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Member Since Feb 2020
Location: United Stated
Posts: 37
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#1
I have been on benzodiazepines for over 20 years, I want off of them the problem is the withdrawal is pure hell and for so long, Any suggestions please
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bizi, bpcyclist, Fuzzybear
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Moderator
Community Support Team Member Since Mar 2006
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 11,295
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#2
I'm in the process of tapering of clonazepam, after being on it at a fairly high dose, for about 20 years.
The secret is to go really slow, and make small decreases. I started at 3.5 mg, and am now down to 1 mg, but that's taken about 18 months. It shouldn't have taken that long, but I had a bad fall and concussion and I had to stop the taper for about 8 months. My psychiatrist agreed when I started that it would take 10 to 12 months but that there was no deadline. I don't know what benzo you're on but the best, in my opinion, way to taper is to cross taper onto diazepam, so that while you're reducing your main benzo, you're total benzo amount goes down more slowly. Then you very slowly taper of the diazepam. This is the protocol outlined in the Ashton manual, and it's what a lot of addictions specialists recommend. You can find out a lot more about it, and other taper methods, as well as support at benzobuddies.org I've found their forums to be really helpful. I honestly haven't had too many problems with my taper. I'm usually ok for about 2-3 days after making a decrease then have about 5 days where I feel like I have the flu and earaches, and then I'm ok. I decrease every couple of months. I think that the most important thing is that you and your Dr., are on the same page about going slow, and that your Dr. lets you control the pace of the taper. Good luck with it. splitimage |
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bizi, bpcyclist, Twilight1227
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bizi, Twilight1227
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Location: Portland
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#3
You just need to know it is going to take a long time. You can do this!!!!
__________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield |
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bizi, Twilight1227
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bizi, Twilight1227
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Bizi is bizi
Member Since Nov 2005
Location: cajun country
Posts: 10,856
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#4
I am afraid to switch from geodon to vaylar because it is hard coming off of the geodon. I really should switch though.....
sigh bizi who is bordering on psychotic at times though hypo for the past 3 weeks. __________________ 150mg of lamictal 2x a day haldol 5mg 2x a day 1mg of cogentin 2x a day klonipin , 1mg at night, 4-5 peri-colace for chronic constipation multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine at noon PRN Remeron 15mg at night, zyprexa10mg under tongue, requip2mg. |
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bpcyclist
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#5
Have you checked around in your area for any inpatient treatments?
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bpcyclist
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Location: United Stated
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#6
I dont want to go inpatient because they would wean me off to fast, I have been down that road before and it was miserable
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bizi, bpcyclist
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bizi
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Bizi is bizi
Member Since Nov 2005
Location: cajun country
Posts: 10,856
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#7
Can't remember if I have suggested CBD for you?
bizi __________________ 150mg of lamictal 2x a day haldol 5mg 2x a day 1mg of cogentin 2x a day klonipin , 1mg at night, 4-5 peri-colace for chronic constipation multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine at noon PRN Remeron 15mg at night, zyprexa10mg under tongue, requip2mg. |
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Account Suspended
Member Since Feb 2020
Location: United Stated
Posts: 37
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#8
Biz I have thought about cbd oil actually, I wonder if it would work, Have you tried it? I hate being on these benzos
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bpcyclist
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Bizi is bizi
Member Since Nov 2005
Location: cajun country
Posts: 10,856
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#9
I am trying the CBD oil at night to see if I sleep better.
Have tried it 2 nights now. I got up before the alarm. I think I slept ok. But I am hypomanic. Am bipolar 1. I use melatonin and visteril to sleep now. But I drink, stopped at 3 last night. having a med change.... have been unstable for a while now. Don't want to go back on lithium. bizi __________________ 150mg of lamictal 2x a day haldol 5mg 2x a day 1mg of cogentin 2x a day klonipin , 1mg at night, 4-5 peri-colace for chronic constipation multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine at noon PRN Remeron 15mg at night, zyprexa10mg under tongue, requip2mg. |
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bpcyclist, Twilight1227
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Twilight1227
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Location: United Stated
Posts: 37
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#10
Biz I am glad that the cbd oil is working for you, I need to try that
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bizi, bpcyclist
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Bizi is bizi
Member Since Nov 2005
Location: cajun country
Posts: 10,856
18 43.9k hugs
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#11
I stopped taking the cbd because I was afraid of
cross dosing with my other meds. ask the pharmacist to check for you. or there are programs on line that you can enter the info yourself to see if there is reactions etc good luck. Not every one has side effects like you...thankfully! bizi __________________ 150mg of lamictal 2x a day haldol 5mg 2x a day 1mg of cogentin 2x a day klonipin , 1mg at night, 4-5 peri-colace for chronic constipation multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine at noon PRN Remeron 15mg at night, zyprexa10mg under tongue, requip2mg. |
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Threadtastic Postaholic
Member Since Dec 2018
Location: New Jersey
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#12
Stopping benzos on your own can be dangerous. If you do not want IOP or IP I think you should at least go to detox(about 5 days) Many times they put you on librium which helps the withdrawl and prevents seizures/
__________________ "I carried a watermelon?" President of the no F's given society. |
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Account Suspended
Member Since Mar 2020
Location: Harvey
Posts: 7
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#13
Try to use weed but know if the two don't mix beforehand. I've known a celebrity use weed to help with cocaine addiction.
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