Anyone Cold Turkey? When did withdrawal start?

[[De...]]

For those of you who responded to my other post thank you!

 

A little more info... I don't have anymore Ativan to taper off..except for 3 1mg tablets. I really only want them as a last resort.

 

When did the withdrawal symptoms start for you guys?

 

Thanks again. I'm new to this and really scared ( & extremely exhausted).

[[mi...]]

For me it was about 48 hours after ativan. About 10 days of hell followed then a week a little better then a wave not as intense and so on. 4 months off now and there is improvement but the waves are still hard.

[[be...]]

For me it was about 6 weeks out of detox.  I didnt have a single sx while in the crisis center, I actually felt better than when i checked in.  Then at 6 weeks BAM  everything hit.

 

Talked to a neuropharmapsyctrist and he told me it was because the amount i was taking and the length.  He told me that the half'-lives built to the point that he would have guessed around 500 hours for it to all out of my system.

 

 

[[WT...]]

Mine started almost immediately, but didn't get to the hell stage until month 2.

[[su...]]

My w/d started maybe about 24 hrs after my last dose.  It was pretty bad for about 2 weeks then had a 2 week reprieve until I became severely symptomatic again.  Now am nearly 4 mos out and can't really function properly still. 

 

Didn't see your other post but have you read the Ashton Manual?  It's really best if you can taper.  Ideally from a benzo with a long half-life, there is information and a schedule on that site and people here who can help.  I'd also recommend sharing it with your doctor. 

 

I would give anything to be able to go back and taper.  Going cold turkey is dangerous and will likely worsen things for you.  The pharmacy should be able to give you a 3 day dose until you can reach your doctor. 

 

Good luck.  Be careful.  Let us know how you are doing.

[[Re...]]

It was about three days clean and then it hit me. Still in withdrawal.

[[Ga...]]

Mine was right away, dry heaves, dizzy, face numbness, sick.

I am a little better 7 mo off except for numbness in feet, inner vibrations, ears ringing, etc

[[ji...]]

When I tried cold turkey on my own day 3 or 4 was the start of the intense hellish symptoms, but insomnia, elevated hr, started right when I missed my first dose by 4 hours. When I went to a detox clinic it started as soon as I returned home and was a nightmare. I'm not sure how detox centers can saftly say they can take you off benzos in a week.

[[ka...]]

hay jillian78 when they say they can detox you in a week they can keep you from having a seizure then they send you on your way, not telling you about all the withdrawls you will have for the next year an a half 

[[da...]]

Mine started almost immediately being on a pretty high dose of short acting Xanax. The first two weeks were nearly unbearable. The first couple of months were bad, but small improvements were made. I would not recommend a cold turkey to anyone. Since my husband was working, I had to move in with my parents for a couple weeks because I couldn't do anything.

 

Of course, I am much better now and glad I just got done with it. I'm not sure I would have the discipline for a taper personally.

[Guest [Tu...]]

I was on Xanax for two years and then c/o to Valium, which I took from 1999 to September 7, 2011. Because Valium has such a long half-life (anywhere from 60-200 hours or so), my w/d symptoms really didn't hit me for about two weeks, when I began to feel the effects of the drug leaving my system. At about Day 16 it got really intense and stayed pretty bad until about Day 47, or roughly a month, when things began to ease up.

 

My symptoms began to get less and less until I was hit by a HUGE wave in mid-January and I ended up going on Xanax, and like an idiot took it almost daily for about 4.5 weeks when I snapped out of it and stopped. I was hit by w/d symptoms within about 12 hours. Xanax and Ativan both have a relatively short half-life, so I'd imagine you'd be hit pretty soon, if you haven't already.

 

I didn't think I'd have much problem coming off the Xanax after just 4.5 weeks, but I sure was wrong. It's been three weeks now and I'm still dealing with a lot of insomnia, and anxiety is pretty intense. I'm hoping thing will begin to fade soon.

 

It's funny, but I began my Valium c/t on September 7, so it's been six months today since I entered this crazy process. I wish I hadn't screwed up in January, as I'd like to be celebrating a legit 6-month anniversary. All I can say is I began this process six months ago, but screwed myself at 4.5 months out. Oh, well, eventually I'll be back to normal, whatever that is...

 

Hang in there. I can't believe how horribly difficult the past six months (and especially the last two months!) has been!

 

Tucson

 

[[De...]]

Just a little update.....

 

Other than some insomnia, a lot of lower back pain & a sore tongue I'm doing ok. Granted it has only been since Saturday & I did have .5 Monday morning.

 

My acupuncturist says Ativan has such a short half life I should be fine now. My psychiatrist said cold turkey was fine.  Although you guys, with experience seem to think the worst is still ahead. I sure hope not I leave for vacation Saturday!

 

Anyway.....THANK YOU!!! You guys are awesome. Keep sharing your stories. I am so glad you are with me!

[[ka...]]

hi deepdarkhole how many pills were you on an for how long, what was the strangth of the pills this all plays in to how hard you will fall once you are off the meds kate7

[[Ni...]]

hi deepdarkhole how many pills were you on an for how long, what was the strangth of the pills this all plays in to how hard you will fall once you are off the meds kate7

 

Hi deepdarlole,

 

kate7 raises a very important question. How many mg were you on and for how long? Everyone's cold turkey is different, and I don't think you can feel that you have gotten through the most difficult time for at least 3 weeks. It's medically dangerous to stop a benzo abruptly if you have been on a higher dose. I had to go to the hospital after being c/t'd off of 1mg of Xanax after about two weeks from a c/t. It is never a good idea to just guess when you are safe from a c/t without being under medical supervision. Please seek a medical professional instead of stopping one abruptly.

[[bl...]]

48 hours c/t off of Xanax after taking 3 mg per day for a long time before I had a grand mal seizure. I wasn't fully conscious at the time though. I was in the hospital for a concussion.

 

Normally, about 12-24 hours before I have gotten a fever and start seriously shaking and feeling very off. I think this depends a lot on how long lasting your benzo is.

 

Also, some have secondary active metabolites that will tide you over longer, like Valium. Xanax doesn't, to my understanding.

[[De...]]

hi deepdarkhole how many pills were you on an for how long, what was the strangth of the pills this all plays in to how hard you will fall once you are off the meds kate7

 

Hi deepdarlole,

 

kate7 raises a very important question. How many mg were you on and for how long? Everyone's cold turkey is different, and I don't think you can feel that you have gotten through the most difficult time for at least 3 weeks. It's medically dangerous to stop a benzo abruptly if you have been on a higher dose. I had to go to the hospital after being c/t'd off of 1mg of Xanax after about two weeks from a c/t. It is never a good idea to just guess when you are safe from a c/t without being under medical supervision. Please seek a medical professional instead of stopping one abruptly.

 

I was on 1mg Ativan nightly for insomnia for a little over a year. My psychiatrist is aware I stopped cold turkey & said I will be fine. It was after reading online that I became scared.

 

 

[[...]]

hi deepdarkhole how many pills were you on an for how long, what was the strangth of the pills this all plays in to how hard you will fall once you are off the meds kate7

 

Hi deepdarlole,

 

kate7 raises a very important question. How many mg were you on and for how long? Everyone's cold turkey is different, and I don't think you can feel that you have gotten through the most difficult time for at least 3 weeks. It's medically dangerous to stop a benzo abruptly if you have been on a higher dose. I had to go to the hospital after being c/t'd off of 1mg of Xanax after about two weeks from a c/t. It is never a good idea to just guess when you are safe from a c/t without being under medical supervision. Please seek a medical professional instead of stopping one abruptly.

 

I was on 1mg Ativan nightly for insomnia for a little over a year. My psychiatrist is aware I stopped cold turkey & said I will be fine. It was after reading online that I became scared.

 

I was on Ativan 2,5mg for a few months and about a year on 1mg. My psychiatrist told me to first go to .5 and I was glad I did. "You are definatly going to feel it if you stop right now" So I went to .5mg for three weeks to get everything stabilized and it was hard the first week. Then last week I stopped .5 to 0 and it was harder, so I'ts your call but I would recommend doing one more cut for a few weeks and take twice the time of mild w/d fx. The trauma of going into panic isn't worth it.

[[ch...]]

Hmm...let's see. Well..I was in tolerance w/d for years before detox/cold turkey. Once I detoxed I was given meds to try to help with the w/d. They did very little to hold back the flood gates. Once I came off the meds they gave me things got progressively worse, but they really didn't get going until months 3-5, then once the 6 month mark hit I got hit with the one two punch. I was severly agorophobic and in full time panic everyday. I will spare the details.

 

Some of us get hit right away while some get a delayed w/d. It all depends on the person, the benzo, the length of time on benzos, and probably a few other variables I can't think of at the moment.

 

Chrisw

[[Ja...]]

Mine started on the next day and got progressively worse. Now at nearly 5 months off I'm slightly better, however not sure if I'm healing or I feel better because recently I implemented many healthy changes.

[[Ja...]]

48 hours is all it took.

[[...]]

Me too.  That's all it took.

[[BY...]]

It started on day 3, the day the wheels came off.

[[Ti...]]

About 3 days for me, however at about the 1 week mark it got worse and by 3 weeks it was really bad.  I am 7 months out.  Wish I would have known to taper.   

[[De...]]

Hey it's me DDH...,,,

 

The worst of it took about 3 days. It was horrible! The only lingering effects are low back pain (not sure if it's related, but it is when it started) & middle of the night insomnia.

 

I am exhausted from only sleeping 3-4 hours a night, but I have a clearer mind & feel a lot healthier.

 

I know I am one of the lucky ones. I am so glad I am off.

[[Je...]]

I CT'ED OFF HEROIN, KLONOPIN, XANAX, AND CRACK. MY WITHDRAWLS STARTED ABOUT A DAY AND A HALF AFTER MY LAST USAGE. SYMPTOMS PEAKED AROUND DAY 3-6 (HALLUCINATIONS VISUAL/AUDIO, AND TREMORS.. ALSO MINI SEIZURES/ SEEING STARS AND SPASMS). THE PEAK SYMPTOMS STARTED TO SUBSIDE AFTER THE FIRST WEEK. STARTED FEELING BETTER ON WEEK 2, BUT COULD NOT SLEEP. I AM 3 WEEKS CLEAN OFF EVERYTHING NOW, EXCEPT METHADONE WHICH I TAKE AS PRESCRIBED AND I HAVE BEEN TAPERING OFF OF THAT PRESCRIPTION FOR 3 1/2 MOS. I AM DUE TO BE 100% DRUG FREE IN SEPT. OF THIS YEAR. AT WEEK 3 OFF A HOST OF DRUGS GOING COLD TURKEY, MY LAST REMAINING SYMPTOMS ARE NIGHTMARES, BEING ON EDGE, AND SLIGHT AGORAPHOBIA. MY LAST SEVERE PANIC ATTACK WAS EASTER DAY, 8 DAYS AGO.

 

STATS:

3 WEEKS BENZO FREE CT

3 WEEKS HEROIN FREE CT

3 WEEKS CRACK FREE CT

53 MGS OF METHADONE- ON A TAPER/DETOX. DUE TO JUMP IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR - THEN.... 100% DRUG FREE!