Day 34 off Ativan still have sxs. I am considering....

[[Be...]]

I am considering asking my doctor for a Valium prescription for the purpose of tapering for a cew weekx to alleviate m sxs. I just started a new job and I need to reduce these body aches if I can. See my signature and know that I have had wd sxs since Oct 10, 2011. I need to be feeling better and need energy for work. I realize this may not be he ting to do since I have been Benzo free for over a month. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

BB

[[Be...]]

Typo. I mean to say I want to use Valiume to taper for a few weeks to alleviate the sxs.

[[Fl...]]

Hi Benzoboy,

 

Gosh you really did taper quickly, didn't you?

I'm sorry you feel so terrible.  Reinstating at this point may or may not give you relief.  And also consider the kindling factor.  It seems each time we taper off, it is more difficult and the outcome is not as good.

 

If you and your doctor do decide to reinstate, please do a very very slow taper after you stabilize (if you do). You've learned, I think, that being in a hurry does not pay off and, in effect, slows the process down.

 

Good luck,

Flip

[[Kl...]]

I tapered on Valium and still had strong symptoms at times so reinstating will not necessarily give you all of the relief you are seeking.....God give you wisdom.

[[Be...]]

Yes I did taper quickly. Thanks for the replies. I certainly don't want to make things worse. I will hold out for more advice.

 

I wonder of I did start to take Valium how quickly I would know I it gives me relief. If not, I could stop. If it does, will I feel worse or the same as I taper?

 

Wish I have never taken the Ativan but I did and I am dealing with it. Crap!

[[sh...]]

Like others have stated, reinstating could bring you more troubles than it's worth. Some have reported actually feeling worse reintroducing the drug into their system after tapering.

 

Try to stay the course and see if things lift for you. If you do decide to reinstate, please keep us updated.

[[Kl...]]

Benzoboy, with respect to your question about taking valium to get you through this rough patch....I saw a quote from Ashton that Beeper used to address a similar case.

 

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).

 

[[gr...]]

I am trying to get off Ativan too. The Doc gave me 10 mg's of valiun. I was on 2 mg's of Ativan 3x a day. The valium is 10 mg's 4x a day. Do you know if it will work to get off this Ativan??? I need some help before i start.

[[Be...]]

Thanks Klondike,

 

I won't go back on a Benzo. I had another perhaps radical idea. I found a few hydrocodones and took some and it masked the sxs. If I took say 40mg per day of hydro for a month maybe not that long, I could work an function normally. I understand the risk of dependency but I could taper off with no problem. I'd I get opiat wd they would be relatively minor I believe and would not last long and not be so intense. Just a crazy thought born ou of a desperate need to feel better and mask the Benzo sxs until they are gone or greatly reduced.

 

Thoughts on my madness welcome :-)

 

BB

[[JO...]]

Benzoboy,

In my opinion you are playing with fire if you think an opiate is going to help relieve Benzo withdrawal. You will eventually have to come off the Hydro and then what? You may get slammed please be careful. If it were me I would try and hang in there . Remember each day is another day closer to healing.

[[Be...]]

Duly noted Johan. I'm have been in a pretty good window today. I know I am slowly getting better. I have no more hyrdo to take. It has been since yesterday afternoon and I feel pretty ok today. I think I will heed your advice.

 

Thanks!

BB

[[Kl...]]

Thanks Klondike,

 

I won't go back on a Benzo. I had another perhaps radical idea. I found a few hydrocodones and took some and it masked the sxs. If I took say 40mg per day of hydro for a month maybe not that long, I could work an function normally. I understand the risk of dependency but I could taper off with no problem. I'd I get opiat wd they would be relatively minor I believe and would not last long and not be so intense. Just a crazy thought born ou of a desperate need to feel better and mask the Benzo sxs until they are gone or greatly reduced.

 

Thoughts on my madness welcome :-)

 

BB

 

I also think that the opiates are risky.....Oxycodone and Hydrocodone do help me with pain after surgery but I get off of them fast because they really give me a ucky feeling. I would prefer you use the antihistamines like benedryl (OTC). They are not physically addicting. They really help me with anxiety, nausea, and insomnia. They do not use the same GABA receptor sites that Benzos and alcohol use.....if nausea is an issue get a script for phenergan, which also has a lot of antihistamine in it. 

 

The down side of antihistamines is that they can make you drowsy and feeling a little low when they wear off. And most of us build tolerance to them quickly. So during my taper, I tried not to use them except on my worst days...so that they maintained their effectiveness.  I also rotated the different types of Antihistamines to keep from getting to tollerant....but benedryl is my favorite.