones were negative. A Lyme doctor still diagnosed me with Lyme during benzo wd and tried antibiotics treatment (which made me worse, so I stopped after a couple of days).

 

So yes, we never know the full story. They might be on OTC supplements like phenibut that are similar to benzos, or pop illegal drugs to cover up withdrawal symptoms.

 

I do think some are more prone to severe wd than others, though.

[[Bl...]]

I'm skeptical about people not having benzo withdrawal. It's like saying majority of people coming off of heroin don't have a withdrawal. How's benzo different?

 

I think most people just don't realize they are in benzo wd. When I stopped phenibut I was suffering for a long time and then ended up on benzos. I now know I was in phenibut withdrawal and remember instances of interdose withdrawal when I would stop phenibut because I didn't know any better. But at the time I thought I had weird physical and mental issues, even went to Endocrinologist and moved out from an apartment that I thought might have mold because I thought hormones or mold were causing my issues.

 

My friend believes she developed epilepsy out of nowhere. She's not connecting this with stopping benzos. I sent her resources but she refused to get educated because she's a nurse and thinks she knows better. She's having seizures and saying benzos don't cause withdrawal. Denial is a strong phenomenon.

 

I totally agree Idealifevision! Well put..."Denial is a strong phenomenon."

[[Tr...]]

Sorry, if I deviate a little from the question. But wrong diagnoses can cause so much problems and concern; expensive tests, and they are normal or negative. "Kindlings" disappear in this mess, and in the worst case they are getting Benzo. So sick, and diagnosed as hypochondriac. So the healthcare's poor knowledge can cause so much damage.

[[NH...]]

I find it impossible to believe that people who are considered long term benzo users can quit with no withdrawal.

The only explanation I can see for that is that they are drunk.

I am not kidding, I literally am guessing that they have replaced their benzos with alcohol and just substituted one problem for another.

I do not drink often. The last time I got drunk was 2 years ago and it was the only time that year that I drank.

They wouldn't care about symptoms while they are drunk and if they drink often and complain to the doctor about symptoms it could be blamed on their drinking habit instead of the benzo withdrawal.

There are far too many variables in a person's life that doctors do not know about for them to accurately diagnose the root cause of many problems in a 15 minute visit. We already know that a clean person sent for tests when in WD come back with negative tests. If you get sent for a blood test and are a heavy drinker those tests will often indicate that damage from drinking is the source of the problem. In this way it is very deceptive when trying to work out a statistic.

I'm in Canada and statistically 80+% of Canadians drink. When I take that into consideration the numbers start to make more sense to me.

I would be curious to know how many of us who are coping with WD are also people who do not drink. I think that might give us a more accurate view.

Also, please do not think I am saying booze is a good substitute for benzos. I have known 3 people who died at a young age because of alcohol abuse. If anything it is far worse than benzos in my opinion.

[[Yu...]]

I know a person who quit benzos with drinking during acute phase 1.5 months after that passed nothing. I am not drinking too i tried it made things worse.

[[...]]

The vast majority of people can come of benzos quickly with minor symptoms. Very common. We are in the  minority.

 

This. The members of this site make up probably 5-10%, maybe lower. Everyone will likely have some withdrawal, just minor and not what we consider withdrawa to be in our world. More like quitting caffeine or smoking, short lived.

 

I believe our genetics and receptor configuration before benzos predisposes some to long term issues. Unfortunately those who need meds the most (low baseline gaba) are likely the ones who will withdrawal the most.

[[su...]]

I agree if it wasn't for the internet and really this site I prob would have ended up on more psych meds at this point thinking the w/d symptoms are all me even though I know this is very different than my past problems.

 

Depibs thanks for your research!

[[ke...]]

I think that many are getting completely wrong diagnoses: "fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, ALS, MS and more. My doctor said that even though I did a CT after 25 years, my diagnosis was "anxiety". And "you are healthy after 3-4 months".

If I hadn't found BB, I would have thought that this was the truth. And a mental illness.

 

I read a book, that was a bestseller about a healing -"this had saved him from ALS".  But the author had finished sleeping pills. WTH.....

 

Totally agree. Most of those diagnoses are bullshit hypochondria stuff.

[Guest [NM...]]

The vast majority of people can come of benzos quickly with minor symptoms. Very common. We are in the  minority.

 

Pretty sure ☝🏻 this.

[[Bl...]]

Sorry, if I deviate a little from the question. But wrong diagnoses can cause so much problems and concern; expensive tests, and they are normal or negative. "Kindlings" disappear in this mess, and in the worst case they are getting Benzo. So sick, and diagnosed as hypochondriac. So the healthcare's poor knowledge can cause so much damage.

This is how I got where I am today . I was one year off of xanax . I had been very ill for a good while ( about 6 months ) but had been getting better with a few left over physical side effects , mainly breathing issues and muscle twitching , lots of weight lost and very worn out from the experience . My GP told me repeatedly that this was not withdrawal but was nearly certain it was MS or as a second possibility a nervous breakdown . I'd never had any extreme mental difficulties but my ex husband had been extra brutal during what I now know to be benzo W/D and needed to go anyway .

 

He kept on until I doubted myself , submitted to all these neuro tests and allowed myself to be placed on would eventually be 8 mgs of klonopin spread through the day , which nearly killed me and has been a nitemare to get away from . If he would have just left me alone or validated that it was xanax W/D I would NOT be in the horrendous shape I am in now .

 

I know suing is long past but really with the damage this does these people really need to be held accountable for this or at least educated . There are not many drugs that Dr's just randomly Rx knowing what appears to be absolutely nothing about them . I find it strange that they appear to be so blind to any of this .

 

 

 

[[id...]]

BlueDutchess, oh my gosh, what a terrible doctor! Treating MS with 8 mg Klonopin, insanity!

[[un...]]

This site has really saved my life because without it I would have no idea that these w/d symptoms are normal. I know my normal psych symptoms in the past and all of this is very different but I have no idea if I could have navigated thru all this on my own. I've really been using this site to track my healing and though I wouldn't wish this on anyone having people going through the same thing helps. Although again my heart goes out to all of you dealing with this and I wish it was just me and you all weren't suffering too. I saw in a post here I can't find where someone posted stats of how a certain percent of people don't experience w/d at all. I'm skeptical thats possible but I'm just curious if this site is a good gauge for the norm of benzo w/d or if we are more of the percent that really got it bad? Not sure if I would believe the data but are there any stats on recovery time from benzos? I know if you google it it says it will take 4 weeks to recover from benzos. That what I thought I had to get thru during acute and then I thought my life would go back to normal lol. Maybe it was better I was as dumb about coming off these meds as I was going on them.

 

As I understood it, overall recovery time was roughly proportional to the amount of time the benzo was taken. In my case, this was not true as I was on Ativan for only 5 days and then tapering for approx. 3 months. It's been over a year now and I'm just beginning to shed some of the emotional withdrawal symptoms I've been plagued with since I ended my taper. I was hoping it would take only 6 or 7 months. Some of the physical symptoms have lessened a bit also. I ran across an informative article in Psych Today-

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/some-assembly-required/201505/detoxing-after-detox-the-perils-post-acute-withdrawal  in which the author describes the withdrawal scenario.

 

I also posed a question in the comment section below it, as to why my withdrawal period didn't fit the ratio, and the author was nice enough to reply-

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/comment/1000076#comment-1000076

 

Hope this helps some.

[[Bl...]]

BlueDutchess, oh my gosh, what a terrible doctor! Treating MS with 8 mg Klonopin, insanity!

 

Isn't that the truth or what ??

I will say he was finally shut down and is no longer allowed to prescribe controlled anything . If Id only known what I know now ... ugh . trying to pick up and continue on .

I dont have MS or anything really . He first gave it to me after my gall bladder burst and I had post op complications , that's how all of this started .

 

[[su...]]

BlueDutchess thats an incredibly high dose of klonopin. That is especially horrible you were in w/d from another benzo. i'm so sorry you are going through this. I hope you heal soon!

 

unladen soul Thanks! Those are very helpful links putting this into more clinical terms.

[Guest [St...]]

Very interesting question posed as the subject of this string -  and how long do those who came off without incident stay off? Are the stats collected and logged provided (subject to) the user with few or no withdrawal symptoms on quitting stays off for one week, one month, how many years? How many of those lucky souls go back on?

 

I started in March 1995 "as needed" and after a few months took 0.25mg Xanax every night  - this escalated to 0.5mg daily till 1999 August when I quit cold turkey  - I had no withdrawal symptoms! This after 4 years of use! Hold on, I was on for a total of 22 years, can I really remember so far back with all the misery and damage those years brought? I just got married back then,  I remember clearly and I checked with my wife too - there were no withdrawals. I ate a bit more and gained some weight and jogged it off. So I was one of those lucky souls.

 

Went and worked in a foreign country, had to learn a new language, took strain, went back on.... then within a year I was in rebound withdrawl, changed to Klon and my psychiatrist insisted I use Triimipramine (old AD) to help me sleep. Now I was on 1mg Klon a day....it was 2001.

 

Somehow it went OK till 2006 or 2007 - then I was searching for answers - CFS, Fibromyalgia, thyroid, what the hell is wrong with me? Only found BB in 2012..... tapered 6 months in 2014  - it was hard, it was terrible. I had an accident at work that I did not handle well and went back on in 2015 for a year, tapered again  and now it was twice as traumatic as 2014. Classic kindling!

 

I am 15 months post jump, doing OK, sensitive but OK, certainly not recovered.

 

Had I never gone back on when I moved overseas in 2000 II would be the stat that says benzos are not that bad - there are maybe several people like this but we have no data on whether they stay off? Is it really relevant? Yes, if I went on and off benzos to help me through stressfull times without withdrawal I would still have benzos as an option and a crutch. The withdrawals I got and the suffering while using prevent me from ever, ever being able to use a benzo again.

 

These statistics in question about how many users have no problem when quitting aim to promote the money spinning  stealth killer pills  - I doubt the studies are truly impartial.

 

I am shocked to see how some people here use benzos for a short period and have huge withdrawals  - this is real and after going through PAWS I can only sympathise with them. We are not going to know in our lifetimes why some are affected after a short period of use and some after many cycles of use. We need to post accurate and well organised observations of our experiences so that this platform can best serve us all and us eachother.

 

You ask a thought provoking question  - thank you.

[[Ne...]]

I really don't believe that most people can come off benzos easily with "minor symptoms". Why would they? Are their central nervous systems so much different from mine? The fact that benzos work for them and all of us here in the first place is testament to the fact that we are very similar, and I would bet money that most people who take a benzo for months and then stop will experience hell on Earth.