(10-18-2015, 02:51 PM)stormsandy Wrote: [ -> ] (10-18-2015, 05:36 AM)Caróg liath Wrote: [ -> ]It's a good commentary on why long term, chronic use of benzos is not a good thing.
It's best to 'take a break' and see how you do without them (if you can, not everyone can medically speaking, for example Bi-polar's need Klonopin for manic episodes although not all BP's are of the same variety).
The first article does not mention WHAT benzo she was on, or the amount she was taking.
The second article mentions clonazepam, but not the amount.
I would be most curious to learn what the amounts were.
A small (5 - 10 mg a day) long-term dose, is not hellish to get off of. Â Amounts in excess of 5-10 mg a day for over 4-6 months (or longer), definitely is (ESPECIALLY if it is a benzo with a short half-life), and therefore a careful, monitored and supported taper is necessary (including dietary changes, epsom salt baths, walks and a lot of rest).
I am only speaking with the experience of helping patients get off of LARGE amounts of benzos, especially those in the 'short elimination half life' category.
Withdrawal symptoms tend to occur earlier with benzodiazepines with short elimination half-lives, than those with long elimination half-lives.
Common symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal include anxiety, trouble sleeping, restlessness, muscle tension, and irritability. Â Less commonly, patients may also experience nausea, malaise, blurred vision, sweating, nightmares, depression, muscle coordination problems, and muscle twitching or spasms. In rare cases, hallucinations, delusions, seizures, and ringing in the ears may also occur. Risk of withdrawal seizures is higher with high benzodiazepine dose, long treatment duration, and concurrent use of medications that lower the seizure threshold.
Since the first article the writer seems to experience quite severe symptoms of withdrawal, I would suspect she was on quite a large amount of a short-half life benzo, perhaps even in conjunction with an antidepressant. Â
I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy, and I do hope members will read the articles and learn that playing with these medications is not a game they want to be in.
Cheers and best wishes. Â CL
EDIT: Â I meant what amount of Ativan she was on, or if she was on another medication at the time.
My fingers work too quickly.
Thanks again for the very insightful article on benzo abuse.
Great post -Thanks so much for sharing.
From my experience most published writers, small business owners, and any type of person that helps others heal are not "manic or bipolar" but rather even keeled. The second lady taking kpins for 18 years is quite excessive, but if you read through the PDF you'd be amazed at what some people went through.Â
Your so very welcome stormsandy, but it is all published through a 15 year study done by multiple doctors, this is not ground breaking news, it is the facts.Â
Carog,
Please understand every person is not the same. The point I am trying to make and what these articles are shedding light on is that there is no such thing as a cookie cutter taper no 2 people are the same. I have seen a person get hallucinations after 2 months and then cold turkey from a 2-3mg a day. Â
The first article is written by Melissa Bond who took Ativan for 2 years for pregnancy-related insomnia. (which is one of those short half lives "dangerous ones") all benzos are dangerous, from short acting ones to the diazepam. If one would read Heather Ashton full published study they would see that for some patients it was better to just keep them on the benzo. "in rare cases" Ashton says  "Each schedule of taper needs to be tailored  to individual needs."
She took 6mg of Ativan for over 1 year, and at least 4mg for 2 years. Her first child was diagnosed with down syndrome. it was not until 2nd pregnancy at the age of 38 that she talks of a "Uma Thurman like moment in Pulp Fiction" Here is the article.Â
She is a published writer. If you notice most if not all doctors will never prescribe any benzo to someone living in moms garage.Â
It is always almost prescribed to people that have CAREERS, MORTGAGES, and adults who have a lot on there plate. It is one of the most over prescribed class of medication in the U.S., and after 3-4Â weeks they are no longer affective for the original purposes. It is like a band aid on a gun shot wound.Â
http://www.madinamerica.com/2012/09/kill...-crushed/Â
She speaks to the affect that various doctors do not fully understand that benzos are not like kicking heroin here is a quote from her blog:
This will be my world until I get off. 5-10 months is the projected time. Not like heroin. Not like alcohol. You go slow, because if you don’t, you can cause damage to the brain that will not leave things pretty. CognitiveÂ
disfunction
Short term as in 2-3 weeks? Longer then that please refer to many published studies and hours of real life first hand blogs, that depicts the non-sense of  "take a break" wow take a break cold turkey IMHO is reasonable for the under 1 month. Then again like I said before we are all different, but hallucinations and tremors are the norm, not the exception for most people.Â
With me I cold turkey cigarettes without mood swings or cravings. They are disgusting and I was very happy to no longer smell liken an ash tray. I will not get into details on an open thread, but unlike these ladies benzo was a walk in the park.Â
Healthy diet, plenty of exercise, clean living, meditation, helping others, and just doing whatever it is that one loves is proven to be healthy as it provides purpose for ones life.Â
The second lady is Jennifer Leigh PsyD who took clonazepam for 18 years, and has written a book, coaches and helps others along with, sharing success stories.Â
https://benzowithdrawalhelp.com/wp-conte...-rev-2.pdf
Easydoesit,