High Blood Pressure Spikes.

[[Jo...]]

Well, I am 2 years into my taper and half way as of May, 10th, 2024. I was at 2.5mg of Ativan in 2021-22 and was switched to Diazepam because of Tolerance to Ativan. My symptoms were before switching High Blood Pressure (HBP) spikes that were above 200/100. When I switched to Diazepam and dropped to 10mg of Diazepam my HBP dropped to about 150/90 on average w/ spikes to 174/105. I was 53-54 years old. I am now 56 years old. I had been on Ativan for 14 years before switching and now have been tapering for the additional 2 years having a seizure while I switched doing it. Since going from 13mg of Diazepam to 6.0mg of Diazepam it was NEVER as smooth as they claim! I had HBP Spikes here and there and visited the ER room many times. Then I figured a formula out at 7.5mg that seemed to work until now. I would hang out for 120 days before tapering down 10% which is usually about .5mg and my visits were almost never to the ER Room and that was around 7.5mg of Diazepam. The Ideations of Depression and Suicide associated with Diazepam almost went away when I got to 6.5mg and it went smooth, if that is what you want to call it, just until there. I know I was now half way with my taper after about 2 years. However, I hit a road block/WALL. I figured that at 6.5 mg to 6mg I would wait a little longer before dropping to 6mg. I waited for 140 Days instead of 120 Days and then dropped. Almost right away, I felt like I was stiff when I woke up in the morning and irritable and a little agitated, everything was a little brighter and louder. After about 14 days the symptoms subsided and I walked for 30minutes a day/ about 4-5 days a week to shake the small anxiety I would feel. At 45 days into this 6mg taper I had a HBP event and went to the Hospital 195/135. I was thinking "am I going to die". My BP at its highest was 195/139 and it was jumping all around the place. After doing EKG, Troponin Tests, giving me Hydralazine that did not seem to work and NEVER has it was around 160/105 and kept jumping while they gave me Diazepam at 6mg at my usual dosing schedule. Nothing they did worked and I have been given many types if not all HB Medicines that do NOTHING except "Clonidine" which is a Sedative that effects the Brain and lowers Blood Pressure. I was given .1mg of Clonidine and my BP went near normal. At home I called my Detox MD and she told me their may be a comorbidity or underlying problem and may need a Angiogram to be absolutely sure to rule heart problems out. I have had a MRI or CT with contrast, X-ray, EKG (was a little abnormal but the Cardiologist cleared me), Troponin tests multiple times while in the hospital over night. No signs of Heart Attack...yet? I was told to go back up to 6.5mg of Diazepam and stay there for about 2 months more. What am I supposed to do? I know that I am supposed to hold when I get to 50% of the original Dosage that I started to taper from and here I am now. How long do I hold at 6.5mg which is half way? Is there a possible problem that I should be concerned with? Lately, I find myself waking up with HB at night. I know it is part withdraws as my schedule is 7:00AM/2mg, 12:00PM/2mg and 6:00PM/2.5mg. I wake up around 3:27AM or 4:27AM and try to go back to sleep, but I took a Nexium 20mg (I rarely take it) that semi reacts with Diazepam and my BP went through the roof with Tachycardia that may have put my BP past or around 200/? at 3:27AM in the morning until I took a 2mg Diazepam and then it subsided and went back to 139/90! I do not intend to take any Diazepam until 12:00PM to get me back on schedule. Any thoughts? Was this just too soon to drop? Was the drop too much? By my calculations 6.5 to 6.0 is still within 10%? Help?

Edited May 10 by [Jo...]

[[An...]]

8 hours ago, [[J...] said:

Well, I am 2 years into my taper and half way as of May, 10th, 2024. I was at 2.5mg of Ativan in 2021-22 and was switched to Diazepam because of Tolerance to Ativan. My symptoms were before switching High Blood Pressure (HBP) spikes that were above 200/100. When I switched to Diazepam and dropped to 10mg of Diazepam my HBP dropped to about 150/90 on average w/ spikes to 174/105. I was 53-54 years old. I am now 56 years old. I had been on Ativan for 14 years before switching and now have been tapering for the additional 2 years having a seizure while I switched doing it. Since going from 13mg of Diazepam to 6.0mg of Diazepam it was NEVER as smooth as they claim! I had HBP Spikes here and there and visited the ER room many times. Then I figured a formula out at 7.5mg that seemed to work until now. I would hang out for 120 days before tapering down 10% which is usually about .5mg and my visits were almost never to the ER Room and that was around 7.5mg of Diazepam. The Ideations of Depression and Suicide associated with Diazepam almost went away when I got to 6.5mg and it went smooth, if that is what you want to call it, just until there. I know I was now half way with my taper after about 2 years. However, I hit a road block/WALL. I figured that at 6.5 mg to 6mg I would wait a little longer before dropping to 6mg. I waited for 140 Days instead of 120 Days and then dropped. Almost right away, I felt like I was stiff when I woke up in the morning and irritable and a little agitated, everything was a little brighter and louder. After about 14 days the symptoms subsided and I walked for 30minutes a day/ about 4-5 days a week to shake the small anxiety I would feel. At 45 days into this 6mg taper I had a HBP event and went to the Hospital 195/135. I was thinking "am I going to die". My BP at its highest was 195/139 and it was jumping all around the place. After doing EKG, Troponin Tests, giving me Hydralazine that did not seem to work and NEVER has it was around 160/105 and kept jumping while they gave me Diazepam at 6mg at my usual dosing schedule. Nothing they did worked and I have been given many types if not all HB Medicines that do NOTHING except "Clonidine" which is a Sedative that effects the Brain and lowers Blood Pressure. I was given .1mg of Clonidine and my BP went near normal. At home I called my Detox MD and she told me their may be a comorbidity or underlying problem and may need a Angiogram to be absolutely sure to rule heart problems out. I have had a MRI or CT with contrast, X-ray, EKG (was a little abnormal but the Cardiologist cleared me), Troponin tests multiple times while in the hospital over night. No signs of Heart Attack...yet? I was told to go back up to 6.5mg of Diazepam and stay there for about 2 months more. What am I supposed to do? I know that I am supposed to hold when I get to 50% of the original Dosage that I started to taper from and here I am now. How long do I hold at 6.5mg which is half way? Is there a possible problem that I should be concerned with? Lately, I find myself waking up with HB at night. I know it is part withdraws as my schedule is 7:00AM/2mg, 12:00PM/2mg and 6:00PM/2.5mg. I wake up around 3:27AM or 4:27AM and try to go back to sleep, but I took a Nexium 20mg (I rarely take it) that semi reacts with Diazepam and my BP went through the roof with Tachycardia that may have put my BP past or around 200/? at 3:27AM in the morning until I took a 2mg Diazepam and then it subsided and went back to 139/90! I do not intend to take any Diazepam until 12:00PM to get me back on schedule. Any thoughts? Was this just too soon to drop? Was the drop too much? By my calculations 6.5 to 6.0 is still within 10%? Help?

Hey I’m so sorry too hear that you are suffering. Are you able to taper 5% if you are not handling your cuts too well? You need to listen to your body, atm it’s telling you, to go slower. If you can? In terms of your high blood pressure, you need to start taking Celtic salt daily. You put a Little Rock under your tongue let it dissolve and follow it with water. Also swallow a garlic nightly. You can get beets pills on iherb. Beets are awesome for blood pressure please try those 3 methods. All humans need magnesium maybe try some glycerinate supplements. Get a blood test and check all your vitamin levels. Wishing you well 

[[Jo...]]

Thanks, will try that. I have used Garlic before but it did not occur to me to use it before bed. Has anyone heard from Winters Sun the Moderator? I was last on here in 2023 so I have not kept up with who are Moderators are.

[[Ma...]]

Physician here.  The benzo is absolutely contributing, but at 56, you probably also have essential hypertension since even when it’s not spiking, it sounds like it hangs around 140/90.  That’s still too high.  I didn’t see where you were started on a long term BP medication and it sounds like you need to be, benzo WD or not.  You don’t want to be walking around for years with even 140/90.  I have spiked a couple times to 150’s/90’s while tapering but when I feel better my BP generally goes back to 115-125/70.  Please go get started on a BP med if you have optimized your diet, weight loss, and exercise.  Not trying to scare you but there’s a reason they call hypertension the silent killer.  Be well.  

Edited May 11 by [Ma...]

[[Jo...]]

I tried everything. Things like Propranolol, Atenolol have actually RAISED my BP. Hydralazine did nothing and using double doses raised my BP as well. I basically have resistant Hyper Tension if that is the case. My wife is a BSN RN and my Aunt is a MD and my Uncle is a Ph.D. Cardiologist and his wife is a MSN NP and they have been helping me and they are they ones who identified the Tolerance to Ativan for me when I did not know what was killing me. I seem to have SH OH as well? I lie down and my Hypertension raises when I sleep. I may have a neurological physiological issue and I already negative tested twice for Pheochromocytoma as well. I am trying to get an Angiogram and I already had a MRI of my head because I had Pulsatile Tinnitus for a while with no signs of Bruit. Only signs of Foci, but no Sinus Diverticula or the signs of beginnings of any Aneurisms. The only thing that worked was "Clonidine" @[...] .1mg and I do  not want to use that often because of cardiac rebound! This really could be genetics, damage to my CNS, Gastritis (Hiatal Hernia Repair/ GERD I had both), the Diazepam/Benzos, or a combination of these. Once I rule out my Heart and it checks out then I will need to get creative. I am a little over weight, but not considered obese. At 5'11 and 200 lbs. but some of my symptoms feel as it could be GI related. Nexium and Diazepam sometimes reacts even if spaced a part and spikes my BP to 200 (not sustained) unless I use Clonidine, but then I can not even walk straight as I am short of breath/dry mouth? The Hospital MD's at 2 different Hospitals say I am structurally sound? I had a semi weird EKG as they put it, but from what the other ER Room MD said, after I wore a Monitor, is that I had symptoms of Bragada's Type III but all my Cardiologist dismiss this? Complicated and frustrating! Organ damage is under way and the only thing that brings it down is sedation, but the sedation jacks it up as well?

Edited May 11 by [Jo...]

[[Ma...]]

Sorry, sounds like you’re not getting a lot of answers.  Sometimes, you have to try several different BP meds until one works, or sometimes even a combination.  I don’t know what other work up you have had aside from the Pheo work up.  There are other even rarer things like renal artery stenosis, cortisol producing tumors, etc etc. which need to be ruled out if you are resistant to multiple meds.  Sometimes, just having a really good internist can steer you in the right direction.  Keep pressing for answers.  

Edited May 11 by [Ma...]

[[Ch...]]

On 10/05/2024 at 11:44, [[J...] said:

I know that I am supposed to hold when I get to 50% of the original Dosage that I started to taper from and here I am now. How long do I hold at 6.5mg which is half way? Is there a possible problem that I should be concerned with?

Where/from whom did you get your taper plan?

If I understand correctly (and I may not!), you're holding each .5mg cut for 4 months??? Has anybody suggested that perhaps you're tapering too slowly?

[[Jo...]]

I tried tapering 80 and then 90 days with Inter-dose Withdrawal Symptoms. Those time Intervals seemed to give me HBP Spikes and made me stiff as a Board almost right away 14days and then 30 days and then 50 days and then I would stabilize after a rough ride. When at 120 Days it felt smoother and the symptoms were more transient and I did not have RAGE symptoms or violent outbursts as I did at 80/90 Days. I am sure 120 Days when I started at around 7.5 was correct for my Neural Chemistry and for my Dendrites to recover and uptake Human GABA. That I am sure of. What I am NOT sure of is according to Heather Ashton that I HOLD LONGER and how long do I need to HOLD when I get to 50% of the Highest Dose I became Tolerant at? I am currently at 50% and HOLDING. My Pa and MD Detox Specialists want me to hold at 6.5mg for another 2 months. I have tried also to taper off of Ativan with Disastrous Effects and had 3 Seizures before switching to Diazepam with Faried Banimahd MD in Santa Ana as my Detox MD. @ Zephyr Medical Group. My age 56 and my sensitivity to meds may have caused a longer duration to stabilize. It is a possible underlying Health Concerns exist and that has perplexed me. 

[[Ch...]]

I'm older than you and tapered using the Ashton method. As per her method, I held for 2 weeks per cut. I don't recognize the method you're using. Good luck, though.

[[Jo...]]

I was originally on Ativan for 14 years before crossing over to Diazepam for Tapering. What were you on before Tapering? How long were you on it and what did you use taper off of? I am a little jealous.

[[Jo...]]

8 hours ago, [[C...] said:

I'm older than you and tapered using the Ashton method. As per her method, I held for 2 weeks per cut. I don't recognize the method you're using. Good luck, though.

I was originally on Ativan for 14 years before crossing over to Diazepam for Tapering. What were you on before Tapering? How long were you on it and what did you use taper off of? I am a little jealous.

[[Jo...]]

19 hours ago, [[M...] said:

Sorry, sounds like you’re not getting a lot of answers.  Sometimes, you have to try several different BP meds until one works, or sometimes even a combination.  I don’t know what other work up you have had aside from the Pheo work up.  There are other even rarer things like renal artery stenosis, cortisol producing tumors, etc etc. which need to be ruled out if you are resistant to multiple meds.  Sometimes, just having a really good internist can steer you in the right direction.  Keep pressing for answers.  

I realize that I am taking a very long time to Taper as compared to others. I do not know why? It may be because I am sensitive to meds as it appears to be or something else. Others are able to taper and drop every 2 weeks while that is not the case for me. 14 years on Ativan seems to be difficult for others as well. Any suggestions? Realize this is subjective and I do not consider this Medical Advise so WEAPONS FREE on any Ideas. Thank you.

[[Ch...]]

1 hour ago, [[J...] said:

I was originally on Ativan for 14 years before crossing over to Diazepam for Tapering. What were you on before Tapering? How long were you on it and what did you use taper off of? I am a little jealous.

I was on prescribed Xanax for 20 years, topping out at 3mg daily. I was switched to 60mg Diazepam for tapering. I tapered for 18 months.

[[Ma...]]

1 hour ago, [[J...] said:

I realize that I am taking a very long time to Taper as compared to others. I do not know why? It may be because I am sensitive to meds as it appears to be or something else. Others are able to taper and drop every 2 weeks while that is not the case for me. 14 years on Ativan seems to be difficult for others as well. Any suggestions? Realize this is subjective and I do not consider this Medical Advise so WEAPONS FREE on any Ideas. Thank you.

No problem.  Everyone’s experience including my own is so unique.  I think regardless of your situation though you have to be comfortable and somewhat confident with what you are doing.  It would be easy for me to say taper 5-10% every 10-14 days because that’s generally a good rule, but not for everyone and you e probably heard that from lots of people.  If you need to take a break, don’t be afraid to take one for months while you get other issues worked out and allow your mind and body to heal some.  I held for 2 months in December/January and it did me worlds of good.  I was really struggling with panic attacks and BP spikes, insomnia etc.  

I am concerned about your BP though which was why I originally commented.  We still have to take care of the physical side of our health as we get off these meds.  Maybe you need a break from thinking about tapering while you get that under control. Just my thoughts though, I’m not a therapist or even a psych MD here.  

[[or...]]

On 11/05/2024 at 07:38, [[J...] said:

Thanks, will try that. I have used Garlic before but it did not occur to me to use it before bed. Has anyone heard from Winters Sun the Moderator? I was last on here in 2023 so I have not kept up with who are Moderators are.

You can look up profiles and see when they posted/replied last John.  Here's what I found for Winter Sun:

 

[[or...]]

On 12/05/2024 at 09:53, [[M...] said:

No problem.  Everyone’s experience including my own is so unique.  I think regardless of your situation though you have to be comfortable and somewhat confident with what you are doing.  It would be easy for me to say taper 5-10% every 10-14 days because that’s generally a good rule, but not for everyone and you e probably heard that from lots of people.  If you need to take a break, don’t be afraid to take one for months while you get other issues worked out and allow your mind and body to heal some.  I held for 2 months in December/January and it did me worlds of good.  I was really struggling with panic attacks and BP spikes, insomnia etc.  

I am concerned about your BP though which was why I originally commented.  We still have to take care of the physical side of our health as we get off these meds.  Maybe you need a break from thinking about tapering while you get that under control. Just my thoughts though, I’m not a therapist or even a psych MD here.  

I believe in listening to your body just like Matt said. "Guidelines" or others opinions are only the way they do things or "would" do things.  I am on a slow, steady taper as well, simply because I wanted as much quality of life "now", not wait until I'm off maybe, too soon, and expect some miracle overnight healing.  I've read many posts on those that do that and it's out of the question for me.  I am doing life now as I have no idea how much time I, or anyone else, has. 

As soon as I read your post I thought "Way to go" and instantly interested because in my opinion you are doing great!!  If you feel you can cut a little more, try that, if you think you need to slow it down to feel better, try that

oregonlady~~Denisehttps://benzobuddies.org/profile/243292-[or...]/?tab=field_core_pfield_34

Edited May 15 by [or...]
added my taper history

[[Jo...]]

On 15/05/2024 at 05:31, [[o...] said:

I believe in listening to your body just like Matt said. "Guidelines" or others opinions are only the way they do things or "would" do things.  I am on a slow, steady taper as well, simply because I wanted as much quality of life "now", not wait until I'm off maybe, too soon, and expect some miracle overnight healing.  I've read many posts on those that do that and it's out of the question for me.  I am doing life now as I have no idea how much time I, or anyone else, has. 

As soon as I read your post I thought "Way to go" and instantly interested because in my opinion you are doing great!!  If you feel you can cut a little more, try that, if you think you need to slow it down to feel better, try that

oregonlady~~Denisehttps://benzobuddies.org/profile/243292-[or...]/?tab=field_core_pfield_34

Thanks! Yea, I had to jump back up. I did not want to but the Diazepam may be covering up a underlying disease or even caused it.

[[Jo...]]

On 12/05/2024 at 09:53, [[M...] said:

No problem.  Everyone’s experience including my own is so unique.  I think regardless of your situation though you have to be comfortable and somewhat confident with what you are doing.  It would be easy for me to say taper 5-10% every 10-14 days because that’s generally a good rule, but not for everyone and you e probably heard that from lots of people.  If you need to take a break, don’t be afraid to take one for months while you get other issues worked out and allow your mind and body to heal some.  I held for 2 months in December/January and it did me worlds of good.  I was really struggling with panic attacks and BP spikes, insomnia etc.  

I am concerned about your BP though which was why I originally commented.  We still have to take care of the physical side of our health as we get off these meds.  Maybe you need a break from thinking about tapering while you get that under control. Just my thoughts though, I’m not a therapist or even a psych MD here.  

As it turns out I have Nocturnal Hypertension? I lie down  and my BP goes up and then sit up and within 5 minutes to 10 minutes my BP goes up a whole lot! I sit up it is around 139/93. I lay down and it jumps to around 177/116 and I wake up with Palpitations/ flutter. I was already in the Hospital and the must have tested my Kidneys and I had a MRI last year. Thyroid probably tested at the Hospital as well. I narrowed it down to GERD/Hiatal Hernia repair since lying down supine has shown to raise BP and I have Gastritis? It is either that or a Heart Problem and I will try to get a Cardiologist to do a Angiogram to rule that out. My wife say I also have Sleep Apnea and she is a BSN RN. I walk 30 minutes 5 days week and Diastole sucks meaning Ventricle Hypertrophy. I had a Sonogram done so it is still working within limits but lying down Supine increases Venous return. 

Alternatively, nocturnal hypertension could be the advanced stage of arterial hypertension. However, the supine position during sleep increases venous returns and results in elevation in the left ventricular preload and increased left ventricular wall stress according to the law of Laplace. The circulating volume is additionally increased by the movement of interstitial fluid from the soft tissue of the lower body, which further increases preload. The combination of elevated nocturnal intravascular volume and increased BP could induce the worsening of renal function due to increased intraglomerular pressure and hyperfiltration. Definitely trying to get the Angiogram done! However, with no tools at my disposal. I believe that GERD with Gastritis may be driving the Night Time HBP. Gastritis is know to drive BP up 100 points! I already lost 11 lbs and will still go down more. I was at 210 lbs before the Hospital and now I am 198.8-200 lbs. Fasting and supplementing along the way with D3 and K2 100mcg each and watching what I eat. This is waking me up around 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM and just started after the Hospital stay? Waking up also after I dropped to 6mg and then when back to 6.5mg Diazepam. Now a lack of sleep. Great. Will try sleeping on Diazepam. Woke up taking Diazepam at 6:00Pm then Nexium at 8:27PM the day before woke up around 4:00AM the next day with Tachycardia and of course a BP Spike and took a 2mg Diazepam and sat up to lower BP. BP took off when I sat up and I sat on the CAN and took 2mg Diazepam. BP lowered back down to 139/93. Complicated Process.

[[or...]]

My BP jacks up too, and seems to be caused by emotional, stressful exertion, like when I go to an appt. I feel I'm a bit stressed but covering it up as best I can.  My BP is often like 160/80 when I get to a doc appt. and then they take it again after I've sat for a bit, and it's way lower, 130 or even 120/ over a good number as well.

[[Jo...]]

On 12/05/2024 at 09:40, [[C...] said:

I was on prescribed Xanax for 20 years, topping out at 3mg daily. I was switched to 60mg Diazepam for tapering. I tapered for 18 months.

Holy Sh_t! I have been tapering for 2 years now? I must have a Brain Tumor or something? Were you a combat Veteran? I was in the US Military and I have PTSD. I wonder if I was exposed to some Bag Nasty like AFFF or Hydrazine Rocket Fuel or accidentally drank (there are no accidents in the US Military only negligence) Jet Fuel. They tell you you are getting exposed, but never tell you WHAT?

[[Jo...]]

On 17/05/2024 at 07:18, [[o...] said:

My BP jacks up too, and seems to be caused by emotional, stressful exertion, like when I go to an appt. I feel I'm a bit stressed but covering it up as best I can.  My BP is often like 160/80 when I get to a doc appt. and then they take it again after I've sat for a bit, and it's way lower, 130 or even 120/ over a good number as well.

My BP is 140/98 when relaxed and jacks up to 179/117 and sometime I reach Hyper Tensive Crisis at 195/129. I do not think I will live that long as a US Military Veteran PTSD has my throat and I feel like death will claim me soon! I am prescribed Clonidine .1mg, but taking that stuff and stopping suddenly is as bad as stopping Benzos suddenly and I can have Cardiac Rebound and a Heart Attack and die. Maybe it is Genetics?

[[or...]]

hi John, I just hope you and I both find some comfort being here with some other folks that understand, peers they call them.  I don't think much about death but if it's one thing I understand is that no one gets out of this life, alive.  Although the bible has some interesting things to read, believe it or not, I even read it sometimes, but not often.  Lost much of the free-spirited girl I used to be, but she's still in there, gotta dig deep, oregonlady PS I do thank God for men like yourself that serve this country, putting their lives on the line for what looks to me like a lot of unappreciative citizens that don't know where their freedom is not free at all ♥️♥️♥️

[[An...]]

On 11/05/2024 at 11:42, [[J...] said:

I tried everything. Things like Propranolol, Atenolol have actually RAISED my BP. Hydralazine did nothing and using double doses raised my BP as well. I basically have resistant Hyper Tension if that is the case. My wife is a BSN RN and my Aunt is a MD and my Uncle is a Ph.D. Cardiologist and his wife is a MSN NP and they have been helping me and they are they ones who identified the Tolerance to Ativan for me when I did not know what was killing me. I seem to have SH OH as well? I lie down and my Hypertension raises when I sleep. I may have a neurological physiological issue and I already negative tested twice for Pheochromocytoma as well. I am trying to get an Angiogram and I already had a MRI of my head because I had Pulsatile Tinnitus for a while with no signs of Bruit. Only signs of Foci, but no Sinus Diverticula or the signs of beginnings of any Aneurisms. The only thing that worked was "Clonidine" @[...] .1mg and I do  not want to use that often because of cardiac rebound! This really could be genetics, damage to my CNS, Gastritis (Hiatal Hernia Repair/ GERD I had both), the Diazepam/Benzos, or a combination of these. Once I rule out my Heart and it checks out then I will need to get creative. I am a little over weight, but not considered obese. At 5'11 and 200 lbs. but some of my symptoms feel as it could be GI related. Nexium and Diazepam sometimes reacts even if spaced a part and spikes my BP to 200 (not sustained) unless I use Clonidine, but then I can not even walk straight as I am short of breath/dry mouth? The Hospital MD's at 2 different Hospitals say I am structurally sound? I had a semi weird EKG as they put it, but from what the other ER Room MD said, after I wore a Monitor, is that I had symptoms of Bragada's Type III but all my Cardiologist dismiss this? Complicated and frustrating! Organ damage is under way and the only thing that brings it down is sedation, but the sedation jacks it up as well?

How was your BP before you started taking benzos?

[[Jo...]]

5 minutes ago, [[A...] said:

How was your BP before you started taking benzos?

14 years ago at 42 years of age it was around 128/89? After Ativan use about 2-3 years later with Seroquel 25mg in Jacked up to 145/83 and slowly increased. My wife is obese and her BP is 128/79? I am only 197 -200 lbs. and work out with bulging muscles and I practice Kuntao-Silat and Danzan Jujitsu withy my 14 year old kid and I still am Hyper Tensive? If I could go back in time I would have done Garlic and not had my Gall Bladder removed and not taken Seroquel and did more exercise and ate Garlic taken D3 and K2 and not eating meats as much. But Hindsight is always 20/20. This sucks!

[[wa...]]

Hey, John, I have had some issues related to my BP also since I jumped off of K in 2022. Mine responds to medication, but when I take the medication, I feel like it triggers my symptoms. Maybe it's just a coincidence though. It's hard to tell. I hope you are able to find answers- one thing I do is try to remember my body is able to do many things without me thinking about it, for example, I don't think about my breath, but my breath is there. To a certain extent, I think our bodies can be self-healing, they just do it in their own time and their own way. So keep asking questions/listening to your doctors. You sound like you are very strong and have got a family who can be there for you? Go as slowly as you need to with your taper, also. Mine took 5 years and several failed attempts but I did get there. It does all suck, ngl.