Getting Off Benzos

190 Views 9 Replies 4 Participants Last post by NoDevils, 6 d ago

jburg

Discussion Starter · 7 d ago

Last week stepped it down again and tonight I start my first night of no benzodiazepines after 6 months of use. I anticipate a bumpy ride for a little, but wouldnt have started this process if I didnt think I could handle it or if I was where I was at a month ago. Wish me luck.

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Trith

· #2 · 7 d ago

I stopped after one month, and tapered it off. I continually adjusted the reducing rate so as to be just above the dosage that made me experience withdrawal, and it reduced to zero in a bit more than a week. So experiencing withdrawal is not necessary to stop taking it.
Also I understood that for people who took benzos for a while, the reducing rate needs to be slower and slower close to the lowest doses and it can take a while. Please don't rush. As you may know, withdrawal from large doses of benzos can cause seizures and even death, and it also caused DPDR for many people on the forum. Maybe you already know all that, but I just want to say that the hard way is not necessarily better than the easy way.

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jburg

Discussion Starter · #3 · 7 d ago

Trith said:
I stopped after one month, and tapered it off. I continually adjusted the reducing rate so as to be just above the dosage that made me experience withdrawal, and it reduced to zero in a bit more than a week. So experiencing withdrawal is not necessary to stop taking it.
Also I understood that for people who took benzos for a while, the reducing rate needs to be slower and slower close to the lowest doses and it can take a while. Please don't rush. As you may know, withdrawal from large doses of benzos can cause seizures and even death, and it also caused DPDR for many people on the forum. Maybe you already know all that, but I just want to say that the hard way is not necessarily better than the easy way.

I was aware of the dp/dr side effect during withdrawal but for some reason I thought that was temporary. I went from 1.5 mg ativan for 4 months to .5 mg for 3 months, then last week I did .25 mg and now trying to get off of it. I dont think I will have a seizure or anything but do think this may rock the boat some.

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NoDevils

· #4 · 6 d ago (Edited)

Easy home titration advice

Reduce your dose every so many days. To use a three-day example, take a half dose every third day. Do that for however long is necessary. If you're not experiencing side effects then proceed to take that dose every 2/3 days. If you're still not experiencing side effects then take that dose every day. Repeat until you're at your desired dose. The process can be altered by, for example, three-quartering the dose instead of halving it and taking said reduced dose every seventh day rather than every third day.

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Weirdo25

· #5 · 6 d ago

jburg said:
Last week stepped it down again and tonight I start my first night of no benzodiazepines after 6 months of use. I anticipate a bumpy ride for a little, but wouldnt have started this process if I didnt think I could handle it or if I was where I was at a month ago. Wish me luck.

Good luck! you'll make it out

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jburg

Discussion Starter · #6 · 6 d ago

Thanks for all the support everyone. Last night was tough. Could feel my comforter tapping against my face because I was shaking like a leaf. Dp/Dr is definitely much worse but this is to be expected. Feel like I have the flu.

The warriors way is through but I also want to be smart about it.

I will likely take .125 mg of clonazepam tonight, wait 2 days before dosing again, then wait 3-4, etc. I want to get off this before I have to go back to work in 2 months.

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NoDevils

· #7 · 6 d ago

jburg said:
Thanks for all the support everyone. Last night was tough. Could feel my comforter tapping against my face because I was shaking like a leaf. Dp/Dr is definitely much worse but this is to be expected. Feel like I have the flu.

The warriors way is through but I also want to be smart about it.

I will likely take .125 mg of clonazepam tonight, wait 2 days before dosing again, then wait 3-4, etc. I want to get off this before I have to go back to work in 2 months.

Is this as opposed to "cold turkey?" In most cases of anxiety clonazepam needs to be tapered down with the help of a psychiatrist and then reserved for emergencies. At the same time, non-clonazepam methods must be employed, including social support and inner resources. There's a lot of science of physical dependency that I'm just not up on because as a patient I prefer to avoid physical dependency as much as is reasonably possible.

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jburg

Discussion Starter · #8 · 6 d ago

NoDevils said:
Is this as opposed to "cold turkey?" In most cases of anxiety clonazepam needs to be tapered down with the help of a psychiatrist and then reserved for emergencies. At the same time, non-clonazepam methods must be employed, including social support and inner resources. There's a lot of science of physical dependency that I'm just not up on because as a patient I prefer to avoid physical dependency as much as is reasonably possible.

Yea that is to avoid cold turkey. Clonazepam has a long half life so I swapped it out for the lorazepam during discontinuation. I’m still at home and have a lot of social support. I just need to weather the storm.

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jburg

Discussion Starter · #9 · 6 d ago

I got a ton better two weeks ago and perhaps I’m moving too quickly but as soon as I got better I wanted to do all that I could to improve my situation.

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NoDevils

· #10 · 6 d ago

Yeah clonazepam lasts pretty long. It's good for extraordinarily anxious times.

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