You did great man, for real! I know you were worried about it. You have a really nice, calming energy about you it seems like. And keep fighting. We’re behind you and I know you can beat this.
I'm 26 weeks off Klonopin and all of a sudden I feel extreme RAGE. I wish I knew someone in Sacramento I could talk with. The nerve pain - it's everywhere! I walk the neighborhood with "over the head" headphones, sunglasses and a baseball cap for the sensitivities to sun, sound and touch. There is no music going into the headphones because that would be sensory overload! I am far enough along to be able to walk to a store, but not far along to do anything else. I'm incapacitated, antsy and oh so angry at the medical community for prescribing this drug to me. I'm almost ready to do to Narc Anon even though I was not a street drug user. I just want to vent my feelings. I'm dizzy all the time. I want some sleep, but can't sleep more than two hours at a time. I wonder if I'll ever recover, but I see those who have and know I have to keep trying. I cry when necessary, but need to talk to someone. THANKS FOR SHARING........
At some point I'll record a video to talk about my extreme nerve pain. I had nerve pain on my tongue, in my foot, on my eyelids (my eyelids!), my throat. It eventually receded after I reinstated. I'm very fearful of that being one of my main symptoms when I'm finally done. I also survived for a bit in the dark with headphones one. My hair would stand on end if I touched hot water. People definitely recover. I've seen it. Maybe get on BenzoBuddies? Or one of the Facebook groups? NA would probably be somewhat useful, but I don't think people going through opiate withdrawal could comprehend benzo withdrawal. I hope you find people to talk to, either way. You're not alone and it will eventually pass. Take care and remember that just by being here you're kicking so much ass. Normal people can't even comprehend it.
Thanks so much for the reply. I found a meet-up on my area, not for narcotics anonymous, but for "chronically ill adult women." I described my problem and symptoms and submitted everything to the group moderator. She emailed me with a reply that I'd be welcome in the group. My Internet went down last Monday (10/31/17) and it's been unbelievably awful. A whole new line has to be laid by my apartment complex! Until then, I'm without service. I can get intermittent service - very intermittent - through Comcast's Wi-Fi using a local hot spot. Anyway, I appreciate everyone reaching out. I do everything for myself and reach out when absolutely necessary. I've hit a place where it's been over six months and I'm beyond just trying to make it through the day, but can't do too much more. I'm so sick and tired of this but will not give up. Nothing shows on the outside, so people have no clue as to what's going on inside my body. The dizziness, nerve pain, insomnia, joint pain and so much more is just exhausting. I'll keep coming back. Thanks again...
Your path is much like mine. I’m 3 months off a Ct. vertigo has been the worst physical symptom and anxiety worst mental. I totally get the going into hiding idea. I thought I could do the same thing
My dr.took me off and I was doing alot of benzos. My God, the withdrawal. I didn't think this was possible. It's terrifying. Every symptom you can imagine. Anxiety turning into hallucinations. Also major weight loss because I had to force myself to eat. I used edibles (marijuana edibles,mainly CBD) the edibles made me feel so much better. I could actually feel my system balancing out. I hope that helps and doesn't impede my recovery
I'm so sorry about your Mom. I can't imagine how it affected you during wd. I lost my own Mom years ago but was taking AD's and Benzos back then, so was in a fog and am still having to process it, even her stuff, now and it's hard indeed. Having a supportive partner is everything, I 'm glad you have your wife. I'm also glad your in laws are wonderful too. I wish that were my situation. Blessings to you!
That sensory issue passes like lots of the other insane things we all seem to have. I’m going into my 15 Th month without any benzo in my system. I’ve even had an offer to go back on it but I said no way. I don’t want to start again.
Remember my mom saying to me after i tapered from an antipsychotic that she couldn't take it anymore. I know antipsychotic are not benzoes, but they are hard as f**k to withdraw from. I'm having protracted iwthdrawal, im 15 months in withdrawal. I know i will recover, but it takes time. I'm down from 800 mg to 500 mg solian (amildsulpride) which is an antipsychotic. I kinda knew that my taper was to fast, so i got totally out of hand and i was hospitalized for 6 month at a psychiatric hospital. Then i found out another guy wrote in a book that he tapered around 80% down over the course of 10 years. And i tapered 37-38% in two years. So i was going way to fast. I know its not the same medication, but i feal we are kinda in the same boat. Take care mate.
I'm so sorry, Kristian. We are all in the same boat. These drugs are designed and then they're tested on us. Unfortunately we don't have the right processes to track outcomes as a society. If we did doctors would have been more careful about prescribing these.
When we hit tolerance of our benzo we start to experience withdrawal of varying degrees and any number of symptoms present themselves.. This happens so slow we don't feel them coming on, they just build up and before we know it we are horribly confused wondering what on Earth is going on.. Many go to the their doctor's trying to explain and the doctor either ups their dose of benzos or prescribes another medication on top of it to "solve" the problem.. Most doctors are clueless about benzo tolerance or interdose withdrawal.. They are also clueless about safely tapering someone off the medication after it has stopped working and is actually creating the problems.. Here is a list of possible withdrawal symptoms.. this is not meant to frighten you as nobody gets them all.. but have a look at the list and see how many of them you are experiencing.. Common withdrawal/recovery symptoms Abdominal pains and cramp Agitation and restlessness Agoraphobia Akathisia Ankle and face oedema Anterograde amnesia Anxiety Breathing difficulties Blood pressure changes, upwards and downwards Blurred vision Bone pain Chain Smoking Changes in perception (faces distorting and inanimate objects moving) Chemical sensitivity Clenching jaw Cognitive impairment Confusion Cortisol imbalances Crying spells Depression Dilated pupils Distended abdomen (Benzo belly) Dizziness Driving Difficulties, or can no longer drive Dry heaves Dry Mouth Dysphasia (difficulty or discomfort in swallowing) Electric shock sensations (Zaps) Elevation in blood pressure Emotional blunting Easily Overstimulated (Moives, music, traveling) Extreme lethargy Fatigue and weakness Fears (of cancer, heart attack, or going crazy) Fear of, or a feeling of, becoming mentally ill Feeling of swollenness, sometimes very swollen hands, feet and face Feelings of unreality Flu-like symptoms Formications - A sense that insects are crawling on the body, scalp etc. Frequent urination Gastrointestinal problems (Irritable bowel syndrome) Hair folical itching, stinging, pain Hair loss Head pressure changes Head rushes Heavy limbs Hearing impairment Heart palpitations Hirsutism (excess hair growth) Hot and cold flushes Hyperosmia Hypersensitivity to light Hypertension Hypnagogic hallucination: A vivid dreamlike hallucination while falling asleep. hypnopompic hallucination: A vivid dreamlike hallucination while waking up. Hypochondriasis Impaired concentration Incontinence - alternatively difficulty voiding bladder Increased sensitivity to sound Indecision Indigestion Insomnia Irritability Intrusive thoughts Jelly legs: legs feel weak and rubbery Joint pain Lack of concentration Lack of co-ordination Loss of appetite and weight loss Loss of balance Loss of memory Melancholy - an abnormal state of depression, guilt, feelings of hopelessness. Metallic taste Migraines Muscular aches and pains Muscular spasms, cramps or fasciculations Myoclonic twitches, jerks, or seizures Nausea Neuropathy Nightmares Panic attacks Paresthesia - "A thousand needles" Paralexia - the mixing up of words in texts. Perspiration Phobias - This is also a common symptom of long-term use. Photophobia Postural hypertension Prostate pain Rapid mood changes Rebound REM sleep Resignation - "what is the point of quitting?" Restlessness Restless legs syndrome Severe headaches Shaking Seeing spots before the eyes Sense of instability- the ground seems to move beneath one's feet, one walks in the air Sore eyes Stiffness Suicidal behavior - everything ranging from suicidal thoughts to actual attempts should be taken seriously Sweating Swollen vulva Tachycardia Taste and smell disturbances Tension Headache - a constant pressure on the top of the head Tightness in the chest Tightness in the head Tingling sensations Tremors Twitching Muscles (nearly everywhere) Vertigo Visual Disturbances - blurred vision, vivid 3D vision, floaters Vocabulary, loss of skills Less common withdrawal/recovery symptoms Aching jaw Adrenaline surges, rushes Air Hunger ANA elevated Anaemia Anhedonia Anterograde amnesia Aphasia (communication disorder) Auditory hallucinations (hearing someone call your name, for instance) Brain vibration, feeling of movement Burning Tongue, mouth, throat Craving for sweet food Coated tongue Constipation Dehydration Depersonalisation (a feeling of not knowing who you are) Derealisation (Feelings of unreality) Diarrhea Difficulty swallowing Dysphoria Exaggerated Startle response Excessive thirst Fever Feeling of the ground moving, floating Hallucinations (auditory and visual) Homicide ideations Hyperactivity Hypersensitivity to sound Hypersexuality Hypnagogia-hallucinations Hypnic jerk, hypnagogic jerk, sleep start, sleep twitch or night start, or jump Incontinence of urine, or frequency and urgency Increased saliva Internal Vibration Jaw pain Lip muscle spasms Liver impariment (detox pathways) Loss or changes in appetite Loss of taste or metallic taste Mania Menstrual problems (painful periods, irregular periods, cessation of periods) Morbid thoughts Mouth ulcers Muscle rigidity Neuroleptic malignant syndrome like event Night terrors Numbness in any part of the body Obsessive compulsive disorder Organic brain syndrome Outbursts of rage or aggression Papular and maculopapular rashes Paraesthesia (Pins and needles) Paranoia Painful scalp Peripheral nervous system issues Persistent, unpleasant memories Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Rapid changes in body temperature Rashes Sexual problems (changes in libido) Skin problems (dryness, itchiness, rashes, slow healing, burning) Sore mouth and tongue Speech difficulties Suicidal ideations Throat issues (tightness) Thyroid issues, erratic testing results Tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in the ears) Toothache Unusually sensitive (unable to watch the news on television or read the newspaper) Urges to shout, throw, break things or to harm someone Vaginal discharge Visual Disturbances - blurred vision, vivid 3D vision, floaters, changing focus, double vision Uncharacteristic behavior such as shoplifting Vomiting Weight loss or gain White blood count, elevated Yellow eyes or skin Rare withdrawal/recovery symptoms Blackouts -an episode where the person has no recall of their activity Bleeding from the nose Bleeding between menstrual cycles Burning along the spine Burning sensation around the mouth Delirium tremens (state of confusion of rapid onset) Discharge from the breasts Falling hair Hemorrhoids Hypersensitivity to touch Rectal bleeding/burning Sinus pain Seizures (fits) Almost unknown if people reduce gradually. More common for people using high doses who stop suddenly. Sensitive or painful teeth Swollen breasts Some people experience little or no withdrawal when stopping long term benzodiazepine usage. It is not known for sure why there is such a variation between patients but recent research in animals suggests that withdrawal from sedative hypnotic drugs may be influenced by a genetic component. As withdrawal slowly progresses patients often find that their physical and mental health improves with improved mood and improved cognition, others experience the reverse. The muscles that control the eyes are tied into the Parasympathetic Nervous System (which gets shot to hell during withdrawal) and the lenses themselves have GABAergic systems.
60 lbs.. in three weeks. that's 3 lbs a day. You're lying your ass of! There's 3500 kcal in 1 lbs of fat, even more in muscle. For your sake, Let's say 40 lbs is your so called "loss", is fat and muscle, That's 140.000 kcal in 21 days. Your body burns of 2000 kcal a day, if your not active and don't eat anything. That's 42.000 kcal in 21 days. Then you still need to burn of 100.000 kcal to make a drop of 40 lbs, let alone 60 So unless you were able to run 2 marathons a day, in benzo wd without eating anything, you're a straight up liar! And yes, I'm a veteran when it come to benzo wd and you don't magically loss wheight because you're in wd. You lose wheight because you don't eat and 60 lbs, in 3 weeks is physically impossible. you would die long before
Paul Chomiak how do you think someone with hep c would do with this? Would it even be smart to try? I have been having alot of bad issues lately and stopped tapering. I don't know what to do. I eat well enough n avoid proccessed n non organic n am health obsessed n over concious with it trying to figure out my deficiencies klonopin cause and am working on getting all my nutrients from food and other plant based sources.. But stress of fight or flight and being arounf another human seems to send my liver into sickness. It is a miserable conundrum I've been In the hospital experiencing kidney issues and fluid retention and now I just can't stop loosing weight. And eating seems to send my insulin up idk..i overanalyze everything in my life over n over and I need to microtaper it but my idea was to taper a week n stop a week taper a week n stop or however my body feels but I swear it's the benzos killing me I just need them gone I hate the waiting idk what I even wrote..lol I'm reslly not even sick I'm just forever fight or flight and experiencing some bad liver systems n got beaus lines in my nails but tests were ok besides low sodium who knows...i can't ever tell if it's the tapering or if it's normal life stuff anymore because I've barely reduced but maybe it's enough to hurt me
I was on 2 mg's of Klonopin for thirteen years from 2000 to 2013, and was able to get off ALL drugs in a bout a year. It was HELL getting of them, but is doable for some. I followed the Ashton protocol by myself.When I did it, I went from 2 mg's of Klonopin to 40 mg's of valium once a night. Good luck!
I wish this poison had never been invented. I'm fighting the same war. I fell victim too. I was only on Ativan for 2 months. I'm 6 months off and still bad. It's cost me my job and nearly my marriage. And like you probably know, nobody understands what your going thru. Even my family doesn't understand. If I was loonatic, I would give the doctors a visit who poisoned me on this mess with a bat and crack skulls. This is TORTURE
Brian, I'm commenting on a post you made a year ago, I'm a few weeks in. I was on for years, past 2 years 1 mg at night to rest. Going through it and seems to get worse, It's horrible. !!! So.. Are you any better. And you probably won't see this comment anyway. Hope your better. I pray your marriage lasted too!!!
I think the term you were looking for is interdose withdrawal if I'm correct. Sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. I think if I were in your situation I would focus all of my efforts on tapering off the meds once and for all if that is your ultimate goal. It's great that you have been stable on a low dose and not had to increase it. I think that's a good sign. Your symptoms do seem minimal compared to some and that's also a good sign. You will get through this if you are committed and set your mind to it. I believe you're doing everything right in your efforts to make the process as painless as possible by doing the liquid micro taper. I have seen some ppl have success with that even after long term use and not have severe symptoms. I wish that I would have known to reinstate and do it the right way but I was clueless about all of this as well. I was on 3mg Ativan for 2.5 weeks and my dr switched me to a psychiatrist who doesn't prescribe benzos but she put me on 3mg of Klonopin to taper off in one month. Really messed me up bad. I'm 4 months off now and still suffering and barely functional. Even short term use can go horrible wrong if not handled properly. I wasn't given the option to reinstate by any of my doctors and I am still really sick now. I hope it will get better soon but there's just no way to know unfortunately. I wish that doctors were more aware of the dangers of these medications. I have been to the ER so many times I can't remember now. About the weight loss it was severe for me too but mine was due to extreme lack of appetite. I hope that your taper goes well this time of that's what you decide to do. Don't rush it for sure or you could end up in my situation. Slow and steady and listen to your body it will tell you if you're cutting too fast. I'm not sure how I'm going to survive this but I have four kids who need me so I keep fighting every day for them. I have so many bad things happening in my life right now on top of this as well and it feels so surreal at times. Kinda like a bad dream. It's scary. Just know that you're not alone and BB is a good place for support and advice as well.
Actually the term I was looking for was tolerance withdrawal. I believe it's possible I was experiencing a version of that years before I started tapering, but I so bought into the idea that I was just "ill" that I hadn't considered that I could feel better. My symptoms are definitely more minimal right now. The really brutal part was 2014. Terrible memory loss, confusion and muscle pain. Someday I might make a video to discuss the main taper (from 3mg of Klonopin all the way off with a Valium cross) and what happened to me. I kind of tossed it into this video, but I realize it can be confusing. I suffered a lot, but nothing like I did at the end and then again last August. I'm hoping the worst is behind me. We'll see. I'm so sorry about what happened to you. That's exactly what my original doctor wanted to do. I feel so lucky that I found enough information not to do that. I can't even imagine. Keep fighting for your kids. Hopefully, like it did with me, it helps to know that you're not alone. When I first started finding these videos I'd show them to my wife and family so they'd understand that this wasn't in my head. It was really and it's scary. Take care and please hang in there.
I think you will. I feel much better than I did in 2014 during my initial taper. And I've been at this for almost 4 years now. You're much stronger than you think.
I was forced to taper by a horrible Dr. at Kaiser. After being on anxiety medication for 6 years, I was tapered off in 6 weeks. I was told "there is no such thing as withdrawals," I wasn't prepared. I've been off for 5 months & I can't remember when I've felt worse. I don't have cognitive or memory issues, just a lot of physical pain, teeth grinding, jaw clenching. I'm debating I should sue Kaiser.
your lucky you had a job to keep your mind occupied many don't and stay locked up in their house until it's over. no way to live. doctors don't help cause they don't care they are only there to make money for big pharma. your one of the lucky ones
❤❤❤ i also cannot look at the camera when i make a video. I look to the side of camera. My story is similar too. And am also on 3. Im at 2.75 . ... from 6 mg a day... its been 4 years. :(. It is hell. Its good to know im not only one who is weird with cameras. I also do not like mirrors.. since a kid they have creeped me out. Specially after the alice in wonderland movie. Mine are covered .. during my taper i havr times that in my head.. i feel the mirror is watching me. Much love. I am at a point of disability, but im goimg on it for my diagnoses i got as a kid. Bc they dont help for benzo withdraw. I have worked through 10 years of this. Lost my buisness i owned bc yhe mornings were too awful . This whole experience is traumatizing in itself. The extreme terror , im in now abd unable to eat. It is un eethical, inhumane and abhorrent what bug pharma is doing. Hoping so badly that one day suing will be podsible. Im in bed right now burning. And from 6 am to 11:30.. .i was wailing and trying to breathe. I have many traumas tho so not all are same. Befire my traumas, when i withdrew, i wasnt doing that.
Please check out the site survivingantidepressants.com it's for all psych meds. Read the threads on "Microtapering" and the slowness of slow tapers" also check out the post on slowing down when you get toward the end of your taper. I think these will help you a lot. That site and those specific posts helped me the most during multiple drug tapers. You can do this!
probably intelligent advice. i went cold turkey off only about 5mg valium / day, 2weeks into moving into new house. I went nuts , im here 10months into quitting, im less nuts but i am still nuts.
Why can't we form a class action law suite ??Hey we may lose but we put a face on this issue,,
You did great man, for real! I know you were worried about it. You have a really nice, calming energy about you it seems like.
And keep fighting. We’re behind you and I know you can beat this.
I know this is an old reply, but I appreciate the kind words.
At 8:30, you were trying to remember where you reached “Tolerance “. But yes, benzos damaged my brain forever. God bless you!
I hope you are okay now. I do videos for the same reason we need more help and to raise awareness!!!!! Thank you for the courage to make this video!!!
I'm 26 weeks off Klonopin and all of a sudden I feel extreme RAGE. I wish I knew someone in Sacramento I could talk with. The nerve pain - it's everywhere! I walk the neighborhood with "over the head" headphones, sunglasses and a baseball cap for the sensitivities to sun, sound and touch. There is no music going into the headphones because that would be sensory overload! I am far enough along to be able to walk to a store, but not far along to do anything else. I'm incapacitated, antsy and oh so angry at the medical community for prescribing this drug to me. I'm almost ready to do to Narc Anon even though I was not a street drug user. I just want to vent my feelings. I'm dizzy all the time. I want some sleep, but can't sleep more than two hours at a time. I wonder if I'll ever recover, but I see those who have and know I have to keep trying. I cry when necessary, but need to talk to someone. THANKS FOR SHARING........
At some point I'll record a video to talk about my extreme nerve pain. I had nerve pain on my tongue, in my foot, on my eyelids (my eyelids!), my throat. It eventually receded after I reinstated. I'm very fearful of that being one of my main symptoms when I'm finally done.
I also survived for a bit in the dark with headphones one. My hair would stand on end if I touched hot water.
People definitely recover. I've seen it. Maybe get on BenzoBuddies? Or one of the Facebook groups? NA would probably be somewhat useful, but I don't think people going through opiate withdrawal could comprehend benzo withdrawal. I hope you find people to talk to, either way. You're not alone and it will eventually pass. Take care and remember that just by being here you're kicking so much ass. Normal people can't even comprehend it.
Thanks so much for the reply. I found a meet-up on my area, not for narcotics anonymous, but for "chronically ill adult women." I described my problem and symptoms and submitted everything to the group moderator. She emailed me with a reply that I'd be welcome in the group. My Internet went down last Monday (10/31/17) and it's been unbelievably awful. A whole new line has to be laid by my apartment complex! Until then, I'm without service. I can get intermittent service - very intermittent - through Comcast's Wi-Fi using a local hot spot. Anyway, I appreciate everyone reaching out. I do everything for myself and reach out when absolutely necessary. I've hit a place where it's been over six months and I'm beyond just trying to make it through the day, but can't do too much more. I'm so sick and tired of this but will not give up. Nothing shows on the outside, so people have no clue as to what's going on inside my body. The dizziness, nerve pain, insomnia, joint pain and so much more is just exhausting. I'll keep coming back. Thanks again...
VoteGreen it's weird because as much as K calmed me it agitated me, so glad I'm off it.
Could Medical Marijuana be helkpful here ??:?
@@TrekCycling how are you now??
Your path is much like mine. I’m 3 months off a Ct. vertigo has been the worst physical symptom and anxiety worst mental. I totally get the going into hiding idea. I thought I could do the same thing
It didn't work. I need people. And I still need to live until this is over. :(
My dr.took me off and I was doing alot of benzos. My God, the withdrawal. I didn't think this was possible. It's terrifying. Every symptom you can imagine. Anxiety turning into hallucinations. Also major weight loss because I had to force myself to eat. I used edibles (marijuana edibles,mainly CBD) the edibles made me feel so much better. I could actually feel my system balancing out. I hope that helps and doesn't impede my recovery
I'm so sorry about your Mom. I can't imagine how it affected you during wd. I lost my own Mom years ago but was taking AD's and Benzos back then, so was in a fog and am still having to process it, even her stuff, now and it's hard indeed. Having a supportive partner is everything, I 'm glad you have your wife. I'm also glad your in laws are wonderful too. I wish that were my situation. Blessings to you!
Thank you so much.
That sensory issue passes like lots of the other insane things we all seem to have. I’m going into my 15 Th month without any benzo in my system. I’ve even had an offer to go back on it but I said no way. I don’t want to start again.
Remember my mom saying to me after i tapered from an antipsychotic that she couldn't take it anymore. I know antipsychotic are not benzoes, but they are hard as f**k to withdraw from.
I'm having protracted iwthdrawal, im 15 months in withdrawal. I know i will recover, but it takes time. I'm down from 800 mg to 500 mg solian (amildsulpride) which is an antipsychotic.
I kinda knew that my taper was to fast, so i got totally out of hand and i was hospitalized for 6 month at a psychiatric hospital.
Then i found out another guy wrote in a book that he tapered around 80% down over the course of 10 years. And i tapered 37-38% in two years. So i was going way to fast.
I know its not the same medication, but i feal we are kinda in the same boat.
Take care mate.
I'm so sorry, Kristian. We are all in the same boat. These drugs are designed and then they're tested on us. Unfortunately we don't have the right processes to track outcomes as a society. If we did doctors would have been more careful about prescribing these.
When we hit tolerance of our benzo we start to experience withdrawal of varying degrees and any number of symptoms present themselves.. This happens so slow we don't feel them coming on, they just build up and before we know it we are horribly confused wondering what on Earth is going on.. Many go to the their doctor's trying to explain and the doctor either ups their dose of benzos or prescribes another medication on top of it to "solve" the problem.. Most doctors are clueless about benzo tolerance or interdose withdrawal.. They are also clueless about safely tapering someone off the medication after it has stopped working and is actually creating the problems.. Here is a list of possible withdrawal symptoms.. this is not meant to frighten you as nobody gets them all.. but have a look at the list and see how many of them you are experiencing..
Common withdrawal/recovery symptoms
Abdominal pains and cramp
Agitation and restlessness
Agoraphobia
Akathisia
Ankle and face oedema
Anterograde amnesia
Anxiety
Breathing difficulties
Blood pressure changes, upwards and downwards
Blurred vision
Bone pain
Chain Smoking
Changes in perception (faces distorting and inanimate objects moving)
Chemical sensitivity
Clenching jaw
Cognitive impairment
Confusion
Cortisol imbalances
Crying spells
Depression
Dilated pupils
Distended abdomen (Benzo belly)
Dizziness
Driving Difficulties, or can no longer drive
Dry heaves
Dry Mouth
Dysphasia (difficulty or discomfort in swallowing)
Electric shock sensations (Zaps)
Elevation in blood pressure
Emotional blunting
Easily Overstimulated (Moives, music, traveling)
Extreme lethargy
Fatigue and weakness
Fears (of cancer, heart attack, or going crazy)
Fear of, or a feeling of, becoming mentally ill
Feeling of swollenness, sometimes very swollen hands, feet and face
Feelings of unreality
Flu-like symptoms
Formications - A sense that insects are crawling on the body, scalp etc.
Frequent urination
Gastrointestinal problems (Irritable bowel syndrome)
Hair folical itching, stinging, pain
Hair loss
Head pressure changes
Head rushes
Heavy limbs
Hearing impairment
Heart palpitations
Hirsutism (excess hair growth)
Hot and cold flushes
Hyperosmia
Hypersensitivity to light
Hypertension
Hypnagogic hallucination: A vivid dreamlike hallucination while falling asleep.
hypnopompic hallucination: A vivid dreamlike hallucination while waking up.
Hypochondriasis
Impaired concentration
Incontinence - alternatively difficulty voiding bladder
Increased sensitivity to sound
Indecision
Indigestion
Insomnia
Irritability
Intrusive thoughts
Jelly legs: legs feel weak and rubbery
Joint pain
Lack of concentration
Lack of co-ordination
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Loss of balance
Loss of memory
Melancholy - an abnormal state of depression, guilt, feelings of hopelessness.
Metallic taste
Migraines
Muscular aches and pains
Muscular spasms, cramps or fasciculations
Myoclonic twitches, jerks, or seizures
Nausea
Neuropathy
Nightmares
Panic attacks
Paresthesia - "A thousand needles"
Paralexia - the mixing up of words in texts.
Perspiration
Phobias - This is also a common symptom of long-term use.
Photophobia
Postural hypertension
Prostate pain
Rapid mood changes
Rebound REM sleep
Resignation - "what is the point of quitting?"
Restlessness
Restless legs syndrome
Severe headaches
Shaking
Seeing spots before the eyes
Sense of instability- the ground seems to move beneath one's feet, one walks in the air
Sore eyes
Stiffness
Suicidal behavior - everything ranging from suicidal thoughts to actual attempts should be taken seriously
Sweating
Swollen vulva
Tachycardia
Taste and smell disturbances
Tension Headache - a constant pressure on the top of the head
Tightness in the chest
Tightness in the head
Tingling sensations
Tremors
Twitching Muscles (nearly everywhere)
Vertigo
Visual Disturbances - blurred vision, vivid 3D vision, floaters
Vocabulary, loss of skills
Less common withdrawal/recovery symptoms
Aching jaw
Adrenaline surges, rushes
Air Hunger
ANA elevated
Anaemia
Anhedonia
Anterograde amnesia
Aphasia (communication disorder)
Auditory hallucinations (hearing someone call your name, for instance)
Brain vibration, feeling of movement
Burning Tongue, mouth, throat
Craving for sweet food
Coated tongue
Constipation
Dehydration
Depersonalisation (a feeling of not knowing who you are)
Derealisation (Feelings of unreality)
Diarrhea
Difficulty swallowing
Dysphoria
Exaggerated Startle response
Excessive thirst
Fever
Feeling of the ground moving, floating
Hallucinations (auditory and visual)
Homicide ideations
Hyperactivity
Hypersensitivity to sound
Hypersexuality
Hypnagogia-hallucinations
Hypnic jerk, hypnagogic jerk, sleep start, sleep twitch or night start, or jump
Incontinence of urine, or frequency and urgency
Increased saliva
Internal Vibration
Jaw pain
Lip muscle spasms
Liver impariment (detox pathways)
Loss or changes in appetite
Loss of taste or metallic taste
Mania
Menstrual problems (painful periods, irregular periods, cessation of periods)
Morbid thoughts
Mouth ulcers
Muscle rigidity
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome like event
Night terrors
Numbness in any part of the body
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Organic brain syndrome
Outbursts of rage or aggression
Papular and maculopapular rashes
Paraesthesia (Pins and needles)
Paranoia
Painful scalp
Peripheral nervous system issues
Persistent, unpleasant memories
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Rapid changes in body temperature
Rashes
Sexual problems (changes in libido)
Skin problems (dryness, itchiness, rashes, slow healing, burning)
Sore mouth and tongue
Speech difficulties
Suicidal ideations
Throat issues (tightness)
Thyroid issues, erratic testing results
Tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in the ears)
Toothache
Unusually sensitive (unable to watch the news on television or read the newspaper)
Urges to shout, throw, break things or to harm someone
Vaginal discharge
Visual Disturbances - blurred vision, vivid 3D vision, floaters, changing focus, double vision
Uncharacteristic behavior such as shoplifting
Vomiting
Weight loss or gain
White blood count, elevated
Yellow eyes or skin
Rare withdrawal/recovery symptoms
Blackouts -an episode where the person has no recall of their activity
Bleeding from the nose
Bleeding between menstrual cycles
Burning along the spine
Burning sensation around the mouth
Delirium tremens (state of confusion of rapid onset)
Discharge from the breasts
Falling hair
Hemorrhoids
Hypersensitivity to touch
Rectal bleeding/burning
Sinus pain
Seizures (fits) Almost unknown if people reduce gradually. More common for people using high doses who stop suddenly.
Sensitive or painful teeth
Swollen breasts
Some people experience little or no withdrawal when stopping long term benzodiazepine usage. It is not known for sure why there is such a variation between patients but recent research in animals suggests that withdrawal from sedative hypnotic drugs may be influenced by a genetic component. As withdrawal slowly progresses patients often find that their physical and mental health improves with improved mood and improved cognition, others experience the reverse.
The muscles that control the eyes are tied into the Parasympathetic Nervous System (which gets shot to hell during withdrawal) and the lenses themselves have GABAergic systems.
I know most of that. But 5 - 6 lbs. a day?
Sure.. It seriously impacts the system.. I dropped 60lbs in three weeks.. Got down to 149lbs and I'm 6'2"
60 lbs.. in three weeks. that's 3 lbs a day. You're lying your ass of!
There's 3500 kcal in 1 lbs of fat, even more in muscle. For your sake, Let's say 40 lbs is your so called "loss", is fat and muscle, That's 140.000 kcal in 21 days. Your body burns of 2000 kcal a day, if your not active and don't eat anything. That's 42.000 kcal in 21 days. Then you still need to burn of 100.000 kcal to make a drop of 40 lbs, let alone 60
So unless you were able to run 2 marathons a day, in benzo wd without eating anything, you're a straight up liar!
And yes, I'm a veteran when it come to benzo wd and you don't magically loss wheight because you're in wd. You lose wheight because you don't eat and 60 lbs, in 3 weeks is physically impossible. you would die long before
Paul Chomiak how do you think someone with hep c would do with this? Would it even be smart to try? I have been having alot of bad issues lately and stopped tapering. I don't know what to do. I eat well enough n avoid proccessed n non organic n am health obsessed n over concious with it trying to figure out my deficiencies klonopin cause and am working on getting all my nutrients from food and other plant based sources.. But stress of fight or flight and being arounf another human seems to send my liver into sickness. It is a miserable conundrum I've been In the hospital experiencing kidney issues and fluid retention and now I just can't stop loosing weight. And eating seems to send my insulin up idk..i overanalyze everything in my life over n over and I need to microtaper it but my idea was to taper a week n stop a week taper a week n stop or however my body feels but I swear it's the benzos killing me I just need them gone I hate the waiting idk what I even wrote..lol I'm reslly not even sick I'm just forever fight or flight and experiencing some bad liver systems n got beaus lines in my nails but tests were ok besides low sodium who knows...i can't ever tell if it's the tapering or if it's normal life stuff anymore because I've barely reduced but maybe it's enough to hurt me
@@paulchomiak1318 whats the percentage of people who have little or no withdrawal symptoms..
How are you doing now? You are a warrior and one of the strongest
Souls on the planet for going threw this
I am glad you have a partner to help you through this, support is important. Thanks, for sharing, hope it goes as well as possible for you
I was on 2 mg's of Klonopin for thirteen years from 2000 to 2013, and was able to get off ALL drugs in a bout a year. It was HELL getting of them, but is doable for some. I followed the Ashton protocol by myself.When I did it, I went from 2 mg's of Klonopin to 40 mg's of valium once a night. Good luck!
Thank you. Are you feeling better now?
Yes thank you. One of the lucky few that has been able to get off Benzo's and regain their prior health.
do u think tapering from valium is easier and better than klonopin..Im on 1mg klonopin 4 years..terrible
They took me off 4.5 mg of Xanax in 10 days. Worst experience of my life. I think I have PTSD from my hospital stay.
I'm so sorry to hear this. Hopefully you're hanging in there. That's very abrupt.
I wish this poison had never been invented. I'm fighting the same war. I fell victim too. I was only on Ativan for 2 months. I'm 6 months off and still bad. It's cost me my job and nearly my marriage. And like you probably know, nobody understands what your going thru. Even my family doesn't understand. If I was loonatic, I would give the doctors a visit who poisoned me on this mess with a bat and crack skulls. This is TORTURE
I have so much sympathy for people who only took it for a couple of months. That's just terrible. I hope you have windows soon. Hang in there.
brian robinson this is what happened to me. I have been off 6 months. So much suffering.
Brian, I'm commenting on a post you made a year ago, I'm a few weeks in. I was on for years, past 2 years 1 mg at night to rest. Going through it and seems to get worse, It's horrible. !!! So.. Are you any better. And you probably won't see this comment anyway. Hope your better. I pray your marriage lasted too!!!
You,ve done a good job bud well done
Thank you
I think the term you were looking for is interdose withdrawal if I'm correct. Sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. I think if I were in your situation I would focus all of my efforts on tapering off the meds once and for all if that is your ultimate goal. It's great that you have been stable on a low dose and not had to increase it. I think that's a good sign. Your symptoms do seem minimal compared to some and that's also a good sign. You will get through this if you are committed and set your mind to it. I believe you're doing everything right in your efforts to make the process as painless as possible by doing the liquid micro taper. I have seen some ppl have success with that even after long term use and not have severe symptoms. I wish that I would have known to reinstate and do it the right way but I was clueless about all of this as well. I was on 3mg Ativan for 2.5 weeks and my dr switched me to a psychiatrist who doesn't prescribe benzos but she put me on 3mg of Klonopin to taper off in one month. Really messed me up bad. I'm 4 months off now and still suffering and barely functional. Even short term use can go horrible wrong if not handled properly. I wasn't given the option to reinstate by any of my doctors and I am still really sick now. I hope it will get better soon but there's just no way to know unfortunately. I wish that doctors were more aware of the dangers of these medications. I have been to the ER so many times I can't remember now. About the weight loss it was severe for me too but mine was due to extreme lack of appetite. I hope that your taper goes well this time of that's what you decide to do. Don't rush it for sure or you could end up in my situation. Slow and steady and listen to your body it will tell you if you're cutting too fast. I'm not sure how I'm going to survive this but I have four kids who need me so I keep fighting every day for them. I have so many bad things happening in my life right now on top of this as well and it feels so surreal at times. Kinda like a bad dream. It's scary. Just know that you're not alone and BB is a good place for support and advice as well.
Actually the term I was looking for was tolerance withdrawal. I believe it's possible I was experiencing a version of that years before I started tapering, but I so bought into the idea that I was just "ill" that I hadn't considered that I could feel better.
My symptoms are definitely more minimal right now. The really brutal part was 2014. Terrible memory loss, confusion and muscle pain. Someday I might make a video to discuss the main taper (from 3mg of Klonopin all the way off with a Valium cross) and what happened to me. I kind of tossed it into this video, but I realize it can be confusing. I suffered a lot, but nothing like I did at the end and then again last August. I'm hoping the worst is behind me. We'll see.
I'm so sorry about what happened to you. That's exactly what my original doctor wanted to do. I feel so lucky that I found enough information not to do that. I can't even imagine.
Keep fighting for your kids. Hopefully, like it did with me, it helps to know that you're not alone. When I first started finding these videos I'd show them to my wife and family so they'd understand that this wasn't in my head. It was really and it's scary. Take care and please hang in there.
Thanks I'm trying...it's hard but I have no choice but to keep going and hope that someday it will get better.
I think you will. I feel much better than I did in 2014 during my initial taper. And I've been at this for almost 4 years now. You're much stronger than you think.
That or tolerance..
Why not try marijuana the Indica strain to relax muscle spasm, rest even sleep. Maybe make it bearable. This is not addictive.
Just a suggestion.
My weightloss is during times i cant sleep or am in terror. Its bc your heart rate is up too.. your body is burning a lot to try and adjust.
I'm so sorry.
I was forced to taper by a horrible Dr. at Kaiser. After being on anxiety medication for 6 years, I was tapered off in 6 weeks. I was told "there is no such thing as withdrawals," I wasn't prepared. I've been off for 5 months & I can't remember when I've felt worse. I don't have cognitive or memory issues, just a lot of physical pain, teeth grinding, jaw clenching. I'm debating I should sue Kaiser.
I'm so sorry. Most people don't sue because it's an extra trauma and as far as I know no one has won.
I like your videos 👍
Thank you so much.
Just quit and go through the pain. The rewards of the pain are worth it
your lucky you had a job to keep your mind occupied many don't and stay locked up in their house until it's over. no way to live. doctors don't help cause they don't care they are only there to make money for big pharma. your one of the lucky ones
I know I am. That's the crazy thing.
❤❤❤ i also cannot look at the camera when i make a video. I look to the side of camera. My story is similar too. And am also on 3. Im at 2.75 . ... from 6 mg a day... its been 4 years. :(. It is hell. Its good to know im not only one who is weird with cameras. I also do not like mirrors.. since a kid they have creeped me out. Specially after the alice in wonderland movie. Mine are covered .. during my taper i havr times that in my head.. i feel the mirror is watching me. Much love. I am at a point of disability, but im goimg on it for my diagnoses i got as a kid. Bc they dont help for benzo withdraw. I have worked through 10 years of this. Lost my buisness i owned bc yhe mornings were too awful
. This whole experience is traumatizing in itself. The extreme terror , im in now abd unable to eat. It is un eethical, inhumane and abhorrent what bug pharma is doing. Hoping so badly that one day suing will be podsible. Im in bed right now burning. And from 6 am to 11:30..
.i was wailing and trying to breathe. I have many traumas tho so not all are same. Befire my traumas, when i withdrew, i wasnt doing that.
Benzos seem to make me more anxious.... it's still hard to quit
How are you now brother? How's the social anxiety? 6 months off, that's still my worst symptom.
Robert Hazouri Still hanging in there at 2mg of Valium.
Congrats on being benzo free! Do you still have fatigue ar anxiety? I'm 30 months off of 2 mg's and I did a 14 month taper. Still bad off.
To be clear, I'm not free. I'm currently on 2mg of Valium
I’m so so sorry about your loss...😞🙏💫
Ana Lozada Thanks
Terrible situation to get off benzo,s
Please check out the site survivingantidepressants.com it's for all psych meds. Read the threads on "Microtapering" and the slowness of slow tapers" also check out the post on slowing down when you get toward the end of your taper. I think these will help you a lot. That site and those specific posts helped me the most during multiple drug tapers. You can do this!
Are you still on 2mg?
Yes. Folks on BB kept advising me to hold until I was stable. Basically until I'd stopped moving, had some distance from my mom's passing, etc.
probably intelligent advice. i went cold turkey off only about 5mg valium / day, 2weeks into moving into new house. I went nuts , im here 10months into quitting, im less nuts but i am still nuts.
🖤🖤🖤