Just got out of treatment 8 days ago. Checked myself in after 10+ years of benzo use prescribed. I have been watching videos and reading all over the internet. This is extremely accurate as I have literally everything you speak of. Tinnitus is crippling, brain not making sense/not reliable, muscles weak, eyes are sensitive, nueroapaty, teeth grinding all day, fever feeling, waves of headaches and dizziness, unsure of everything and an overall feeling of being slow and beaten down. I can list more. Nothing makes this more comfortable, time is the only cure. This is by far the hardest thing ive ever done in 37 years. One day at a time. Thanks for the video.
I totally get it and congrats on trying and doing it..benzos are whole diff beast. Oh my. Lethal to not take..NEVER go cold turkey... amongst like a 100 plus symptoms that you end up thinking bad thoughts and it is scary as eff. I was prescribed benzos to shut me up at 15 and it has been a ride. Now on valium..longer lasting and slowly trying to wean. The withdrawal I wish on no one and it can last years!
I went thru protracted benzo withdrawal for about 3 years ...I had ZERO windows...it was bad the entire time but very slowly got better after my taper ended. I also had very bad sensetivity to sounds, light, hot or cold, severe muscle spasms, tinnitus, constant headache and flu like symptoms, burning skin and tongue, all my teeth hurt, my teeth chattered for nearly 2 years nonstop, muscle twitching, restless leg syndrome, severe depression and anxiety, severe agoraphobia and monophobia, lightning bolt like shocks going through my brain and body, my vision also had wavy lines in it at times SEVERE insomnia...many many many days of ZERO sleep followed by at the most 2 hours of nightmare filled terror sleep ( this insomnia went on for nearly 2 years...I don't know how I survived it) I could barely walk at times and everything was COMPLETELY overwhelming to me, many nights I would ask God to either heal me or please kill me because I can't take this any more ..and I was only on Ativan for about 2 weeks... the Ativan stopped working after about a week and I upped the dose to about 1.5 Mg for another week and it stopped working... then I started reading about it and decided to try to taper off.... THAT is when literally all hell broke loose .... I have since made a COMPETE RECOVERY and am back to 100% normal. PRAISE GOD.
I am almost 28 months since my last dose of Klonopin and still have problems. I had a few of the issues you mentioned that are mostly gone but my main issues still are dizziness and head pressure. Caffeine will make it bad and so does any kind of intense activity like exercise. A lot of body aches and pains and fatigue like I have fibromyalgia. Did you have any of that?
@@joshmarkowitz1595 YES...Exercise would make it TERRIBLE!!! and Caffeine was bad also...all that has faded away and I am completely back to normal...YOu will also get back to normal!!! If you want to hear my story...Here it is...she left out many of the symptoms...but you get the idea... ua-cam.com/video/595-neD7Zrc/v-deo.html
Same here, I was 33 years on lorazepam and was stopped much to quick, now my legs and feet are shaking and cramping 18 hours a Day since 30 month's. Will this torture ever stop?
Yup. My channel is dedicated to benzo recovery. They are demonic. It has caused so much harm and the pharma companies know full well about it but want cash and nothing but that. Never trust a doctor prescribing anything. Many barely know a thing about it. Dr. Josef is a Blessing. Those pills are filthy.
After my experience with withdrawals, I strongly believe that it creates a trauma. That it creates a PTSD. That you get flashbacks that bring you right back to the worst time of the withdrawals just like a soldier coming back from war or a rape victim or an abused child. I'm not a doctor or a psychiatrist but after reading Dr. van der Kolk's book The Body Keeps the Score on trauma, benzo withdrawal checks all of the boxes of trauma and PTSD.
6 years off and I’m not healed at all. So many people share my story. Were dismissed as having other issues. I only took it as a sleeping pill. Now I can’t function. My whole world has changed.
@VRO911 probably the same symptoms as before they started. People act like they were perfectly healthy before... if you go see a Dr, it's not because you're healthy.
@@VRO911 Have intense insomnia. I sleep a few hours a night. Wake with severe anxiety and panic. My energy and mood are very down. I didn’t have any of these issues prior to Xanax. Had no idea what it could do to my brain.
I hear ya. I was put on benzos at 15 to shut me up cause I speak truth. Well I can't even imagine what my brain looks like. I've been on a few through the years cause they eventually start wearing off and they up ya and omg..just evil. Now on valium..a boatload. That was even hard. It doesn't even feel like it works sometimes..but I'm weaning. Hell on earth. Please people..do not let them give you something to "sleep" or anxiety. It will amplify it times a million one day and u won't sleep. You will go through hell on earth. To all who are trying to get off..I salute you..this is a whole other beast
It changes the brain! No one tells ya this at 15/16 in my case and get this.. 30 days later I was full blown physically addicted and I couldn't drive. I got myself to the "doc" and he denied giving me more. I did not take that well..I did drive to er though cause I'm like wtf?!? Well now on valium cause it is very long lasting for anyone out there struggling. Slowly wean and there are times. I'm like I ain't ever coming off..nope. can't do the withdrawal..u wanna die or will. That's how evil this is. I hope n pray I cam eventually get off cause I'm not even 4o and not looking forward to dementia and bs from this hell!
One weekend while visiting family I forgot my lorazepam. The withdrawal started within a day and by the second day I was feeling horrible as if I might die. My doctor said to never stop cold turkey. Well, being 100 miles away made it impossible to get home for the medicine. As for the tinnitus, that is why my doctor prescribed the benzo in the first place, twelve years ago. I don't want to ever feel this way again. I'm almost 68 years old.
I went on vacation once and forgot my Xanax, along with my other meds. I called my doctor's office and had them call my prescriptions into a local pharmacy, enough of each medication until I got back home. People must be proactive when it comes to things like this. EDIT: Yeah, it cost me out of pocket for the meds, but I would do it again in a heartbeat! *I'm just writing this as info for the next person who reads this. 😊
You're lucky ya didn't die.. withdrawal from these devil pills is lethal..especially suddenly. And if ya don't die..gje intrusive thoughts and million other symptoms will get ya
Oh ya..I can't go half a day b4 all hell starts to take over. Now on valium which longer lasting and trying to taper.. slowly. I may be on for life cause going off uhhh..well hell pm earth tbh
Cold-turkeyed off of Xanax six years ago. Have made steady improvements, but recovery is SLOW. Still have waves and windows, but for some, the recovery process is much slower than usually reported.
I cold turkeyed off of Xanax on Feb 15, 2019, (I keep getting this next part confused, the years)... so I will now be going into year 6, and I'm still not well. I have gotten a hell of a lot better though, and hopefully will continue to do so. Lately I have been getting waves of nausea, and can't eat when nauseous. I had really bad nausea at the beginning too, and lost 62 lbs in just a couple of months! I just cannot wait for this nightmare to be over! 🥺🫢
@icedcoffee8561 I was about to same..not sure how they do it without immense suffering, torture. Hell on earth. Cold turkey is fatal..even weaning can be. Please people don't cold turkey. You'll either die or want to
@ministryofpeacekmk cause you cold turkeyed. Oh good Lord I could never. I'd end up jumping off a damn bridge. Weaning is the way to go and evn thats hell. Congrats though and I hope u get relief soon. Benzos are the devil itself and hugs
Hello! I wanted to ask about benzo injury and long term withdrawals. Is the long term withdrawal due to too much glutamate? I know we can’t really trust pharma.. but there’s a drug called memantine. Could memantine help with these long term symptoms some people have when they quit benzo’s or when benzo’s turn on someone? I heard memantine will reduce glutamate which might be what’s causing these systems. The nonstop anxiety, impending doom.. electrical tremors and other excitatory symptoms. I know this specific injury happens with lyrica and gabapentin as well.
If u think and know u need to be back up or reinstated..do not hesitate. I've done it myself and then admitted to doctor which was scary cause I was worried she'd completely cut me off and I'd die..but she had never seen me in that state and we are trying to work this out slowly..i demanded it or id sue. She doesn't understand. I looked her square in eyes and said u take these things for 30 days and report back how ya feel day 31. I have been on these things for like 20 years. GOD HELP ME
Mine did and I'm going back Monday to go back up a notch cause this is a very slow process. Especially if u don't want the most severe symptoms that I can barley speak about..so traumatizing
I am 22months off benzos after 6 weeks xanax , 3x 0,5 mg daily....then did a rapid raper ....then slower....one year taper.... My main symptoms are extreme exhaustion ( nearly home/bedbound) , numbness in both of my feet , brain fog.... There are none( to little) windows and no improvements of symptoms so very discouraging😢 I had cfs before this benzo road....so even more difficult to know if i will ever improve /heal. ❤
In my case, it was in 2017 that I stopped the BZD after a short course of just 14 tabs on and off around a month. I stopped CT and went into acute withdrawal for about a month but also went into protracted and then BIND. 5 months off, my genitals suddenly went numb and tingling. I suspect this is PSSD as well.
Doctors / Pharma industry are responsible for prescribing them in the first place. First, They make you dependent later advice to taper down or go for detox for months, who a working person could afford to be hospitalized for months?
Im 30 months dr josef do t fresk me out. Alot left but i still ha e hesd sx dpdr anedonia tingling numb hesring distorted things sound awful. Is there anything i can do.
My daughter was mute from protracted withdrawal (stopped cold turkey), not showering/hygiene and not controlling her bladder/bowels [paranoid that the toilets were too dirty]. She had to go back on drugs and now were slowly trying to withdrawal her. It's horrible for the parents/loved ones to watch someone go through this and their are not even aware of what's happening.
While trying to taper off clonazapam with valium..Holy Lord..my body was like a contortionist. I thought I was having an exorcism with no one there. I begged for mercy..it was so scary..that was the first little tiny drop of clonazapam to valium. Oh Lord I've been to hospital couple times almost dying or feeling like it and not many people get it. I'm so glad you got your daughters back. Doing it alone is terrifying and lonely
My daughter was put back on Rsiperdone, Lithium & Ativan for 3 weeks while they locked her up (threatening to conserve her for a year). But fortunately, we got her out and started tapering her right away. She doing better now (able to speak, work and drive again). We will try to taper at a slower rate this time (she's tried to get off them 10 in last 6 years).
Sorry to hear about your daughter as well. Hopefully, she'll follow Dr. Josef as well as Dr. Peter Breggin's advice on how to slowly withdrawal.@@SoldierGirlz2
from benzos age 17-63, now, stable from slo detox, i would like to give u a life changing tool that changed my whole life and got me thru that 2 yrs and life to come. Please buy her a book by Dr. Caroline Leaf called Detox your Brain. She utilizes several tools, one being Neuroplasticity, teaching how we can flip our brain path from neg to positive in 21 days..i had been agoraphobic, panicking all sober days since puberty. Yet with it., i experienced Less anxiety coming off them than the level i had before. I feel the way we Think when we approach this process, is the key to our success or failure. The process wasn't near as bad as the dread of the 47 yrs i "put off" putting them down. The things i learned from her are so simple, yet the world's best-kept secret. She is on you tube, as well and i wish everyone would get that book. ur daughter's brain will be firing back up, and oh how great it would be, if she turned it back on in the most powerful ways she teaches..Ahead of anything, my journey has been led by an attentive shepherd named Jesus, who guided me to the right places at the right times. Prayers for your daughter's long, stable, content life..
im dealing with all its been 15 months ive lost everything now im back on them and im withdrawaling while on them i want off but my doc is just push more meds when i asked to get off them im dead broke lost my job my house im fkd and i want to dye it wont go awayt
Hi I need serious help 😭 i am 3 years off withdrawal very much struggling lately been diagnosed with cancer. It's been a month am deteriorating mentally n physically. I am having all acute symptoms come back as I took antibiotics for just 3 days for a infection related to cancer. Now I am unable to take any treatments am just having panic attacks aggression anger 24/7. My family doesn't belive I still have withdrawal years later.i am so freaked out am I able to go to hospital for check up and tests that needs to be done. One of the doctors told my family to just admit Me for physc treatment n cancer both and I know if I ger admitted they ll make me worse. I dono what to do . Am just 40
My father is 86 years old and took a medication for over 40 years he slowly went off of it. He went to go pick up his medicine and they didn’t make it anymore. Well the insomnia was evident for about two years plus and now he can just either sit in a chair, or lie down. He still claims that he does not sleep at all, but because of his age, it’s very difficult to watch. He’s a shell of a person, sometimes he feels like he’s going insane. He did take about a year and a half to go off of it but why in the last bit he just completely fell of course you can’t make the pill tiny enough so the last tiny amount is what did him and he sees a good doctor now, but it doesn’t matter no matter what they give him to resolve some of the issues he has had every single symptom you could imagine, last time I spoke to him he told me I would never see him again. He would probably just die this way because of his age he had to move away closer to one of his children he’s just exist. He cannot watch TV. He cannot read. He was an artist painted beautiful paintings. He can’t do anything.
I'm 4 years free from Xanax. I'm in the protracted phase & I'm still have residual symptoms, anxiety, panic attacks, mild agoraphobia, tinnitus, cog fog, brain zaps, headaches, migraines, dizziness, sensitivity to certain foods, sounds, led lights, GI issues, bloating, constant nausea, dull stomach pains & spasms, forced to eat small, alot of waves & easily get setbacks, shortness of breath. I thought I would be better this far out. I'm far from it. I feel stuck like I'm not getting any better. I'm bit worried because my whole body is out of whack, I may develop some kind of serious illness. 😢
How long were you taking xanax for and what dosage? Just curious because I was taking 1mg a day for 3 years, been off almost a year now but my anxiety symptoms are insane and worse then they ever were before ever taking a xanax.
@@Codeman528hz I was taking Xanax as needed for 30 years. .25 to .50 mg as needed but never daily. My 8 last years were more often than before. Today I'm getting slowly better. I'm definitely not 100% back. I believe once our cns has been damaged or disrupted by these pills it's hard to get back to normal. It's like a soldier going to war & experiencing, seeing all that comes home their never the same. It's a up hill recovery.
Some people are trying to put a more accurate description in the name, so someone came up with...BIND, so instead of explaining that you have "benzo withdrawals", and go through the whole story of what our symptoms are, BIND is pretty much self explanatory if you just break it down to what it means... BIND= Benzodiazapine Induced Neurological Disorder Protracted just means that you are still ill after a certain amount of time... it starts at somewhere around a year out (the amount of time is not written in stone though... just what the "community" came up with, I guess). So if you are still ill with BIND after about a year (not sure of the official amount of time), or more, it is protracted. Now whether or not it will stay as "protracted withdrawals", or if they change it to "protracted BIND" remains to be seen. 🤷🏼♀️
I'm not a doctor. How long did you take it for and how much? Did you cold turkey or taper? You've gone 22 months which is a HUGE amount of time. So you have to keep on going. Your brain will recover. But you might have a bit of time still to go. But your breakthrough might come any day. Great job! It's the hardest thing ever! Keep on going. You've got this. You CAN do it!
I have been in Protracted WD since 11-7-2019. I was taken off 1.5 mg Xanax, CT, taken for 24 years, at a Rehab. Also taken off Hydrocodone at the same time, after 12 years. My biggest problem is constant abdominal pain, plus the other more common PW symptoms. I pretty much do not have much of a life. It seems to be getting worse rather than better. I am not having much in the way of windows. I do recall three times, but only for 1 day each time. I am pretty much lost. I plan to make an appt with Dr Witt-Doerring.
I'm similar. I CT off 3 mgs of Xanax that I had been on for 7 years, on Feb 15, 2019, and am in protracted wd. I am pretty much housebound and bedbound with recurring symptoms. I am currently riding a wave of nausea again. I haven't had nausea since the first 9 months...and I lost 62 lbs in the first couple of months back then bc I couldn't eat at all! A lot of people in BIND experience stomach pains at some time during their journey...we are all different. I experienced mine at 7 months out, where I had so much stomach pain out of nowhere (I wasn't even sure at this time that the WDs were the cause of me being so sick, bc the doctors were denying it!). I ended up calling 911 for myself bc I was home alone and couldn't drive...still haven't driven since, either. I was in the hospital for 3 days this time where they performed many tests, including an endoscopy. I had to go back for a HIDA test to make sure that my bile and other ducts weren't clogged. Everything turned out negative! I, and a lot of others wasted a lot of money on tests that were not needed. Now I'm not saying to ignore this, bc there is always the chance that it could be something else. We are all so very different though, and we just have to use our own best judgement after going over all information that we could gather. 🙏
Hi dr, all your video's are Awesome! I know this video is all about Benzos and protracted withdrawals. I also have protracted withdrawals but from opiates. Im 11 months off them but still struggle from withdrawals i feel like it will never end! I had a very bad leg injury and multiple surgerys i was on opiates for 3 years and stopped cold Turkey. I should have tapered but had no idea this whould happen to me! Ive been looking for a video of yours thats all about opiates and protracted withdrawals but cant seem to find one. Thankyou for all your help to everyone out there struggling with this horrible disease!
I cold turkey for 16 day the last 2 days was really the only time it was really bad so had to reinstate ...just,depression crying ,,couldnt relax ,out of sorts with everything ,,would u say thats protracted or not
I am in this but I was on them for years prescribed and cold turkey taken off. It’s been non stop hell for 19 months. I can’t even call it fear. It’s like total loss of life and ability. I may sleep a couple hours and jolt awake in terror that lasts all day. No rest ever. 50 other terrible symptoms. Constant hellish fear and terror.
@@MrPeterISABELLA NO..I took it for about 2 WEEKS..and as soon as I started cutting down all hell broke loose..I started feeling better about 3 years later
Doctor please help me I was prescribed by a doctor of lorazepam 2mg twice a day & I ate it for 5 months & last four months I stopped taking the drug & I'm not feeling good, getting so much pain in my body , what can I do now so that withdrawal does not come
This is what happened to me and I learned to never just stop taking it. You have to taper off slowly. I am off these now after six months and my brain is zapping me and my head feels heavy. I will not travel, I am scared to be alone. It feels like my life has been taking away from me. The noise in my ears and head never stops. All because of these stupid pills ,I was told would help my anxiety. Now I am living a complete nightmare. I went from glamorous life happy, dancing, travelling to scared I will fall because my brain feels sideways. I honestly don’t know how much I can take of this much longer. I will say this, you really know who your friends and family are during this time. I was always helping others financially and advice and now only very few are there for me. A real reality check. I cherish the few I have and I am very grateful. Lorazepam is the worst thing I could have ever taken. I was warned not to and I thought oh no this is just a tiny pill and it’s like 1.mg. Wow! All because I was having anxiety with PMS . Sorry, Im writing a book. I wish someone will tell me why my brain is this way and if it will go away. I would do anything to have myself back again. I will live in a tent to get me back. Honestly. FYI … went for a MRI because I begged my doctor and I jumped out and could not handle the claustrophobic feeling. I honestly could even make this up. Now I know nothing if my brain is okay. Thanks for listening to me vent.
So.. six days CT (not my choice, I have a crappy Dr) - I'm finally feeling human .. does this mean I'm out of the woods? Or I have the future to worry about? Was hoping I'd hear something positive for a change... I'm tired of being held hostage by the drug, tbh.
Thank you for trying to explain but you missed the mark. You can't be expected to understand the unrelenting torment for years on end if you haven't lived it so I forgive you and thank you for trying.
Well, I'm in year 6 of being too weak to walk. I have been to many doctors. Ran many tests. "Nothing" is wrong. It sure feels like it may be permanent.
@@G9ldieLochs I've read quite a few comments from people suffering from very severe leg pain and many have said they are bed bound. And some day's I can barely walk because my leg's are so very weak so I'm guessing anything is possible with benzo protracted withdrawals.
Thank you for explaining it is not linear healing... I had to go back up to be normal and slowly protracted symptoms come and I try to stay on my dose.
@andreaurbinajohnson7888 Hang in there. If you're dealing with protracted withdrawal then healing takes a lot of time. What are you tapering from and what's your current dose? Are you dry cutting or liquid tapering?
Thanks for the comment. It can be discouraging to find out what’s happening. There is a great community around this though that I hope will help you find more hope and answers.
Can you or some professional give relevant timelime for protracted withdraw? Start with Dose and months on it. So people can get a better understanding Example; It seems to be people on lorazapam 1mg for 4>6 months and 8 months to become normal again. Living with hell. After 12 to 24 months, they say they are healed.
Can I p.m. you what happened to me coming off 6mg clonazapm and 80mg methadon at the same time?,(not by my choice)It's almost 6 years later... I've been through hell and still having an extremely hard time. You are stating the facts, and the best doctor I've seen goes into depth on this issue. 👏
Just got out of treatment 8 days ago. Checked myself in after 10+ years of benzo use prescribed. I have been watching videos and reading all over the internet. This is extremely accurate as I have literally everything you speak of. Tinnitus is crippling, brain not making sense/not reliable, muscles weak, eyes are sensitive, nueroapaty, teeth grinding all day, fever feeling, waves of headaches and dizziness, unsure of everything and an overall feeling of being slow and beaten down.
I can list more.
Nothing makes this more comfortable, time is the only cure. This is by far the hardest thing ive ever done in 37 years.
One day at a time.
Thanks for the video.
I totally get it and congrats on trying and doing it..benzos are whole diff beast. Oh my. Lethal to not take..NEVER go cold turkey... amongst like a 100 plus symptoms that you end up thinking bad thoughts and it is scary as eff. I was prescribed benzos to shut me up at 15 and it has been a ride. Now on valium..longer lasting and slowly trying to wean. The withdrawal I wish on no one and it can last years!
Yes it will be the hardest thing you've probably done and I don't even know ya. Keep going. Not many can get off this evil
proud of u
Ewww detox off benzos quickly can cause issues for many years. 😢
I went thru protracted benzo withdrawal for about 3 years ...I had ZERO windows...it was bad the entire time but very slowly got better after my taper ended. I also had very bad sensetivity to sounds, light, hot or cold, severe muscle spasms, tinnitus, constant headache and flu like symptoms, burning skin and tongue, all my teeth hurt, my teeth chattered for nearly 2 years nonstop, muscle twitching, restless leg syndrome, severe depression and anxiety, severe agoraphobia and monophobia, lightning bolt like shocks going through my brain and body, my vision also had wavy lines in it at times SEVERE insomnia...many many many days of ZERO sleep followed by at the most 2 hours of nightmare filled terror sleep ( this insomnia went on for nearly 2 years...I don't know how I survived it) I could barely walk at times and everything was COMPLETELY overwhelming to me, many nights I would ask God to either heal me or please kill me because I can't take this any more ..and I was only on Ativan for about 2 weeks... the Ativan stopped working after about a week and I upped the dose to about 1.5 Mg for another week and it stopped working... then I started reading about it and decided to try to taper off.... THAT is when literally all hell broke loose .... I have since made a COMPETE RECOVERY and am back to 100% normal. PRAISE GOD.
I am almost 28 months since my last dose of Klonopin and still have problems. I had a few of the issues you mentioned that are mostly gone but my main issues still are dizziness and head pressure. Caffeine will make it bad and so does any kind of intense activity like exercise. A lot of body aches and pains and fatigue like I have fibromyalgia. Did you have any of that?
@@joshmarkowitz1595 YES...Exercise would make it TERRIBLE!!! and Caffeine was bad also...all that has faded away and I am completely back to normal...YOu will also get back to normal!!! If you want to hear my story...Here it is...she left out many of the symptoms...but you get the idea... ua-cam.com/video/595-neD7Zrc/v-deo.html
How long did your taper take?
@@AlbaLynxQueen About 2.5 years.
Same here, I was 33 years on lorazepam and was stopped much to quick, now my legs and feet are shaking and cramping 18 hours a Day since 30 month's. Will this torture ever stop?
Hell on earth. Sheer torture and these drugs are still legal.
The system is screwed
Torture in the pits of hell 🥺
Yup. My channel is dedicated to benzo recovery. They are demonic. It has caused so much harm and the pharma companies know full well about it but want cash and nothing but that. Never trust a doctor prescribing anything. Many barely know a thing about it. Dr. Josef is a Blessing. Those pills are filthy.
Im scared to get off my meds because of this
After my experience with withdrawals, I strongly believe that it creates a trauma. That it creates a PTSD. That you get flashbacks that bring you right back to the worst time of the withdrawals just like a soldier coming back from war or a rape victim or an abused child. I'm not a doctor or a psychiatrist but after reading Dr. van der Kolk's book The Body Keeps the Score on trauma, benzo withdrawal checks all of the boxes of trauma and PTSD.
I agree
Very much and med system gaslighting. I did not have ptsd before this and im not even off just a tad reduced
I agree 100 percent
6 years off and I’m not healed at all. So many people share my story. Were dismissed as having other issues. I only took it as a sleeping pill. Now I can’t function. My whole world has changed.
What are you still dealing with now I’m just curious
@VRO911 probably the same symptoms as before they started.
People act like they were perfectly healthy before... if you go see a Dr, it's not because you're healthy.
@@VRO911 Have intense insomnia. I sleep a few hours a night. Wake with severe anxiety and panic. My energy and mood are very down. I didn’t have any of these issues prior to Xanax. Had no idea what it could do to my brain.
I hear ya. I was put on benzos at 15 to shut me up cause I speak truth. Well I can't even imagine what my brain looks like. I've been on a few through the years cause they eventually start wearing off and they up ya and omg..just evil. Now on valium..a boatload. That was even hard. It doesn't even feel like it works sometimes..but I'm weaning. Hell on earth. Please people..do not let them give you something to "sleep" or anxiety. It will amplify it times a million one day and u won't sleep. You will go through hell on earth. To all who are trying to get off..I salute you..this is a whole other beast
It changes the brain! No one tells ya this at 15/16 in my case and get this.. 30 days later I was full blown physically addicted and I couldn't drive. I got myself to the "doc" and he denied giving me more. I did not take that well..I did drive to er though cause I'm like wtf?!? Well now on valium cause it is very long lasting for anyone out there struggling. Slowly wean and there are times. I'm like I ain't ever coming off..nope. can't do the withdrawal..u wanna die or will. That's how evil this is. I hope n pray I cam eventually get off cause I'm not even 4o and not looking forward to dementia and bs from this hell!
One weekend while visiting family I forgot my lorazepam. The withdrawal started within a day and by the second day I was feeling horrible as if I might die.
My doctor said to never stop cold turkey. Well, being 100 miles away made it impossible to get home for the medicine.
As for the tinnitus, that is why my doctor prescribed the benzo in the first place, twelve years ago.
I don't want to ever feel this way again. I'm almost 68 years old.
I went on vacation once and forgot my Xanax, along with my other meds. I called my doctor's office and had them call my prescriptions into a local pharmacy, enough of each medication until I got back home.
People must be proactive when it comes to things like this.
EDIT: Yeah, it cost me out of pocket for the meds, but I would do it again in a heartbeat!
*I'm just writing this as info for the next person who reads this. 😊
You're lucky ya didn't die.. withdrawal from these devil pills is lethal..especially suddenly. And if ya don't die..gje intrusive thoughts and million other symptoms will get ya
That is very good advice. 👍🏻
Oh ya..I can't go half a day b4 all hell starts to take over. Now on valium which longer lasting and trying to taper.. slowly. I may be on for life cause going off uhhh..well hell pm earth tbh
@jessikatkins1173 I always have a few on me too just incase. Mentally It helps too just knowing u got them
Cold-turkeyed off of Xanax six years ago. Have made steady improvements, but recovery is SLOW. Still have waves and windows, but for some, the recovery process is much slower than usually reported.
for real i been of xanax for 2 years and 3 mounth still struggle with alot of visions problems
I cold turkeyed off of Xanax on Feb 15, 2019, (I keep getting this next part confused, the years)... so I will now be going into year 6, and I'm still not well. I have gotten a hell of a lot better though, and hopefully will continue to do so.
Lately I have been getting waves of nausea, and can't eat when nauseous. I had really bad nausea at the beginning too, and lost 62 lbs in just a couple of months! I just cannot wait for this nightmare to be over! 🥺🫢
Cold turkey off xanax is absolutely insane
@icedcoffee8561 I was about to same..not sure how they do it without immense suffering, torture.
Hell on earth. Cold turkey is fatal..even weaning can be. Please people don't cold turkey. You'll either die or want to
@ministryofpeacekmk cause you cold turkeyed. Oh good Lord I could never. I'd end up jumping off a damn bridge. Weaning is the way to go and evn thats hell. Congrats though and I hope u get relief soon. Benzos are the devil itself and hugs
Hello! I wanted to ask about benzo injury and long term withdrawals. Is the long term withdrawal due to too much glutamate? I know we can’t really trust pharma.. but there’s a drug called memantine. Could memantine help with these long term symptoms some people have when they quit benzo’s or when benzo’s turn on someone? I heard memantine will reduce glutamate which might be what’s causing these systems. The nonstop anxiety, impending doom.. electrical tremors and other excitatory symptoms. I know this specific injury happens with lyrica and gabapentin as well.
Do you ever put your patients back on a benzo such as valium if their protracted withdrawal is severe?
If u think and know u need to be back up or reinstated..do not hesitate. I've done it myself and then admitted to doctor which was scary cause I was worried she'd completely cut me off and I'd die..but she had never seen me in that state and we are trying to work this out slowly..i demanded it or id sue. She doesn't understand. I looked her square in eyes and said u take these things for 30 days and report back how ya feel day 31. I have been on these things for like 20 years. GOD HELP ME
Mine did and I'm going back Monday to go back up a notch cause this is a very slow process. Especially if u don't want the most severe symptoms that I can barley speak about..so traumatizing
It is not recommended, as you can cause worse and long term damage. Look up "kindling".
@@ministryofpeacekmk I know..:(
@@MeghenFarleyhow are you feeling now? I'm 5 months off V after 26 years. Rapid hospital detox in 24 days. I'm in the waves and windows phase.
Doctor Josef, horrible side effects are soooo painful. My head is on fire and it needs a rest from all the brain zaps.
I am 22months off benzos after 6 weeks xanax , 3x 0,5 mg daily....then did a rapid raper ....then slower....one year taper....
My main symptoms are extreme exhaustion ( nearly home/bedbound) , numbness in both of my feet , brain fog....
There are none( to little) windows and no improvements of symptoms so very discouraging😢
I had cfs before this benzo road....so even more difficult to know if i will ever improve /heal.
❤
In my case, it was in 2017 that I stopped the BZD after a short course of just 14 tabs on and off around a month. I stopped CT and went into acute withdrawal for about a month but also went into protracted and then BIND. 5 months off, my genitals suddenly went numb and tingling. I suspect this is PSSD as well.
Doctors / Pharma industry are responsible for prescribing them in the first place. First, They make you dependent later advice to taper down or go for detox for months, who a working person could afford to be hospitalized for months?
Thank you so much! This is so helpful
Im 30 months dr josef do t fresk me out. Alot left but i still ha e hesd sx dpdr anedonia tingling numb hesring distorted things sound awful. Is there anything i can do.
My daughter was mute from protracted withdrawal (stopped cold turkey), not showering/hygiene and not controlling her bladder/bowels [paranoid that the toilets were too dirty]. She had to go back on drugs and now were slowly trying to withdrawal her. It's horrible for the parents/loved ones to watch someone go through this and their are not even aware of what's happening.
Cold turkey is criminal! All of this is. Hope she doing ok..hugs 🙏 ❤️
While trying to taper off clonazapam with valium..Holy Lord..my body was like a contortionist. I thought I was having an exorcism with no one there. I begged for mercy..it was so scary..that was the first little tiny drop of clonazapam to valium. Oh Lord I've been to hospital couple times almost dying or feeling like it and not many people get it. I'm so glad you got your daughters back. Doing it alone is terrifying and lonely
My daughter was put back on Rsiperdone, Lithium & Ativan for 3 weeks while they locked her up (threatening to conserve her for a year). But fortunately, we got her out and started tapering her right away. She doing better now (able to speak, work and drive again). We will try to taper at a slower rate this time (she's tried to get off them 10 in last 6 years).
Sorry to hear about your daughter as well. Hopefully, she'll follow Dr. Josef as well as Dr. Peter Breggin's advice on how to slowly withdrawal.@@SoldierGirlz2
from benzos age 17-63, now, stable from slo detox, i would like to give u a life changing tool that changed my whole life and got me thru that 2 yrs and life to come. Please buy her a book by Dr. Caroline Leaf called Detox your Brain. She utilizes several tools, one being Neuroplasticity, teaching how we can flip our brain path from neg to positive in 21 days..i had been agoraphobic, panicking all sober days since puberty. Yet with it., i experienced Less anxiety coming off them than the level i had before. I feel the way we Think when we approach this process, is the key to our success or failure. The process wasn't near as bad as the dread of the 47 yrs i "put off" putting them down. The things i learned from her are so simple, yet the world's best-kept secret. She is on you tube, as well and i wish everyone would get that book. ur daughter's brain will be firing back up, and oh how great it would be, if she turned it back on in the most powerful ways she teaches..Ahead of anything, my journey has been led by an attentive shepherd named Jesus, who guided me to the right places at the right times. Prayers for your daughter's long, stable, content life..
Im in protracted 30 months. How long can this possibility take its so scary
So sorry!!
Where is your clinic situated?
Utah, Heber City
im dealing with all its been 15 months ive lost everything now im back on them and im withdrawaling while on them i want off but my doc is just push more meds when i asked to get off them im dead broke lost my job my house im fkd and i want to dye it wont go awayt
Hi I need serious help 😭 i am 3 years off withdrawal very much struggling lately been diagnosed with cancer. It's been a month am deteriorating mentally n physically. I am having all acute symptoms come back as I took antibiotics for just 3 days for a infection related to cancer. Now I am unable to take any treatments am just having panic attacks aggression anger 24/7. My family doesn't belive I still have withdrawal years later.i am so freaked out am I able to go to hospital for check up and tests that needs to be done. One of the doctors told my family to just admit Me for physc treatment n cancer both and I know if I ger admitted they ll make me worse. I dono what to do . Am just 40
Dr Josef, it’s been six months and there’s no waves or windows. The pain is still crippling, are you sure about this?
I think its way worse my sx were intense for months torchure. 30 months off still scsry no windows
My father is 86 years old and took a medication for over 40 years he slowly went off of it. He went to go pick up his medicine and they didn’t make it anymore. Well the insomnia was evident for about two years plus and now he can just either sit in a chair, or lie down. He still claims that he does not sleep at all, but because of his age, it’s very difficult to watch. He’s a shell of a person, sometimes he feels like he’s going insane. He did take about a year and a half to go off of it but why in the last bit he just completely fell of course you can’t make the pill tiny enough so the last tiny amount is what did him and he sees a good doctor now, but it doesn’t matter no matter what they give him to resolve some of the issues he has had every single symptom you could imagine, last time I spoke to him he told me I would never see him again. He would probably just die this way because of his age he had to move away closer to one of his children he’s just exist. He cannot watch TV. He cannot read. He was an artist painted beautiful paintings. He can’t do anything.
Try the ketogenic diet. Research Dr. Ede on youtube.
Thank u for making videos
I'm 4 years free from Xanax. I'm in the protracted phase & I'm still have residual symptoms, anxiety, panic attacks, mild agoraphobia, tinnitus, cog fog, brain zaps, headaches, migraines, dizziness, sensitivity to certain foods, sounds, led lights, GI issues, bloating, constant nausea, dull stomach pains & spasms, forced to eat small, alot of waves & easily get setbacks, shortness of breath. I thought I would be better this far out. I'm far from it. I feel stuck like I'm not getting any better. I'm bit worried because my whole body is out of whack, I may develop some kind of serious illness. 😢
I have all of this too.
How long were you taking xanax for and what dosage? Just curious because I was taking 1mg a day for 3 years, been off almost a year now but my anxiety symptoms are insane and worse then they ever were before ever taking a xanax.
@@Codeman528hz I was taking Xanax as needed for 30 years.
.25 to .50 mg as needed but never daily. My 8 last years were more often than before. Today I'm getting slowly better. I'm definitely not 100% back. I believe once our cns has been damaged or disrupted by these pills it's hard to get back to normal. It's like a soldier going to war & experiencing, seeing all that comes home their never the same. It's a up hill recovery.
I’ve been on 2 mg clonazepam daily for 11 months, not prescribed. How fast can I taper off? I want to be off in 2 months.
I have fibromyalgia as well so don’t know what is what. I want of these meds please please. Is there a taper doctor in Sydney 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I can’t think properly, moods horrific, intense reactions emotional. It’s horrific no one here in Sydney does slow tapering 😩😩😩
Hello, I’m having a difficult time differentiating between protracted withdrawal and Bind. Could you please help me understand?
Some people are trying to put a more accurate description in the name, so someone came up with...BIND, so instead of explaining that you have "benzo withdrawals", and go through the whole story of what our symptoms are, BIND is pretty much self explanatory if you just break it down to what it means...
BIND=
Benzodiazapine
Induced
Neurological
Disorder
Protracted just means that you are still ill after a certain amount of time... it starts at somewhere around a year out (the amount of time is not written in stone though... just what the "community" came up with, I guess).
So if you are still ill with BIND after about a year (not sure of the official amount of time), or more, it is protracted. Now whether or not it will stay as "protracted withdrawals", or if they change it to "protracted BIND" remains to be seen. 🤷🏼♀️
Never had a window... 22m off. Is it permanent?
No. It's not permanent. Hang in there.
I'm not a doctor. How long did you take it for and how much? Did you cold turkey or taper? You've gone 22 months which is a HUGE amount of time. So you have to keep on going. Your brain will recover. But you might have a bit of time still to go. But your breakthrough might come any day. Great job! It's the hardest thing ever! Keep on going. You've got this. You CAN do it!
Did u cold turkey? I sure hope not.
@@Ginsing88I needed to hear this BAD
@@MeghenFarley saying you sure hope not can only freak people out more. Many like myself were cold turkeyed against their will. Have some compassion.
I have been in Protracted WD since 11-7-2019. I was taken off 1.5 mg Xanax, CT, taken for 24 years, at a Rehab. Also taken off Hydrocodone at the same time, after 12 years. My biggest problem is constant abdominal pain, plus the other more common PW symptoms. I pretty much do not have much of a life. It seems to be getting worse rather than better. I am not having much in the way of windows. I do recall three times, but only for 1 day each time. I am pretty much lost. I plan to make an appt with Dr Witt-Doerring.
I'm similar. I CT off 3 mgs of Xanax that I had been on for 7 years, on Feb 15, 2019, and am in protracted wd. I am pretty much housebound and bedbound with recurring symptoms. I am currently riding a wave of nausea again. I haven't had nausea since the first 9 months...and I lost 62 lbs in the first couple of months back then bc I couldn't eat at all!
A lot of people in BIND experience stomach pains at some time during their journey...we are all different. I experienced mine at 7 months out, where I had so much stomach pain out of nowhere (I wasn't even sure at this time that the WDs were the cause of me being so sick, bc the doctors were denying it!). I ended up calling 911 for myself bc I was home alone and couldn't drive...still haven't driven since, either. I was in the hospital for 3 days this time where they performed many tests, including an endoscopy. I had to go back for a HIDA test to make sure that my bile and other ducts weren't clogged. Everything turned out negative! I, and a lot of others wasted a lot of money on tests that were not needed.
Now I'm not saying to ignore this, bc there is always the chance that it could be something else. We are all so very different though, and we just have to use our own best judgement after going over all information that we could gather. 🙏
Hi dr, all your video's are Awesome! I know this video is all about Benzos and protracted withdrawals. I also have protracted withdrawals but from opiates. Im 11 months off them but still struggle from withdrawals i feel like it will never end! I had a very bad leg injury and multiple surgerys i was on opiates for 3 years and stopped cold Turkey. I should have tapered but had no idea this whould happen to me! Ive been looking for a video of yours thats all about opiates and protracted withdrawals but cant seem to find one. Thankyou for all your help to everyone out there struggling with this horrible disease!
This seems to happen to more than just you. Opiates also affect the brain somehow.
I cold turkey for 16 day the last 2 days was really the only time it was really bad so had to reinstate ...just,depression crying ,,couldnt relax ,out of sorts with everything ,,would u say thats protracted or not
Protracted means over 18 months. So no. Not protracted or even close. Just horrible acute withdrawal
Oddly...during my entire 2.5 year taper... I had ZERO windows... for about 2 years...that was nonstop hell.
I am in this but I was on them for years prescribed and cold turkey taken off. It’s been non stop hell for 19 months. I can’t even call it fear. It’s like total loss of life and ability. I may sleep a couple hours and jolt awake in terror that lasts all day. No rest ever. 50 other terrible symptoms. Constant hellish fear and terror.
Are u OK now?
@@MrPeterISABELLA Yes..I am 100% back to normal...thanks! This all started in about early 2016...
@@Q1776Q so you took lorazapam for 2.5 years and took 2 years to feel normal?
@@MrPeterISABELLA NO..I took it for about 2 WEEKS..and as soon as I started cutting down all hell broke loose..I started feeling better about 3 years later
i had lorzepma for 10 years i stopped taking in 15.08.2024 now its been 25 days am feeling bettre .
Doctor please help me I was prescribed by a doctor of lorazepam 2mg twice a day & I ate it for 5 months & last four months I stopped taking the drug & I'm not feeling good, getting so much pain in my body , what can I do now so that withdrawal does not come
This is what happened to me and I learned to never just stop taking it. You have to taper off slowly. I am off these now after six months and my brain is zapping me and my head feels heavy. I will not travel, I am scared to be alone. It feels like my life has been taking away from me. The noise in my ears and head never stops. All because of these stupid pills ,I was told would help my anxiety. Now I am living a complete nightmare. I went from glamorous life happy, dancing, travelling to scared I will fall because my brain feels sideways. I honestly don’t know how much I can take of this much longer. I will say this, you really know who your friends and family are during this time. I was always helping others financially and advice and now only very few are there for me. A real reality check. I cherish the few I have and I am very grateful. Lorazepam is the worst thing I could have ever taken. I was warned not to and I thought oh no this is just a tiny pill and it’s like 1.mg. Wow! All because I was having anxiety with PMS . Sorry, Im writing a book. I wish someone will tell me why my brain is this way and if it will go away. I would do anything to have myself back again. I will live in a tent to get me back. Honestly. FYI … went for a MRI because I begged my doctor and I jumped out and could not handle the claustrophobic feeling. I honestly could even make this up. Now I know nothing if my brain is okay. Thanks for listening to me vent.
So.. six days CT (not my choice, I have a crappy Dr) - I'm finally feeling human .. does this mean I'm out of the woods? Or I have the future to worry about? Was hoping I'd hear something positive for a change... I'm tired of being held hostage by the drug, tbh.
Thank you for trying to explain but you missed the mark. You can't be expected to understand the unrelenting torment for years on end if you haven't lived it so I forgive you and thank you for trying.
Are you the benzo withdrawal gatekeeper
You're not the garekeeper of Benzo withdrawals
Have you seen people become physically "paralyzed " (where legs are too weak to walk)
Have you seen this become a permanent injury?
I've never heard of not walking again being a permanent injury of benzo injury.
Well, I'm in year 6 of being too weak to walk. I have been to many doctors. Ran many tests. "Nothing" is wrong. It sure feels like it may be permanent.
@@G9ldieLochsHow are you doing honey 🙏 I'm scared to death.. my Dr did this to me.. I don't know what to do
@@G9ldieLochs
I've read quite a few comments from people suffering from very severe leg pain and many have said they are bed bound. And some day's I can barely walk because my leg's are so very weak so I'm guessing anything is possible with benzo protracted withdrawals.
@julierogers4473 I'm so sorry. I understand completely. I'm still struggling too.
What do you think of NAD+ IV for people going through very difficult benzo withdrawal
I took it ,no effect.
33 years on lorazepam.
GABA system damaged.😢
I spent $4,000 on it. No effect.
I cannot hear, bad tinnitus, muscle spasms, hell.
Thank you for explaining it is not linear healing... I had to go back up to be normal and slowly protracted symptoms come and I try to stay on my dose.
3 years on benzos
5 years tapering
4 years benzo-free
It gets better. Hang in there.
thank you for saying this. l ve been tapering for almost 3 years, and still miserable
@andreaurbinajohnson7888 Hang in there. If you're dealing with protracted withdrawal then healing takes a lot of time. What are you tapering from and what's your current dose? Are you dry cutting or liquid tapering?
Has anyone heard of the Verona benzo detox method using flumazenil?
Flumazenil is antidotum for benzo like naloxon for opiate.
No it really isn’t
I just saw this, now I'm feeling doomed. 5 months off, and after hearing this thinking, I'll never be normal. At 68 no hope now
Thanks for the comment. It can be discouraging to find out what’s happening. There is a great community around this though that I hope will help you find more hope and answers.
Can you or some professional give relevant timelime for protracted withdraw?
Start with
Dose and months on it.
So people can get a better understanding
Example;
It seems to be people on lorazapam 1mg for 4>6 months and 8 months to become normal again. Living with hell. After 12 to 24 months, they say they are healed.
Well I certainly am not.
Well I feel like death 4 months of misery 😮but light hurts my eyes ears ringin BuT I feel loads better so I must be gettin closer to windows
Can I p.m. you what happened to me coming off 6mg clonazapm and 80mg methadon at the same time?,(not by my choice)It's almost 6 years later... I've been through hell and still having an extremely hard time.
You are stating the facts, and the best doctor I've seen goes into depth on this issue. 👏
Will phenibut help with withdrawal
Omg i had intense for months eeeekkkk