I had severe Xanax withdrawal and ended up in the hospital. I had delirium tremens symptoms, psychoses, very high blood pressure, self harming behavior such as running through the door and into the woods. There are many more problems that I had too numerous to list. In the hospital I was given Librium. I took 2 Librium every four hours with hydroxyzine. After two days I was given a few Librium tablets to take as needed. Now I am almost completely off benzos. I take an average of eight pills a month. I am continuing to taper of Librium and I feel this long taper has prevented my commiting suicide and have seizures. I wish most doctors would have their patients taper Xanax down to at least 2 mg. Then switch to Librium to continue the taper, even if it takes a couple of years to completely stop taking the Librium. As soon as I was prescribed Librium and Hydroxyzine and became normal again, without the inter-dose withdrawal symptoms that I had with Xanax. I am not dependent on Librium. I take so little of it, I've gone for weeks without taking it. Also I found my source of anxiety was hypothyroidism, if only the doctor did a blood panel, I would never have begun to take Xanax.
Thank you, Dr. Goertz for being aware of this enormous problem. I just finished a 2 year taper off a 40 year dependence on Ativan for "panic disorder." I was lucky to find a psychiatrist who would work with me through it and I am very grateful, but she mentioned more than once that any withdrawal symptoms I was having were "all in my head" or completely psychological. Even after I told her about my symptoms. Argh! More awareness needs to be brought to this issue. So many people are suffering.
You doctors have screwed up a lot of lives with these benzodiazepines if my doctor would have explained the dangers of this drug I would have never started in my life would have been much different I have been off and on Klonopin for approximately 13 years I'm currently unable to work I'm on the verge of divorce and everyday is a struggle because of this medicine
Check the Ashton Manual to understand the full impact of benzos and the correct way to taper. There are over 100+ symptoms. Tolerance withdrawal, interdose withdrawal. Your entire nervous system can be injured after 1 week and withdrawal/healing can last decades.
I'd love to have you on my podcast for a conversation on benzos. I'm a doctoral in Clinical Psychology and also a Benzo recovery coach. Let me know if this is something you'd be up for.
I have been taking a low dose, 0.25 mg of Adivan for far too many years for sleeping. Tried going cold turkey in January...not a good idea! Horrible stress and anxiety, hormonal issues. Went back on it and really want to come off it completely....do you have any videos or advice for the best wayvto do that?
Please see a psychiatrist. Under the supervision of a psychiatrist one option may be to take Ativan concentrate(liquid) and very gradually try to taper off. Peter Goertz
That's like asking a heroin addict or an alcoholic to taper their way clean. The best way for long-term heavy users to get clean is rehab. I know from 17 years experience.@@goertzpsychiatry9340
Psychotherapy may be important. Possible medication would need to be individualized based on symptoms, e.g. anxiety, nightmares, depression etc. Peter Goertz
Hello Peter, I’m Jacob. Very interested in psychiatry and psychopharmacology and I like your videos. How do you differentiate delirium from first onset of schizophrenia vs. benzodiazepine withdrawal? Like you said, tox screens and getting a history. But beyond that: are there any differences in the behavioral presentation? Do you treat with both antipsychotic and benzodiazepine if you can’t determine it, and then wean off and monitor?
Hi Jacob, Delirium(fluctuating levels of consciousness and cognition) is not a feature of schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia can appear confused and may give bizarre answers to questions, Therefore the differential diagnosis can be difficult. Following vital signs(watching for increased BP and heart rate) can help detect benzodiazepine withdrawal. Peter Goertz
Can you get sick(schizofrenia) from changing from one drug to another? By the way, it helps to take a rich soup with your Psychopharmaca, because of the vitamins.
I had severe Xanax withdrawal and ended up in the hospital. I had delirium tremens symptoms, psychoses, very high blood pressure, self harming behavior such as running through the door and into the woods. There are many more problems that I had too numerous to list. In the hospital I was given Librium. I took 2 Librium every four hours with hydroxyzine. After two days I was given a few Librium tablets to take as needed. Now I am almost completely off benzos. I take an average of eight pills a month. I am continuing to taper of Librium and I feel this long taper has prevented my commiting suicide and have seizures. I wish most doctors would have their patients taper Xanax down to at least 2 mg. Then switch to Librium to continue the taper, even if it takes a couple of years to completely stop taking the Librium. As soon as I was prescribed Librium and Hydroxyzine and became normal again, without the inter-dose withdrawal symptoms that I had with Xanax. I am not dependent on Librium. I take so little of it, I've gone for weeks without taking it. Also I found my source of anxiety was hypothyroidism, if only the doctor did a blood panel, I would never have begun to take Xanax.
Wow. Thank you for sharing this.
How is you taper going hun?
This is interesting, but we never hear about people who are stuck on benzos, instead heroin and fentanyl seem to dominate headlines
Huh?
Thank you, Dr. Goertz for being aware of this enormous problem. I just finished a 2 year taper off a 40 year dependence on Ativan for "panic disorder." I was lucky to find a psychiatrist who would work with me through it and I am very grateful, but she mentioned more than once that any withdrawal symptoms I was having were "all in my head" or completely psychological. Even after I told her about my symptoms. Argh! More awareness needs to be brought to this issue. So many people are suffering.
Thank you for sharing this.
You doctors have screwed up a lot of lives with these benzodiazepines if my doctor would have explained the dangers of this drug I would have never started in my life would have been much different I have been off and on Klonopin for approximately 13 years I'm currently unable to work I'm on the verge of divorce and everyday is a struggle because of this medicine
Thank you for sharing this. I hope things improve for you soon. Peter Goertz
Check the Ashton Manual to understand the full impact of benzos and the correct way to taper.
There are over 100+ symptoms.
Tolerance withdrawal, interdose withdrawal.
Your entire nervous system can be injured after 1 week and withdrawal/healing can last decades.
Facts bruh
My benzo withdrawal was very similar to delirium tremens.
Thank you for your personal input. Peter Goertz
I’m doing a liquid taper from Ativan for 4 months and sleeping has been hard and anxiety has been horrible.
Thank you Shirley for sharing this. I hope things improve for you soon. Peter Goertz
I'd love to have you on my podcast for a conversation on benzos. I'm a doctoral in Clinical Psychology and also a Benzo recovery coach. Let me know if this is something you'd be up for.
Thank you for the offer, but at this point I am quite busy. Peter Goertz
I have been taking a low dose, 0.25 mg of Adivan for far too many years for sleeping. Tried going cold turkey in January...not a good idea! Horrible stress and anxiety, hormonal issues.
Went back on it and really want to come off it completely....do you have any videos or advice for the best wayvto do that?
Please see a psychiatrist. Under the supervision of a psychiatrist one option may be to take Ativan concentrate(liquid) and very gradually try to taper off.
Peter Goertz
@@goertzpsychiatry9340 Thanks for the reply! 😊
That's like asking a heroin addict or an alcoholic to taper their way clean.
The best way for long-term heavy users to get clean is rehab. I know from 17 years experience.@@goertzpsychiatry9340
What's a good medication for C-PTSD?
Psychotherapy may be important. Possible medication would need to be individualized based on symptoms, e.g. anxiety, nightmares, depression etc. Peter Goertz
How common would you say withdrawal is ? Is it more common in long term users perhaps?
Withdrawal is more common with longer term use and with higher doses. Peter Goertz
@@goertzpsychiatry9340 thanks Dr Goertz. My sister's been on benzos for the past few years. Was just curious. Thank you !
Can we taper off Benzos and still experience withdrawal symptoms.
wow, nice discussion
Thank you! Peter Goertz
@@goertzpsychiatry9340 welcome dear stay well
You can have withdrawal signs while talking them too not just from not talking them. Stomach aches and GI problems I heard are common.
Thank you for your input. Peter Goertz
Hello Peter, I’m Jacob. Very interested in psychiatry and psychopharmacology and I like your videos.
How do you differentiate delirium from first onset of schizophrenia vs. benzodiazepine withdrawal? Like you said, tox screens and getting a history. But beyond that: are there any differences in the behavioral presentation? Do you treat with both antipsychotic and benzodiazepine if you can’t determine it, and then wean off and monitor?
Hi Jacob, Delirium(fluctuating levels of consciousness and cognition) is not a feature of schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia can appear confused and may give bizarre answers to questions, Therefore the differential diagnosis can be difficult. Following vital signs(watching for increased BP and heart rate) can help detect benzodiazepine withdrawal. Peter Goertz
Can you get sick(schizofrenia) from changing from one drug to another? By the way, it helps to take a rich soup with your Psychopharmaca, because of the vitamins.
Do you mean can you get sick from changing from one antipsychotic to another?
@@goertzpsychiatry9340 yes?