Benzo [Klonopin] withdraw nightmare
The internet and You Tube are flooded with Benzo withdraw horror stories. Your offered all kinds of advice from what supplements to take and avoid to water titration
One of the biggest horrors are ill trained doctors who view you as plain crazy when you tell them your still having withdraw 10 months later.
Dr Heather Ashton is an expert on the subject.I find that people who water tiltrate are only extending their agony.Most who employ this method are still in misery even 16 months later and usually go through a additional 6 months to a year of agony after their last dose, So why do it? The only time I would suggest this tapering method is if your experiencing seizures. Even in small doses,benzos are injuring your brains Gabba receptors
I find riding it out after a gradual taper best in my case. Dr Jennifer Leigh another so called expert makes it clear she's not a doctor yet charges a whopping $50 per half hour phone counseling session. I call that taking advantage. She has her ''plugs'' if you will on several articles on benzo withdraw with a link to her site .What I call ''dial a quack'' This blog will give you just as much info as she would and I'm not charging you
What drives me absolutely crazy is there are thousands of forums and You Tube videos on Benzo withdraw. Not 1 tells you how long their ordeal lasted..they just babble on on how hopeless they feel. Withdraw can take anywhere from 6 months to a year after taper.People I find going through longer periods have pre existing physiological conditions are addicts,or are on other drugs besides
Folks,stay away from forums. You'll only make yourself more miserable There's only a few You Tube videos of any value The best testimony is Brian Baxter's
Below is what I experienced. The first 3 months were living hell,I mean unbearable. This was right after a rapid taper.I was on Klonopin for 4 years starting at 2 milligrams for 2 years than dropped down to 1 milligram the remaining 2. While taking Klonopin my behavior began to become of the wall at times,so felt time to get off
I was placed on the med by a Orthopedic surgeon in 2012 to calm severe sciatica. It worked quite effectively for that purpose,but also lost virtually every friend to my name as I'd leave bizarre FB posts.I also had bouts of suicidal thoughts, Thankfully I never acted on them. Around the beginning of 2015 I felt on the brink of a nervous breakdown.I was extremely paranoid at times. A very common side effect of this viper venom
I began reducing my dose by breaking the tabs into small pieces around Dec 2016
April 9, 2017
After my last dose I went into severe atrial flutter,a deadly form of a fib.I was rushed by ambulance that had me admitted in intensive care.I was put on a cardiac stabilizer and went back into normal sinus rhythm around 1 AM. The stabilizer gave me severe side effects including diarrhea and feeling severely agitated. At the end of April I was hit with another wave. For those who don't have cardiac issues be very thankful. My BP skyrocketed. This is due to the depletion of dopamine and cortisol benzos cause. I went through what I call a 2 week calm before the storm,then was hit with another wave,again,I went into atrial fibrillation with a deadly rise n BP. The tinnitus started around this time too. The depression at times was horrible as was the paranoia
May 2017
This was the worst month. I began getting intrusive thoughts depersonalization,severe panic attacks.Impossible to sleep. Vivid dreams that would wake me up with rapid heartbeat.The day before Memorial Day I woke up with a horrible panic attack accompanied by severe irregular heartbeat Memorial Day I was again rushed by ambulance to the ER.I again went to a fib. The intrusive thoughts became unbearable by mid May. The depersonalization was pure hell. The worst of it ended around mid June. Atrial Fibrillation is a form of severe irregular heartbeat
July August and September
I was still dealing with intrusive and looping thoughts,although the insomnia alleviated somewhat. I was still having very vivid dreams that would sometimes wake me up with an racing heart. The looping thoughts partially dealt with an ex girlfriend from years past that never meant a thing to me when we dated. As Dr Ashton calls it thoughts that are uncalled for
Oct 2017.
I was hit with yet another wave,Intrusive thoughts again became unmanageable.I would have periods of irregular heartbeat and intense dreams. By mid Oct I was hit with a very vivid and bizarre dream as bad as I had them when I first tapered off. They began to drop in intensity
November 2017
I dealt with a serious sinus infection that lasted almost a month [I never had a sinus infection before taking benzos in my life,coincidence?] Upper respiratory infections are a withdraw side effect several people experience.I would have periods of intense anxiety sometimes feelings of losing my mind...this continued until January. The tinnitus in November was relentless
End of January 2018
Finally showing some hope.I had 2 attacks of atrial fibrillation.Interesting that before and during each a fib attack,intrusive thoughts intensified. While in the ambulance,I was so panicky I wanted to jump out of the ambulance,serious
February 2018
Finally some light at the end of the tunnel. My dreams are less vivid. Intrusive and looping thoughts are easing up and lessening in intensity. Although I still have some nights where I wake up and can't go back to sleep,it's showing hope.I still have mild tinnitus and occasional insomnia
In closing. Some of you may get off Benzos with no repercussions,while others are facing a long journey. The first 3 months on average are going to be the worst. Stay away from sugar and caffeine ,honey,supplements..don't listen to these ill advisors that suggest upping your vitamin intake. This will only cause your gabba receptors to run amok. Honey for some reason really revs up withdraw symptoms...stay clear of vitamin D and Magnesium. Fish oil is another no no
Feel free to ad your comments
One of the biggest horrors are ill trained doctors who view you as plain crazy when you tell them your still having withdraw 10 months later.
Dr Heather Ashton is an expert on the subject.I find that people who water tiltrate are only extending their agony.Most who employ this method are still in misery even 16 months later and usually go through a additional 6 months to a year of agony after their last dose, So why do it? The only time I would suggest this tapering method is if your experiencing seizures. Even in small doses,benzos are injuring your brains Gabba receptors
I find riding it out after a gradual taper best in my case. Dr Jennifer Leigh another so called expert makes it clear she's not a doctor yet charges a whopping $50 per half hour phone counseling session. I call that taking advantage. She has her ''plugs'' if you will on several articles on benzo withdraw with a link to her site .What I call ''dial a quack'' This blog will give you just as much info as she would and I'm not charging you
What drives me absolutely crazy is there are thousands of forums and You Tube videos on Benzo withdraw. Not 1 tells you how long their ordeal lasted..they just babble on on how hopeless they feel. Withdraw can take anywhere from 6 months to a year after taper.People I find going through longer periods have pre existing physiological conditions are addicts,or are on other drugs besides
Folks,stay away from forums. You'll only make yourself more miserable There's only a few You Tube videos of any value The best testimony is Brian Baxter's
Below is what I experienced. The first 3 months were living hell,I mean unbearable. This was right after a rapid taper.I was on Klonopin for 4 years starting at 2 milligrams for 2 years than dropped down to 1 milligram the remaining 2. While taking Klonopin my behavior began to become of the wall at times,so felt time to get off
I was placed on the med by a Orthopedic surgeon in 2012 to calm severe sciatica. It worked quite effectively for that purpose,but also lost virtually every friend to my name as I'd leave bizarre FB posts.I also had bouts of suicidal thoughts, Thankfully I never acted on them. Around the beginning of 2015 I felt on the brink of a nervous breakdown.I was extremely paranoid at times. A very common side effect of this viper venom
I began reducing my dose by breaking the tabs into small pieces around Dec 2016
April 9, 2017
After my last dose I went into severe atrial flutter,a deadly form of a fib.I was rushed by ambulance that had me admitted in intensive care.I was put on a cardiac stabilizer and went back into normal sinus rhythm around 1 AM. The stabilizer gave me severe side effects including diarrhea and feeling severely agitated. At the end of April I was hit with another wave. For those who don't have cardiac issues be very thankful. My BP skyrocketed. This is due to the depletion of dopamine and cortisol benzos cause. I went through what I call a 2 week calm before the storm,then was hit with another wave,again,I went into atrial fibrillation with a deadly rise n BP. The tinnitus started around this time too. The depression at times was horrible as was the paranoia
May 2017
This was the worst month. I began getting intrusive thoughts depersonalization,severe panic attacks.Impossible to sleep. Vivid dreams that would wake me up with rapid heartbeat.The day before Memorial Day I woke up with a horrible panic attack accompanied by severe irregular heartbeat Memorial Day I was again rushed by ambulance to the ER.I again went to a fib. The intrusive thoughts became unbearable by mid May. The depersonalization was pure hell. The worst of it ended around mid June. Atrial Fibrillation is a form of severe irregular heartbeat
July August and September
I was still dealing with intrusive and looping thoughts,although the insomnia alleviated somewhat. I was still having very vivid dreams that would sometimes wake me up with an racing heart. The looping thoughts partially dealt with an ex girlfriend from years past that never meant a thing to me when we dated. As Dr Ashton calls it thoughts that are uncalled for
Oct 2017.
I was hit with yet another wave,Intrusive thoughts again became unmanageable.I would have periods of irregular heartbeat and intense dreams. By mid Oct I was hit with a very vivid and bizarre dream as bad as I had them when I first tapered off. They began to drop in intensity
November 2017
I dealt with a serious sinus infection that lasted almost a month [I never had a sinus infection before taking benzos in my life,coincidence?] Upper respiratory infections are a withdraw side effect several people experience.I would have periods of intense anxiety sometimes feelings of losing my mind...this continued until January. The tinnitus in November was relentless
End of January 2018
Finally showing some hope.I had 2 attacks of atrial fibrillation.Interesting that before and during each a fib attack,intrusive thoughts intensified. While in the ambulance,I was so panicky I wanted to jump out of the ambulance,serious
February 2018
Finally some light at the end of the tunnel. My dreams are less vivid. Intrusive and looping thoughts are easing up and lessening in intensity. Although I still have some nights where I wake up and can't go back to sleep,it's showing hope.I still have mild tinnitus and occasional insomnia
In closing. Some of you may get off Benzos with no repercussions,while others are facing a long journey. The first 3 months on average are going to be the worst. Stay away from sugar and caffeine ,honey,supplements..don't listen to these ill advisors that suggest upping your vitamin intake. This will only cause your gabba receptors to run amok. Honey for some reason really revs up withdraw symptoms...stay clear of vitamin D and Magnesium. Fish oil is another no no
Feel free to ad your comments
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