Hello!

[[Ew...]]

I took Ativan for a mere 9 days (at 2.5mg per day) and when I stopped I got ill. I'm on day 3 of being off it, and I am messed up. I've spent today watching videos and reading posts about people who took Benzodiazepines for much longer than I and who are going through all of the symptoms I'm having, only several times more intense. I can't even imagine how those people get through it, because I feel like I'm in one of the circles of hell right now.

[[Bi...]]

Ewiko,

 

Welcoming you to BenzoBuddies.

 

You will find plenty of support here.

 

Others will be around to weigh in soon.

 

Billy.

[[Be...]]

Hi, Ewiko.

 

I was on Ativan/lorazepam for nearly 20 years so I expected it would be difficult to quit (and it was).  I sure am sorry to here you are feeling so badly after only 9 days use.  We have had some members have difficulty after 2 weeks of use - though it's very rare - but I believe you have set a new record.  Sorry about that.

 

What can we help you with?  I really believe that if you hang in there for a while - a few more days to a week or so - all this stuff will resolve.  It takes a while for benzos to get out of your tissues apparently.  There's an old thread about how long it takes if you are interested:

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=6177.0

 

Try not to worry.  And let us know how we can help.

[[le...]]

Hello Ewiko, I just joined Benzo Buddies too. I have gone cold turkey off of Clonazepam after 3 1/2 years not taken daily (but still taken too often). Been off for 4 weeks, lots of weird times and some pain, but mostly mental anguish and anxiety.

I am so proud of you for quitting after only 9 days; I think with that kind of fortitude you are going to be okay. I have been reading about how the benzo gets in the central nervous system and tissues of the brain. Studies seem to suggest that this takes a few weeks to become normal again but long term it does go away.

 

I am no expert like the others on here, but thought I would offer a word of encouragement because I know how much it meant to me when others acknowledged me.

 

I liked your reference to Dante's Inferno and one of the circles of hell. That is a VERY accurate description. Yesterday, I was in a business meeting and I was speaking when all of a sudden it was like I was disconnected from my body & the rest of the world. I had this sinking feeling that I was cracking up. It passed but for a few minutes, I thought the next stop for me was going to be One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. ( I don't mean any disrespect to anyone who has been in a mental or psych ward, I have the utmost respect for him or her and I reverently and humbly say I don't know how you survived. But God Bless You! You can survive anything.) My point was I had never had anything like that happen to me; it was scary.

 

Hope I will see you around the forum my new friend.

[[Ew...]]

Thanks, you guys are awesome. This is day 5 of withdrawals. Day 4 was the first day that wasn't worse than the previous, but it certainly wasn't better. Today is not any better either, but I can be patient. You guys have my utmost propers for going through this (times 10) after having been on it for years. I can't imagine.

[[we...]]

Congratulations on being benzo free.

 

Whatever you do, don't go back on.  Give it a couple of weeks, you should be back to your old self in no time at all. Be well.