(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.  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.  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.  

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.  CL

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EDIT:   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.

(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.  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.  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.  

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.  CL

---

EDIT:   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.

(10-20-2015, 08:59 PM)Harley Wrote: EasyDoesit, Last night I read the blogs of Melissa Bond.  Thank you for writing about this as I found her journey to be like a good friend of mines whom took almost 2 yrs to get off Xanax via Valium and another year to get her mind and body back in working order again.  Much the same as Melissa writes about.

Benzo's are difficult and take a long time to WD from and regain your life.  My Mother was addicted to Valium after she had a brain aneurysm when I was barely 6 yrs old, but back then they were given out like candy by Dr's as the "new" cure all without understanding the consequences of extended use.  Her Dr tried to abruptly stop them, again not knowing and my Father kept throwing them away as he found them.   I can't count how many ER visits she made, some via ambulance.  She truly became a classic "Dr Shopper" for them.  Back when records didn't exist and it was easy.  Eventually they killed her.  I do mean that as had she not been addicted she would not have died by the time I reached my teen yrs.

Thankfully, it saved me from falling for their addictive properties.  I fought an Ortho who scripted them for my back, but he wasn't going to give me the Flexeril or other stuff I suggested for my back spasms.  Even after I told him why.  I will take a 5mg Valium, it has to be bad, if my back gets too hard for me to deal with.  Yes, they do work great for that, but they still have scared me silly after growing up around them.

(10-20-2015, 09:05 PM)Athena Wrote: So sorry, Harley.  About your mom. Very hard at a young age to go through all that.

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Popster, thank you for pointing that out.  I don't think many doctors understand this.

(10-20-2015, 07:54 PM)Mrchuckey12 Wrote:

(10-20-2015, 07:03 PM)Caróg liath Wrote: Again, clonazepam has a short half-life and 18 years is a long time; the withdrawals after such a long period of use would be very challenging.  I don't judge that, I am merely stating my experience in having an APRN and treating those with mental disorders, anxiety, and the like which can be brought on by many primary causes and easily misdiagnosed

Just wanted to clarify . . . Clonazepam has a long half-life of 30-40 hours.