This is an excellent interview. I was on prescribed benzodiazapines for 36+ years and went through HELL when I decided to go off of them. Four years out, I still have a very dysregulated nervous system and really struggle to get through some days. I brought the Ashton manual to my doctor and he was supportive but the first time I tried to go off them, he said he didn't think it was the right time for me. I still vibrate inside, cry randomly and feel on edge a lot and have extreme paroxysmal hypertension that goes so high that I have had a heart attack and a mini stroke from it. Some days I feel fine and other days, it is like my brain and body are on fire. My doctor now says that benzos are the new opiods as far as the crisis level.
Get yourself checked for small fiber peripheral polyneuropathy. I was recently diagnosed with this after cold turkey benzo withdrawal after 29 years, taken as directed. It was my idea to stop taking them, checked with my doctor who told me to "just stop!" I'm 43 months out now, 70 years old. Aside from the SFPN (burning, zapping, itching, hurting, exhaustion, insomnia, migraines) I'm extremely hypersensitive to all my senses. Very anxious. Can no longer regulate my body temperature. My personality is no longer cheerful or optimistic like my old self. I prefer to be completely alone as people increase the ever present anxiety and irritation. My grown children no longer enjoy me, and we were so very close all their life. I had myself checked for dementia and passed all tests. I also have lost my joy. I don't smile or look forward to anything. Do these sound familiar to you? I believe the years of benzos and cold turkey withdrawal damaged me severely.
I'm just so glad to see that your physician realizes what is happening .. that benzos are the "new opioid crises". This gives me hope that the "glass ceiling" will be broken someday. The "damn will break". I've been in this community over 5 years now. We need major mainstream media attention. I want to see this in my lifetime: The Healthcare/medical community readily recognizing these med injuries. Proper education on how to handle those who are already injured, and prevent injuries from ever even happening. Society's views CAN be changed for the good in helping people, and in creating positive change, and in saving lives. It happens all the time. Especially with the internet.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the work you all do. My husband is among the ranks of benzo-injured. He’s been tapering slowly for the past five years (he’s been on them decades for movement disorder). 💚💚
Its stealing my life from me, Like what do I do? how do I help me? I am seeing the VA but it's like it affected my transporters and its doesn't feel good at all, I recommend the medication for those it helps but isn't there some genetic marker we could be testing for to predetermine viability of care before introducing medications that do have such adverse effects even if it's a severely marginal anomaly it is definingly worth the effort in my opinion people are worth that effort to save from BIND it really is terribly awful but I survived worse and will work through it with a smile for the most part. Any tips are welcomed and appreciated this is not easy to figure out and I had no Idea gabapentin could reignite BIND.
I missed 10days of clonazapam had a seizure and cardiac arrest no body linked the incident to clonazapam so been told I've got to stay on it Trish UK 70years old been on them. 7 years now
I was damaged from the first pill.. just didn't know it. Within 3 months I was in a wheelchair.. it's totally destroyed my body. myVegas nerve.. I can't eat. Allergic to everything.. Dysautonomia. Gastroparesis dysbiosis undigested food.. and so much pain. Going blind.
@@julierogers4473 are you off benzos now .. because most all of the BIND/tolerance are reversible, inc. cognitive decline. ❣️ I know if a person who was diagnosed with MS & it turned out to be tolerance symptoms from the Benzo .. she’s good now It just takes time
I had allergies as a child and I definitely think that my multiple food allergies since I've been on these pills must be connected.. as a healthy person, since these pills I'm ill.. (I'm on nothing else and I'm very healthy ..I don't drink, I don't smoke, I'm a normal weight) all I ever had was allergies as a child, which are in my family.. after these pills for a year or two suddenly I'm allergic to every food.. and the usual irritable bowel rubbish that they diagnose everybody with
My pain management doctor destroyed my nervous system when he cut my dose in half in January. On top he added baclofen which is a drug I could not take to begin with.
Baclofen caused huge problems for me with my legs with the resurgence of swelling that I had before.. exact same story.. pain management rubbish.. and my pain management team don't agree with diazepam.. which is totally understandable.. but when you're already on it??.. they have never once prescribed it ..yet they've offered me every single antidepressant, anti epileptic, MS drug and blood pressure drug on the market.. one of the most dangerous specialities at the moment from where I am standing is pain management.. first of all they're not managing pain they're causing side effects.. the only one I've never taken is the depression drugs that were consistently given to me but without telling me what they actually were.. on numerous occasions I have been told this is for pain..
Thank you for what you do. Do u know where I can find help for a Dr that actually cares for their patients and won't rip me off the med so quickly? I have been dealing with mold, lyme, EBV among many other things and it has destroyed my nervous system and brain. My Dr is cutting me back so fast, it's an absolute nightmare.
Can tell you that if you look for de-prescribers, it'll be state dependent, but I've worked with FreeRange Psychiatry, although the Doctor I was working with started her own practice, TrueYou, and I can tell you that both will/would work with you to slowly taper (client-led). Best to you.
@@sallysailor5642Hi. I have a friend trying to quit lorazepam. Is that the inly medication you were on when you quit? My friend is also on antidepressant.
It's going to take you probably 2 years to come off of them extremely slowly at 10% cut intervals every 2 weeks as per the Ashton manual.. do not attempt to come off them in 2 months like the comment underneath unless you want to go literally insane.. and by insane I mean physical symptoms like darting electrical jolts up and down your whole body.. doesn't matter what milligrams you're on.. if you have been on them that amount of years I will give you a minimum of 3 years to come off of them extremely slowly.. do not attempt any cut less than 10%.. try and come off them on your own slowly.. ie be very careful if you say one word to the wrong Dr you'll be ripped cold turkey off them
@@basketballfan5763 I don't know but some years ago I always be able to taper until one or half tablet of lorazepam without any major issue in just one month. But I don't know now...
@sallysailor5642 how did you know how much b. I am taking and why you answered with the suggestion to take vitamins typically taken by whom has thyroid problem? And also, why your comment disappeared now?!? Mmm.... IA? Or who you were? Sorry, but I noticed that.
My psychiatrist knows nothing about benzo tapering I went to a detox in 2022 after being on Klonopin for 8 months and after 5 days on Valium they sent me home with nothing 3 days later I went into withdrawal with burning skin, tinnitus, tremor, and insomnia and reinstated the 3rd night I just crossed over from K to V My dose was .75 and my doc gave me 15 mg of v It was too sedating as was 10 mg I’m taking 5mg now and still able to sleep and I’m stopping the small Pieces of k I’ve been taking for 3 weeks or so I don’t know if I’m doing it right and I’m terrified
I was severely injured from Xanax....AND ...it's abrupt withdrawal that the doctor did to me. It took me over 30 years to recover about 50%....have never fully recovered...😢😢😢
@BOCHOMO it was 30 years ago, so it is hard to remember, but it was not high. Maybe only 1.25 to 1.50 per day. I had severe seizures when the psychiatrist did NOT taper me. Then he threw me in a mental hospital, lying, saying , I would never be able to work again,, lying about antipsychotics,, lying about many things to my parents,, lying about dopamine, lying about side effects, lying about psychological tests, lying on reports, lying to collect insurance money.. lying to be in a position of power,,, lying about how the drugs were necessary,, lying about destruction of the cranial nerves and recticular formation. He was an evil liar.
@blairsterling6141 I was just wondering how you knew what was happening to you since it was so many years ago. I found out 2 yrs ago by going online and frantically researching benzo help. I found BIC and Benzobuddies and it was a lifesaver. 30 years ago what help did you find back then?
This is an excellent interview. I was on prescribed benzodiazapines for 36+ years and went through HELL when I decided to go off of them. Four years out, I still have a very dysregulated nervous system and really struggle to get through some days. I brought the Ashton manual to my doctor and he was supportive but the first time I tried to go off them, he said he didn't think it was the right time for me. I still vibrate inside, cry randomly and feel on edge a lot and have extreme paroxysmal hypertension that goes so high that I have had a heart attack and a mini stroke from it. Some days I feel fine and other days, it is like my brain and body are on fire. My doctor now says that benzos are the new opiods as far as the crisis level.
Get yourself checked for small fiber peripheral polyneuropathy. I was recently diagnosed with this after cold turkey benzo withdrawal after 29 years, taken as directed. It was my idea to stop taking them, checked with my doctor who told me to "just stop!"
I'm 43 months out now, 70 years old.
Aside from the SFPN (burning, zapping, itching, hurting, exhaustion, insomnia, migraines) I'm extremely hypersensitive to all my senses. Very anxious. Can no longer regulate my body temperature.
My personality is no longer cheerful or optimistic like my old self. I prefer to be completely alone as people increase the ever present anxiety and irritation. My grown children no longer enjoy me, and we were so very close all their life. I had myself checked for dementia and passed all tests.
I also have lost my joy. I don't smile or look forward to anything.
Do these sound familiar to you? I believe the years of benzos and cold turkey withdrawal damaged me severely.
I'm just so glad to see that your physician realizes what is happening .. that benzos are the "new opioid crises". This gives me hope that the "glass ceiling" will be broken someday. The "damn will break". I've been in this community over 5 years now. We need major mainstream media attention. I want to see this in my lifetime: The Healthcare/medical community readily recognizing these med injuries. Proper education on how to handle those who are already injured, and prevent injuries from ever even happening. Society's views CAN be changed for the good in helping people, and in creating positive change, and in saving lives. It happens all the time. Especially with the internet.
@@sallysailor5642AMEN AND AMEN
@@sallysailor5642you are absolutely and positively right, about both, Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. God bless you
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the work you all do. My husband is among the ranks of benzo-injured. He’s been tapering slowly for the past five years (he’s been on them decades for movement disorder). 💚💚
Me too for limb movement disorder
@@user-fr7fu6kb4l Both the disorder and the treatment are horrible. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.
Blessings to you. 💚
Excellent Information, rough subject to undertake helping others in and its much appreciated for real. Much love yall BIND sucks bad...
Its stealing my life from me, Like what do I do? how do I help me? I am seeing the VA but it's like it affected my transporters and its doesn't feel good at all, I recommend the medication for those it helps but isn't there some genetic marker we could be testing for to predetermine viability of care before introducing medications that do have such adverse effects even if it's a severely marginal anomaly it is definingly worth the effort in my opinion people are worth that effort to save from BIND it really is terribly awful but I survived worse and will work through it with a smile for the most part. Any tips are welcomed and appreciated this is not easy to figure out and I had no Idea gabapentin could reignite BIND.
Yeah it's all blamed on the patient
@@julierogers4473 yep, every time...like we are just drug addicts.
I missed 10days of clonazapam had a seizure and cardiac arrest no body linked the incident to clonazapam so been told I've got to stay on it Trish UK 70years old been on them. 7 years now
I was damaged from the first pill.. just didn't know it. Within 3 months I was in a wheelchair.. it's totally destroyed my body. myVegas nerve.. I can't eat. Allergic to everything.. Dysautonomia. Gastroparesis dysbiosis undigested food.. and so much pain. Going blind.
@@julierogers4473 same here
@@julierogers4473 are you off benzos now .. because most all of the BIND/tolerance are reversible, inc. cognitive decline. ❣️
I know if a person who was diagnosed with MS & it turned out to be tolerance symptoms from the Benzo .. she’s good now
It just takes time
I had allergies as a child and I definitely think that my multiple food allergies since I've been on these pills must be connected.. as a healthy person, since these pills I'm ill.. (I'm on nothing else and I'm very healthy ..I don't drink, I don't smoke, I'm a normal weight) all I ever had was allergies as a child, which are in my family.. after these pills for a year or two suddenly I'm allergic to every food.. and the usual irritable bowel rubbish that they diagnose everybody with
Hi Nichole thanks for everything
can we get an update on how we all did with the new guidelines ?
They wil not be out until 2025.
My pain management doctor destroyed my nervous system when he cut my dose in half in January. On top he added baclofen which is a drug I could not take to begin with.
Baclofen caused huge problems for me with my legs with the resurgence of swelling that I had before.. exact same story.. pain management rubbish.. and my pain management team don't agree with diazepam.. which is totally understandable.. but when you're already on it??.. they have never once prescribed it ..yet they've offered me every single antidepressant, anti epileptic, MS drug and blood pressure drug on the market.. one of the most dangerous specialities at the moment from where I am standing is pain management.. first of all they're not managing pain they're causing side effects.. the only one I've never taken is the depression drugs that were consistently given to me but without telling me what they actually were.. on numerous occasions I have been told this is for pain..
Thank you for what you do. Do u know where I can find help for a Dr that actually cares for their patients and won't rip me off the med so quickly? I have been dealing with mold, lyme, EBV among many other things and it has destroyed my nervous system and brain. My Dr is cutting me back so fast, it's an absolute nightmare.
Can tell you that if you look for de-prescribers, it'll be state dependent, but I've worked with FreeRange Psychiatry, although the Doctor I was working with started her own practice, TrueYou, and I can tell you that both will/would work with you to slowly taper (client-led). Best to you.
@Eric-tj3tg thank you for this information also!❤
We have a list on our site, but please read the disclaimers to understand what to expect from these providers. www.benzoinfo.com/doctors/
@@BzInfoCoalition thank you so much.
Excellent video! Thank you!!!
I agree with the taper comments and education of these drs
I have been on benzo for 35 years, do you think I can quit safely?
@@sallysailor5642Hi. I have a friend trying to quit lorazepam. Is that the inly medication you were on when you quit? My friend is also on antidepressant.
It's going to take you probably 2 years to come off of them extremely slowly at 10% cut intervals every 2 weeks as per the Ashton manual.. do not attempt to come off them in 2 months like the comment underneath unless you want to go literally insane.. and by insane I mean physical symptoms like darting electrical jolts up and down your whole body.. doesn't matter what milligrams you're on.. if you have been on them that amount of years I will give you a minimum of 3 years to come off of them extremely slowly.. do not attempt any cut less than 10%.. try and come off them on your own slowly.. ie be very careful if you say one word to the wrong Dr you'll be ripped cold turkey off them
@@basketballfan5763 I don't know but some years ago I always be able to taper until one or half tablet of lorazepam without any major issue in just one month. But I don't know now...
@sallysailor5642 how did you know how much b. I am taking and why you answered with the suggestion to take vitamins typically taken by whom has thyroid problem? And also, why your comment disappeared now?!? Mmm.... IA? Or who you were? Sorry, but I noticed that.
Everyone is different and nobody can honestly predict this in advance.
My psychiatrist knows nothing about benzo tapering
I went to a detox in 2022 after being on Klonopin for 8 months and after 5 days on Valium they sent me home with nothing
3 days later I went into withdrawal with burning skin, tinnitus, tremor, and insomnia and reinstated the 3rd night
I just crossed over from K to V
My dose was .75 and my doc gave me 15 mg of v
It was too sedating as was 10 mg
I’m taking 5mg now and still able to sleep and I’m stopping the small
Pieces of k I’ve been taking for 3 weeks or so
I don’t know if I’m doing it right and I’m terrified
Dude sounds like elon musk when he talks. Big time.
Thanks for continuing to disseminate info. How long were you bedridden?
I was severely injured from Xanax....AND ...it's abrupt withdrawal that the doctor did to me. It took me over 30 years to recover about 50%....have never fully recovered...😢😢😢
@BOCHOMO it was 30 years ago, so it is hard to remember, but it was not high. Maybe only 1.25 to 1.50 per day. I had severe seizures when the psychiatrist did NOT taper me. Then he threw me in a mental hospital, lying, saying , I would never be able to work again,, lying about antipsychotics,, lying about many things to my parents,, lying about dopamine, lying about side effects, lying about psychological tests, lying on reports, lying to collect insurance money.. lying to be in a position of power,,, lying about how the drugs were necessary,, lying about destruction of the cranial nerves and recticular formation. He was an evil liar.
@@blairsterling6141Hi so sorry to hear about that.
What things help you out. I have a dear friend having withdrawal ms from lorazepam.
@blairsterling6141 I was just wondering how you knew what was happening to you since it was so many years ago. I found out 2 yrs ago by going online and frantically researching benzo help. I found BIC and Benzobuddies and it was a lifesaver. 30 years ago what help did you find back then?