11-20-2016, 05:16 PM
Been through it many, many times. Was prescribed them by my pediatrician as a teen but never told NOT to "just stop" taking them. Sometimes my mom had it refilled, sometimes she didn't. We did not know and we were not told that going cold turkey off benzos can be dangerous.
I went through YEARS of going cold turkey off and on. Didn't know it was the Rx doing it. Thought it was all kinds of things. Got my blood sugar tested, tested by a neurologist for epilepsy, went through a REALLY difficult and scary time.
Then years later after stopping them, went through a drawn out divorce. Was put on an SSRI and a benzo. The SSRI really helped me as did the benzo, and I got employment as an administrator for a large group of offices. I stayed there about 10 years. But I only used the Rx for that first year. Then after being overworked and used badly at this extremely toxic workplace after many years, I started the benzo regularly again.
Trying to come off of it after those other times, I recognized immediately that what I had been going through in school all those years ago was benzo withdrawal. I don't know how I managed it then, nor how I managed good grades.
The last time coming off of them was the hardest thing I have ever been through in my life. But I also have to say, I went too fast. Even though it was considered "slow." So I started over, using a longer half life benzo, just like what germanshepherd and others said. I also tapered verrrrrrry slowwwwwwwwwwwwly. I went MUCH, MUCH slower than Ashton's method, because if you have to function, you taper the way that is best for YOU. I cannot count the times I have cold turkeyed, not knowing what was happening, or anything about it.
Well, I know now, that is for sure.
It's not easy, but it's definitely doable. Propranolol helped as did an SSRI. I have been fortunate that I have never had a problem coming off the old SSRI's.
I went through YEARS of going cold turkey off and on. Didn't know it was the Rx doing it. Thought it was all kinds of things. Got my blood sugar tested, tested by a neurologist for epilepsy, went through a REALLY difficult and scary time.
Then years later after stopping them, went through a drawn out divorce. Was put on an SSRI and a benzo. The SSRI really helped me as did the benzo, and I got employment as an administrator for a large group of offices. I stayed there about 10 years. But I only used the Rx for that first year. Then after being overworked and used badly at this extremely toxic workplace after many years, I started the benzo regularly again.
Trying to come off of it after those other times, I recognized immediately that what I had been going through in school all those years ago was benzo withdrawal. I don't know how I managed it then, nor how I managed good grades.
The last time coming off of them was the hardest thing I have ever been through in my life. But I also have to say, I went too fast. Even though it was considered "slow." So I started over, using a longer half life benzo, just like what germanshepherd and others said. I also tapered verrrrrrry slowwwwwwwwwwwwly. I went MUCH, MUCH slower than Ashton's method, because if you have to function, you taper the way that is best for YOU. I cannot count the times I have cold turkeyed, not knowing what was happening, or anything about it.
Well, I know now, that is for sure.
It's not easy, but it's definitely doable. Propranolol helped as did an SSRI. I have been fortunate that I have never had a problem coming off the old SSRI's.