Putting the pieces together

[[Bu...]]

Hey Everyone,

I am trying to put some pieces together and would appreciate some opinions/theories.  I was on clonazepam for roughly 7 years before doing a too-rapid taper then, less than a year later, I was reinstated at the same dose.  I stayed at that dose for 13 years.  I got very sick during the year off and developed insomnia, then got slowly, but progressively worse for 13 years.  I had learned CBT, so when my anxiety would flair up, I would get a brush-up on it with a counselor.  It always helped, but I would have bouts of low level anxiety all those years. Occasionally, my doctor would suggest a higher dose, but I didn't want to do that.  I was told at the beginning to not take more than I really needed, as it "could be habit forming in higher doses".  It never occurred to me (or any doctor) that my physical symptoms could be connected. 

My question is:  is it possible to have been kindled during the "gap year" and then later to have been in tolerance withdrawal for 13 years???

[[pi...]]

Hello @[Bu...],

Quite honestly, anything is possible with benzos. Plus, tolerance could be an issue as well. I was in tolerance for a while myself,  or as long as 11 years though. My doctor also suggested adding midday dose because he said it sounded like I was having withdrawal symptoms between doses. Internally I knew this was wrong, I did not add another dose. I did have a number of trips to the ER with unexplained issues, all with normal test results. I now know this was due to the drug, and tolerance.

A lot of times we have to connect those dots. For me, I knew the drug was making me sick. The best thing for me was to get off and recover. I did.

[[Bu...]]

Thanks for the insight, I appreciate it. I'm glad you recovered.  Maybe I will, too.