Severe confusion & dizziness due to benzos?

[[zo...]]

Hi everyone. I get daily states of significant confusion and dizziness which are like I am experiencing a mini stroke for many hours. My neurologists have suggested I stop taking my benzodiazepines which I have been taking, on and off, for 15 years (currently loprazolam 2mg daily).  They think the benzos could be causing some sort of untypical reaction in me or perhaps the benzos are making me more susceptible to a type of migraine which causes me to be very confused and dizzy.

 

The trouble is that the benzos give me such good relief from the confusion and dizziness that I am reluctant to go through the struggle of giving them up and then find they were not the cause.

 

I'm looking for info and help here.

 

-zoner

[[ma...]]

Hello Zoner

Welcome to benzobuddies others will be along shortly to welcome you, you will get a lot of support here

Have you read the Ashton Manual http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/

 

If you wish to add a signature: http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=9432.0

Take care

Magrita

[[bl...]]

Are these vertebrobasilar migraines? These can limit blood flow to the back of the brain and cause dizziness and confusion, definitely.

[[no...]]

Are you sure the benzos are really helping you anymore. I know mine stopped working after 7yrs. Towards the end I was only taking them b/c I had become addicted.

[[Ch...]]

The trouble is that the benzos give me such good relief from the confusion and dizziness that I am reluctant to go through the struggle of giving them up and then find they were not the cause.

-zoner

This is a huge clue, zoner.  I'm guessing you are most certainly in tolerance if taking the benzo makes your symptoms go away. 

Challis

[[zo...]]

The trouble is that the benzos give me such good relief from the confusion and dizziness that I am reluctant to go through the struggle of giving them up and then find they were not the cause.

-zoner

This is a huge clue, zoner.  I'm guessing you are most certainly in tolerance if taking the benzo makes your symptoms go away.  Challis

 

Hello Challis, I guess you're probably right about the huge clue. I keep questioning the connection because I must be in some sort of denial. Hope you guys will forgive me as I ask questions while I get up to speed about how benzos adversely affect patients.

 

Sorry for sounding a bit dumb but can you explain what you mean when you wrote "you are most certainly in tolerance" because I don't understand how you are using the phrase "in tolerance".  Thank you.

 

-zoner

[[Ch...]]

Hi zoner,

My understanding of tolerance is when it no longer works.  The nature of benzodiazepines is that you need to increase your dose to get the same effect over time, which varies from person to person.  Then you begin to withdraw between doses, which is what is sounds like is happening to you.  It took me awhile to realize that was happening to me.  I thought I was anxious but it was actually the Xanax that was causing my anxiety.  I have withdrawal symptoms still but not anxiety.

Challis

[[zo...]]

Are these vertebrobasilar migraines? These can limit blood flow to the back of the brain and cause dizziness and confusion, definitely.

 

Vertebrobasilar migraine is an interesting idea.  If I'm getting those vertebrobasilar migraines then I'm not sure how benzodiazepines would be helping.  Have you got any thoughts on this?

 

-zoner

[[zo...]]

Are you sure the benzos are really helping you anymore. I know mine stopped working after 7yrs. Towards the end I was only taking them b/c I had become addicted.

 

The benzos really, really make a difference.  I often get good improvements even at times where there is no anxiety present.