This sucks!

[[NI...]]

Hi everyone,

 

I recently found out about the benzo withdrawl symptoms when my Dr. "mistakenly" cut my prescription in half. (Klonopin 2mg to 1mg).  So what did I do? I took a double dose and ran out. I started feeling sick and didn't know what it was, I didn't attribute it to the klonopin. I was sweating from head to toe (I'm always cold), the most irritable I've every felt in my life, everthing and eveyone was pissing me off. I was nauseous, had a bad headache, heart palpitations (very scary) and I was having the "out of body" feeling that people are describing. It's like you're in a cloud or something. I've never had a seizure, but I imagine the little jolts I was feeling were probably similar. I felt like people could see me jerking. The worst symptom of all....my hands and feel went completely numb. That was when I went online and realized I was in severe withdrawl. I called my Dr. and got my klonopin refilled and like magic, everything went away.

 

Well that scared me enough to want to quit (that was about a month ago) but I'm finding it to be much harder than I thought. My Dr. expects me to take .5 for a week then .25 for a week, then every other day for a week or something crazy like that.  I have manageable symptoms on .5 a day, but a day or two after I try to go down to .25, the numbness and palpitations and out of body stuff comes back.

 

I'm not sure exactly how to do this so I found this website because I can't really talk to anyone about it, no one truly understands.

 

I look forward to talking with some of you and sharing stories

 

Christina

[[Bi...]]

NICUNURSE,

 

Welcoming you to Benzo Buddies.

 

Welcome to the forum.

If you have any questions, let us know. 

 

Others will be around to wein in, shortly.

 

Billy.

 

 

[[...]]

Hi Christina,

 

Sounds like you are having all the usual withdrawal symptoms.  Welcome aboard, make yourself at home, and feel free to ask questions.

 

There are lots of kind, and understanding people here who truly do understand what you are dealing with.

 

the best to you

 

pj

[[Ho...]]

Hi NICUNURSE,

 

Many may find your doctor's suggested rate to be too rapid a taper. As a general guideline, it's suggested that a taper rate of 5%-10% over a 1-2 week period is more comfortable in terms of w/ds. This rate and it's level of comfort will vary from person to person but it's a good place to start.

 

There are several ways of managing a slow and steady taper; liquid titration, dry cutting using a jewller's scale (available at amazon.com) or a cross over to valium.

 

You can find information about all these methods here on this forum.

 

If you have questions our members are very knowledgable and eager to help.

 

Welcome to benzobuddies.

 

 

[[Mi...]]

Hi NICUNurse

 

Glad you found us.  Many of us here have had the accidental discovery that we had unwittingly become dependent on benzos just as you have done.  You are not alone.  All of us here are in various stages of tapering, quitting,  and recovery.  In general, doctors don't have a clue about the withdrawal process.  The only way back to sanity and life is to slowly go through the withdrawal so your brain and CNS and body can adjust and heal.  You will heal!  Keep reading and posting and asking questions.  I am sending positive energy your way for hope and help and healing and strength for the journey.

 

MiniMinnie

[[re...]]

welcome!

 

You are going to find most doctors dont know squat about how to help you off a benzo or the aftermath of healing.

You will find great information here, along with some very kind people.

 

Listen to your body. Take it slow.

 

 

[Guest [de...]]

I ditto everything the above posters say. i would like to add one thing. Don't try to rush yourself off these drugs. The GABA receptors don't repopulate/reconform quickly like opiate receptors do. Most people spend around 6 - 9 months, some more, some less, to taper gradually to get off these drugs.Don't think for one second that you can rush yourself off in a month or two and not be in miserable withdrawal for another 3 to 6 months or longer.

[Guest [de...]]

One more thing

 

If you are a NICU nurse as your handle suggests, you are placing your patients in danger if you are experiencing more than mild withdrawal (which I define as manageable irrability, insomnia anxiety, nausea, tachycardia). What you described is a much higher level of withdrawal...deterioration in basic senses such as cognition, sense of touch, out of body experiences. This puts you at risk of making serious patient care errors.

 

Consider a dose correction. Nobody who has been chronically on benzos can cut a dose by 50-75 % over a month or two without slipping into serious withdrawal. The 5 - 10% dose cut per 1 -2 weeks is about the max for the overwhelming majority of people. You now know that you have a tiger by the tail. Get use to this and discontinue at a safer rate.

[[Ho...]]

 

deerslayer,

 

One more thing

 

If you are a NICU nurse as your handle suggests, you are placing your patients in danger if you are experiencing more than mild withdrawal (which I define as manageable irrability, insomnia anxiety, nausea, tachycardia). What you described is a much higher level of withdrawal...deterioration in basic senses such as cognition, sense of touch, out of body experiences. This puts you at risk of making serious patient care errors.

 

Your above comments are inappropriate. If this member is indeed a nurse, I'm sure she is taking the proper precautions. It is not for us to judge another member in this way.

 

 

[Guest [de...]]

 

deerslayer,

 

One more thing

 

If you are a NICU nurse as your handle suggests, you are placing your patients in danger if you are experiencing more than mild withdrawal (which I define as manageable irrability, insomnia anxiety, nausea, tachycardia). What you described is a much higher level of withdrawal...deterioration in basic senses such as cognition, sense of touch, out of body experiences. This puts you at risk of making serious patient care errors.

 

Your above comments are inappropriate. If this member is indeed a nurse, I'm sure she is taking the proper precautions. It is not for us to judge another member in this way.

 

I strongly disagree. I am offering very sound advice, not judging anybody. I am also a health care provider and I understand the dangers of combining seroius withdrawal and dispensing healthcare to the very ill. NICU nurse is a victim of poor medical advice and I am just trying to help her prevent a dangerous situation. I think that you are being highly judgemental of my advice which I guarantee the vast majority of readers would support. If you want to kick me off BB then feel free.

[Guest [de...]]

I screwed up the format of the above post. Please read carefully. I'd be interested if other members thought I was out of line.

 

 

 

 

 

[[Ho...]]

I screwed up the format of the above post. Please read carefully. I'd be interested if other members thought I was out of line.

 

 

This is not the thread to discuss whether or not you were out of line. If you would like to discuss this with other members, you may start a thread in the Chewing the Fat board.

 

I posted my comments regarding your post not to start a dialogue with you but rather to let the member, who is asking for help in this thread, know that she is not being judged.

 

If you have further comment about my own comments, please either PM me or report my post the BB team.

 

This thread is meant to help this member not to discuss this matter.

[Guest [de...]]

Fair enough, but you jumped down my throat, unfairly in my opinion, in a public setting so I felt It was reasonable to respond in kind.

 

I remember the two times that I was slammed. I think it is presumptous to to say that this poor lady, who is going through it the first time "is  taking the proper precautions" When I experienced my first hard hit, I was getting lost in my own house,. Let alone keeping tract of ventilator settings, looking for line sepsis, getting antibiotic doses right, comforting parents. A lay person cannot begin to understand the requirements of her job.

[[an...]]

Hi Christina,

Don't worry about a thing! It sounds like you have been through way too much lately!! Have you known about this forum for very long? I'm so glad I found it, especially when I can't sleep! My husband calls me a vampire haha. Please take good care of yourself now!! 

-stasia

[[ma...]]

Hello Christina

 

Welcome to Benzobuddies, i hope you will keep posting we will support you here, we are a great bunch of people.

 

Have you read the Ashton Manual it helped me in the early days

 

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/

 

((hugs))

 

Margarita

[[Ho...]]

How are you doing Christian? I'm sorry for veering off on this thread you started. Please ignore all that.

 

We want to support you and hope to hear from you again soon. I know tapering can feel daunting but it's very doable and we have wonderful members who can answer any questions you have.

 

Hope

[Guest [de...]]

How are you doing Christian? I'm sorry for veering off on this thread you started. Please ignore all that.

 

We want to support you and hope to hear from you again soon. I know tapering can feel daunting but it's very doable and we have wonderful members who can answer any questions you have.

 

Hope

 

Its very doable for sure. It helps to have a doctor who will support a proper method. Your doc seems to think 50% cuts each week constitutes a taper. He/she is wrong.

[[Mi...]]

Hi Nicunurse,

 

Just stopping by to see how you are doing.  Are you still on .5 of K?  Are your symptoms manageable?  I am thinking about you and sending you positive energy and encouragement in your journey.

 

MiniMinnie