Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Difficulties: Stanford Psychiatrist Anna Lembke, M.D.
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- Опубликовано: 11 дек 2024
- For more information, including links to the scientific evidence base for the statements in this video, as well as further resources: medicatingnorma...
Stat News: "Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Epidemic" by Anna Lembke: bit.ly/2EMYdYw
Anna Lembke’s book provides much more detail about the topic discussed here. “Drug Dealer, MD: How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It’s So Hard to Stop”: amzn.to/2ufK6VG
Anna Lembke’s biography at Stanford University: shc.is/2GXVjTO
The Ashton Manual provides detailed information about withdrawal symptoms and the tapering process for benzodiazepines. It can be found at www.benzo.org....
BenzoBuddies is an online community providing a forum for people to connect around their experiences withdrawing from benzodiazepines. It can be found at www.benzobuddie...
Examples of benzodiazepines include: alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium, Diastat) and lorazepam (Ativan).
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Note: This video does not constitute medical advice. Stopping psychiatric drugs, especially abruptly, can be dangerous, as withdrawal effects may be severe, disabling or even life-threatening.
Music: www.purple-pla...
Video edited by Daniel Mackler
3 months benzo free after 10 years of use. Withdrawals (which were beyond horrible) seem to be over, but the depression is intense, contemplated suicide more than once. Benzos are so evil. Destroyed my life.
@love cookies finally sleeping, took about 2 months!
@love cookies Wow, that's tough. It WILL come back just hang in there friend.
I was on that crap for seven years. Please check out "NAD" (a vitamin B3 coenzyme). It upregulated my GABA receptors in days. I did not suffer from depression after NAD treatment. NAD was a miracle for me. Keep in mind that benzos are very toxic, so consider that you have been heavily poisoned. Good lick.
@@jameswatson5501 Hi James, were you in a bad way from benzo withdrawal before you took Nad?
well done mate it gets better. give it 1-2 years
I ate valium for 9 months straight 10mg per day, at age 20 came off, was serious sick for 5 years, could not work or study, to afraid to walk over street. Now 9 years later I got a degree, found a wife and enjoying life.
Benzo's should only be used in hospitals to help getting people to sleep for operations.
It ruined my youth years sadly.
I'm so glad to hear you are healed and you got your life back!
been there too
Me too...I'm only 3 years off... After a very insidiously long taper. I'm "better" vaguely at this stage- so ur comment has given me hope! Everyone I know THINKS I should be better than I am...but I can't help that my progress has been slow. Thanks for inadvertently helping me with the fight!
How did you do it?
man i am so happy for your progress,you give hope to many people suffering from those shits,god bless you.
I strongly believe that with lots of psych drugs, benzodiazepines included, that there is an actual injury caused by the drug that can cause years of misery after stopping.
Its not a beliefe its actually
Its facts its science bemxos damage the braim thebbody dpesmt know how to break it dowm takes monts maybe years to repair benzos shouls be illegL
Most of the time the neurotoxicity is permanent. Psychiatrists are making a killing with these drugs.
@Mars Ares Psychiatrists destroy peoples lives with pseudoscience and fraud. They dont care of the harm they cause they want power control and money.
@Mars Ares See CCHR's report on psychiatric drugs and violence and watch their documentaries for the truth.
That offers no hope.
A doctor put me on Xanax. I didn't think it was a big deal. I started noticing I'd be anxious when it began wearing off. The anxiety seemed worse than the anxiety I took it for in the first place. The doctor didn't understand that, or it went over his head. He wanted me to keep talking it. After 2 months I quit cold turkey. I'd done research by then & thought OH HELL NO. No one should be taking these without informed consent. I definitely did not have any information about the dangers. This was 10 years ago. Glad I did my *own research* & listened to my body. Anxiety & depression are NORMAL responses all humans have for solid, rational reasons. Life is hard af sometimes. Good luck, everyone. I'm pulling for you.
Good for you! Xanax was proven to make anxiety worse in a drug study, but that information was concealed by Upjohn according to medical journalist Michael Whittaker. I hope you've found some of the many coping skills for anxiety, plus CBT and trauma counseling. What worked for you? Congratulations on listening to your body.
@@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320 thanks, I went down a rabbit hole looking him up. Fascinating guy. Also discovered a book called "The Myth of Normal" out last year.
I've done nothing different but recognize there's no call for medicalizing normal human emotion. We are endowed with them for a reason. Those reasons are to communicate information you need.
My anxiety is 99.9% tied to finances. It completely disappears when I'm not worried about making rent, having teeth pulled because I had no $ for work on them, when I have enough food & not feeling faint from lack of it, or waking up in the middle of the night stomach grumbling, when I'm able get to work driving my car vs needing to get another one because I can't pay for repairs, & when I can pay electricity & other essentials. When I don't have to put my beloved cat to sleep because I don't have 3--4k for surgery. When I can fly somewhere if I'm needed to be at a funeral.
These are basic living situations that many take for granted the ability to meet obligations around, yet many others can't navigate successfully *no matter how hard they've worked throughout life.*
I read, decades back, "We've had a hundred years of psychotherapy and the world's getting worse." At the time, I thought it was facile, but made some good points. Now I recognize it's all a good point.
Personalizing, then medicating, societal & structural obstacles to human health & welfare will never work. Eventually people wake up & say wait a minute.... You go through this too? Then we organize. After that, change happens. I believe we're at another one of those world turning points, where daily negative conditions that impact high numbers of us are shifting to something better. More toward the light, less darkness. I won't live to see much more change because I'm old, but I have so much hope for the rest of you.
@@dubaiedge Isn't Gabor Mate wonderful? Another doctor who recognizes the effects of prolonged stress and trauma on the mind and body.
Not having enough money isn't anxiety to be medicated - but genuine worry over a tangible problem and needs that need to be met. And how heartbreaking about your cat or that funeral! Those are are real problems and I hear you - I'm low-income myself.
Very thoughtful comments, and I agree, we're at a world turning point. By quitting benzos, I've extended my life expectancy and hope to see a few of the changes.
In the meantime, I keep speaking out and telling stories to try to inform and educate with laughter, and have written a play called "Escaping Benzo Oz" on the Wild Ride that was Benzo Withdrawal.
Best of luck!
@@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320hi man for how long did those withdrawal symptoms persist
Ugh, I have electricity shooting down my nerves and dozens upon dozens of hellish symptoms. That's on a slow taper! Wish the Dr told me what this crap can do!
Nothing u can do!!! Are u Tapering SLOWLY???
@@michelebergman4336 5 or less percent a month. Very slow. May need to even go slower. At 8mg valium now.
Did you use them for a long time?
@@erikkuehne97 it's been a little over 3 years now. I've been tapering for a long time.
@@yes55504 damn bro i took about 3-4 mg over a year and people here in germany want to taper me down in 3 weeks in the hospital. But you still got so much Symptoms with slow tapering? I tapered myself from 4 to 3 and i am on my way to 2 mg a day. Im trying the ashton manual by myself bc 3 weeks tapering is like hell
Nice to see a doctor who is knowledgeable on this matter as most in the addiction and medical community have no clue on how to treat this.I took klonopin for 20 years for severe anxiety/ocd and tapered off over 9 months,through water titration and it was still extremely difficult.I’m off klonopin for over 12 years but I’m super sensitive to stress and noise not sure it will ever heal,it’s been so hard.Their is always hope never give up if your coming off of these medications,you will make it! If you’re a medical doctor always go slow never wean a person off a benzodiazepine fast,and this applies to the addiction community that never really learned how to do this.Thanks!
In the "Take Your Pills: Xanax" (2022) documentary for replacing benzodiazepines she recommends SSRIs , which cause PSSD and a many other persistent issues and damage.
They have withdrawals and are very addictive too.
I would be very careful with what she says.
How are you feeling now?
@@hollymcgovern8458 Hi,I’m doing good everyday is a struggle but I’m able to push through it keep moving.Working as a painter here in Chicago keeps me busy.The biggest issue is sensitivity to stress and certain noises.Happy to be off the klonopin almost 14 years now.All the best!
I'm in almost the exact same situation. I find journaling really helpful in getting the feelings out, plus shaking and dancing as trauma expert Dr. James Gordon recommends - helps hugely with the overactive fight or flight reaction we develop during withdrawal. Ditto for havening (Dr. Robin Youngson has some great relaxing and calming videos), and Chi Gong. They all help hugely with the hypersensitivity, hyperreactivity, and hypervigilance that trauma and drug withdrawals cause. But isn't is wonderful to have escaped Pharma Prison and the Benzo Trap! I got my life back, and went from being disabled by the medications to writing, performing, dancing and socializing. I've gone literally from crawling (my blood pressure was so incurably low) to dancing. We DO heal, but damn, it takes time!
@@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320 Thanks for sharing that information I will look into it.Happy you’re recovering nicely and hope it continues for you!
I'm one of those members of the small population of folks that are suffering horribly Just over four years now. Doubting I'll survive this. I've searched for a savvy Doctor in this...most Doctors want to push more drugs! My understanding there is NO drug that will offset the damage caused by benzos. I've no family to turn to, relying on so-called caregivers via social media ads. Let me tell you, that's a nightmare! Where are folks like me to turn to?? 😩
We've fallen through the cracks of the broken medical care system. Daily ' life' is a nightmare....an endurance run and many of us are severely debilitated. Helpless, hopeless.
Thank you for this video, far too many misunderstand our plight.
I’m sorry to hear about your situation Patricia. Please don’t give up hope and keep fighting. I’m suffering right here with you but my faith in the Promises God us is what keeps me going. Please put your trust in Christ for he will redeem us. Ephesians 2:8-9
I'm so so sorry iv been through this I was on klonapin 2mg a day and Effexor 225mg. I got off them it was not easy but please take vitamins and eat healthy and take magnesium look up info on magnesium there are a few different types but magnesium has helped me so much it helps heal our neurological damage from these horrible medications.
Please research benfotiamine.
What drug? What dose? How long?
The word addiction is incorrect...chemical or substance dependency is the right term.
Addiction is about a compulsive behavior that seeks soothing with anything that can be detrimental to one’s health or life: alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, food, gambling, shopping, sex, porn, etc.
Chemical/substance dependency is when our bodies become dependent on a substance but we don’t crave it or have an unmeasured compulsive behavior to seek it out and consume more than what it was prescribed.
HUGE difference between the term addiction and chemical dependency.
Please, correct the wrong use of this term...this only perpetuates the stigma and can ruin a person’s reputation, mental health, and livelihood.
We have another video on our channel where she explains the difference: ruclips.net/video/GSdYltpePU8/видео.html
@@MedicatingNormal
Thank you for sharing this.
I’m glad she corrected and clarified this super important difference.
I’ve seen how non addict folks get stigmatized and ostracized by society and family members for using the wrong terms.
I’ve seen people’s losing custody of their kids, and I’ve also seen how uneducated and unethical doctors will write down in their notes “patient is addicted to benzodiazepines” just because the patient was uneducated about the differences between the term addiction and dependency. Also, because of this mistake, these folks got denied pain medication after procedures just because the chart said “patient said is addicted to benzodiazepines.”
Super dangerous mistake that can ruin someone’s life, even kill the person. Thus, we have a responsibility to educate folks about these differences so they do not go telling their doctors, family and friends that they are “addicted” to benzodiazepines when they are just dependent.
Unless you are out-of-control and using them irresponsibly, the body doesn't care if you are addicted or dependent.
@@ShadesOClarity
My comment is about using medical terms properly, since addiction pertains to behavior only and not chemical dependency. That’s all.
@@analozada9475 Understood.
Dopamine? A doctor who prescribes benzos and takes people off benzos and thinks it is a dopamine issue. No mention of GABA receptor downregulation. Sadly par for the course.
Why what's gabba receptor etc
In layman term, Benzo bind with GABA...and make it active I think...slowly your GABA receptor depends on benzo...GABA control lot of brain function...
@@Kishor_Kumarr I have been on Ativan for years before that Zanax. I have tried so many times to get off Ativan because I have perm foggy brain, short term memory loss and blurry vision. However everytime I try to get off it I feel like I'm insane, I get heart attack symptoms, numbness, pins and needles, chest pains ect ( been to E.R. all panic attacks) I have voluntarily gone into rehab to get off but they are useless & put me back on because my Anxiety is uncontrollable, traumatic childhood, I have a 16yr old with severe disability who needs me, I have no support, dead beat dad never paid child support. I don't know how to get off them and have a clear mind to support my son
@@domy2584 Sorry to hear that you are going through so much of pain...I am praying for you that one day you will come out of this drug...be strong and have faith.
@@domy2584 see a specialist that will very slowly taper you off. It can take over a year depending on how long you’ve been using
Do you know about Jordan Peterson going through a horrendous year of With drawled & now he’s in Serbia taking some “ other” Medications That he’s saying finally makes him feel RELIEF??? His daughter just interviewed him on her Podcast! He can be a HUGE ADVOCATE for us Benzo Sufferers ! We need a TRD X Session about this Epidemic & How there’s NO CURE for the BRAIN & HORMONE INJURY!!!
@Anna Zinonos ΛΕΩΝΙΔΑ yes yes yes
@Anna Zinonos ΛΕΩΝΙΔΑ Yep this is when you can clearly see his priorities and it makes me question his honesty in general. I think he often argues in bad faith, is frequently disingenuous, and is a bit too emphatic about the importance of order in a society for my taste. He frequently alludes to various power games that he's involved in, I think he's a bit of a coward to be honest. I'm still interested in hearing what he has to say. He does come at it from some fascinating angles and on some things hits the nail right on the head. Other times, nowhere near. There's a place for traditional values. I kind of wish my family would hold things more things sacred. But I am not a conservative at heart and I don't like some of Jordan Peterson's ideological views on certain subjects. I do lean towards the free speech argument, if that was all it was about with the shitstorm around the transphobia gender pronouns incident. But there was a lot more in the bundle and some of it I just can't stand. It's too pessimistic. I dunno. Love all.
@Either Or The answer to the millions of us is Amanita 🍄.
I love watching your videos but what is problematic is the overprescribing of these very potent medications
Exactly! It should be banned period! if you suffer anxiety do not take this dangerous drugs! My brain will never comprehend how they are allowed. It’s beyond stupidity.
@@ryanjames3260 people in power and control only want one thing, and that is more power and more control! These pharmaceutical companies and the sociopaths behind our system of government are torturing innocent people this is not going to stop they get off on controlling people
@@ryanjames3260 how long have you been on them?
This drugs are poisonous. Well, to be honest I was on Benzo for 10 years. I decided to stop it since I realized that it was worsen my situation. But thanks to Chinese medicine that I bought and took for just 1 month. Here I am today feeling better and symptoms free. Add me on my Facebook account at Gerardx Willon to know more about my story and how the Chinese medicine helped me to be symptoms free.
@@rawfoodphilosophy7061 Yes sir you are very right. Well, to be honest I was on Benzo for 10 years. I decided to stop it since I realized that it was worsen my situation. But thanks to Chinese medicine that I bought and took for just 1 month. Here I am today feeling better and symptoms free. Add me on my Facebook account at Gerardx Willon to know more about my story and how the Chinese medicine helped me to be symptoms free.
I’m suffering from benzodiazepine withdrawals, but most physiatrists don’t recognize it. I’m from Japan.
How you doing now?
I hope you're okay.
@@syntholshoulders1842 I tore ligaments and tendons due to muscle weakness,so I’m mostly bedridden now. I might have antibiotics toxicity and other health issues though.
@@captainhero3694 Thanks for your kindness.
@@MK-pl4fr of course! You're more then welcome! Are the withdrawals gone?
I been on Klonopin 8mg for several years after 2 years trying to get off then I’m on 2 1/2mg now for the last 3or4 months I can’t believe how hard it is to get off klonopin
8mg a day is a massive dose. Good luck John. You’re well on your way. By the way can I ask why you’re getting off?
So how the hell can this be legal????? For use
It’s NOT REALLY LEGSL to prescribe for more than a few weeks ...but NOBODY says Anything??
Cocaine and most other drugs were legal at some point in time. Then they take it away. You could purchase a kit from the Sears catalog for cocaine. Needle and all.
Benzo can be very good meds for people who really need and use them as presribed ... like PTSD, insomnia etc its a miracle drug
Lennart Hagen NO ITS NOT! It works for a few times & then U ARE A FULL BLOWN ADDICT AND CAN NEVER STOP
@@lennarthagen3638 I think so too. They are taking mine for very severe anxiety here in Florida. Trying to replace them with antidepressants and mood stabilizers. I've been on 6 a day since 94. I'm 58 now and tapered down to 3. I'm going to lose them all. It's very terrifying. The drugs they have given me to replace the Xanax have been a total nightmare. If I really have to get off of my Xanax I don't want anything else that messes with my brain and is also addictive. These Drs are in it for the money. They prescribe the highest priced drugs first. And most are black boxed. Just a new name and they say oh this is a new medication when it's old. I'm still suffering from a half a pill I tried this week. They aren't helping me. The Drs don't really care. I imagine next time I go in they'll start me at a very low dose of something and gradually increase it. That's just evil. Take away my Xanax and give me worse drugs with way more side effects. It is insanity to be a human being treating people. Dumbing them down. Always a catch because I can't get my Xanax if I don't agree to use other meds during the taper. Makes 0 sense to me.
Took a small dose of Klonopin (.5mg) and would usually break it into 4 pieces. Sheer hell tapering off this stuff and I only took it for about 6 months. Took me 8 months to do a liquid taper. Final dose was 11/3/2019. I still grind my teeth once in awhile, something I never did before and here it’s early 2021.
can i tapper of both clonazepam (0.5 mg) & vortioxetin (10mg) have been using for 3 weeks only.. I don't want to stay on these pills which cannot give me relef rather more I'll feeling.. Please advice me n ur support needed 🙏 iam eagerly waiting for ur reply, I don't want to regret in future help mme
A lot of people talk about a lack of dopamine and Gaba, and an excess of Glutamate, but there's another big player that makes benzo withdrawal so painful! It's called Corticotropin releasing factor! It's a neuropeptide that mediates the sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system, and is directly responsible for the GI symptoms of withdrawal such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. It's also a strong anxiogenic and increases depression.
how?
@@bightf01655 Well, it messes up your stomach by inhibiting gastric emptying, and speeding motility in the large intestines. It causes severe anxiety by activating your body's fight or flight response, and it can make you depressed by decreasing endocannibinoids in your amygdala. It can also cause the insomnia in benzo withdrawal by increasing orexin and norepinephrine, which have a stimulating effect on the central nervous system.
I have physical weakness by nature, but benzos caused tons of physical injuries to me. I tear muscle, ligaments and tendons easily.
I am nearly 7years off psych meds and near death all day everyday. Bedridden and much worse. No words to explain and no brain to understand. Mentally and physically both extremely sick. Non stop agony.
I'm so sorry. So all the drugs just ruined your mind? 7 years and your off everything and still feel like shit? What were you on?
@@MistakenMystery It can happen by prolong use of any benzo many can never get back to real life again as it change your GABA levels and long usage will permanently kill the gaba receptors.
@@debsattam1 so glad I was a heroin addict and not addicted to Xanax
@@MistakenMystery well the addiction of heroin is nothing compared to the physical agonising hell induced by xanax I was with a friend's circle who used heroin as there choice of recreation all of them get out of it in few months or so but for me it's been 3 years I still feel horrible everydays and still have to use the med like very low dosage but I can't stop if I do I have convulsions I start fainting bite my tongue and bleed this is just pathetic to live like this .
@@debsattam1 I'm so sorry, drugs suck. I know benzo withdrawal is way worse than everything else. Sad they hand them out like candy and don't really tell people the side effects. Really hope you get better soon.
They come in as patients but leave as junkies. So much for do no harm
more like braim damage benxos are poisoms big phARMA DONT CARE ABOUR U OR ME JUST MONEY
Running helped me to leave benzos easily
Keep good diet and hydrated
Run hard
Hard to run when I can barely walk to the toilet. Cant stand long enough to make a meal. Obviously you are not disabled by benzo damage.
@@aileenfulgens1909 are you tapering it??
And what amount you are taking??
Is it prescribed by doctor or addiction problem??
Depends upon lot of factors.
I did not stop taking it permanently at once.
@@RiseEnterprises Which benzodiazepine were you on and what was the dosage? Was it prescribed by a doctor or were you an addict by choice?
@@maahirajpoot1534 clonazepam and paroxetine
Doctor recommended ne for 3 months later on got addicted or can also say got dependent on it.
Left those on my own will god knows how i survived
But i rarely (like 1 in 6 months) need any of these now whenever my anxiety goes way beyond my control
How r you now??
M walking everyday for yrs ya i feel good when m walking. But next day morning m so tired ... :(
I'm addicted to fentanyl and I can't even imagine having to come off xanax. It makes me cry just thinking about the people who had to withdrawal from benzos.
@Glendaa no dude your good, do not worry or stress about it. 4 days isn't long. Just stop while you can.
@Sweetserialkiller420 for some people 4 days are enough to get addicted followed by your dosing.
That says it all
was on 1mg a night of xanax for eight months for sleep. cut to .5mg for one week and then .25mg for a week been off now for one week only problem i have had was insomnia for 6 days straight but last night managed a good nights sleep. Good luck everyone.
What about a patient who has been prescribed Xanax & taken Xanax for 28 years & a Doctor telling me that he is forcing me to taper. I am in no way ready to taper during a Pandemic, caring for my dying pup, caretaking for my MIL. Btw I am on full disability because of the severity of my many issues. If I know that I don't want to attempt a taper, & it won't be successful.....why is my new psychiatrist hellbent on changing my Xanax & a few other meds. I've finally found the right combo of meds after 28 years of mental health issues. How can a Doctor do this, & WHY does he want to do this when I told him that I'm in distress even thinking about it; & at this time I do not want to mess with my meds that keep le stable???
I agree. It's your life not theirs.
I realized recently that my problems are external and not internal. Pills can not help us cope with how life kicks our ass on a daily basis. It sedates us into a zombie like trance so we are numb to the external stresses of life. I’m tired of eating a handful of prescriptions every day to face reality. Depression comes from life experiences in the past, not a chemical. Anxiety comes from thinking about potential future experiences, not a chemical. A pill can not cure the past, the present, or the future.
True
Exactly! Well stated.
You must be young, because our problems are internal. We LET external things get to us. Happiness comes from within.......
I was prescribed 6. 1 mg daily. Been on them 25 years. I don't like who I am without them. Quit several times on my own and the anxiety is something I chose not to want. I moved to Florida and they're tapering me of entirely. I really don't like the person I am without them. I have no choice and no voice. At nearly 60 it looks like I could still make my own decisions as previous Drs have allowed but I find no compassion here. This is not going to work for me.
A friend went through this; he said it was really hard to get off. I read the late Dr. Heather Ashtons work and what her patients said. It is rough.
Yes, its a disgrace that people have to go to the street to obtain benzos so they dont become mentally traumatized and/or suffer a grand mal seizure.
I want to ask a doctor if they would let me get behind the wheel of a car with my baby on board knowing I'm withdrawing from benzodiazepines.
To my knowledge, and I'm not a doctor, there is not a "normal" or "safe" seizure
How are you doing? I was put on 8 mg a day for anxiety.
@AcquiredCents I'm on muscle relaxers as well.
I'm happy you got off.
I'm on too much of everything. There's no where to turn and nothing that can help me at my age. That I know of.
interesting as I am a GP in australia and never heard of this severe type of withdrawal reaction from benzodiazepines - until seeing what Dr Jordan B Peterson claimed to have experienced in getting off lorazepam (initially I was somewhat sceptical) howeverwhat Dr Lembke is saying fits in with his symptoms which he describes in a recent interview with his daughter. In Australia doctors have been warned of the dangers of benzos for a long time and I never prescribed them for more than 1-3 days, for instance in very acute severe stress situation where someone just cannot sleep.
Good for you but please Even in life -death situation find something else for them don’t give them Benzo just don’t - In the medical community there has to be a drug other than benzo’s it’s a multi trillion dollar business find an alternative -thank you
I wish my doctor would believe me. He thinks I'm a hypochondriac with GAD and panic disorder. I'm five years off Ativan, taken occasionally for insomnia caused by menopause, and I'm still deeply suffering about 25 different symptoms, about 70% of the time. Check out Benzodiazepine Coalition, or Mad in America for more info. I can't explain half my symptoms ...they are so bizarre. I was a school teacher and now I've lost any sense of a normal life. It's so ironic that some people think I'm an addict yet, I don't take any drugs or alcohol! And always took less Ativan than was prescribed. Twelve years and counting, a life destroyed, when I should be travelling and enjoying my retirement.
Jordan had both tolerance and a paradoxical reaction (I think that’s the right word for it). Something about his physiology caused an extreme and rare condition where the benzo started INCREASING his anxiety and other issues. So the only option was to taper off but he was unable to do that either. He was stuck and was eventually put into a medically induced coma during the detox. It’s amazing he came out the same man he was when he went in. Given the trouble he’s been in up there in Canada it wouldn’t surprise me if there was a nefarious plan here. Because the paradoxical reaction happens in less than 1% of people taking benzos. Then again antihistamines get me severely amped up and not in a good way. Benadryl is supposed to make you sleepy. If I take it one night it will but the second night nope I’m up all night. Weird.
Also it’s odd to me that an extreme withdrawal isn’t easily apparent to doctors. We all know that benzos and alcohol work very similarly and we know that alcohol withdrawal can be deadly. So why wouldn’t doctors naturally be able to use the their knowledge of pharmacokinetics to logic it all out?
@@aileenfulgens1909 I’m sorry you’re having these issues Aileen. People work their entire lives to be able to enjoy retirement and you’ve had that taken from you through no bad action on your part. I think you’re going to have to do some searching and find a specialist. You may have to travel to get to one and it may cost you money. Even though you’re not an addict you may need to find a rehabilitation facility that can help you. If you’re serious about getting of it that is. Easier said than done I know. But you need to get busy making this part of your past and enjoy your future.
I was taking klonopin at a big dose. Stopped myself cold turkey. Did not realize how dangerous that was. It was hellish. But after being on them for years, somehow I normalized off of them within a few months. I could not sleep a wink though. And the restlessness was agony.
I'm on it too. How was it to stop cold turkey. I'm so scared of the withdrawal
@@allymanzo7439 it was honestly terrifying. I felt like my skin was crawling, night and day. The nights were the worst. I’d recommend the slow taper method. I wish I had done that, looking back. Especially know that I know cold turkey is not the way to go when stopping klonopin. Especially if you’ve been on it awhile. I wish you the best of luck with it. But I highly recommend tapering off, fairly slowly.
Thank you. Sending blessings
I was given benzos for continuous shock like feeling in heart with no psychosomatic symptoms. I took it for 8 years (0.25mg) believing that my heart needed it and I won’t be able to live without it. Every doctor I went to wouldn’t believe my reasons to leave it and would encourage me to keep taking it. Until I found a good psychiatrist. Then I came off with a very slow taper in 3 months, the withdrawal was tough. I am completely free of it for 9 years now. Physical pain in body and some remnant anxiety and depressive feelings are the only symptoms now which I think are also due to my life situation. It’s a big win for me. Now I believe I can do anything! Very happy to be drug free!
Do you suffer from memory impairment and did you recover from it?
People need to be informed. These drugs taking them long term can cause irreversible brain damage. Find alternatives to anxiety.
I've been taking these for 14 years now. My doctor said I was going to take it for life but then he retired and now I'm stuck, no doctor will see me and the ones that do treat me like an addict. This is a sad road. If there's anyone in this comment section that can tell me of a doctor who could help me, I'd owe you one for life
See a private psychiatrist . Explain your situation. Work out a taper plan. Trust me you'd pay anything to get off this shit. Pay whatever it costs.
I was addicted for seven years. NAD with amino acids works for me. Please check it out.
@@jameswatson5501 hi, what's NAD please?
a drug called Fusamin regenerates your GAB receptors 100% in 10 days... look this up. There are some clinics in the US that do this. They do it via IV through your stomach, basicallly you live with a little battery-pump that pumps Fusamin in you via IV to your stomach for 10 days.
Is this an alternative? Or did it help to get off xanax?@@jameswatson5501
I took a small dose of Klonopin for 8 years and experienced tolerance withdrawal during much of that time. I couldn't stop taking it without experiencing debilitating insomnia, yet it was making me sick and depressed. Because the pharma-funded medical-disinformation-industrial-complex controls medical education, no doctor could possibly recognize this and none believed me after I figured it out. But I've never understood this in terms of the dopamine system. It smacks of addiction to me which is not happening in many cases.
can i tapper of both clonazepam (0.5 mg) & vortioxetin (10mg) have been using for 3 weeks only.. I don't want to stay on these pills which cannot give me relef rather more I'll feeling.. Please advice me n ur support needed 🙏 iam eagerly waiting for ur reply, I don't want to regret in future help me. .
I was put on 30mgs of Valium after getting thrown into a psych ward. I got Akathisia from an antiemetic which every doctor said was just "anxiety" and a "mental breakdown". It has been two years and I am down to 6mgs using the Heather Ashton Manual. These drugs are criminal. Any drug that causes Akathisia should not exist. We need help. Please help.
Are you feelimg better now dear
@@AMG749 Doing well at the moment thank you
You’re not going to get any help from this doctor. We’re all totally screwed and there’s nothing that can be done for us according to this doc who I’m sure prescribed Benzos for years. Thanks Doc!
@@beautifullybroken1591 Good to hear. Are you still tapering? If yes, where are you currently at?
My cousin is on klonopin .5 twice a day for four years. So that's 1 mg total a day for 4 yrs. Her new dr told her how bad that med is and has weaned her down to .5 a day. Withdrawals seem bad. Will the low dose still be a big challenge to wean off? She's only a teenager and was prescribed it for anxiety. I feel so bad for her. Her parents didn't know better.
Tell her to go very slow.I took klonopin for 20 years and the only safe way off is to slowly lower the dose!
I was addicted to Xanax after really only being on it a short time. I was taking 2 mg a day. I went into a treatment center and was able to get off. Mostly cold turkey. I had insomnia that left me almost entirely unable to sleep for several months. Had ocassional muscle twitches all over my body that lasted nearly a year. Contemplated suicide. This stuff is nasty, stay away. Still battling depression but things are much better. Been off for 17 months now.
I was put on Benzodiazepines in 1994. First, Klonipin for 5 years along with Ambien 10 mgs. Then they put me on 6mg's of Xanax and Ambien. I'm still on them. The last time I was kindled was last February. I also have Emphasima and asthma and my 02 level went down to 62. I had to go to the hospital, where they found out I had Covid. I have been in and out of this hospital many times for my breathing issues. This time they didn't give me any of my medicine for 10 days. I experienced, Hallucinations, both audio and visual, confusion, Paranoia and jerking and twitching, brain zaps. I thought the doctors were trying to kill me and I was so terrified that I would try to hide in the bathroom. I also thought that they were going to put me to sleep like a dog. It was the most terrifying thing I've ever experienced. They should have known that I was having withdrawals from Hell. They actually sent me for a brainscan and if it showed anything, I wouldn't know because they never told me. I couldn't eat for 6 days and I was too paranoid to sleep. I just remember my eyes hurting so bad. I was so confused that I couldn't operate a phone! It was crazy. Finally, when I got discharged, I went home and took 1 2 mg Xanax and 15-20 minutes later, I felt normal again. I believe that they should have so kind of Grandfather clause for people like me, who have taken the medication as prescribed, but that have been on it for 30 years. It should be our choice whether to stay on or off of these dabilitating drugs.
I had auditory and visual hallucinations, too. Horrible.
I was on a benzo for 40 years - PRESCRIBED. Terrible taper (too short, by an arrogant pharmacist) and withdrawal. Completely off for a year now and still missing out on the pleasures in life. I am almost 74 and really wonder if it was worth it.
So sorry to hear that you went through all that and still feel low. I've been prescribed benzos for over 30 yrs and trying to taper. Did you have the burning nerve pain?. If so did anything help? Seems to be worse the lower the dose I reach. It's very tempting to stay on them at my age. I want to start a local physical support group (not online). Mentioned this to my Dr but she wasn't interested though she said many people are going through this protracted withdrawal with prescribed drugs.
@@Moothecoo oh Daybreak my heart goes out to you. People don’t fully understand the agony of withdrawal after decades of prescription. I am tired of trying to explain. I was 72 when I was jerked off and tapered too quickly. I have been asked why I wasn’t just left on it (as if to say “you’re gonna die soon anyway.) I have had to explain BIND, dependence vs. addiction, and why I can’t participate in life over and over and over.
As for comfort measures, the prescriber (not an MD but a PhD pharmacist who should have known better) tried me on Vist and Bena which caused akesthesia which of course is awful. Then he tried beta blockers which raised my blood SUGAR so high that I was diagnosed with diabetes. Along with gaslighting me he seemed to not know about the effects on blood sugar. I think he needs to get a refund from PhD school - I called the American Diabetes Association and they admitted there is a correlation.
Anyway yes my feet AND legs are numb. Very slowly improving.
Solutions? Intense self-care, time and magnesium are the things I use. I am more than “low” and have just become isolated and try to avoid stress of any kind.
I so wish that the medical world hadn’t been eager to withdraw these meds BEFORE a good substitute was available. Best wishes to you.
I think us more mature benzo 'survivors' have different problems. We want what's left of life to be a decent quality obvs so don't know whether to just stay on the tabs. Like you, I can't get through to family/people as to what BIND or protracted withdrawal is about so cutting myself off and just trying to appreciate the small things. Like so many others here I don't know what kind of hell tomorrow will bring.
Thanks for replying. ❤
@@Moothecoo I have numbness in both feet - toes up almost to my knees. Also sharp zaps of pain at times.
But it’s ok! Because the nurse practitioner said “it’s all psychological.” 😡
@@marleneholik-ls9wr That's hat they say to defend themselves after they injured their patients.
I don't know how I can get the word out but benzo taper and withdrawls is easy with NAD+. 1. Your taper should not be short but also not long 90 to 200 day taper. 2. During the taper use NAD+ patches. 3. After the taper get on NAD IV and 90 percent of your withdrawls symtpoms should be alleivated with no risk of PAWS.
I'm sorry but I will have to stop you there. We do not allow medical advice on our channel and the fact is that NAD is not a cure all for withdrawal. We've seen many people try it and either got worse or it didn't help at all and they wasted a lot of money.
@@MedicatingNormal nothing heals but time...i'm five years out and still damaged, barely coping 70% of the time.
Lol. 👻
@@aileenfulgens1909 can i tapper of both clonazepam (0.5 mg) & vortioxetin (10mg) have been using for 3 weeks only.. I don't want to stay on these pills which cannot give me relef rather more I'll feeling.. Please advice me n ur support needed 🙏 iam eagerly waiting for ur reply, I don't want to regret in future help me
@khaja babu get off off it asap for me it's maybe too late
I’m slowly weening off of Xanax which I’ve been prescribed for years. The headaches and hardcore anxiety are insane.
Go very slow praying for you!!
Justin did u feel stomach cramps in ur withdrawal please aans I m 105 dayys ssober
i got them for panick attacks and ended up scared to leave my house took me 3 yrs to overcome this
Going thru it now. Can’t leave the house. 4th time tapering off. Became Agoraphobic in 2014.. a year after Xanax was prescribed to me in 2013 for PTSD. I used to drive 5 hours to College. Now.. I can’t go a mile from the house. IBS, Bladder Leaks, etc. 😢
@@nostalgiaman6816 I so feel for you. But be strong and fight it . I did . Anything you want to ask please do as not so simple x
@@nostalgiaman6816 i feel your pain and fear X
@@drsharmaMD I moved away from the town to live in the country and it helped me .I work too but find it difficult when I have to leave village.
@@drsharmaMD ohh bless I'm sure you will be ok X
I was on xanax for 5 weeks. 2mg a day. I tried it to help me sleep It didn't help me sleep. In fact, I didn't notice any difference. So it wasn't really that big of a deal to me when I decided to stop cold turkey. But oh man, it was awful. Worst thing I've ever been through. I was on opioids for a year when I had a broken back. I got off of them in 3 days, no problem. BUt this was a different beast. Xanax and all Benzos are pure evil.
How much time it took you to finish withdrawal from xanax, youe amswer will be helpfull cause i took them for 6 weeks
@@AMG749 Be safe, and stay strong. It will take a month or so to get back to normal, or it did for me.
Two years later i'm still having PAWS, no amount of compensation could make up for how this has destroyed my life.
What drug were you on? How long? What dose?
@@MrPeterISABELLA I was on Clonazepam, 2mg twice a day.
Hi Anna. I'm now off benzodiazepine. Tapered 7 months. I have a gait instability. Will it go away. Thank you for the lovely video.
How are you doing now? I stopped after tapering for 7mths and the pain is unreal and today I was having trouble walking at one point. Scary!
I know that I'm about 2 says somewhat off-topic but neuroleptics (a type of antipsychotics) have "benzo-like" qualities (e.g.: Zyprexa/Olanzapine)..The name "Olanzapine" rhymes w/benzodiazapine. Terminology aside; neuroleptics (including Zyprexa/Olanzapine) have very nasty withdrawal effects. Just something worth considering...
My doctor prescribed olazapine. Just reading the name it scared me because of benzos
@@lillysummer3546 I hear ya; Olanzapine & Depakote were the last 2 psych meds that I was on b4 deciding 2 become psych med-free ovr 6 yrs ago after 30+ different psych meds ovr a 40+ yr period (starting w/Ritalin @ age 4 in 1971; I'm 55 now---DOB: 7/20/1967). Olanzapine (a.k.a.: Zyprexa) caused massive weight gain 4 me (just under 250 lbs back in 2014; my height's 5' 8.5") & destroyed my metabolism (which contributed 2 the weight gain). There were other factors that played a significant role in my decision 2 quit Olanzapine (& psych meds in general) but the weight gain was the "final straw" bc it left me very depressed.
It's has been 3 months since I completely quit oxazepam. At night sometimes my body wakes me up and I can hardly breathe. It doesn't feel like a panic attack, but it sure makes me fearful. I feel weird stuff in my brain. I also developed spasms in my throat but I can manage it with a lot of relaxation.. Does anyone recognize these symptoms? I'm already in a proces to see if this might mean something else. I took it for 8 years, 10mg, but not every day and I'm always tired. Would love some feedback. Thanks :)
I feel some things like this. Not exaclty. But when I stopped I had panic attacks. You are beautiful. Hope you become better
@@DearSouls thank you for your kind words. I'm still healing. It's a crazy journey. All the best to you. :)
@@marjoleinvanderperkmusic6601 thank you! ^_^
Most definitely down to the oxazepam
I'm glad you find it fascinating. It's absolutely hell!!!
I was thinking the same shit. Bill gates type shit fr
I am screwed....36 years. Failed self tapering 3 times now
How fast were you tapering? What method did you try?
@@MedicatingNormal water taper....1 mg Xanax, switched to 1 mg Klonopin. .9 mg after 2 months, etc My job is stressful beyond description. Always under stress and pressure, I treasure a good night's sleep above anything else. I read the Ashton manual, but being near the end of my bankruptcy and being diagnosed with various he
alth ailments testing positive for Covid 19 or something else traumatic are triggers to start using again. There are no doctors or psychiatrists near me that are willing to help me.
so like .1mg every 2 months then went down to like .001 mg every other day over time. I can't function without sleep and can't leave or quit my job. I feel trapped.....
@@garysimone4977 late 50s....I ask myself the same thing. When I was free, benzos still had a hold on me. Most people could not handle the stress and pressure that comes with the job I do. It is like a nightmare with no end in sight. Benzos are instant relief from what seems like never ending torture. My life would be in danger without money to pay bills, etc and yet my life is never ending hell having to put up with work.
I've commented on this video twice. My benzo brain doesn't remember seeing the video or commenting. I'm losing my mind, even five years off Ativan.
I've been taking clonazepam, for chronic pelvic pain, for 2 weeks now. Started with 3 drops at night, now I'm at 9 drops. I want to stop. Never liked the idea of taking drugs plus I dont like the feeling. Too sleepy and groggy the next day. Keep in mind, even 9 drops isn't a huge dose. Anyway, would It be dangerous if I give It up cold turkey, or should I tape it off gradually? Any advice would be grealty apreciated.
now is the time to stop taking it. as long as its only been a few weeks you should be fine to stop taking it. do a last small dose then stop and see what happens
@@wanderbread4217 Thanks for the answer. I've give up Clonazepam, cold turkey, the same day I've wrote the comment. Luckly, it seems there're no great side effects. Hope it stil goes like that. The pelvic pain is terrible, but I never liked the effect of the drugs since the beginning.
@@bruttosporcoecattivo I would also try full spectrum CBD oil WITH TERPINES. That can help alot with pain. as far as the benzos are concered as long as you havent been taking the clonazapam longer than a few weeks you should be ok. No matter what happens dont take another dose no matter how bad you feel. Go get some CBD oil. milehighsfinest.shop/product-category/allproducts/riverbendcbd/
@@wanderbread4217 Compared to yesterday, I already feel better. Like I wrote, for now, not great side effects, touch wood. Keep in mind, I took it "only" for 2 weeks and in a "very low dosage" according to the doctor. Thanks for the info about CBD, but for now, I'm not going to take anything. I've already used CBD in the past, and, apparently, never had any benefits from it. Thank you anyway.
@@bruttosporcoecattivo you could have symptoms three or more weeks out but just remember they will pass and nevr take another benzo again.
Benzos for me, were not fun to take the way Opiates are, in my experience. Yet they are far worse to deal with in getting off and going through withdrawals. I've been off Clonezapam 3.5 yrs. and still is a daily nightmare.
That’s Rediculous? We need to be 💰💰💰Compensated
@@michelebergman4336 lol right. 💰 hahah
Can "brain lock" be a symptom from benzo and tapering? Like you don't understand a simple thing and became overwhelmed of any normal things.
Please someone answer. I am on klonopin as descriped and starting to taper.
Hi, "brain lock" isn't really a term that's used, but yes, benzodiazepines and their withdrawal can cause cognitive and memory issues, as well as feeling totally overwhelmed. These are all commonly reported symptoms.
Thank you for answering and confirming that it could be from benzos.
Doctor didn't warn me and prescriped 6 X 15 mg of oxazepam after my dog died and I had terrible panic attacks. I wanted to taper and got to 4 x 15 mg oxazepam. Then I had to go to hospital and ask help. Doctor was rude and sent me to rehab center and there they took 30 mg of oxazepam off in a week. I didn't sleep, was puking, couldn't barely speak. I saw a doctor outside the rehab center and was sent to hospital. There was that rude doctor and said I couldn't have any withdrawl symptons. Then she wentto holiday and I saw another doctor who said I have withdwal symptons and gave me 10 mg of diazepam. I got to home and did crossover. I was able to sleep and have normal mornings and could run and exercise and and depression symptoms went away. I had my relationships back, I overcame my agoraphobia (normally I don't have it) and thought know I will get this med off me. But at 6 mg I Lost my sleep, became puking, depression came back and I isolated. They stopped at 6 mg but three weeks I couldn't barely sleep, was suffering multiple symptoms and couldn't take it anymore. I took overdose and my boyfriend found me after four hours and I got to the hospital unconcious. They got me back. Then after One week I was at home very sick. They put me back to 10 mg of diazepam and I tapered it to 5 mg and suffering. Then I went to hospital and they tapered me to zero straight. I was without it one month and rude doctor said I couldn't have any withdrawl symptons. I went to home very sick. My brain was scanned in the mri and was fine (I have a brain deseace but have always been functioning and smart) and my deseace hadn't got worse. This was in spring and checked my messages and had mentioned that I don't understand anything and feels like my brain is locking before the overdose but in spring I became to suffer "brain lock" more and more. Doctors said that I couldn't have harmed my brain with overdose.
My new doctor prescriped me klonopin 2,5 mg to try to get me relief for a while because I am extremely anxious nyt it didn't help. Now my mom and I think i suffer withdrawl even don't taper and said that I want to taper with Ashton manual and doctor was willing to read it and we will start this week. They had to get me have some sleep and I have 250 mg of quetapine (normally I sleep 25 mg) and 20 mg of temazepam. Now I sleep but every morning I wake up I feel like I have no brains and feel awful. I can't ne with my loved ones because I am telling my hell all the time. I feel depersonalization and derealisation. And am afraid to taper because I have no power left and suffer anxious all the time and headaches and earlier taper has gone badly wrong. Thank you for answering and I hope this brain lock will go away while tapering or after that.
I am decreasing a diazepam dose from around 15mg. Fortunately, it is diazepam. I am a believer in slow Ashton Manual or Ashton Manual-style tapers.
Not abusing, coming off 1 mg twice/day x 1 year use. How can this be so bad just from that? What natural supports are recommended to help coming off?
I think the people that struggle the most (like myself) were on other medications like anti-depressants as well as Benzos. I was on 9 medications total for years from Norco to Klonopin. It's been almost two years being off of everything, Klonopin being the final hurdle, and I still have withdrawal symptoms daily (I think it's permanent damage to CNS). Life isn't easy but I'm thankful that I'm not on pharmaceuticals anymore.
nope!!! WE ARE ALLL SUFFERING AT 100 💯😢This Benzo does NOT DISCRIMINATE! It TORTURES US ALL EQUALLY!!!! This is REALLY DANGEROUS! Scary like DEATH Everyday! Try Drinking Pink Himalayan Salt Water ! A Gallon a day! It re balances Nervous System lowers Cortisol & Flushes Adrenaline & Balances Blood Sgar & Blood Pressure! It’s called SOLE WATER u can google it on You Tube for Recipe!
@@michelebergman4336 thank you!
9 months off Benzo s and it’s starting to feel permanent...really hope the best for you
@@ExploreLife999 how did you do it?
Beats on Page still going thru it til this day. 11 plus months. What helped me was my wonderful mother allowing me to live with her and not work full time. Finding a relationship with god again. Believing that in some way I deserved this and it was my life duty to beat this. And god will have my back if I never give up. Sounds corny but Benzo withdrawals is the most spiritual thing ever
Very very well said. Thank you
Everyone is different. Those who stopped taking it, don't give up. I took Klonopin for 6 weeks prn and it messed me up which felt like over a year. I've been off 7 years and I can say I'm way better than I was even 3 years out. I had to train myself to play with toys, read books and even eat certain foods again. I remember nearly having a break down on the first day I went out walking. It got better as time went by. Sleep I felt took forever to come back.
After listening to these videos no one will ever get off. Sounds like getting off is a death sentence for sure. Thanks for giving us hope for the future.🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
Big pharma knows this......
Last month I took some benzos while drinking alcohol heavily. Now I'm almost one month free from both alcohol and benzos couldn't sleep for 5 days straight. Went through hallucinations DT, my BP spike to 160/100. I stayed for a week at hospital and came home and took rest, I got seizure after few days when I was at home. My body is feeling much better now but I still have this weird sensitivity to light and sound, less focus, depression and anxiety, euphoria, suicididal thoughts, change of view and the way I see around it's all different than before. I'm wondering if anyone's been through the same and I just want some advice and want to know how long will this withdrawal last.
she keeps saying dopamine doesnt she mean GABA??
The two are interlinked.
Yeah, most benzos don't even act on dopamine receptors
@John C it's most certainly because of downregulation of GABA receptors. Benzos act on GABA to produce the effects after all
GABA A , I believe is for benzo Gaba b receptors act on alcohol or vice versa
**Ahem**.
"Who's here because of JP's recent video upload on benzo withdrawals?"
So I guess there's no withdrawal associated with other mental or nerve pain meds? What a crock.
I have had an unethical and irresponsible doctor who literally cut me off cold turkey and I am not kidding I didn’t leave my apartment for 8 entire months because I had become agoraphobic and I have to say that was the worst thing I’ve ever been through and ending my life was never an option for me and I did it completely alone because I couldn’t even talk to anyone on the phone even and I became very hypersensitive with hearing, smell, taste, touch, I couldn’t go outside without sun glasses because my eyes were so sensitive to sunlight this was before I had all the medication out of my system because klonopin has a half life of around 50 hours which means if you take a 2mg klonopin it takes 50 hours just for a single mg to be metabolized in your liver and I tracked down my old doctor who instantly wrote me a large script for 2mg Klonopin and it had a few refills and I was back to normal and the whole thing is I don’t want to be on any prescription medication because I know that doctors are getting paid to keep the American public high and they are paid for the keeping all of us high by big pharma
I can't bear the lack of concentration anxiety and bouts of real, pain, physically lying in a bed trying to get the pain to stop in my stomach, kidneys and back. It's terrifying. I often think 6 months off am I dead already?
I'm so impatient because my mind is telling me five thousand things I want to be doing. Can't do anything beyond survive this interval hellscape, like dates inferno with multiple boiling cauldrons of tortures. However.., there are getting to be hours in the day without agony .
I love art projects and I can normally do them easily and well but, I'm looking at my collection of things I've been buying that are going to look beautiful, exasperation , can't do it, can't wait to do it. Brain says not yet, body is dehydrated and exhausted mostly. I am improving day by day and each step is a step less, even if it's a thousand miles.
If it's not pain it's chronic, weird anxiety, depression and brain fog, like I'm not fully here. It's a central nervous system problem that effects everything from body temperature to digestion and sleep cycles.
I feel like my personality and psyche dissolved during the acute phase. I had an ego death, it took me into every trauma and relationship I'd ever had. I literally felt like I was having a life review but maybe it's just my brain, memory and body trying to download what's happened and remember who I am.
Or I really came that close to physical dying.
I don't think anyone realises how close to death a benzodiazepine withdrawal is when you aren't tapered. It can kill you and it does kill people all the time, heart attack, stroke from the seizures, do not do this from high doses. I had begged for four months for tapering and was getting nowhere. So, I literally had to disconnect from the outerspace I was trapped in and free fall without an emergency reserve parachute, my body had to do it. , it starts awful and gets faster and faster until its light speed and the brain can't compute, I had seizures, blacked out, lost my memory, woke up still sick and went through weeks where I flooded through every memory I'd every had. I was caught in spiralling upside down out of control positions but it was either disconnect that poison and jump to reenter earth's atmosphere or die in spaced out non existence, the real world was thousands of miles below and nobody, period, not a person in that position is willing to jump. I was out of radio signal in that phase, it's impossible to receive any help or support from another human. People on these pills, thought I was crazy, do or die. I couldn't stay trapped, I had to escape.
What a horror film inside our bodily experiences.. but even as I still plummet, I am determined I WILL reenter the real world again. There is no choice, sick for life or take the chance and maybe survive it. I was lucky to survive the acute stage as I ended up in an ambulance with 2 black eyes after seizing for 15 minutes straight. The Dr's refused to help me come off so I stopped it myself anyway and that negligent doctor nearly killed me. I'll write it all down and expose the shit out of what happened when I'm feeling better as there is a big problem with patients neglected and given a diagnosis of chronic disability, nope that's not fucking acceptable, I wasn't born disabled, it is the benzodiazepines. The isolation they cause is awful too. At some stage you have to clean your house and be brave, there's no satisfaction in drug addiction. It cuts you off from your true self and potentiality, as well as destroys the intimacy you could be having in relationships.
Forget relationships with brain damaged poisoning.
These substances should be banned. We would be quicker recovering having ingested under sink detergent or a cleaner. The first stage is to realise its poisoning and self harm and then fight to prove your point that you are not a waste of space junkie. Despite the fact I've never been the stereotypical junkie, it's always been the good Dr's medicating normal that got me identified as such. There is a stigma with addiction.
The Dr retired who initiated the sequence. I was good pay checks for big pharma and they really think you'll be a slave forever to their drugs.
Throwing caution to the wind, experiencing a madness beyond comprehension, it's a miracle I can even write this. It has to be articulated, one day I'll express this artistically and translate this for everyone who finds it inexpressably too profound to articulate with any justice not that I can achieve anything better than anyone else, but I will try. Art is my salvation and it helps to see what happened, as with benzo brain injuries it causes amnesic loss of memory and total dissociation. Its too painful for the mind to deal with, I had geometric patterns when I shut my eyes, weird snakes that came towards me and exploded into multicoloured diamonds that shimmered irredescently, endless thoughts and feelings that had absolutely nothing to do with physical present moment reality.
I experienced quite heavy bullying and I relived that shit show in my head in a repeating pattern too , snakes in visions were better than snakes in real life but neither were optional. I even had auditory hallucinations where I heard my name called and I was well aware this was a manifestation of some kind of psychosis.. but I still didn't look back. I wanted out and I was willing to go through madness as well if I had to.
I'm more lucid now but still bursts of anxiety and pain with a backdrop of foggy not quite here feeling. It's all the emotions and trauma of it, as well as the physical dynamic.
We took a journey into the metaphysical with this chemistry experiment, it really reminded me of being radioactive or something, destroyed internally from the sub molecular level of chemistry.
Its a profound effect not just on the body but the mind and emotions as I said, like a really, really bad trip.
I will try to use it for creativity and hopefully maybe share it with someone who can help others, if not me.
Take care space cadets, we are the people who will smash their stereotypical diagnosis of uncurable and prove the bastards we are worthy to be saved. Freedom🗽🗽😉💖
Thank you for writing this.
I am having a hard time writing things down but what you expressed helped me
@@lillysummer3546 I'm sorry for the expletives but the ignorance in the medical profession is awful in Scotland. 4 months of acute madness and knowing it, it begged incessantly for rehab, none in Ayrshire Scotland, I begged for a taper, not until two samples and months was that possible. I was just looked like, as ifI'd willingly over partied or was like a really heavy heroin addict that deserved nothing but death. Dr gabor mate is good and recognises it comes from trauma.
during withdrawal i say a word and it repeats exactly in my head. God help me.
Difficulties?My 31 yr. Old killed herself and it was the fault of the mental health community that got her on all the pharmaceuticals they had her on then distanced themselves from her leaving her to go cold turkey on her own.They killed her and she was a beautiful person.
asthma attacks & withdrawal are a thing, if you have asthma do not take clonipin
Glad she finds it fascinating for the group that has a rough time ...... I call it human torture
Yes, I live that torture daily
Look into benfotiamine
@@rudyferrell thiamine for benzo damage ?
@@lam7402 yes, benfotiamine to be more specific. Take it with vitamin d and magnesium citrate. Research it on RUclips. Do yourself a favor. Your brain is damaged along with your nervous system.
Benzo destroyed my half life it's good I am still young and still tappering and everyday I cry in this hell because I abused it more than 30 mg a day.
I feel you brother this crap is poison !!! Bezons are literally poisons craps
The brain is delicate and more complicated than the universe itself :quote Dr Peter Breggin. What gives these doctors who went to med school for a few years give them the right to delve into.our brains and think they can work it out . It's Insanity pure evilness on another level
Would suboxone help with benzodiazepine withdrawal?
Unfortunately no.
I was taking this for over than 5 years . But i moved to Denmark and here I can’t find the medicine. So i have to stop. But i am facing too much difficulties like heart racing too fast , insomnia, restlessness, sweating. Headache and so many things. I am so afraid and broken. Can anyone help me? One thing is sure I can’t find this anymore. So i have to quit 😢
Im so sorry that you are going through this. How are you feeling now? The withdrawals are horrible.
stop taking valium almost 1 year already but still scared to go out.i feel numbness right side of my body.head to toe,do im gonna get better?feel so bad my life is not normal.sorry for my English.
Also the calming effect of Gabapentin, the breaks of the nervous system.
Gone - left with -
Horrible waves of panic. Constant state of flight, fright or freeze.
It's a living nightmare!!!!
Look into benfotiamine
I have more mental symptoms of withdrawal than physical ones . Major depression, suicidal thoughts, neurosis , insomnia, daytime sleep . It all started after i started taking lorazepam 3 month ago . Guess ia m goin through withdrawals.
This is what she says makes me incredibly scared!!
yea i think she means GABA not dopamine... dopamine?? thats cocaine and adderal and ritalin etc.... gaba makes me more lazy or calm.... dont think dopamine is involed anywhere in benzos because if it was you would actually potentially feel more anxious or way more motivated.... not calmed and sedated! head scratcher with this doctor
The Doctor is right. There is new research and findings to be found.
I was 20 years old and alprazolam seemed to save my life. But I am desperate to get off, like desperate and rehabs I don't think understand how to taper someone off. Xanax is so awful, I don't see why anyone would need it when there are other similar benzos. UGH I HATE IT!!
I'm trying to come off klonopin and it's making me crazy. I've never been addicted to anything.
Please check out the withdrawal resources page on our website here: medicatingnormal.com/psychiatric-drug-withdrawal/
Go very slow google water titration methods for klonopin withdrawal.I’m 12 years off klonopin but was on it for 20 years I’m 56 living in Chicago.All the best
Hi doc. I have 5 kids a wife I just got a cannabis business license in Massachusetts. Its the hardest work I have ever done. Im finding my self in a situation where I was taking adderall because my wife is needy. She wants me up whenever she wants me after that she doesn't care what I do. I started taking adderall to keep awake long enough to "hang out " when she wanted me to be there. An hour or so later she is sleeping and im sitting awake feeling poisoned to spend a hour with my wife. Worst even. She sleeps im up then I've taken a 2 mg bar to get down and sleep. Now I'm up down up down ... im in recovery from heroin addiction. She knows this. I got my 12th year this past May 17. I worked hard to change. I got clean i adopted a son. Had a son with my sons mom. Then we split. I got custody and raised these boys alone single daddin it till my wife came along. So now I find my self having thrown away 12 years of sobriety to pop pills to be able to work around her schedule. Well one day i just got sick and I was tired of it I NEED TO STOP i will die. Guaranteed I pray not pick up a needle but who knows. Wasted on xamax you do crazy shit. So I really want to be done. So I tell her jen. I love you. But im poisoning myself for one hour with you. Then you sleep amd I suffer on and on .. i need you to help me be OK. I kick em I go into withdrawal and she starts with the ypu dont csre about me. Im not your priority.
Of course she is. Building a cannabis business beantown greentown boston msss. It was all to take care of her forever and our kids. But poisoning my self isn't ok. I said im gonna need a week or two as sucky as that seems. I need it to get healthy. Kick the adderall and xanax. Once that happens we can actualy fix the relationship. I've lost motivation to do whagever ridiculous shit I used to do to keep her happy because it never works. I never loved someone so much. But she can't get past the right now. She thinks I should magically be healthy over one night and believe me she's bitching that night. Why would she even say oh you just don't care about me. If im reading she's like all you care is your stupid books. Video ganes with my son. She's there to tell me I care more about that than her ... i care so much about my kids. They don't deserve to only get one half of me. My wife deserves all of me but that's unrealistic so now I'm piisoned trying ti kick these horrid drugs and she thinks me being depressed or insomniac means i don't care about her. So many times I said fuck this. Ill do the drugs to give her what she wants. She knows im poisonkng myself and it could lead to death. Well talk the next day shes like wtf. You dont care about me. I dont even know whst to do . She knows I've been taking em she knows what happens if I overdose. Im at the end of my rope. Why isn't she sayinf honey I know your sick and feel horrible. Tonirrow will be better. Sex right now isn't the most important thing your health is. Instead shes been picking me apart and wondering why a car with no engine csnt drive her around
-hopeless and hurting
Keith laham.
Mate, you need to look after yourself first and foremost.
If she really loves u, she will understand. Sounds like ur wife has some psychological problems herself.
@@trybaldanca we split. Im finaly feeling human again and im not giving it up for anyone or anything. I dont know how I got into such a shitty situation but it almost beat me. Almost. She moves out on the 15th . When I look at it. Wow thats all I can say wow.
@@hello-gz2ys yeah we took sepperate roads. Im not killing myself for anyone and thats exactly what I was doing . Finaly feel ok again and not ever going back.
@@keithlaham7593 am sorry to hear that things didnt work out but happy to hear ur fine again. Finding true love is hard these days, but not impossible. I wish u the Best!
Please i need help , i have been taking diazepam ( valium ) for 3 years , and cannot stop using , i just cannot sleep , i have tried to stop taking but i cannot , what should i do ? I am taking 10 mg of diazepam at night to be able to sleep
Read this: www.benzoinfo.com/ashtonmanual/
@@MedicatingNormal thanks
@Yaseen Tanoli yes i quited 3 weeks ago cold turkey
Can Any One Suggect The Other Pill For Us To Take As Were Getting Off Of These Bens'os ? Thank You Please ! Susan Boyd,So So Tired Of Suffering From The Drs Hands & The Pills Theyve Shouve Them In My Face ! & Says Either Take These Are None ! ? So Were Suffering From Drs Not Caring Also ! So Which Is It We Turn To Please Help Me ! Susan Boyd,Humboldt County,Ca. Help !!!..,
How do I get more dopamine
She forgot to mention depersonalization disorder that comes from benzo withdrawal which in itself, is horrible
Struggling with that symptom now
@@rebelbeaute1441how are you now
32,years ,doctors have decided to taper me now,new doctors,it's hell.
I'm sorry that you are suffering like this. I was once like you but here I am today without any symptoms.To be honest I was on Benzo for 10 years. I decided to stop it since I realized that it was worsen my situation. But thanks to Chinese medicine that I bought and took for just 1 month. Here I am today feeling better and symptoms free. Add me on my Facebook account at Gerardx Willon to know more about my story and how the Chinese medicine helped me to be symptoms free.
This is misleading. Good iformation about withdrawals subjective effects, about tapering down. But not any word about GABA, pharmacology behind benzos main effect. Could be cut from point where start talking about dopamine and put that to descripe main reason of longterm post-acute opiate withdrawal symptoms, hits 100% to them.
How many people has she prescribed Benzos also antidepressants are addicted
I took less than prescribed for insomnia caused by menopause and only took Ativan occasionally but developed anxiety and panic from occasional use. Its called kindling. I'm suffering stabbing brain pain five years off as well as about 25 other physical symptoms. I feel like I'm dying 70% of the time. Do your research! Benzos destroy gaba receptors so the nerve cells can't absorb enough to calm the body or mind. It also means there is too much glutamate which causes rapid heart, poor digestion, a constant state of fight or flight or in some tortured souls, akathisia. You're right, it has to be genetics...i never took more than 40 mg per year until my taper...i was told my anxiety was from depression. NO, IT WAS CAUSED BY OCCASIONAL USE OF ATIVAN...benzos are toxic to some. The warning label should read, if you experience increased anxiety while taking this drug, STOP IMMEDIATELY. (of course that's if it was prescribed properly...for no more than two weeks straight, but that is even too long for some of us. Gaba receptors can be destroyed in as little as nine days, from my observational research).
can i tapper of both clonazepam (0.5 mg) & vortioxetin (10mg) have been using for 3 weeks only.. I don't want to stay on these pills which cannot give me relef rather more I'll feeling.. Please advice me n ur support needed 🙏 iam eagerly waiting for ur reply, I don't want to regret in future help mmme
Yes Ativan aka lorazepam causes the cns to adapt way to quick
@@birdofparadise9436I didn't get. Should I leave them?
I would stop the Clonazepam as soon as possible. You've been taking it for only 3 weeks am I right!? The vortioxetine I don't know that's an antidepressant and those have helped me in some dark times. I've got hooked on diazepam by using high doses to get off ghb addiction. I wish I forced myself off the diazepam(also a benzo like Clonazepam) the thing is in the beginning they work so well! No anxiety but in a short time you will get used to it and have to up your dosage. I would say just try the vortioxetine. The thing that has helped the most was praying to Jesus he is the only one the can change you from the inside out.
@@birdofparadise9436 TanQ so much...
I was weaned off Klonipin in 1 month and spent the next 5 years in a horrible condition. I was 62 when I stopped and it’s taken me all this time to feel normal again. I don’t even want to think about it. Destroyed me.😮😢
I’m 60 and have been on Valium for over 15 years 30mg daily, I have been tapered by .5 and it’s been several months and I am just now becoming very confused and having difficulty working, I have trouble even reading an email, it’s like my cognitive functioning is not right. Does that sound familiar to anyone?
Thank you for responding to me. I am not sure what to do. I am seeing a neurologist tomorrow for a nerve test, I am going to talk with her about it.
Look into benfotiamine
i suffer from anxiety i have for years i take 10 mg a day and it works but there are to many people that abused it its a same . for people that needs it and take it the right way
This has nothing to do with addiction or abusing the medication. Your body become physiologically dependent on the drug causing you to build tolerance, where you will have to raise your dose to continue to get the same effect. Then you will think that you "need" it because going without it will put you into a withdrawal state of increased anxiety. It's called rebound anxiety and is made worse because of the presence of the drug. www.benzoinfo.com/tolerance/
Wow. Thinking benso withdrawal is about Dopamine deficiency, is this a joke?
Gaba and dopamine are very closely related so it's not technically wrong but definately not very elaborate.
Is there anybody out there who managed to come off benzos without these terrible symptoms surely there must be some.
Sometimes people manage to withdraw without issue, yes. But, we don't know who will be who ahead of time.
@@MedicatingNormal thanks for the reply I have been on diazepam for about 10 years but managed to cut back from 6mg to 2mg today, sometimes 1mg but always go back to 2mg getting to zero may pose problems but fortunately up to now I can't complain however reading peoples testimonies its not a drug to take lightly or assume there won't be consequences.
You don’t get depressed, You Face HELL !
I face that horror 2 years ago and is posible to success, don’t give up !
Thank you
I am not being a smart arse but how do you taper off these drugs if you have to go to work to survive? I don't have 5he monetary means to stay at home
slow microtaper...ruclips.net/video/Mwb_Qa1UGv0/видео.html
or
ruclips.net/video/whpciMUXHfY/видео.html
I tapered off clonazepam and went to work everyday. Its doable..
@1:30 to @1:52 I'm getting those symptoms without being on benzo but from alcohol withdrawals and am considering taking benzo to quit being an alcholic.. Anyone got some advice for me please and thank you.
Yes. Eat 6 times a day, drink 2.5 ltr of water a day and go jogging atleast 2 times a week, go to the gym aswell an stay off the Benzo's!
Nothing is worse than Benzos. Please, please stay away
I've used Klonopin for 15years and all these benzo videos are making me so damn sad, anxious and depressed. The thing is that I've managed to taper down from 2mg->0,25mg and I can't even begin to tell you about that hell. Hey, at least there is a one good thing, this shit destroyed my memory so bad that I can't even remember all of it /s But to be fair it took me years to get here and now I feel like I am stuck with this dose and I am really scared to go 0. I have my hopes that I'll regain my memory capabilities at some point but watching all of these different withdrawal videos are making me feel hopeless. What if I go to 0 and this hell just keeps repeating itself in a never-ending limbo 😢 I hate all of these goddamn meds. Absolutely ruined my life in a longterm.
You need to be strong .Iam going very bad, only God knows. I was taking Clonozapem 0.5mg first I started by PRN after becomes every night.I stopped it On March 21./23, 2 weeks now. The first day when i withdraw the medication, I feel on hell I could not go to work.I was feeling like dying.OnFriday I went to my doctor I informed her that I dropped the medication, even her ,did not know anything about these medication. That time i did not know too. I asked all the blood test and ultrasound in my body, because I was thinking I have something bad in my body. When I come home then I started searching on people was taking these med then i saw all the information. Be Strong and come out, because these med is a evil. Good luck
You’ve made great progress! I’m NOT a medical professional. I’m kind of a health nut who has also taken psych meds-:/ I read and listen to all kinds of health oriented books and podcasts.
Based on years of doing that, it seems that exercise is the best thing you can do, for really any condition, including ones related to cognitive decline. I’m assuming memory problems fall into that category.
Peter Attia, MD has the most informative podcast. He also just released a book called “Outlive.”
Anyway, exercise might not be fun in withdrawal, but certainly beneficial. Maybe just walking in the evening to avoid the sensory overload that can strike in the day.
Very helpful
I haven't seen much on this but did anyone else have problems eating when you didn't take/ have benzos? When I stop taking them Nothing tastes right and it's almost physically hard to eat. Its total hell!! I feel really bad on the inside cant really explain it. I go back to my Dr. Tomorrow to start tapering. I've had suicidal thoughts stopping cold Turkey. I'd much rather be on this medication rather than live w overwhelming discomfort. I see ppl saying they are clean but living in hell? What is the point in living in absolute misery just to say you are clean? I dont get it I'm sorry.
www.benzoinfo.com/tolerance/
For some of us, we couldn't take them anymore, they quite literally turned on us and we had to come off. It IS painful and the withdrawal is hell but it's still better than being enslaved to a pill bottle and doctors who don't get it.
Make you right on that. Rather be rattling down the road and having a life. Been seven months CT and have no sleep due to spasm or nerve twitches. Sleep is most important.
I feel like I have the flue, I have headaches, pulsating musle pain throughout my body
11 years off benzodiazepines having vulva anal pain burning itching and swelling prickly had thrush treatments metronidazole no better this withdrawal symptoms because treatments no worked am in pain
Oceane how r u now frd
This is so true
Don’t listen to all the psychos with their horror stories. Benzo withdrawal does suck but the acute phase lasts from 1 to 2 weeks depending on the half life of the benzodiazepine used.
It depends on the person, for some people post acute withdrawal symptoms do happen, for benzos and opiods it's actually quite common. I could off drugs but benzos for me were a whole another ballgame. I thought the withdrawals would go away after 2-3 weeks they didn't, a lot of the effects were still very there.
@@superdanyal2009 I agree with you. Paws is different to acute withdrawal though. Acute withdrawal will last 1 to 2 weeks depending on the half life of the benzo. Paws can last for a long time.
@Spotek Benzos are nasty drugs.
@Spotek there should be class action lawsuits.
can i tapper of both clonazepam (0.5 mg) & vortioxetin (10mg) have been using for 3 weeks only.. I don't want to stay on these pills which cannot give me relef rather more I'll feeling.. Please advice me n ur support needed 🙏 iam eagerly waiting for ur reply, I don't want to regret in future help mee