just joined, help?

[[Bu...]]

Hi, I am a 49 year old male and I was on clonazapam for 1 year, I slowly weaned off this terrible drug in 4 months. I still had many withdrawal symptoms, and after I stopped clonazapam I developed Benzo Belly (terrible constipation, bloating 24 hours a day and back pain) I have had benzo belly for 5 years, will it ever go away? If I start taking clonazapam again will my benzo belly go away? Would my benzo belly go away if I went back on Clonazapam and use the Ashton method to stop this drug?

[[Pa...]]

Hello Bubbs, welcome to BenzoBuddies,

 

I'm so sorry to hear you're still dealing with benzo belly, I've read so many posts about it, how painful it can be, I didn't have it but it sounds miserable.  I would advise against going back on the drug, I doubt that would help.  You might be able to see what other members are doing to help ease their pain.

 

I'll provide some links to help you get started on the forum, I hope we can help you.

 

Pamster

 

Ashton  Manual symptom list

 

Post-withdrawal  Recovery Support

 

The  Ashton Manual

 

[[Bu...]]

umm, nothing helps tried diff diets. Thats why I asked about going back on the med then going off with Ashton method.

[[Pa...]]

Since you mention Professor Ashton I'll let her speak to this question.

 

Reinstatement, updosing

 

A dilemma faced by some people in the process of benzodiazepine withdrawal, or after withdrawal, is what to do if they have intolerable symptoms which do not lessen after many weeks. If they are still taking benzodiazepines, should they increase the dose? If they have already withdrawn, should they reinstate benzodiazepines and start the withdrawal process again? This is a difficult situation which, like all benzodiazepine problems, depends to some degree on the circumstances and the individual, and there are no hard and fast rules.

 

Reinstatement after withdrawal? Many benzodiazepine users who find themselves in this position have withdrawn too quickly; some have undergone 'cold turkey'. They think that if they go back on benzodiazepines and start over again on a slower schedule they will be more successful. Unfortunately, things are not so simple. For reasons that are not clear, (but perhaps because the original experience of withdrawal has already sensitised the nervous system and heightened the level of anxiety) the original benzodiazepine dose often does not work the second time round. Some may find that only a higher dose partially alleviates their symptoms, and then they still have to go through a long withdrawal process again, which again may not be symptom-free.

 

Updosing during withdrawal? Some people hit a "sticky patch" during the course of benzodiazepine withdrawal. In many cases, staying on the same dose for a longer period (not more than a few weeks) before resuming the withdrawal schedule allows them to overcome this obstacle. However, increasing the dose until a longed-for plateau of 'stability' arrives is not a good strategy. The truth is that one never 'stabilises' on a given dose of benzodiazepine. The dose may be stable but withdrawal symptoms are not. It is better to grit one's teeth and continue the withdrawal. True recovery cannot really start until the drug is out of the system.

 

Pharmacologically, neither reinstating nor updosing is really rational. If withdrawal symptoms are still present, it means that the GABA/benzodiazepine receptors have not fully recovered (see above). Further benzodiazepines cause further down-regulation, strengthen the dependence, prolong withdrawal, delay recovery and may lead to protracted symptoms. In general, the longer the person remains on benzodiazepines the more difficult it is to withdraw. On the whole, anyone who remained benzodiazepine-free, or has remained on the same dose, for a number of weeks or months would be ill-advised to start again or to increase dosage. It would be better to devote the brain to solving individual symptoms and to finding sources of advice and support. Advice about how to deal with individual symptoms is given in the Manual (Chapter 3).

[[Bu...]]

I fear that I will I have Benzo belly the rest of my life! wish doctor would have warned me about clonazapam, drug is only recommended for 2 weeks and my doctor had me on this for 1 year!

[[Pa...]]

After 5 years I don't blame you for feeling this way, I guess you've had all of the tests to rule out other issues?

[[Bu...]]

yes, Doctors can't help me. Never had a problem with my stomach until I went off clonazapam, then the severe bloating and constipation started. Very painful. Seems like my nerves in stomach don't know how respond

[[Br...]]

Bubble?

Your brain is the most powerful organ and when we take benzos is calms it down.

 

Think of it as the parachute on a drag racer car, our brains are goin 500 mph and we need a parachute.

 

Most Dr's don't tell you how to replace GABBA, the receptors in our brain that got lost in benzo activity.

 

I know walnuts are good for replacing Gabba  (they also look like a brain)  as well as taking a high strain and a very good strain of Probiotic.

 

99% of your immune system is in your G.I. tract .

 

Try eating small meal but with lots of protein like beef Jerky, chicken, protein shakes, protein met rx bars.

 

Small meals 6 or 7 times a day is better than 3 powerhouse meals when dealing with benzo belly.

 

I had it when I did my first 1 1/2 mg drop.

 

Just do not go back on the meds.

 

If anything like I said diet and lifestyle change.

 

[[Bi...]]

Hi, I've never suffered this through withdrawal however I did suffer awful IBS for many years! I changed my diet six years ago cutting out meat and cut down about 80 percent of bread I used to eat. I've not had IBS since. I do still sometimes eat fish.

 

I hope you find some relief soon

 

Please resist reinstating if possible.