Why is there an acute stage after a good taper?

[[Th...]]

I’m new to this folks. I see people decrease their dosage ever so slow that they jump at a very minuscule amount and then go into an acute phase. Am I to understand that before they jump they actually feel “stable”? If this is the case it doesn’t make sense to me how jumping from example.25 V causes such withdrawal. Wouldn’t the person feel withdrawal all the way down their taper?

[[bu...]]

1)  If you taper at an appropriate rate, you will probably finish smooth with few, if any residual sxs.

 

2) ...and most folks here don't seem to understand that "acute" does NOT mean severe, increased, intense, etc.  Acute describes a time value, specifically ...of sudden onset, or ...of short duration.

 

https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2133

[[Jo...]]

Thank you for that Builder. I was always puzzled why after a long relatively benign taper where the patient is functioning and feeling OK  at an approved rate (especially via daily microtaper) would suddenly result in “acute” symptoms at the very end that lead to a period of nonfunction. I never understood how or why that could be.

 

It would seem to me that the outcome at that end date would be a status quo at that time with hopefully gradual improvements over time. Thus, if someone is feeling good approaching the end date logic seemed to indicate to me that that would remain true after the appropriate “jump” or “roll off” with only hopefully gradual improvements thereafter.

 

I know that every case here  has the potential of being unique, but this was still very reassuring.

 

Thank you again.

[[Th...]]

I have never stabilized on this medication. When I was on 1.75 I felt like I was drugged all day (hated that feeling of fog). As I’m tapering anxiety increasing significantly DR/ruminating BUT at least I feel my mind more clear except for those cog fog days.

[[Th...]]

Sorry guys I still don’t understand, maybe it’s the benzo brain. Do symptoms get worse in the acute phase? And if they do why do they? Don’t people suffer all the way while they taper?

[[bu...]]

Sorry guys I still don’t understand, maybe it’s the benzo brain. Do symptoms get worse in the acute phase? And if they do why do they? Don’t people suffer all the way while they taper?

 

No!

 

Once again, acute is NOT a measure of intensity, it refers to a time frame, "sudden onset or short duration."

 

And BTW, if you do a sensible taper, there should be very little, if any "suffering" during your taper.

[[mo...]]

Greek, I stepped off a few weeks ago and didn’t feel any change in my symptoms, if anything I’ve only felt a decrease in symptoms. I reduced to pretty much nothing in hopes of not having intense sx and it seemed to work, thankfully.

[[Th...]]

I’m in bad shape and I still have just under a mg to go. Shaking, rumination, Derealization brain fog. I had a breakdown in November now getting worse. Can’t seem to stabilize. I’m already in benzo hell.

[[mo...]]

I’m in bad shape and I still have just under a mg to go. Shaking, rumination, Derealization brain fog. I had a breakdown in November now getting worse. Can’t seem to stabilize. I’m already in benzo hell.

 

Sorry to hear that Greek. I don’t think there is any small dose when it comes to benzos, the most I ever took was .75mg. It’s a terrible drug but you can do it.

[Guest [...]]

Builder acute does mean severe or intense according to the dictionary... where are you getting the info on it meaning a time frame?

[[bu...]]

Builder acute does mean severe or intense according to the dictionary... where are you getting the info on it meaning a time frame?

 

...from the link I included in that post : 

 

"MEDICAL DEFINITION OF ACUTE:

 

Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness that is of short duration, rapidly progressive, and in need of urgent care.

 

"Acute" is a measure of the time scale of a disease and is in contrast to "subacute" and "chronic." "Subacute" indicates longer duration or less rapid change. "Chronic" indicates indefinite duration or virtually no change."

 

In case you missed it...

 

https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2133

[Guest [...]]

Builder thanks for the explanation, because I'm not able to load links from here not sure why.

 

I'm definately feeling intense and severe symtoms the week after jump and it's frustrating not knowing if or when it's going to end

[[oc...]]

Yeah its been about a week since I finished the taper of xanax and the symptoms I am having are horrible. I am still finding it hard to believe that so much stuff can come from WD.

 

 

[[Th...]]

From what I’ve read on the forums the real HELL starts after you take your last dose for most people.

[[Ba...]]

I was in hell when I took low dose mirtazapine for 6 weeks and pretty much CT.  Severe symptoms-- bedridden.

IT is not much better now, 2.5 years later.  Obviously off the mirtaz, but sitll on benzo tried to taper and dr. says don't now as symptoms so severe.

 

I seem to have chronic, severe symptoms.  Agree that 'acute' can be confusing term.

[[Ca...]]

My healing really started to pick up around 0.25V, and my jump intensity wasnt much different to a cut.. Most of the healing took about the same time too.. But the symptom profile did change somewhat, and the new anxiety hangs on still.. But I have completed other tapers in that time too..

 

Plenty of people do well after a suitable taper, but for some of us the last bit needs some extra time it seems...

 

[[bu...]]

From what I’ve read on the forums the real HELL starts after you take your last dose for most people.

 

Simply not true.

 

But...if you want to convince yourself that that will happen, it probably will.

 

If you do a gradual, slow taper, you can with withdraw with few, if any, sxs during your taper, and can step off with no residual sxs.

[[Th...]]

I think it’s different for different people. I’m already experiencing severe symptoms due to a large cut I made from 1.75 K to 1 mg and I still have .8 to go. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. Never been on meds before and I’m contemplating every day just to go to the hospital for help. When this anxiety first hit me 15 years ago I had a lot of these withdrawal symptoms without withdrawing from anything. I’ve been on k since January and cutting dose from March 25.

[[bu...]]

I think it’s different for different people. I’m already experiencing severe symptoms due to a large cut I made from 1.75 K to 1 mg and I still have .8 to go. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. Never been on meds before and I’m contemplating every day just to go to the hospital for help. When this anxiety first hit me 15 years ago I had a lot of these withdrawal symptoms without withdrawing from anything. I’ve been on k since January and cutting dose from March 25.

 

Well, yes, most folks would have difficulty with a 40%+ (1.75 to 1.0)

 

Maybe you missed the most important part of my previous post:

If you do a gradual, slow taper, you can with withdraw with few, if any, sxs during your taper, and can step off with no residual sxs

[[Th...]]

I had to drop the day doses fast because they were giving me negative thoughts. What do I do now?? Ever since my last cut equal to 1 mg Valium it’s been worse. Because I’m new to this I’m making mistakes. Most people cut 5% to 10% per month. So I thought I felt “stable” and decided to do another cut. Do you think if I hold at this dosage that it will get better?

[[mo...]]

From what I’ve read on the forums the real HELL starts after you take your last dose for most people.

 

Have hope Greek. I stepped off three weeks ago and everyday gets better. I’m feeling myself come back. It does get better.

[Guest [...]]

Update...yes it does get better, that first week was a bit rough. Have had a lot of better days going into the 2nd and 3rd week

[[Th...]]

I cut too fast and now I’m in withdrawal without even being off the pill. I was told that maybe I should hold to stabilize.

[Guest [...]]

Greek....I didn't have a 'good' taper. I also cut way too fast at the beginning and had to hold until i felt somewhat stable enough to move down. The taper was in total nine and a half weeks, and i can not say i had even 2 good days in a row throughout that. I was scared to jump off, because of the fear of intense withdrawal setting in, but once i did there was no difference in the intensity of withdrawal symptoms than while i was tapering. The first week post jump had some rough moments, and the next 2 weeks things improved quite a bit.

I would suggest hold until you feel stable enough to move down. Hang in there

[[Th...]]

Thanks!