Relieved to know it was the Benzos causing it All!

[[Ho...]]

In 2020 before having my son I was on Ativan, citalapram and Anfranil. Came off of it all as soon as I found out I was pregnant . Everything was good until I hit month 7 then I started experiencing all sort of physical and emotional symptoms like constantly crying over the slightest thing, severe back pain with tingling and numbness. The doctors told me it’s normal to have back /nerve pain  in pregnancy and they never took me seriously. Would cry everyday for my child to be born so I can go on pain meds to relieve the pain. Went back to SSRI’s and Benzos and the back pain disappeared which I thought was weird. Now that I’m tapering off its back and I would have never thought it was the benzos that were causing me this immense nerve like back pain. I have seen countless doctors including chronic pain specialists and neurologists and no one could tell me what was wrong with me. I am so relieved to know it was these damn benzos!!! Where do I go from here. Please Help! I’ have two children I can’t be bed ridden again like last week. I had to go back to 1.5 to make the pain go away. Please help!

[[Ro...]]

2 hours ago, [[H...] said:

In 2020 before having my son I was on Ativan, citalapram and Anfranil. Came off of it all as soon as I found out I was pregnant . Everything was good until I hit month 7 then I started experiencing all sort of physical and emotional symptoms like constantly crying over the slightest thing, severe back pain with tingling and numbness. The doctors told me it’s normal to have back /nerve pain  in pregnancy and they never took me seriously. Would cry everyday for my child to be born so I can go on pain meds to relieve the pain. Went back to SSRI’s and Benzos and the back pain disappeared which I thought was weird. Now that I’m tapering off its back and I would have never thought it was the benzos that were causing me this immense nerve like back pain. I have seen countless doctors including chronic pain specialists and neurologists and no one could tell me what was wrong with me. I am so relieved to know it was these damn benzos!!! Where do I go from here. Please Help! I’ have two children I can’t be bed ridden again like last week. I had to go back to 1.5 to make the pain go away. Please help!

Hi,

Glad you were able to pinpoint the benzos as the cause of your medical issues.  Sounds like you're stable at 1.5 mg of Ativan.  I would proceed to taper slowly, maybe 5% for 14 days to begin with.  You can track your progress and then adjust your pace if desired.

Along the way, I'd be mindful of any interdose withdrawal.  I don't know how many times a day you are now taking the med.  Also, please realize that kindling may or may not play a part, since you came off a benzo previously.

Good luck to you, and keep us informed.

[[pi...]]

Hello @[Ho...],

It appears you had an ‘aha’ moment when you felt relief reinstating the benzo. From this point on I agree with @[Ro...], going very slowly with the taper is the best plan. You might even look into very small daily dose reductions. 

It would help if you write your history including dose timing so we can offer the best advice. The cns needs stability and consistency so planning a sensible slow taper is important. It’s also doable and we’re her to help.

[[Ho...]]

13 hours ago, [[R...] said:

Hi,

Glad you were able to pinpoint the benzos as the cause of your medical issues.  Sounds like you're stable at 1.5 mg of Ativan.  I would proceed to taper slowly, maybe 5% for 14 days to begin with.  You can track your progress and then adjust your pace if desired.

Along the way, I'd be mindful of any interdose withdrawal.  I don't know how many times a day you are now taking the med.  Also, please realize that kindling may or may not play a part, since you came off a benzo previously.

Good luck to you, and keep us informed.

13 hours ago, [[R...] said:

Hi,

Glad you were able to pinpoint the benzos as the cause of your medical issues.  Sounds like you're stable at 1.5 mg of Ativan.  I would proceed to taper slowly, maybe 5% for 14 days to begin with.  You can track your progress and then adjust your pace if desired.

Along the way, I'd be mindful of any interdose withdrawal.  I don't know how many times a day you are now taking the med.  Also, please realize that kindling may or may not play a part, since you came off a benzo previously.

Good luck to you, and keep us informed.

I stopped the Ativan cold turkey after I had my son and switched to klonopin this year after coming off SSRI’s. Woke up this morning I’m still experiencing the back pain even with the raise. Also what’s kindling? 

[[Ho...]]

11 hours ago, [[p...] said:

Hello @[Ho...],

It appears you had an ‘aha’ moment when you felt relief reinstating the benzo. From this point on I agree with @[Ro...], going very slowly with the taper is the best plan. You might even look into very small daily dose reductions. 

It would help if you write your history including dose timing so we can offer the best advice. The cns needs stability and consistency so planning a sensible slow taper is important. It’s also doable and we’re her to help.

Oh yea I was actually jumping with joy despite being in pain because I finally know now my pain wasn’t in my head because all the doctor results would always come back normal. I take 5 0.25 klonopin which adds up to 1.25 in the morning and at night. I also take 100mg of Gabapentin which does nothing for my pain but I don’t know how to come off that either. I just started the 1.25mg. I was trying to taper off 1mg to 0.75 this past two weeks but the pain and the anger was too much so I just up’ed my dose to 1.25 and it’s not helping to relieve the symptoms. I don’t know where to go for help. I feel like I’m failing my kids being on these stupid drugs and don’t know how to come off them with the least amount of symptoms;(

[[pi...]]

10 hours ago, [[H...] said:

Oh yea I was actually jumping with joy despite being in pain because I finally know now my pain wasn’t in my head because all the doctor results would always come back normal. I take 5 0.25 klonopin which adds up to 1.25 in the morning and at night. I also take 100mg of Gabapentin which does nothing for my pain but I don’t know how to come off that either. I just started the 1.25mg. I was trying to taper off 1mg to 0.75 this past two weeks but the pain and the anger was too much so I just up’ed my dose to 1.25 and it’s not helping to relieve the symptoms. I don’t know where to go for help. I feel like I’m failing my kids being on these stupid drugs and don’t know how to come off them with the least amount of symptoms;(

It can take a while to stabilize on the 1.25 dose, as long as a couple of weeks or more. Try not to expect immediate improvement. 

Kids are resilient, you are doing what is necessary for your future health and the wellbeing of your children. 

I think we have to accept symptoms, but a very slow and controlled taper can help to minimize them. We’re here for you, we understand what you are going through. This is doable!