Akathisia - Head Pressure - Valium Taper

[[Me...]]

I’ve been having the hardest time trying to figure out how to navigate this site and post my signature profile. 

 

I hope this makes sense. I’m on 5 mg Valium and been holding for two months.  Been on Valium for 8 months.  Started at 10 mg from a 1 mg Klonopin cross over where I CT’d and had two seizures so Dr put me back on Benzo but Valium. The tapering schedule is 10% every two weeks.  But that was too hard and fast so she had me hold than go down 5%.  But I have a lot of life stressors - taking care of elderly mom, disability, money issues, sick cat, so I’ve been holding at 5 mg for two months.

 

I am having the hardest time right now with this poison.  I am painfully symptomatic with:

Akathisia

Nausea

Ear ringing

Head pressure

Insomnia

 

I feel like I’m never gonna heal. My brain feels like it is so damaged.  And I am scared to cut down to 4.5 mg but I want so bad to get off this toxic poison.  I feel like I just need to rush to the ER. 

 

Does this get better? 

 

Meems. 

[[Pa...]]

Hello Mems97, Welcome to BenzoBuddies!

 

My goodness, you've had a rough time, I can't imagine what it was like to have a seizure!  Many of us have had that fear when we did a cold turkey, and many who taper fear it as well, I'm sorry you had to go through that.  It sounds like you have an understanding Dr who is willing to let you get off of the Valium slowly and safely.  I know you want to get off of the drug, but as you know, it's important to remain functional in your life while you do it, and I can see you have a lot going on.  Your taper seems reasonable and really, you should go as slow as you need to, let your body guide you through this.

 

I can relate to every symptom you've mentioned, we all can, so if you've come here for empathy and understanding, you've come to the right place.  Please let us know how we can help you.

 

Pamster

 

[[An...]]

I am having the hardest time right now with this poison.  I am painfully symptomatic with:

Akathisia

Nausea

Ear ringing

Head pressure

Insomnia

 

Are these things still really severe on the 5 mgs of valium? How long were you on the klonopin? Yes, life stressors can make everything worse IMO. I try to keep the stress in my life as low as possible, but it is virtually impossible to eliminate it entirely.

[[Me...]]

Am I not supposed to at have tapering symptoms at 5 mg?  I’ve read on here people get tapering symptoms at lower doses than this. the lower I cut the tougher it is. Was on Klonopin for about 6 months.  I CT’d on my own without talking to my dr.  We were not tapering.  I just didn’t want to be on it anymore. 

 

 

 

 

[[Pa...]]

Hi Meems97,

 

It's very possible to still have symptoms, especially since you did a CT off of the Klonopin, your body is all out of whack from the CT off of Klonopin, the seizures and now the taper from Valium, I'm sorry to say. 

 

If you feel you need to hold at this dose, then you should listen to your body, especially if your Dr will support you with enough medication to do a slow taper.  I know you want to be off of the drug, but try not to be in a rush, your goal should be to remain functional, live your life and taper at the same time.  Look at my signature, I was off of the Klonopin in one day, but my suffering went on for months, that was the hard way, you have the option not to choose that.

 

Pamster

[[Me...]]

Pamster, 

Thank you so much for reminding me that my body is out of whack and the encouragement to be patient with my taper and that maybe I need to hold.  I do have regular appointments with my psychiatrist and we’ll talk about it on the 21st.  I just want so bad to be off this drug so I can really start to heal.  I assume we are healing “somewhat” when we cut but true healing doesn’t start until we are completely off.  Ya, I really F’d up when I did a cold turkey.  Some can handle it but my poor body and brain couldn’t.  I’m crying as I write this.  I feel so hopeless. 

 

Meems. 

[[Pa...]]

Try to look at it this way, by going slow, you're conditioning your body to once again do the job its designed to do.  By doing this slowly, you're not shocking your system, small parts are awakening to their new/old responsibilities and beginning to perform their tasks.  Each reduction paves the path forward, and each hold allows time for your your body, mind and emotions to adjust.  Healing is happening the whole time you're tapering and it continues when you're off the drug.

 

I know you feel like you're ingesting poison, but it's a necessary evil for now. Be kind to yourself and try not to be in a hurry.