What is considered protracted withdrawal?

[[su...]]

How long after quitting with symptoms is it considered protracted withdrawal?

Does everyone who has taken benzos daily for at least a year experience this?

It's pure chance I found these forums so I could navigate this whole time that I'm still in withdrawal but I just wonder for someone like me who took benzos 3 times a day for seven years if anyone who did this could just quit and go back to normal?

 

[[...]]

Protracted=18 mths off your last dose of your last drug.

[[su...]]

PSVT Thanks! So I guess it's considered normal for most people to suffer up to 18 months.

[[th...]]

PSVT Thanks! So I guess it's considered normal for most people to suffer up to 18 months.

 

Hiya sunlit10!

 

I'm not so sure. I think there are probably a lot of people that have much less problem or none at all. The thing is, you get a bias because those people aren't on the forum.

 

My first time stopping Xanax was relatively easy. But the second time coming off has been awful. I guess it gets harder to come off the more times you do it.

[[su...]]

thinkstopthink Thats interesting you were able to stop before somewhat easily. I've heard others on here say that too. This is my first time and I feel its pretty bad. I'm hanging on by a thread everyday. I guess I want to understand this and how common it is to educate others. 

[[th...]]

thinkstopthink Thats interesting you were able to stop before somewhat easily. I've heard others on here say that too. This is my first time and I feel its pretty bad. I'm hanging on by a thread everyday. I guess I want to understand this and how common it is to educate others.

 

Oh, yeah, this is a far different experience. I thought that since I did it once before, it would be a piece of cake. Not so.

 

I understand about hanging on by a thread. I had what I thought was near psychosis one night when I felt like I hadn't slept for days. So very unpleasant.

 

Hope you feel better soon.

[[su...]]

thinkstopthink Thank you! You too.

[[Li...]]

I don't think protracted withdrawal beyond 18 months is common, but I also don't think it's UNCOMMON. There are a bunch of us that all jumped around the same time in 2017 and we're all still doing pretty rough at about 27+ months out, especially with mental symptoms. But I've also seen a ton of people heal during my experience on BB, including people that jumped around the same place that I did. There's a place for all of us.

[[...]]

I don't think protracted withdrawal beyond 18 months is common, but I also don't think it's UNCOMMON. There are a bunch of us that all jumped around the same time in 2017 and we're all still doing pretty rough at about 27+ months out, especially with mental symptoms. But I've also seen a ton of people heal during my experience on BB, including people that jumped around the same place that I did. There's a place for all of us.

 

It is most definitely uncommon. To state otherwise is to ignore the obvious bias, that all we see is hard cases on here. It’s a smattering of protracted cases on here...versus literally 5-10% of the ENTIRE US POPULATION that has taken one and is fine (or still on it!), you don’t see them on here.

 

It’s the number #1 reason it’s not more well known about in the medical field. That, and it tends to be anxious people who get put on them. Thus real, but rare, consequences are easily ascribed to anxiety or other mental illness.

[[so...]]

When you talk of percentages and use words like “definitely,” you are making assumptions of fact.  There are no facts when it comes to withdrawal.  There is no “data” that is at all reliable.  You are members of one forum.  Throughout the world there are thousands of forums less well-known than benzobuddies.org.

 

We have had this discussion thousands of times on this forum.  People trying to figure out if we are very rare cases; trying to guess timelines and percentages; trying to correlate dosages, years taking the drugs and their influence on how long we will be in withdrawal; which drugs nail you more than others.  The list of things we keep obsessing about it endless.

 

Your body will keep in repair mode until it’s damn well finished.  Each of us is unique.  We cannot compare ourselves to others.  This guessing game we play is a result of the mental ruminations we experience because we want a specific DATE we can count on when this will all stop.  It does not exist for a “group” or a “majority” of people.  Each individual end date is as individual as a fingerprint.

 

Sofa

[[Su...]]

I don't think protracted withdrawal beyond 18 months is common, but I also don't think it's UNCOMMON. There are a bunch of us that all jumped around the same time in 2017 and we're all still doing pretty rough at about 27+ months out, especially with mental symptoms. But I've also seen a ton of people heal during my experience on BB, including people that jumped around the same place that I did. There's a place for all of us.

 

It is most definitely uncommon. To state otherwise is to ignore the obvious bias, that all we see is hard cases on here. It’s a smattering of protracted cases on here...versus literally 5-10% of the ENTIRE US POPULATION that has taken one and is fine (or still on it!), you don’t see them on here.

 

It’s the number #1 reason it’s not more well known about in the medical field. That, and it tends to be anxious people who get put on them. Thus real, but rare, consequences are easily ascribed to anxiety

[[Su...]]

I don't think protracted withdrawal beyond 18 months is common, but I also don't think it's UNCOMMON. There are a bunch of us that all jumped around the same time in 2017 and we're all still doing pretty rough at about 27+ months out, especially with mental symptoms. But I've also seen a ton of people heal during my experience on BB, including people that jumped around the same place that I did. There's a place for all of us.

 

It is most definitely uncommon. To state otherwise is to ignore the obvious bias, that all we see is hard cases on here. It’s a smattering of protracted cases on here...versus literally 5-10% of the ENTIRE US POPULATION that has taken one and is fine (or still on it!), you don’t see them on here.

 

It’s the number #1 reason it’s not more well known about in the medical field. That, and it tends to be anxious people who get put on them. Thus real, but rare, consequences are easily ascribed to anxiety

When you talk of percentages and use words like “definitely,” you are making assumptions of fact.  There are no facts when it comes to withdrawal.  There is no “data” that is at all reliable.  You are members of one forum.  Throughout the world there are thousands of forums less well-known than benzobuddies.org.

 

We have had this discussion thousands of times on this forum.  People trying to figure out if we are very rare cases; trying to guess timelines and percentages; trying to correlate dosages, years taking the drugs and their influence on how long we will be in withdrawal; which drugs nail you more than others.  The list of things we keep obsessing about it endless.

 

Your body will keep in repair mode until it’s damn well finished.  Each of us is unique.  We cannot compare ourselves to others.  This guessing game we play is a result of the mental ruminations we experience because we want a specific DATE we can count on when this will all stop.  It does not exist for a “group” or a “majority” of people.  Each individual end date is as individual as a fingerprint.

 

Sofa

 

I agree with Sofa.  We really don’t have how many protracted cases there are, Heather Ashton had to stop her clinic as it ran out of funds.  We do know that she and Dr. Reg Peart suspected 20-30% of people would run into difficulty discontinuing benzodiazepines and called it a “sizable minority.”  It’s pure uneducated conjecture to try and speculate how many will have prolonged recoveries. 

[[...]]

I think you are competent misinterpreting what I said. 5-10% (or 9%) of the us population has taken benzodiazepines.  That is not speculation, uneducated conjecture, assumption of fact, yata yata, *yawn*. It’s an actual fact, a statistic. Nowhere did I state the % of people who go protracted. I just said it is uncommon. Are 5-10% of the population walking around with protracted benzo withdrawal? Sorry, no. It’s critical thinking and common sense.

[[...]]

Do you know where numbers like this actually come from, how and where they are derived? If not you are not qualified to speak to the data being oversimplified or poorly estimated.  Epidemiological data like this is derived from large pharmacy databases and insurance claims, it’s actual data. I.e. factual. “Thousands” of patients from Baylissa, sure I’ll give you the anecdote. Compared to the 13+ MILLION people who take them in the US alone. I don’t know why that’s so upsetting to some. If you prefer anecdotes as your science, there are plenty on here who mention coming off it no problem, at least the first time.  We’re just unlucky snowflakes.

[[Ap...]]

When you talk of percentages and use words like “definitely,” you are making assumptions of fact.  There are no facts when it comes to withdrawal.  There is no “data” that is at all reliable.  You are members of one forum.  Throughout the world there are thousands of forums less well-known than benzobuddies.org.

 

We have had this discussion thousands of times on this forum.  People trying to figure out if we are very rare cases; trying to guess timelines and percentages; trying to correlate dosages, years taking the drugs and their influence on how long we will be in withdrawal; which drugs nail you more than others.  The list of things we keep obsessing about it endless.

 

Your body will keep in repair mode until it’s damn well finished.  Each of us is unique.  We cannot compare ourselves to others.  This guessing game we play is a result of the mental ruminations we experience because we want a specific DATE we can count on when this will all stop.  It does not exist for a “group” or a “majority” of people.  Each individual end date is as individual as a fingerprint.

 

Sofa

 

Thank you Sofa!!! 

 

**********

 

On another note, this site is meant to be supportive and helpful.

 

All I'm reading here (other than the original post asking a question, and Sofa's response) is people spouting off at one another, trying to one-up the other, and while at it, scaring the BeJeesus out of other people who are truly struggling.  I am one of those people.

 

I see very unhelpful and juvenile behaviour.

 

So, cut it out, already!

[[Li...]]

When you talk of percentages and use words like “definitely,” you are making assumptions of fact.  There are no facts when it comes to withdrawal.  There is no “data” that is at all reliable.  You are members of one forum.  Throughout the world there are thousands of forums less well-known than benzobuddies.org.

 

We have had this discussion thousands of times on this forum.  People trying to figure out if we are very rare cases; trying to guess timelines and percentages; trying to correlate dosages, years taking the drugs and their influence on how long we will be in withdrawal; which drugs nail you more than others.  The list of things we keep obsessing about it endless.

 

Your body will keep in repair mode until it’s damn well finished.  Each of us is unique.  We cannot compare ourselves to others.  This guessing game we play is a result of the mental ruminations we experience because we want a specific DATE we can count on when this will all stop.  It does not exist for a “group” or a “majority” of people.  Each individual end date is as individual as a fingerprint.

 

Sofa

 

Thank you Sofa!!! 

 

**********

 

On another note, this site is meant to be supportive and helpful.

 

All I'm reading here (other than the original post asking a question, and Sofa's response) is people spouting off at one another, trying to one-up the other, and while at it, scaring the BeJeesus out of other people who are truly struggling.  I am one of those people.

 

I see very unhelpful and juvenile behaviour.

 

So, cut it out, already!

 

 

You're right, apologies for getting caught up in the negativity. I removed my message. 

[[ea...]]

First of all, Sofa, you made me laugh. "So cut it out" is perfect. I probably am not quoting you correctly but I have got the main point of whatever you said. Forums often can do this, lead people on, making off topic remarks and not trying to help the original poster. If one is desperate for advice, this stuff can be really annoying.

 

I too have heard the "18 month" thing, but I don't think anyone truly can answer this question, as it seems to be different for each person.

Took me over 3 years to feel better, and I have met many people similar to me who only took a year or so. No one knows why this is. We all just GUESS about stuff like this.

Wherever YOU are in your journey, just keep going on, and try not to let certain things "get to you."

east