Long-term withdrawal from small dose?

[[br...]]

Hey all, I hope today brings you happiness and healing.

 

Now, I'm well into my process so I'm familiar that WD takes no one specific route for everyone.

I've seen long timers heal quickly and short stints end in long, protracted symptoms.

 

But, purely for curiosity's sake... I was just wondering how many here could chime in who were on a lower dose and/or for a shorter time? My 10 months or so of use was unique because of the super low dose I used. (at least I think it was unique. )

 

I have a good support system but I get the feeling they find my experience hard to believe because of my low dosage and slow taper. (Frankly, so do I!)

 

Just sort of curious to see a show of hands with low dose or low term experiences?

 

Be well!

[[br...]]

I should probably specify that my sig pobably makes my dosage look wen higher. Truthfully, I probably averaged .25 or less for 65% of those months.

[[Fl...]]

Don't have any input for you on this subject but wanted to let you know that I did try to reply to your PM but couldn't because your box is full.

[[br...]]

Oh shoot. Will clean it out. Thanks for the heads up. Thrilled to hear you are doing well!

[[pi...]]

Hi Byran,

 

You and I are near each other in jump off dates and also have the low doses in common.  I was on for longer than you, unfortunately, and also added steroids into the mix which are cross tolerant to benzos.  You might as well throw in my short experience with levaquin.  That being said I really don't think the dose or length means too much.

 

There are people that have tapered off without a lot of difficulty.  This site is for the 5%, which I believe strongly is a very conservative estimate, of people who have difficutly with withdrawal.

 

Frankly I find it hard to believe as well although my dear husband said he knows that we just have to wait and let my system right itself.  And right itself it will!!!

 

I hope the divorce is not adding additional strain to your life right now. Anything can upset the apple cart as you heal.  Take care and I hope for a huge window for you that never closes.

 

pianogirl

 

 

[[br...]]

Thanks Piano! 

 

Of course, my marital situation came as a surprise and a shock... and is indeed addition additional pressure. The last 2 years have been

surreal. I was just cruising through life, and then.. BAM.

 

But, I'm no dummy. I know how much I have to be thankful for. Doesn't mean I can't grieve, but my little girl just walked into the room as

I was typing this and I love her so much it hurts. That's just a small part of what I've been blessed with, despite this suffering.

 

Anyway... interesting to hear your story. I remember reading about your dosage in the past. I've seen quite a few people here who were on for a period of just

a few months, and maybe weeks. But, I lost touch of what their names were here. So, was just kind of wondering how many were in our boat... and how the experience

might be going.

 

This stuff is funny because no two healing processes are the same, and yet hearing others' experiences somehow still gives us comfort. I think the brain just wants

information.

 

[[Au...]]

Hi Bryan,

 

I took 0.5mg/day of Clonazapam (Klonopin) for only 3 1/2 months and I am almost 1 year out and still in w/d.

 

I was doing pretty well the last few months, but have been hit hard this week.

 

Still have anxiety, palpitations, dizziness, floaty head, head pressure, nausea, weakness, muscle stiffness, etc...

 

I really hope this wave won't last long but it has been 5-6 days now and I'm really suffering.

 

Like you, I can't remember who else was short term/low dose and am anxious to see the responses you get.

[[WT...]]

Check my sig and see if I qualify.

[[br...]]

W,

 

I'd say you do!  Forgot how short you were on.

 

Where would you rate your anxiety/mental issues pre-benzo and post?

 

 

[[WT...]]

W,

 

I'd say you do!  Forgot how short you were on.

 

Where would you rate your anxiety/mental issues pre-benzo and post?

 

I had no anxiety or mental issues prior to benzo use except for OCD (which I had basically conquered for the most part with self administered cognitive therapy.  After benzos, my anxiety was something out of Hell.

[[Mi...]]

Hi All,

 

I belong to the short term/low dose club.  I was not bothered with anxiety and did not need benzos until a period of temporary hyperthyroidism last fall.  I took 1-1.5 mgm daily for 2-3 months, then eventually became aware that I was having tolerance withdrawals.  It took me a while to figure out because the withdrawal symptoms mimicked the hyperthyroid sumptoms.  My 3 docs were clueless too.  I tapered myself by .25 daily for 6 weeks and jumped off at .25 mgm Feb 1, 2012.  I am 6 weeks off.  I am much better than I was in tolerance withdrawals, but still not completely healed.  I have long windows of feeling pretty good, I am about 80% back I would say.  Then I still have some very gnarly waves that come out of nowhere.  All of my old symptoms (and I have most of them) especially severe ataxia come back but they don't last very long.  These drugs are the hounds of hell.

 

MiniMinnie

[[ka...]]

hi bryan68 how long do you have to have withdrawls to be in protracted wd

[[Ho...]]

I took eleven 1 mg. ativan over a period of about 3 weeks last October and have been in withdrawal ever since. Today is one of my worst days with chest pain, burning skin all over my body, burning eyes, joint pains in my hands and feet, light depression, insomnia and a flu-like feeling.

 

I've had about 7 or 8 days of windows since this nightmare started and I'd have to say it shows no signs of abating.

 

Bill

[[br...]]

Good question, Kate. I always looked at anything beyond a 6-8 weeks as protracted. But, I'm not sure of the medical definition. (Not that medical science is even

paying attention to this!)

 

I think when people are talking about healing in terms of months... not weeks or days... it's protracted.

 

Hocky Boy - I've been free of the flu feeling for a long time. Just got a dose of it again with this wave, along with other bizarre WD-related symptoms that

don't come with my normal symptom set for regular old anxiety.

 

Hang in there, man. It'll get better. I had a few much better months... and I'm sure this current wave I'm in will yield an even better baseline.

[[br...]]

Unreal. Sorry, W.

 

But, at least know that you have an anxiety-free future ahead of you. I might have to work through a little remaining, underlying stuff

but I'll bet you get back to 100% without much but time.  Plus, with us having survived this... I've heard people say that their regular anxiety

is "a walk in the park" compared to WD anxiety.

 

 

 

 

W,

 

I'd say you do!  Forgot how short you were on.

 

Where would you rate your anxiety/mental issues pre-benzo and post?

 

I had no anxiety or mental issues prior to benzo use except for OCD (which I had basically conquered for the most part with self administered cognitive therapy.  After benzos, my anxiety was something out of Hell.

[[Au...]]

hi bryan68 how long do you have to have withdrawls to be in protracted wd

 

I think in the benzo world, you are considered protracted after 18 months of w/d.  I guess I'm not protracted, but at 1 year off ...I'm fed up!

 

Sorry if i didn't qualify for this thread...I saw short term/low dose and forgot about the protracted part of the thread...benzo brain. ...and I just jumped right in.

[[br...]]

18 mos?  Eek! Maybe I should have called the thread post-acute WD. I always considered protracted to be outside of the literature which claims most are done in a few weeks. (ha)

 

 

[[Mi...]]

Sorry if i didn't qualify for this thread...I saw short term/low dose and forgot about the protracted part of the thread...benzo brain. ...and I just jumped right in.

 

You are not alone August, I did the same darn thing!

 

MiniMinnie

[[Au...]]

Ok so we all agree...we are NOT protracted in the sense of 18 months +...BUT we were all low dose/short term... so we are, as Bryan said, post acute...

 

AND IN THE SAME BOAT ... uggghhhhh

 

I thought there would be more responses... maybe they will keep coming...

 

[[os...]]

Hi Bryan,

 

I took 0.5mg/day of Clonazapam (Klonopin) for only 3 1/2 months and I am almost 1 year out and still in w/d.

 

I was doing pretty well the last few months, but have been hit hard this week.

 

Still have anxiety, palpitations, dizziness, floaty head, head pressure, nausea, weakness, muscle stiffness, etc...

 

I really hope this wave won't last long but it has been 5-6 days now and I'm really suffering.

 

Like you, I can't remember who else was short term/low dose and am anxious to see the responses you get.

 

0.5mg Klonopin is equivalent to 25mgs Librium which is not far off the dose i was on for many years (20mgs then up to 30mgs), it will be taking me a total of 20 months to get free.

 

Short term user maybe but 1 month tapering the equivalent of 25mgs Librium is pretty fast but you are well out and things should improve rapidly over the next few months but it wasn´t a small dose, not high but not small... equivalent to 10mg Valium... many here take 6 months to a year to taper that amount.

 

Hang in there.

 

Oscar

[[Au...]]

Hi Oscar!

Ya! I realise now that a 1 month taper was pretty fast now that I know more about benzos and tapering... but can you imagine, the doctor told me to just stop taking it, that it was a baby dose and he said he didn't believe me when I explained the sxs... he said it was impossible!

 

Anyway, WE know it IS possible...

I thought I was almost healed a few weeks ago, but now it is bad again.

 

It took you 20 months to taper down? or you have been off for 20 months?

[[br...]]

What the #### is wrong with these doctors? How many people do they think out here have enough free time on our hands to just invent stories like this?

What would we have to benefit from it? Good god.

 

 

[[br...]]

Ok so we all agree...we are NOT protracted in the sense of 18 months +...BUT we were all low dose/short term... so we are, as Bryan said, post acute...

 

AND IN THE SAME BOAT ... uggghhhhh

 

I thought there would be more responses... maybe they will keep coming...

 

August,

 

There have been quite a few here already, and I expect more. Keep in mind... many posters here aren't very active.

But, I know I've seen lots of sigs with short-term stories in them.

 

Again, not that it makes us feel any better... but to know that you're not alone is helpful. This thing really seems to run the spectrum.

 

 

[[pa...]]

Hi all, my hubby was put on Ativan, "baby dose" as docs said.  He never had panic attacks in his life, nor any anxiety other then normal day stress. I found the Ashton Manuel 3 mos later, we began a slow taper over 6 months.  He,s been off 14 months next week, things have left, but new wds began. It's tough going thru as you know.  So he was in the low dose club!  Docs... Most don,t understand it.  Heck, just view this forum weekly on "introductions" and see all the new comers.  This is wrong!  Oattylu

[[Au...]]

What the #### is wrong with these doctors? How many people do they think out here have enough free time on our hands to just invent stories like this?

What would we have to benefit from it? Good god.

 

Thanks for the smile ! That made me laugh... free time on our hands to invent stories Good one.

Thanks Bryan, Pattylu, Oscar...for the reassurance I needed today.

 

I have a lot of stuff going on lately though that could have set off this new wave... I had an operation 2 weeks ago, general anesthesia, then last monday went back into ER (got IV penicillin for an infection they THOUGHT I had, which after testing came back negative, thank God)... and also got IV iodine for CT scan with contrast...so I don't know if any of these things have set me off ...I've used the search feature on here and from what I've read alot of people are just fine with these things... but we're all different I guess...or maybe it's just a wave that I would have had regardless...

 

I don't know... all I know is it's a BAD one...I feel like I'm back at 3 months off or something... I hope it doesn't last... I'm freaking out. :'(