The POSITIVE withdrawal thread.

[[Sk...]]

I decided to jump from 1.5mg/day to 1mg/day today, since I am sick of being on this medicine.  I am not experiencing any major withdraw and I have quit 6mg/day taken for a year cold turkey before with no withdraw symptoms at all.  So for me, this is an extremely positive realization and decision.  I plan to be off of a daily dose in about a month. 

[[lk...]]

Good Luck Sky....I hope you remain symptom free with that cut

 

Lisa

[[jo...]]

I decided to jump from 1.5mg/day to 1mg/day today, since I am sick of being on this medicine.  I am not experiencing any major withdraw and I have quit 6mg/day taken for a year cold turkey before with no withdraw symptoms at all.  So for me, this is an extremely positive realization and decision.  I plan to be off of a daily dose in about a month. 

Are you on valium?

If so, I hate to rain on your parade but what about the lag time?

I was taking valium a few times a week intermittently and stopped as I didn't know I was addicted. 17 days later and the symptoms hit. I am just recovering from that hit now and this was back in March 2009.

I want to be free from valium too, and I am only at 3.19mg but I don't want to throw everything away by cutting too fast.

[[Sk...]]

No.  I am on Klonopin/Clonazeoam and I have quit 6mg/day cold turkey years ago with no withdraw symptoms.  So this should be no problem for me.  I am fully confident that even if I do experience some withdraw symptoms, it won't kill me.  I also spoke with my dad, who retired from the medical field and he is old and knows alot.  He told me that I will be fine and to do as much exercise as possible during withdraw.  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!  It really does.  As long as I take my mind off of withdraw and focus on and do things that I enjoy, withdraw from klonopin for me, should be a great thing.  I try to focus on when I will be no longer taking the medicine on a daily basis anymore.  Not to mention the fact that I feel better now since I stated rapid tapering than I have in over a year!. 

 

I decided to jump from 1.5mg/day to 1mg/day today, since I am sick of being on this medicine.  I am not experiencing any major withdraw and I have quit 6mg/day taken for a year cold turkey before with no withdraw symptoms at all.  So for me, this is an extremely positive realization and decision.  I plan to be off of a daily dose in about a month. 

Are you on valium?

If so, I hate to rain on your parade but what about the lag time?

I was taking valium a few times a week intermittently and stopped as I didn't know I was addicted. 17 days later and the symptoms hit. I am just recovering from that hit now and this was back in March 2009.

I want to be free from valium too, and I am only at 3.19mg but I don't want to throw everything away by cutting too fast.

[[Vi...]]

No windows in a week, but I just received a random rush of joy and just laughed at how insane all this is.

[[re...]]

Thanks for starting this thread Oscar.

 

I'm scared pantless right now about tapering.  My pdoc insists I switch to klonazepam (sp?) to get me off ativan.

 

So this is my second day from ativan to K and it's hell.

 

However - I'm not sure how long to stay on the K - before I start tapering off that.

 

My dr. is stupid btw. Have no one else to go to. I'm also on zop for sleep - i hope that is the next thing to go.  my anxiety is hell all day every day - so who knows where i will land.

 

Thanks again

[[jo...]]

Thanks for starting this thread Oscar.

 

I'm scared pantless right now about tapering.  My pdoc insists I switch to klonazepam (sp?) to get me off ativan.

 

So this is my second day from ativan to K and it's hell.

 

However - I'm not sure how long to stay on the K - before I start tapering off that.

 

My dr. is stupid btw. Have no one else to go to. I'm also on zop for sleep - i hope that is the next thing to go.  my anxiety is hell all day every day - so who knows where i will land.

 

Thanks again

Here's a positive thing that will make you feel better.

You need to swap that zopiclone for klonopin so that you are on all klonopin.

You need to do this gradually (see substitution tapers for more help)

You will feel much better after doing this.

This is because zopiclone has a really short half life, so, currently your levels are a bit all over the place.

Once you have graduallly crossed to all klon, you will have an even blood level and you will feel a whole lot better.

Taper from the klonopin when you feel ready.

[[Sk...]]

I feel " positive " that my first day of my new taper plan will go well! 

[[sa...]]

I even just like the name of this thread!

 

This morning I woke after a good long nights sleep, didn't even wake for a trip to the loo. I feel balanced and normal and my ears are not ringing. I want to enjoy this right this minute, breathe it in. Keep this as a baseline for where I want to spend every day.

 

If I could bottle this quiet comfortablilty for all of you I would, in the meantime, just know if one person can be here, so can you.

 

Happy Sunday, BB!

[[Sa...]]

I'm new here and getting psyched to begin tapering off.  I agree that reading all the miserable stories do affect my attitude about getting off this drug.  Maybe I'm too impressionable! Misery needs to be expressed, understood, and empathized with, that's why we're all here, but, yes, I do need some "Yay! I made a little positive step today" posts to keep me ready to jump in and move forward. If I cut that little, tiny bit of Clonazepam off tonight, what advice/hopeful words do my fellow Benzo Buddies have for me, cause I'm nervous?! Thanks for all in advance and you can't believe how wonderful it is I've found you!  Nobody I know really knows about my "little" addiction, so you all are it! Sarah, restless.girl, how's it goin?

[[sa...]]

I'm new here and getting psyched to begin tapering off.  I agree that reading all the miserable stories do affect my attitude about getting off this drug.  Maybe I'm too impressionable! Misery needs to be expressed, understood, and empathized with, that's why we're all here, but, yes, I do need some "Yay! I made a little positive step today" posts to keep me ready to jump in and move forward. If I cut that little, tiny bit of Clonazepam off tonight, what advice/hopeful words do my fellow Benzo Buddies have for me, cause I'm nervous?! Thanks for all in advance and you can't believe how wonderful it is I've found you!  Nobody I know really knows about my "little" addiction, so you all are it! Sarah, restless.girl, how's it goin?

 

Hi Sadie,

 

Well you are certainly in good company, welcome to BB or welcome back should I say. I see that you were at one time going to try to start your taper over the summer.  Did you give it a go?

I found all the information at first the good, the bad , and the ugly very imformative. Now that I know what I am dealing with the positive threads help to get through it.

Where you able to read through the Ashton manual? there is a lot of good information there. I am of the opinion that she was spot on, well she did observe a plethora of individuals trying to recover from a variety of medications/drugs. The fact that so many things rang true for the benzo users, and I see it collaborated all over the board here, make me confident about her her recommendations for tapering, what to expect during a taper, and after the taper and what we can look forward too after some time off the drug.

Here is that link:

Ashton Manual

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

 

With that I would say to decide how you are going to taper and be consistent. She suggests if you have a couple meds on board that you are wanting to eliminate, that you do one at a time. You are reading all over the board, this is a hard thing to do, but staying on the meds are hard too. so if you must, at least you have a place to go for encouragement, and information. I find that helping others helps me, too. 

 

Im no busy body today, like anything it take some adjusting your lifestyle. You can do this, many have gone before you and got their life back, you will too, Sadie.

 

Nice to meet you!

Sarah~

[[ec...]]

Absolutely Oscar,we need balance.

[[Sk...]]

I an afraid to show my doctor the Ashton Manual!  He might not agree and want to just take me off of klonopin! ...  Is it legal to print the manual out or not?  I would like to print it.

[[sa...]]

Hey Skyzone,

 

You can print it. That was one thing I liked about her is that she makes it available for everyone to have. You have to pay if you order the hard copy.

 

Here is another manual that is newer actually and was written for clinicians. Its from Australia.

 

http://www.nevdgp.org.au/files/programsupport/mentalhealth/2010/Beyond_Benzo%20Manual%202010_Reconnexion.pdf

 

Perhaps if you visualize your doctor doing exactly what you need. Its just as likely

 

Good luck, Skyzone..you have such a great attitude

 

Sarah

 

 

[[Sa...]]

Thanks Sarah for the kind and thoughtful advice.  I did register with Benzo Buddies last summer, but had a bit more of a struggle eliminating .25/day Trazadone than I thought I would have. Now I'm ready to tackle Clonazepam. I need to read the manual and get a little more mentally ready.  Thanks again for the good vibes!

[[Sk...]]

@Sarah:  Thank You Sarah.  I hope my doctor responds well to the manual.

[[jo...]]

I'm new here and getting psyched to begin tapering off.  I agree that reading all the miserable stories do affect my attitude about getting off this drug.  Maybe I'm too impressionable! Misery needs to be expressed, understood, and empathized with, that's why we're all here, but, yes, I do need some "Yay! I made a little positive step today" posts to keep me ready to jump in and move forward. If I cut that little, tiny bit of Clonazepam off tonight, what advice/hopeful words do my fellow Benzo Buddies have for me, cause I'm nervous?! Thanks for all in advance and you can't believe how wonderful it is I've found you!  Nobody I know really knows about my "little" addiction, so you all are it! Sarah, restless.girl, how's it goin?

Hi Sadie

 

Are you still taking zolpidem along with klon?

 

If so, one really positive thing that would make you feel better is to gradually cross over to all klonopin, or even valium.

 

This is because zolpidem only has a two hour half life, so your gaba receptors are being quickly switched on and off every day you take the zolp, compared to the longer acting klonopin.

This means symptoms will come and go, whereas if you gradually crossed over to the longer acting drug, things would be much smoother. See benzo equivalence table here http://www.benzo.org.uk/bzequiv.htm and also see the substitution thread for more help re crossovers.

Also, you may want to consider daily cuts. Many symptomatic people report feeling better, once they find a daily cuts size that they can manage, it's as if the gaba loses such a small amount, that it does not show on the radar, if you know what I mean.

Each person finds their best cut. It can go wrong if cuts are too big, so its best to start small, from my experience. See titration forum for more details, or, better still, see www.benzodetoxrecovery.com as they specialise in micro tapers and there are lots of people on that site with good experience and knowledge, especially Jana, who has helped countless people out of suffering.

 

Going onto daily cuts has given me hope, because I lost it somewhere during my taper.

 

[[Sa...]]

I am still taking the zolpidem.  I guess the only way I've thought about all this was because my Dr. prescribed the zolpidem 4 years ago after telling me clonazepam and trazadone were "old fashioned" remedies for sleep.  He said Ambien was better, however, he didn't give a me a clue about cutting back and I cut the dosage in half only to have very uncomfortable symptoms, so I went back on.  He didn't seem to mind adding the Ambien to the other 2 drugs.  I have decided that I'm going to take care of myself with learning as much as I can about all this.

So I've only thought of getting off trazadone and clonazepam and staying on the generic Ambien for the time being (I also eliminated Zoloft a year ago).  I haven't even thought about eliminating the zolpidem yet.  I'm a really easily stressed person in a high stress job and have been so dependent on sleeping aids for over a dozen years that I'm going to take it all slowly.  But I've felt so much better after stopping Zoloft and trazadone that I'm looking forward to feeling even better.  I watched Dr. Ashton on YouTube and I'm going to take 6 months at least to stop the .5 mg clonazepam altogether.  I'm pretty good with a tablet cutter and can take off tiny bits, so am going with that plan.  I will check out the web site also.  Thank-you again, so much for your kind and thoughtful attitude!  Maybe someday I can help someone else.

[[jo...]]

Hi Sadie

 

Doctors don't have any idea about the effects of benzos and z-drugs.

 

Learning about stuff arms yourself with knowledge and the most positive thing you can do is take yourself over to the substitution boards http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?board=61.0 and get some help regarding crossing over gradualy from ambien to all klon, you will feel better.

Here's thre

 

Staying on ambien would mean your GABA system is still being turned on and off, and therefore, more symptoms.

 

It's great you've felt so much better after stopping Zoloft and trazadone that I'm looking forward to feeling even better. 

I would not put a time on your taper, let your body lead the way.

 

Cutting pills does not give dose accuracy, and symptoms can be avoided by mixing the pills with whole milk, this works with klon.

It gives you confidence that you are getting an accurate dose.

 

I wish you all the best in your recovery.

[[Sa...]]

Thanks, I'll head over to that page to take a look.  Wow, you've given me a lot to think about!

[[jo...]]

Thanks, I'll head over to that page to take a look.  Wow, you've given me a lot to think about!

Don't be daunted by it.

Once you are off the short acting ambien, you should feel more 'evened out'

Mixing pills with milk is a piece of cake.

[[os...]]

3 more weeks and i will finally be at 3mg Valium equivalent.

 

YIPPEEEEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am doing good... this is still a bore but i am making progress and feeling pretty much symptom free mostly. 

 

Oscar

[[ce...]]

3 more weeks and i will finally be at 3mg Valium equivalent.

 

YIPPEEEEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am doing good... this is still a bore but i am making progress and feeling pretty much symptom free mostly. 

 

Oscar

       

[[Sa...]]

Yay, Oscar ! Keep going....you're going the right thing. 

[[He...]]

Great thread.

 

I dont:

 

wake up feeling like the world have dissaperd

 

I have some sort of feeling, I can cry again, wich is positive

 

I now live in my own appartment instead of living at my parents

 

I see my friends a little more now

 

...but I have a long time going