Hello

[[di...]]

I am, what I think to be, experiencing some for protracted benzo withdrawal symptoms or rebound anxiety/hypochondriasis. I initially started taking benzos as prescribed by my psychiatrist around four years ago. It was initially klonopin on and off for only a months period at a time. Things were ok. I went on them for about a month when I was having a lot of anxiety then would come off them. It would usually take only about a week before my brain and body would readjust and I would be back to 'normal'. However, this time around I was not as lucky. I was prescribed Xanax .5mg to be taken as needed for panic attacks which were caused by another medication that I was taking. It worked ok at first but I noticed that between the time that I was taking them I started to have rebound anxiety that was so much worse than before. It was horrendous. I tried not to panic and just took the medication as needed. It took me about 3 months to run through a 30 day script of .5mg of Xanax. I go off to school and try not to take my Xanax for a week and I am literally having panic attacks on the bus which never would have happened before I was on the medication. I knew something was off and called my doc who put me on Valium. It worked well for a couple weeks but then I got off of it. 2 months later and I am still having very odd symptoms that the doctors cannot explain. Hopefully coming here for answers.

[[Pa...]]

Hello dihaddad, Welcome to BenzoBuddies!

 

It sounds like your body developed a dependence on the drug, even with intermittent use and you're now suffering withdrawal symptoms.  It's likely they'll last awhile longer, so its best to accept them as your brain does it's best to repair the damage caused by the drug. 

 

The only other recourse you have would be to go back on the drug, take it every day in order to stabilize, and then begin a slow taper of about 5-10% of your dose every couple of weeks.  There is no guarantee that this will eliminate your symptoms, most likely you will still feel them but maybe to a lesser degree, but we don't know this for sure.

 

You're welcome to discuss your symptoms with others on the Post-withdrawal Recovery Support, there you'll see others who are suffering as you are.  You'll come to understand that benzo's soon begin to cause the issues we were put on them to fix, so what you're feeling is the result of the drug, not your original panic and anxiety.

 

It might also help you to read  The Ashton Manual, it will help you understand your situation a little bit better.

 

Please let us know how we can help you.

 

Pamster