Aa
Benzo withdrawal? Ativan?? 3 years of use! PLEASE HELP!!!!
I'm 28 years old... I had a VERY bad anxiety episode in October of 2008. Couldnt sleep for nights, rapid heart rate, didnt know what was going on with me. Was pacing like crazy! Finally went to the Dr. after breaking down and crying...
He said I was having anxiety, which I was. He prescribed me .5mg of Lorazepam (ativan) to take up to twice a day when needed.
My anxiety came and went, it was very episodic throughout those 3 years. But I would take ativan when needed when I was feeling anxious or having insomnia.
I then started to develop strange sensations, jolts, electricity etc. and would have ANXIETY and go see my Dr., he assured me it was all anxiety and told me to just keep taking my ativan. Of course, the ativan helped the issues.
I do NOT take this pill EVERYDAY, but after going through my journals over the past 3 years (which thank God I've kept)
I have taken ativan ON more than OFF most def.
Symptoms at 1st were indeed anxiety... and the ativan helped me through it.
But as the years went by, I'd wean slowly over a 2 week period or so, and be great... then a new symptom would appear, and I'd freak out... like muscle twitching all over my body... or a stiff neck... my Dr. assured me it was all anxiety... so since these sensations were GIVING me anxiety... what would I do? Take an ATIVAN or 2. (.5mg)
To some this up... about a Month ago, I was doing great... I started a wedding videographer business on the side, and it exploded. I did get stressed out about it though.
Then all of a sudden... I was filming this girls wedding... 7-30-11 and felt my fingers and lips go tingly... it scared me... then my face flushed... and my heart rate was OUT THE ROOF.
I told myself it was just anxiety and to relax... well I couldnt... but made it through the day. I took 2 ativan to help sleep that night.
Over the next week... I kept feeling the tingling... so I went to the Dr. for peace of mind.. he said anxiety... it soon left... but what came next was CONSTANT OFF BALANCE AND LIGHTHEADEDNESS...
I'd move my head left and right and it would take things a second to catch up. Also, walking just felt WEIRD...
I was TOTALLY wigging out over this... my Dr. assured me it was probably an INNER EAR issue from allergies... or from swimming?
This feeling did NOT help my anxiety though... so I was taking 2 ativan .5mg before bed to help sleep.. b/c I could feel the spinning sensation in my head at times in my sleep. SCARY.
I called my Dr. and said that the ativan isnt working much anymore... and if I could switch over to Klonopin (I had some up in a cabinet) he said NO PROBLEM... just not too much. He said he wasnt worried about me getting addicted. Which I DON'T have an addictive personality at all.
One day of feeling off balance I decided to try a .5mg klonopin... and guess what? The OFF BALANCE feeling LEFT.
I called him and told him and he said great! But he wanted me to start Paxil for my anxiety... 5mg
I agreed and said it couldnt hurt.
Well, that didnt agree with me so I got off of it... only took it for like 4 days?
Then before bed I was getting these STRANGE electric JOLTS in my head and body before falling asleep... then my body would feel weightless as heck! Like I wasnt in it! I told myself over and over it was just anxiety.
The .5mg klonopin was not helping too much.
I called my Dr. about these sensations and he told me it's just anxiety, and that I have it bad.
He said he'd like for me to take .25mg of klonopin just before bed instead of .5mg. So I did...
since then I've had feelings of DREAD... electric jolt... the strangest 1-2 second panic attack sensations ever... depersonalization for seconds at a time... now I'm having insomnia...
2 days ago I called him CRYING and moping b/c of these feelings, and I told him that I thought I was having ATIVAN WITHDRAWAL...
My back has been achy too and just feels flu like.. I have had a couple bouts of diarhea too.. and ZERO appetite for the most part.
I can't keep still.... he told me to relax and take 2 ativan and to come see him next week... which will be this Tuesday.
I didnt sleep at all lastnight even with the .25mg klonopin... and I was a pacy mess today... and still am... I kept researching Lorazepam/Ativan/Benzo withdrawal... and I really feel this is what I'm experiencing..
I havent had ativan for almost a month now... just Klonopin... and I'm down to .25mg..
I'm a MESS. But I'm making it.
I broke down and had my Dr. paged again tonight b/c I was convinced I was having DEPENDENCY/Withdrawal from Ativan... and Klonopin was just hiding some of the possible withdrawal effects? But not really.
He said it's possible but he said "Why do you want to stop Ativan? You have anxiety and it helps..."
I explained "I think the ativan is causing more problems than good... and im developing a tolerance.."
He said "Well sometimes you have to take more... but that's okay..."
He said his goal is to get me off the Ativan safely and to help my anxiety.
I'M SO SCARED I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH WITHDRAWAL HELL.
Do you think I am or is this really ALL anxiety?
Do you think once I completely wean off the klonopin .25mg... are the withdrawals going to be EVEN WORSE?
Am I going to vomit shake? etc.? Be able to go to work? All these thoughts are going through my head... it's scary... I'm trying so hard NOT to take any ativan right now...
He said he'd help me wean off... but I havent taken it for a month... so will he take me off the klonopin more than likely then put me back on ativan? then wean me off???
I told him about the Ashton Method, he said he hasnt ever heard of it and said it sounded dumb to wean off ativan with diazapam.
I'm scared now he's not educated enough to help me wean off ativan correctly...
WHAT DO I DO? He's been a loving Dr. he really has... but I'm SO SCARED to go through this....
He said I was having anxiety, which I was. He prescribed me .5mg of Lorazepam (ativan) to take up to twice a day when needed.
My anxiety came and went, it was very episodic throughout those 3 years. But I would take ativan when needed when I was feeling anxious or having insomnia.
I then started to develop strange sensations, jolts, electricity etc. and would have ANXIETY and go see my Dr., he assured me it was all anxiety and told me to just keep taking my ativan. Of course, the ativan helped the issues.
I do NOT take this pill EVERYDAY, but after going through my journals over the past 3 years (which thank God I've kept)
I have taken ativan ON more than OFF most def.
Symptoms at 1st were indeed anxiety... and the ativan helped me through it.
But as the years went by, I'd wean slowly over a 2 week period or so, and be great... then a new symptom would appear, and I'd freak out... like muscle twitching all over my body... or a stiff neck... my Dr. assured me it was all anxiety... so since these sensations were GIVING me anxiety... what would I do? Take an ATIVAN or 2. (.5mg)
To some this up... about a Month ago, I was doing great... I started a wedding videographer business on the side, and it exploded. I did get stressed out about it though.
Then all of a sudden... I was filming this girls wedding... 7-30-11 and felt my fingers and lips go tingly... it scared me... then my face flushed... and my heart rate was OUT THE ROOF.
I told myself it was just anxiety and to relax... well I couldnt... but made it through the day. I took 2 ativan to help sleep that night.
Over the next week... I kept feeling the tingling... so I went to the Dr. for peace of mind.. he said anxiety... it soon left... but what came next was CONSTANT OFF BALANCE AND LIGHTHEADEDNESS...
I'd move my head left and right and it would take things a second to catch up. Also, walking just felt WEIRD...
I was TOTALLY wigging out over this... my Dr. assured me it was probably an INNER EAR issue from allergies... or from swimming?
This feeling did NOT help my anxiety though... so I was taking 2 ativan .5mg before bed to help sleep.. b/c I could feel the spinning sensation in my head at times in my sleep. SCARY.
I called my Dr. and said that the ativan isnt working much anymore... and if I could switch over to Klonopin (I had some up in a cabinet) he said NO PROBLEM... just not too much. He said he wasnt worried about me getting addicted. Which I DON'T have an addictive personality at all.
One day of feeling off balance I decided to try a .5mg klonopin... and guess what? The OFF BALANCE feeling LEFT.
I called him and told him and he said great! But he wanted me to start Paxil for my anxiety... 5mg
I agreed and said it couldnt hurt.
Well, that didnt agree with me so I got off of it... only took it for like 4 days?
Then before bed I was getting these STRANGE electric JOLTS in my head and body before falling asleep... then my body would feel weightless as heck! Like I wasnt in it! I told myself over and over it was just anxiety.
The .5mg klonopin was not helping too much.
I called my Dr. about these sensations and he told me it's just anxiety, and that I have it bad.
He said he'd like for me to take .25mg of klonopin just before bed instead of .5mg. So I did...
since then I've had feelings of DREAD... electric jolt... the strangest 1-2 second panic attack sensations ever... depersonalization for seconds at a time... now I'm having insomnia...
2 days ago I called him CRYING and moping b/c of these feelings, and I told him that I thought I was having ATIVAN WITHDRAWAL...
My back has been achy too and just feels flu like.. I have had a couple bouts of diarhea too.. and ZERO appetite for the most part.
I can't keep still.... he told me to relax and take 2 ativan and to come see him next week... which will be this Tuesday.
I didnt sleep at all lastnight even with the .25mg klonopin... and I was a pacy mess today... and still am... I kept researching Lorazepam/Ativan/Benzo withdrawal... and I really feel this is what I'm experiencing..
I havent had ativan for almost a month now... just Klonopin... and I'm down to .25mg..
I'm a MESS. But I'm making it.
I broke down and had my Dr. paged again tonight b/c I was convinced I was having DEPENDENCY/Withdrawal from Ativan... and Klonopin was just hiding some of the possible withdrawal effects? But not really.
He said it's possible but he said "Why do you want to stop Ativan? You have anxiety and it helps..."
I explained "I think the ativan is causing more problems than good... and im developing a tolerance.."
He said "Well sometimes you have to take more... but that's okay..."
He said his goal is to get me off the Ativan safely and to help my anxiety.
I'M SO SCARED I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH WITHDRAWAL HELL.
Do you think I am or is this really ALL anxiety?
Do you think once I completely wean off the klonopin .25mg... are the withdrawals going to be EVEN WORSE?
Am I going to vomit shake? etc.? Be able to go to work? All these thoughts are going through my head... it's scary... I'm trying so hard NOT to take any ativan right now...
He said he'd help me wean off... but I havent taken it for a month... so will he take me off the klonopin more than likely then put me back on ativan? then wean me off???
I told him about the Ashton Method, he said he hasnt ever heard of it and said it sounded dumb to wean off ativan with diazapam.
I'm scared now he's not educated enough to help me wean off ativan correctly...
WHAT DO I DO? He's been a loving Dr. he really has... but I'm SO SCARED to go through this....
Best Answer
Hi there. This is a really old thread. If you go back to the main page and hit the post a question link you can start your own thread. That way you can be sure to get lots of good support and answers to your questions. I don't have any experience with the benzos but there are many on here that do. I'm sure if you post a question they will be along to help. Good luck to you!
(O_o) The panic attacks are by FAR your worst enemy at this point. You need to find a healthy & constructive way of controlling them. After quitting Lorazepam...your brain started sending withdrawal symptoms to your body telling you to step it up...get off your duff & go out & find "US" some more before "WE" die!!!!...lol, which of coarse is that little devil voice in the back of your head that lies to you to get what "IT" wants, but not necessarily what "YOU" need. I'm a recovering alcoholic & trust me...(o_0) I hear the jerk all the time...lol. It's obvious that you had this panic problem before you ever started taking Lorazepam & now the withdrawal symptoms have made it just that much worse. The trick is "Not To Panic"...that only makes it 10 X worse than what it has to be! Calm down...take a deeeep breath...you're NOT going to die, although it may feel that way sometimes...lol. Your body is pumping you full of adrenaline when the panic sets in. You need to dissipate it as quickly as possible to be able to start to feel better. Go take a brisk walk...that always helps me & has a calming effect too...makes me also feel connected & alive...one with nature. Try taking long hot baths right before bed with scented candles & drinking Calamine tea to help sleep. No Coffee, tea, sodas, sugar, TV, computer, or work 1 1/2 hours before bedtime, so you don't over stimulate your brain, unless you're like me & old history documentaries put you to sleep like a bat to the side of the head...lol! I think it's ok to do the step-down process using other weaker Benzos & it's been done with great success. We all feel for your pain & hope you feel much better soon as possible~: ) (ps-(o_o) Remember this..."IT" can't eat you!!!)
Thanks for writing. I am 1 year + ativan free. =) No more scary withdrawal!!! Have not had anxiety for a year!!! It's amazing how awesome this feels. :) Thanks for writing though. People need to know the dangers of benzos. Benzos are the WORST thing to give to people with anxiety in my opinion. :) Hope all is good. Glad you are also Klonopin free. :)
I have been detoxing from Klonopin for 4 months now. I was perscribed some form of Benzo for the last 18 YEARS!! I am currently in residential addiction treatment for other serious matters. At my intake, I was advised that NO benzos were allowed in the program. I detoxed on my own, and the first three weeks were a complete living nightmare. All I have to say is it CAN BE DONE. THERE IS HOPE!! You just need a lot of time and patience.
Rich thank you for writing. Im trying to figure out the best weaning regiment. Im obviously already tolerant to 1mg so I upped my dose to 2mg to help stabalise. Over the last 4 years I only took an average of 1mga before bed. Never during the day! Id fight my anxiety til I got home. My question is... can I wean the way I've been taking it at night before bed? Or should I take my pharmacists advice and take four. 5mg tablets 4x a day for 2 weeks then cut down. .25mg every 2 weeks. Anyone who can answer that question would be awesome. Even at 2mgnight right now my body is having painless muscle spasms. Im just scared. But I will make it.
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That being said I really believe anxiety can be A LOT WORSE that w/d.The anticipation of w/d can be practically debilitating.I have been there.I admire the control u have on not taking medication when u have such anxiety.Having said that have you ever thought maybe you should continue with some sort of benzo.That is if you think you can't function like your used to w/o it.If your strong enough to stop go with your instincts.Your doctor seems to trust and value your opinion.People come off benzos all the time I'm sure your doctor has been down this road before but if your worried ask him if he has done this tapering process often/before if not maybe he can refer u to someone who has had more experience with the process.To ease your anxiety get step by step instructions written down to clarify exactly what your taper will be like including any side effects so you have NO surprises.good luck.your very strong you can get off the benzos for sure.