Benzo Withdrawal — Does This Look Like a Reasonable Plan?

I have begun to taper from the benzo's. 5 days ago i went from taking 0.5 pill 3 times a day, to taking 0.5 pill only 2 times a day. I know that maybe i should have only gone down 0.25 pill., but i just went with only taking the dosis 3 times a day till 2 time a day.

So far i have not had any awful symptoms....although my general mood has been a bit more unstable, im crying more and i have had this little feeling of tension in my chest. But nothing i cant live with if it is something that will go away in not too long.

I have been advised by a doctor from the psych ward to take this dosis for at least 14 days, thereafter i should only go down 0.25 pill and again take this dosis 14 days, go down 0.25 pill again and so on.

Do this look like a reasonable plan? Will i get worse symptoms then i have now?

By the way i have realized that maybe my increase in H has to do with my benzo withdraval, hadnt made that connection before now, but could that be related? no change in T.

 

HI @TheDanishGirl

Since you have asked for an opinion on this I will give you mine. Considering what you have been through in a relatively short space of time. Been in hospital and making improvement. I think you should only take the advice of your doctor/s on the tapering of your benzo medication. You really don't want to risk a relapse considering the improvement that you have made and hopefully this will continue to improve.

I wish you well.
Michael

 

Will do from now and thank you Michael.

Feel foolish for just deciding to go down o.5 pill, but as i have said...so far no awful symptoms.

 

There is no need to feel foolish @TheDanishGirl Tinnitus affects us in a variety of ways and no one can blame you for asking questions on it or the medication you are taking.

All the best
Michael

 

Whoa, just sitting here in front of the tv and eating a bowl of garlic/basil spaghetti and of all sudden i felt i couldnt hear my T.....sat in disbelief for 5 seconds and then plugged my ears, the t is still there but definitely more faint.

OMG is feels good to hear almost silence again.

 

There will come a time whether you hear your tinnitus or not you will not be overly bothered by it and this is called habituation. It will happen but enjoy your moment of happiness and there will be more...

 

@TheDanishGirl, sorry about the confusing on other post but this is the post I was talking about.

 

By 0.5 pill i meant a half pill, and 0.25 a quarter

 

I have lowered my dose by a quarter pill once again beginning on sunday (as advised by my doctor) and yesterday and today have been pretty bad: anxiety is up, im trembling, experience bursts of crying and have some REALLY dark and suicidal thoughts.

It was like this the last time i lowered my dose though, and it subsided after a week.....really looking forward to it subsiding again this time.

T volume is unchanged luckily but of course I am more focused and on it, cause I am feeling bad

 

Sorry to hear about your discomfort Sandra and hope things settle down for you soon. As long as you're under the care of your doctor hopefully you'll be fine. If things get too difficult just advise the doctor ASAP

Best of luck
Michael

 

Yes, I will of course and thank you once again for the great support!

I must mention that I do not feel like this all day long fortunetly, it comes in bursts and goes on for 1-4 hours yesterday evening for example was really good but i had a bad afternoon, it comes and goes a bit, but the crying can appear out of the blue....I think my brain is just confused and trying to adjust. This too shall pass!

 

Whether you are aware of it or not, you have just described "positivity even in the downtimes". Keep going on your present path because it's good to see.

Michael

 

I feel like my T is worse then usual now dont know if it actually is, or if it is just my flair in anxiety/depression thats causing me to perceive it that way.

I'm scared though.....dont want to taper down anymore if this is the outcome....have not talked with my doctor, cant come in contact with her.

 

In the early stages it is not easy for someone to take their attention away from the tinnitus. Go out for a walk, watch TV ( even if you can't follow what's going on ) anything to help take your attention away from the tinnitus helps even if it's for a little while. You may still notice the tinnitus but at least you are engaging in something rather than just sitting and listening to it. Have some low level background music playing such as classical helps. Not to mask the tinnitus but just set below it. I advise waiting to talk to your doctor on how you've been feeling if things remain the same.

Michael

 

I try, but it is just so hard to concentrate when my mind is swirling with dark and suicidal thoughts....I feel i am not myself at all....I just called my contact person from the team at the open psych ward I was admitted to....she reassured me that it is normal to have these withdrawal symptoms, and that they should surpass soon....she would talk it over with the chief doctor at the ward on monday....and I will talk to her again their.

She advised me to take quetiapin to take the edge off and calm me a bit.

 

You have done the right thing by contacting the person from your support team and I agree with what she said. Although it's probably normal to experience these symptoms dealing with them is another matter. Whilst I don't advocate drinking alcohol with medicines and I'm not telling you to do this. When I was taking clonazepam not every day. A small glass of brandy or Merlot, during the evening for medicinal purposes helped relax and de-stress me and I could cope with my tinnitus much better.

As I've said I'm not advising you or anyone to drink alcohol, but it helped me when nothing else would, when I found what I was going through overbearing.

Michael

 

I am actually at my moms house having a glass of red wine. It is much needed and so far no spike in T from the wine.

 

You have put me in the mood to have a glass of wine. Shame I don't have any at home...

 

I was a benzo addict myself and i know just how hard it is to taper and get off this stuff. each lower dose can have its challenges, but tapering is not easy and it takes lots of guts and a BRAVE person to follow through it and get off the benzos.

I wish you much love and success in your journey. Benzo addition by far was the WORST ordeal i ever went through and I been through many extremes. getting off it and the withdrawls really took tons of guts and courage that even i didn't know existed in my soul....

 

i have plenty of bottles..drive by and pick one up Michael

 

Thanks for sharing your experience! What kind of withdraval symptoms did you experience, and how long did they last?

 

We are also having a small bonfire, no better setting to have glass of wine

 

Thanks @fishbone. Next time I'm state side I'll be calling...

 

Can you please stop teasing me @TheDanishGirl..lol It is good to hear that you're having a nice evening.....

 

Cant help it yes it is a nice evening although i cant completly shake off the deep sadness I feel inside.

 

i went through a lot, i don't want to scare anyone

 

I understand how you feel and it's all part of the course and something some of us go through with this condtion. @fishbone's advise is brilliant. You will get through this and it will make you into a stronger person because it's a part of life and everyone goes through difficulties.....

 

Had 3 small glasses of red wine, now T is spiking and is quite loud

I dont feel too anxious about it though, because the wine has calmed me at the same time, but it is really very frustrating.

 

Trust me @TheDanishGirl the wine hasn't spiked your tinnitus. It's because you're concerned about the tinnitus and this causes stress and hence a spike is there. Try to relax and that will calm you.....

 

Maybe, but I was also very stressed yesterday and had no spike....now it has definitly raised in volume, it sounds twice as loud