Benzo withdrawal question

[loveandlight05]

I was reading the other benzo thread, and I wanted to get some opinions about what one doctor told me when I CT Ambien.

Day two into my cold turkey detox from 10, 10 mg Ambien per night, I googled it. Ambien is structured like other benzos such as Xanax. The same risk of seizure and death is there. So I immediately called one of the physicians who prescribed it to me and fessed up to the amount I was taking. I told her that I was violently shaking and was scared to have a seizure.

I had also withdrawn from Klonopin two years ago and received the same answer from that doc. She told me that I did not need to taper and to continue CT. Once I entered rehab the next day, I was immediately medicated with anti seizure medication, and they were very concerned that I was CT from so much. They told me never to do that again.

Having been told this by two doctors, I am wondering if benzo withdrawal is as dangerous as we all believe. Were they advising me to do the right thing, or was this negligent?

[NeverAgain127]

Doctors are often poorly educated on the pharmacology of certain medications.  Many rely on drug reps for their information.  

For example, my own doctor told me that once I had tapered down to 10 mgs/day of oxy, in HIS opinion "you shouldn't even notice any withdrawals"  

I am staggered by this statement.  He knows I have a background in pharmacology, and I pointedly asked him to write me a script for Clonidine.  He told me I wouldn't need it.

He was WRONG.  About everything.  On day 4, I called his office and told him my BP was 180/100.   He immediately prescribed Clonidine.  

Now..I'm getting off topic here.  Benzo withdrawals, like w/d from alcohol, can be dangerous and life threatening.   Any doctor telling you to quit CT from Ambien (which, in my opinion, is drug that will eventually be pulled.) should be reported to the DOH.

Clonopin is used often to wean patients from benzos.  While it is also a benzo, it has the longest half-life...12-24 hours.  Compare that to a drug like Xanax with a half life of 4-6 hours.   Clonopin also raises the seizure threshold, and is used for patients with epilepsy.  

BUT.  I'm not a doctor.  Problem is, not all doctors are good at what they do, and especially when it comes to prescribing drugs.    Many of them will tell patients that "no one has ever died from opiate withdrawals."  which is a totally irresponsible thing to say.    Usually, w/d from opiates is not life threatening, but everyone is different, and certain medical conditions indicated a supervised taper, detox/withdrawal, in my opinion (especially in older people with BP or cardiac issues.)  

All just my 2 cents...

PS Loveandlight05, you're doing great!!!

[loveandlight05]

Yes. I firmly stand by the fact that hydrocodone withdrawal is much less harmfull than benzo. I was on no other medication to reduce the risk of seizure, and I did mention the amount I took in the above post. I know the doctors were angry at me for abusing the drugs, but I do think they should have worked me off of them in a safe manner. What's done is done, but I wish physicians would listen to addiction specialists such as the amazing nurses who worked with me in rehab to better understand the havoc benzos wreak on our bodies.

[VICourageous]

Like I said in another post that I think was yours..I never have felt my Heart go so crazy when I went c/t from any other drug but this time I had a Benzo in the mix..Nor did I ever experience the High Anxiety this time around..I know I also came off the Methadone and street Adderral but I know to this day it was the Benzo that made it a long and intense withdraw..AND for the record..I also believe with all of my Heart that going c/t from these meds is one of the BIG reasons I ended up on the Hospital having a Heart Procedure done..The hard pumping did not help my heart but at least I did not have a Heart Attack and die up there in the treatment..They too should of known better but I had to see another DR far away. I had to go to because of the high dose of Methadone..He just tried to put me on Subs. I know people that have went c/t and are alive BUT I also highly believe it can cause some heart damage too..This is just my 2 cents worth..I would of NEVER did it that way..I would of just gone down to a lesser benzo that was not as strong and then did a slow taper..Why suffer??? It was living he11 for months & months for me.

[refills]

You don't mention amounts and you've withdrawn before. So I would say you dodged a bullet. 60 days since I went to detox and I'm still not close to any kind of mental stability.

I was detoxed from a Benzo (xanax) by a Benzo (Ativan), now I'm up to 20 pills daily. It ***** so bad. Going crazy in Pittsburgh!

Good Luck to you.

[vicki595]

I wouldn't want to stop any benzodiazepine cold turkey and test the question of dangerous vs not dangerous...  There so much documentation supporting the seizure risk that I believe it's true and know it's true. There is also a seizure risk with barbiturates.  

The chance of seizure is very high with these drugs. Perhaps you were on another drug that diminished the risk of seizure?