My Story

[[Fe...]]

I was prescribed Klonopin 15 years ago doing shift work on the ambulance.  Went to the doctor who prescribed 2mg each night.  I was 48 years old.  To me, the doctor knew exactly what he was doing and the pills helped me sleep. Though 15 years 2 doctors and psychiatrist the pills were continually given to me. No one told me the long term effects these pills would have on me. After deciding one day I am was done taking them and look up the long term effects I was shocked. I went off cold turkey !!!!! I honestly thought I was going to die. I finally broke down and talk to my son and he was very upset and afraid for me. He tried to get me to start taking them again and I refused, I told him I have four days with nothing and I refused to start again!!! It has now been eight weeks pill free and I still experiencing extreme to mild withdrawals.  I have talked to my psych doctor who told me to take gabapentin. I have not. benzos attached to GABA receptors just like gabapentin and I am afraid. How can doctors prescribe a drug for such a long time knowing the devastation it can cause ?  I look forward to talking and reading what I am going through and other people.

 

                                                                    Thank you,

                                                                    Feeling hope

 

[Guest [Le...]]

Hello, Feelinghope — welcome to BenzoBuddies, and congratulations on being benzo-free!

 

Sorry you found out the hard way how difficult it is to stop taking benzos. The symptoms that you’re experiencing may be awful at times, but they’ll ease up and fade away over time. 

 

I can understand your reluctance to start gabapentin, which I was handed for my rapid withdrawal/cold turkey. It only offered mild, sporadic relief, but caused so much swelling that I could not even get my shoes on. There can be a period of withdrawal from that drug, as well.

 

I'm glad that you decided to join the forum. Our members have gone through benzodiazepine use and withdrawal themselves, so you'll find plenty of information and support here.

 

The following links should be a good starting place for you to post your questions:

 

  Post-withdrawal Recovery Support

  Cold Turkey

  Other Medications

 

Please take a moment to Create a Signature — you can enter your pertinent drug and taper history in the box at the bottom. This will allow members to see where you are in the process, so that they can better support you.

 

Looking forward to seeing you on the forum!

Leslie 

 

 

The Ashton Manual provides information that can be useful during any stage of withdrawal and recovery, and includes a list of common symptoms with helpful explanations.

[[Ma...]]

Unless they've been through BWD themselves, I'm not all that sure doctors have that much of a clue. All they know is what the drug rep tells them.

 

Welcome to the forum. I did CT as well. My advice to you - stay clear of the caffeine, and that includes chocolate. I found that out the hard way.

[[Bm...]]

Hi  I did a cold turkey from Clonopin also.  I didn't know not to do that but when I found out what was wrong with me as far as withdrawl

I chose not to go back on also.  The doctors wanted me to go on Gabetrin  also but like you I refused. It is quite amazing that physicians don't know how addictive and brain altering these medications are.

 

Good luck and hang in there.  It will get better for you!

[[Fe...]]

Hello Everyone  !!!

    I was watching some videos on youtube for benzo addiction and withdrawal,  everyone was giving the symptoms they experienced !!  Today I sat down and wrote down all the things I have went through these past two months and there were 27 different symptoms to mild to thinking I was knocking on death's door. It has given me a whole new perspective on addiction. I have known people who have an addiction and always wondered "Why don't you just stop! ".  I know now they couldn't and my heart breaks for all addicts who try and try to stop and keep relapsing. I will never again judge someone for not being able to stop.  You see I was not an addict because I only took what my "good doctor gave to me and no more" so I was not addicted or an addict. Little did I know that when I finally decided to stop became of memory problems reading that long term use of Klonopin can leave to memory issues.  Quitting cold turkey sent to a realm that I pray to God never to visit again.

I had a long time friend a couple of weeks back tell me that I was an addict and how could I do this to myself and not know what would happen. Told me there was no way I could not have known. I became very upset and ended of hanging up and blocking contact information.  Someone let me know if I was wrong to react this way, please !!!

Today it has been 8 weeks benzo free,  I have some good days where I can function and then there are other days I feel like I am losing my mind. As I type this I am wondering does it make sense, will people know what I am trying to say, will they be able to understand it. (one of my symptoms "self-doubt").

                                                                                              Thank you

[[An...]]

Welcome Feelinghope. I wish all MD's had to go through the awful w/d's themselves. Then, they would truly get it!

[[Ma...]]

Heh. I decided to get a second opinion by a different GP a while back, and he told me I would probably never be able to get off the benzo and Z-drug. That I'd been on it too long, and the outlook wasn't good. Wrong (or right) thing to say to me. Never tell me I can't do something, because I will do my damnedest to prove you wrong. He wanted to put me on a higher dose of clonazapam so I could get off the ambien. What a nightmare THAT would have been! Hard enough to get off .25mg.

 

I was taken aback for a moment, and thought, "Yeah? WATCH ME."