Helo - Please write me - I am scared by my withdrawal symptons

[[Br...]]

I had taken Ativan(Lorezapam) for a little over a month and didn't know I had to wean off. I went cold turkey and about 12 days later, I woke up with an electric current going through my head, shakes, sweats, etc and I haven't slept more than 2-5 hours a night - 5 if I am lucky. I have tightness above my left ear and right temple, hands shake more, internal revving vibration going through my lower back, chest and feet. My toes are now involuntarily moving on their own and I am woken-up by my right arm skaking and right wirst tremoring. It scares me and I am reaching out to hear stories that are like mine. Did new symptoms evolve even if it has been a couple of months? Will new symptoms keep appearing and what can I expect for them to go away? Please share with me and reassure me. I am so scared that my life will be like this always and I have young children and a husband who has been nothing but supportive. I lost my mother in November to Parkinison's and everytime I shake from the withdrawal I get more upset and think my life is in a downward path.

 

I was on Lorazepam from November 12-December 14, 1 mg a night. I stopped C/T on December 15 and woke up December 26 with "explosion" electrical current shock, shakes, sweat, and now have insomnia.

[[WT...]]

Hello, Brooke, I'm sorry you are suffering from your c/t.  C/t's are much more painful than tapering, and I'm a c/t case my self.  I hope someone who is more benzo wise than myself will chime in for you, because if I'm not mistaken, you're probably not far enough out of your c/t to perhaps reinstate and try a good proper taper, which should be easier.  Don't take my advice on this, but I'm sure someone could confirm or deny what I've said.  I hope your symptoms let up soon.

[[Ch...]]

Hi Brooke,

Sounds like withdrawal side effects very common (and very frightening) to most of us.  How long has it been since you c/t'd Ativan?  What dose were you on?  Cold turkey causes intense withdrawal, as you've figured out by now.  Lots of members here have done it as well and should be along to give advice...if you put your history/dosage in the signature (forum profile) it will help others help you.

Challis 

[[Br...]]

I just added my history of Lorazepam. Thank you for your response.

[[re...]]

Hi Brooke,

I wanted to let you know I had a similar reaction to you when I stopped Ativan. I can't even describe all the symptoms I had, but extreme involuntary movements were part of them. It was easily the scariest thing I have ever been through, but it absolutely ends. Things will continue to evolve and change and eventually, slowly, they will go away. You have NOT done permanent damage. It's easy to convince yourself you have, but you will start to see improvement and you will completely heal. I also cold turkeyed from ativan and I think that is a beast of a drug, but it doesn't cause permanent damage. I personally think changing symptoms is a good thing. As long as things continue to change then the cycle will eventually end. I know it's hell, but it's a temporary hell!

[[os...]]

If i were in your shoes i would see my GP and get reinstated and then taper off very slowly, those that ct seem to suffer w/d symptoms far more, as stated above, you are not too far out to turn this around, you need to hear from others on here but if you find your symptoms intolerable, there is an alternative, had you known you would have tapered i´m sure.

 

I hope you receive some more advice from others on here, i feel for you and i´m sorry to hear you are having a hard time right now.

 

Please stay close to the forum, you will find much support here, you are not alone in this Brooke.

 

Oscar

[[Br...]]

Dear recovered,

 

How long was your withdrawal until you were done? Did your withdrawal start later after you stopped cold turkey?

 

Thank you.

[[re...]]

Hi Brooke,

My situation was complicated by the fact that I stopped and started the drugs several times because I didn't know what was wrong with me. It also involved several stays in the hospital while they ran tests and kept me pumped full of the drugs. After my last dose it was still several months before I recovered and it was a slow process with constantly changing symptoms. I had the electrical feeling as well. I described it like I was holding on to an electrical fence and couldn't let go.

 

I finally saw a therapist and she's the first person who told me it was the drugs doing this to me. I'd kind of put it together myself at that point as well. She wanted me to go back on and taper but I refused because I was so sick on the drugs as well. I road it out. I can't tell you if you should go back on and taper or not. That's a tough question for everybody. I'm glad I didn't. Stress does make everything worse so try not to let these things scare you. Your body will straighten itself out. If it'll put your mind at ease, have the doctors run some tests, but your symptoms sound like mine (actually they sound more similar to mine than anybody I found during this nightmare, that's why I wanted to respond). My involuntary movements changed over time. I also had convulsions, a lot of convulsions, and extreme muscle cramping. At one point my neck and back cramped up so bad it pulled my head down toward the ground. Crazy stuff. But it left. I'm fine now. It'll pass for you too. I'm sure of it .

[[Br...]]

Thank you for your reply! So, how long have you been off Ativan as I am only 2 months out from stopping. None of the doctors believe I am in withdrawal - they chalk it up to anxiety. I didn't have any symptoms before I took Ativan, but have a long list off of it! What intervals did you see improvement - 3, 6, 9, etc. I know we are all different, but it would help to know if that is okay.

 

I just want my life back and I kick myself for ever taking this med - it was so unnecessary. I am saddened at my life right now and how much I am removed from my life. I have never felt depressed like this and feel like this is the beginning of my entrance into old age and I am only 44.

 

I look forward to your response!

[[mo...]]

Thank you for your reply! So, how long have you been off Ativan as I am only 2 months out from stopping. None of the doctors believe I am in withdrawal - they chalk it up to anxiety. I didn't have any symptoms before I took Ativan, but have a long list off of it! What intervals did you see improvement - 3, 6, 9, etc. I know we are all different, but it would help to know if that is okay.

 

I just want my life back and I kick myself for ever taking this med - it was so unnecessary. I am saddened at my life right now and how much I am removed from my life. I have never felt depressed like this and feel like this is the beginning of my entrance into old age and I am only 44.

 

I look forward to your response!

 

Brooke, I just want to cry when I read your posts. You sound EXACTLY like me. Short term Ativan used who basically c/t because I did not know better. Like you, I was desperate to get off the drugs, because I was way more symptomatic on them than off. I also had never had an anxiety attack or depression prior to using zopiclone and ativan.

 

I am now 10 weeks off both and there have been ups and downs. I feel pretty lucky that - so far - I have not experienced the kind of hell some on this forum are going through. My most persistent sx is daily d/r & tinnitus. I have intermitent depression, anxiety and issues with sleeping. Oh, and night sweats from hell! Some GI issues. Okay, so I guess my list is a little longer than I realized. The good news is they don't all come at once and they do change from day to day, week to week.

 

You will start to feel better, but it may take some time. Just listen to all the great advice from people who have been there. This forum has been a great comfort for me, because I too am surrounded by disbelievers. It is not easy to do, but like everyone on this forum says, you need to ease up on yourself and try to stay calm.

 

Hang in there. And if I can ever offer you any support and encouragement please feel free to private message me. We are all here for you.

[[mo...]]

Wow! Just noticed we are about the same age too.

[[to...]]

I am far from an expert but I would check with your doctor. 

[[do...]]

I to was on Ativan for 5 weeks and c/t as I didn't know any better.  I started with terrible tinnitus which is what prompted me to stop the Ativan.  I did have terrible tremors mostly and my right hand, which really scared me.  I still get the muscle twitching and the tinnitus but otherwise everything is all but gone.  Oh, my sleep is still not great but when I c/t I did not sleep for days and days so I cannot complain now.  Hang in there this does get better but like others have recommended I did see a doctor just to be safe.  I'm now about 26 months from c/t.  I was 43 when this all began so please, please hang in there and keep posting.  This forum brought me through some very long and dark days. 

[[su...]]

Brooke, my story is also a lot like yours, and, I too, could just cry over your post.

 

I was prescribed Ativan low dose  when I had inner ear problem.  Long story, short.  Soon thereafter started having increased anxiety, dizziness returned after the initial ear problem resolved....went to docs.. was told I was anxious and to take more Ativan.  I increased my dose from once a day to twice a day.  Time went on.  I developed tolerance, then started having more symptoms and interdose withdrawal.  Time went on.  Symptoms got worse.  Now had muscle tension, tinnitus, full-fledged panic attacks, H/A, nausea, agoraphobia to name a few.  Briefly was switched to Klonopin, then back to Ativan.

 

We moved.  I saw another doctor here. By now I had started with the tingling.. Same deal.  "You are anxious and your dose is so low....take more Ativan, take it more often."  I never did take more or take it more often...thank goodness.

 

I had kept a journal since Oct 2010 listing every med I took, every symptom, even what I ate that day, what I did that day, trying to figure out what in the world was happening to me.  This comes from my R.N. training..".documentation is your friend."  I finally saw the pattern, found this site, and made an appointment with a Psychiatrist who would hopefully put me on  Valium and taper.  He said No WAY could my symptoms be from withdrawal and told me to stop it cold turkey.  He saw all my records, but didn't read a line of any of it.  For my trouble, he also DX me with anxiety with obsessive compulsive features!!!!  (So much for showing HIM the documentation.  LOL)  He also wanted to start me on an antidepressant.  So, I cold-turkeyed, but didn't start the other AD.  I figured all I needed was to potentially add more side effects/problems of another drug to the problems I already have.....so I didnt'.  Funny thing is:  16 years ago I was diagnosed with anxiety....I KNOW what anxiety feels like.  I had been on medication for 16 years that effectively managed my symptoms.  Not until I took Ativan did I have all the stuff I've written about.  Never.  This is a whole different beast.

 

I am now on day 26 off of the Ativan.  It is hell at times, but, honestly, I am having some windows.  I am too new to offer much else and feel good about it. I just wanted to reach out to you, give you a hug, and say, thank goodness there are people here that "get it" and are kind and supportive. 

 

Yesterday I read a post about healing....we will and do heal.  Another post I read said something to the effect of try to find some good in each day in spite of the symptoms.  In the very beginning, my symptoms scared me 24/7.  Today I looked in the mirror and said, "OK benzo-hell.  I'm not healed yet, but today I'm going outside and work in the yard a bit..."  I may not have felt brave enough to go to the crowded grocery store today, but I cleaned up, brushed the golden retriever, cooked, did some laundry....in spite of my tingling and tinnitus, etc, etc.

 

You can also PM me anytime, I'm here for you just as so many here are...and are here for me, too.  Hang on!!!

[[Br...]]

Thank you for your email. I would like to keep in touch. It has been hell and I go back and forth with maybe it isn't the withdrawal and maybe I am having a real illness, etc. I do read that people get their sleep back, but as everyone, I want it back now. I didn't really have that bad of a time before I took the ativan and now, I am lucky if I get four hours just to be woken-up with my arm and right wrist shaking reminding me of my mother's Parkinison's. It is just so scary. I wish it would stop. I am missing so much out in life and I can't help but beat myself up that I ever took this stuff. What was I thinking? I wish I knew when the sleep would return and the symptoms subside as it would give so much hope. Do stay in touch and we can help each other out. I am still figuring my way around this website and don't know where my in-box is, so when you send a message, I hope it will let me know. My best to you.

[[pa...]]

Hi Brooke, I am on this site for my hubby who was Also put on Lorazepam.  When I finally found the Ashton manuel, I not only found what was happening to my hubby, but what happened to me.  I was put on Valium in the 80's, after. Being hospitalized for a virus and shellfish poisoning.  After 6 months on the V I c/t also.  I had muscle movement, electrical explosions in my head, electrical sensations throughout my body and limbs.  You could actually see the nerve impulse movement going down my legs, the bottom of my feet and my toes moving involuntary.  I thought it was from the shellfish poisoning.  The docs all said it was EMOTIONAL STRESS & ANXIETY!!!  I argued with my doc, telling him if V is a tranquilizer, why am I the way I am.  After month of being off the Valium, guess what?  Everything started leaving, the anxiety, the involuntary muscle twitching, muscle/nerve movement, the electrical sensations, the vibrations, the insomnia; EVERYTHING left. 

 

Until I found the Ashton Manuel, I thought it was the shellfish poisoning.  Well, it was all from these lousy BENZO drugs!!  There was no I/net when I went thru this, but I fought and survived it.  I know how difficult all these sensations are.  What helped me, to stay busy, walk, listen to meditation tape, especially a subliminal tape when going to be, for stress/anxiety.

 

You will heal from all of this.  It was 27 years ago for me, and my health returned completely.  Pattylu

 

(I used to say, I felt like I was plugged into an electrical outlet)

[[tu...]]

Brooke:

 

I could relate to your story and Sunnyside's in many ways. 

 

I started taking Ambien back in August 2011 for insomnia.  I am currently about 31?? days off Ambien.  Dizziness was one of first (and most acute) problems I experienced while on Ambien (developed about 5-6 weeks after starting drug).  Thought I had something very medically wrong with me and went through many tests and doctors to find there was nothing wrong with me (other than anxiety which I had NEVER had a problem with before).  From there I began having panic attacks where I felt dizzy (intersections/overly visually stimulating environments like the mall & grocery store) or got too warm.  I also began experiencing a horrible feeling of dread in the evenings accompanied often by shakes and very scary thoughts.

 

Eventually I linked all the craziness to the Ambien and began to taper and stopped altogether on 2/10/12 (took it for 6 months total almost nightly 5-10 mg).  The first symptom to leave after stopping was the dizziness.  Driving became normal again.  My sleep was horrible (many nights with little and even NO sleep at all) and the anxiety was up and down.  About two weeks ago the dizziness reappeared and it has really scared me.  Some days it is better than others.  I have read that it takes weeks/months for symptoms to completely subside.  I have also read that it is normal for symptoms to creep back in.  I know of no one else going through this and feel so discouraged by these ups and downs.  I too want to know how long it took for people to feel truly better.  People seem reluctant to give exact time frames.  I sure wish they would - it would be comforting to know.

 

Hang in there.  I think these drugs make us less confident and less ourselves in the ways that could help us most right now.  I will think good thoughts for you.  Please check in.  We are in similar stages of the w/d process and could help each other.  Take care.  I will think good thoughts for you.

[[Br...]]

What scares me the most is being woken-up by my arm and right arm shaking like I have an earthquake under me. I thought that time would help and I know it does, but I am surprised that I feel like I am in the worse of it like I was in the first couple of weeks. I didn't experience this before the med and during, but I feel like my body wants to jump out of itself. Does anyone else have this experience being woken up by your body shaking?