Benzodiazepines: Lived Experience, Tolerance, Detox and Protracted Withdrawal Syndromes
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
- The Colorado Consortium's 2021 Annual Meeting held a special session entitled Benzodiazepine-Induced Brain Injury: The Hidden Prescription Epidemic. Nicole Lamberson, a PA serving on our medical board, presented her lived experience, tolerance, "detox," and protracted "withdrawal" syndromes.
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24 years on. 4 years off. I really appreciate you guys putting this together. I think validation is very important.
Are you back to your pre-benzo self now?
I'm 34 months out from cold turkey withdrawal after 28-1/2 years taken as directed Xanax for 6 years, then klonopin 1.5 to 2 mg for rest of almost 29 years. I need hope that I could still improve over my current situation. Please write.
@@Rollwithit699 yes you progressed every year. I started out with 80 or 90 different symptoms. And every year I feel much better in many ways. My memory is coming back. It's been right around 5 years now. There are still a few battles that arise once in awhile. But for the most part those 90 symptoms have given away to just a few. And definitely not as intense as they used to be. My walk with God is the most important thing in dealing with all this. Just thinking about it now and I don't think about it very often but when I first started it was a lot of torture. I made myself get out and walk and do things. Though it was very hard.
@@Rollwithit699I take Ativan 2 mg 3 times a day I am scared big time
@@Rollwithit699for 20years now
Nicole,
You’re a hero . .
Just in case you haven’t been told that lately.
You’ve brought clarity to a chaotic subject. Validity to all of us that have experienced the same. And awareness, where professionals fear to tread.
Thank You!
Yes you are a hero! I fought this demon of benzos all by myself. My entire family turned their backs on me.
Agreed. True hero. Thank you for validating it.
Anybody have any idea how to explain this to disability? Doctors DONT support it, so how the hell do you get it across to anybody on a disability board? 😭. Its fricken terrible!
This is all so right! Everything you said is correct. It is so terrible that most doctors, professions and just normal people don't know this is happening to so many millions of people around the world. My problem, even though it has come to light a little bit, it is still so unknown and how much it can destroy a life...of many forever. If I hear something back to this common I would love to tell you my story and what I know.......and yes I am still taking them and am at the end of the road to some degree as far as finding a workable way to come off.....and even if I do come off with I have terrible problems for years and years? So there are so many fears. And when no one will listen it makes so much worse! Good for you for putting this all together. I knew about everything you said and was aware of it all. I don't know if benzos will ever get the proper awareness or press it needs in the medical world. Thank you very much for putting this work into this video I am sure I would be sending and showing to many doctors and people over then next months and years.........Thanks again!! Kevin,......ps because 99% of doctors/people don't believe it.....and as you know even when they hear this video they still don't or won't believe it.....Any other drug yes they believe can cause problems but.......benzos NO!!
Even doctors not believing patients is probably the worst. The feeling of betrayal is terrible. Stay strong 🤍💙🤍
I think Drs are keeping their mouth shut and hiding this fact to avoid lawsuits and punishment.
I've been on benzo's since 1994. I've tried to quit taking them but the withdrawal symptoms are more than I can handle. I've been on 6-8 mgs of Xanax for 30 year's. I'm learning more from TH-cam videos and when I tried to get off, I was having hallucinations, both audio and visual and severe paranoia. I believe that a have a damage Nervous system. 2 year's ago I got Covid and had to be hospitalized. They didn't give me any of my medicine and therefore through Me straight into withdrawal. I was Hallucinating so bad by the 3rd day. I thought the doctors were trying to kill me. I didn't eat for 6 days and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, so they sent me for a brainscan. I was in the hospital for 10 days and it was horrifying. When I got home, I took 1 Xanax and within 15 - 20 minutes, I felt normal. So much of the things explained on this video, I've experienced. I didn't know that the jerking and twitching I had in the hospital had a name. I have interdose withdrawal too. I don't think I could ever go off of these. It's like torture. I hope that these new laws will protect someone like me, who was put on these medications with no warning that I would have so much damage. These drug companies should know better. I believe that they knew how potent this medicine was but didn't care, because they were pushing this medicine in the 90's and I would say up until around 2010. They've all made their money and that's all it's ever been about. These drug companies are evil. I just wish I never got on this. I guess we all do.
Far out, I’m so sorry. I wish you peace in knowing Jesus. He entered into and overcame suffering, sin and death. Hope. Heaven
I'm in a VERY similar situation. Except my Dr just kicked the bucket. And nobody will take me. I got put on them for being shot in the face. People are saying to split your dose up multiple doses a day to get out of interdose/tolerance and then you CAN taper
I will have A LOT to say about this. Obviously, it’s almost 4am in the morning. I have hinted around numerous time of telling my story. I will give you a timeline and I will tag and respond to everything she says tomorrow. It’s amazing to hear what she says - and how I can relate to it.
This story is virtually identical to mine... I can definitely emphasize the fact that getting caught up in the addiction recovery industry is a disaster. But, for me, it was the only avenue available to get any time or chance to get through the hardest period of the protracted withdrawal period. The other choice was homelessness cuz I had no real support.
Thank you.
Clonozapam ruined my life! It altered my psyche and caused me so many problems in life. I detoxed myself with acupuncture. But I went through hell and I’m dealing with migraines but they’re slowly going away.
Well done! You sound very lucid and explain everything so clear. Thank you, and Godspeed.
STOP PRESCRIBING BENZOS!!!!! PERIOD!!!!!!
Amen
I agree! 💯
There is a veeeery small group of people for which it works. And even in that case, I formed consent is crucial. People whole be given the real data and then they can personally make that choice. I also think it should never be given against anyone's will cause it's for "their best interest"
So good to know someone else understands because nobody believes that what i experience is still the benzo. The trauma from it is unbearable at times. It’s criminal…. Makes me want to scream- it’s ruined my life for 10 yrs. Career, relationships, ALL OF ME 😓. Thanks for sharing your experience 🙏🙏🙏 Nicole, how do you explain this to a disability board?? I need help and doctors DONT believe it. Help!
We have some content about disability on our website, as this isn't recognized as a disability in the USA so it will never be approved if presented that way. www.benzoinfo.com/financial-aid-resources/
Thank you!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️
THIS! This is exactly what I'm going through. Seven years off occasional use of Ativan for insomnia caused by menopause. Fifteen years of suffering due to Ativan. Told I was mentally ill and Ativan couldn't possibly cause the panic attacks. Seven years off and suffering like I did after the taper. I never stabilized. I fear suicide is the only way to cope. I have no support. Everyone has abandoned me. I can't take much more. (the nine other psych meds didn't help and they caused all sorts of insane side effects).
U are stronger than these meds, prove the doctors wrong by recovering. Unfortunately u are not alone
I’m so sorry…I feel your pain..been almost three years off KLONOPIN and the effects are still very prevalent. Become agoraphobic, irrational fear of everything. Ruined my life- literally. 😫 I will never be the same. I hear you loud n clear. I ended up on 6 other psych meds because they were treating the symptoms of the benzo withdrawal, This caused a plethora of added side effects .. A complete and utter living hell. Suicidal several times, 5 psych wards. Completely destroyed me.. it’s CRIMINAL what happens to people. And nobody to be held accountable. 🤬. Prayers my friend 🙏😓🙏😥🙏
How long were you on ativan?
I was on 1mg for 5months and still in severe paws?
10 months off xanax and I've lost most of my memories, ability to think, most of my hair, and now I have NO saliva. I'm losing my gums so fast and my teeth are loose and deteriorating. I look like an actual monster. I can't even take care of myself let alone my 7yr old. And of course my new Dr won't let me go back on them bcuz of all my memory loss. I've never wanted to be dead more than I do right now. But I cud never break my daughter's heart like that. Her life will already be unbearable with me as a mother than with no mother
❤🫂
I was at a ward for hearing voiles and after nearly 30 years on Benzo which was a great hep, they took always 90% over two weeks against my will and it has destroyed my life completely.
fun fact...I never read anything online or ever heard any stories....I withdrew from 6 years of dailey valium use 10mg waS lowest dose...up to 20 mg at stages....after it saved my life and gave me time to learn how to cope naturally with anxiety...my doctor helped me withdraw slowly over 12 months...never felt a thing and feel great to this day....am I just very lucky or is it because I wasn't expecting the worst....or did I withdraw properly?
You were not ct'd- so that is a major factor.
Benzos caused my athlete’s foot, sore knees , balding, and ruined my eye-site so now I have to wear prescription lenses! Also they ruined my golf game snd caused my hemorrhoids!
Please help, I’m so scared.
I'm on disibility from a complete drop in Nov 2019. I went blank of consciousness until March 2020. I apparently attempted to shoot up a McDonald's with nonfirearm. Auditory/Visual hallucinations. I don't remember anything. I was fine on 3 mgs klonipin for 23 years. Inwas a sheet metal foreman for 24 years. I'm 43. And destroyed from the withdrawal. I have since don't TMD transcranial magnetic stimulation. 4 weeks in patient. And 8 weeks of outpatient therapy. To disibility to lack of concentration/ finishing or starting anything. My life is a circle of exactly nothing. I support a person that doesn't abuse this strong medicine. I never have. It's a scary thought that this country is training the younger generation to take us off when they don't know what happens. Leave it alone. Thank you for your story.
I want to thank everyone at BIC for all the work you do. Your videos and web site have helped me immensely going through this hell. 20 years on Clonazepam just starting 10 months off. I had tolerance withdrawal for many years and suffered greatly but still had no idea what awaited me after jumping. I've listened to this a few times but just today heard about Medication Spellbinding. Thanks for putting that out there as I am having a hard time forgiving myself for not realizing that the cause of all my problems was from the benzo. My doctors and psychiatrists told me it was due to the opioid I was on following a car accident. I was also told it was my mental health getting worse. I'm adopted so that was an easy one to blame since I didn't know my family history. To top it off I thought I was doing better on the medication. I was put on many other prescriptions as well trying to counteract all the side effects from the benzo. The crazy thing is the Clonazepam is the only prescription I didn't look into and took it like I take my supplements, without a second thought. The fact that I thought that one was OK and everything else was the problem is mind blowing especially now that I know how truly harmful it actually is. This is the first time I actually "heard" the Medical Spellbinding comment and it's making me feel better about myself today.
I'm going to put this out here for anyone else in my situation. I found a big correlation between the opioid and benzo prescriptions and tolerance withdrawal. Opioid withdrawal doesn't last forever and I now know my side effects were and are from the benzo. 9 years ago I started to taper my opioid and all hell broke loose with my tolerance withdrawal. It was taking me forever to taper the opioid because of side effects. I was exhausted and couldn't move, had terrible anxiety, depression and had suicidal ideation. I was put on a hold because I was finally going to take my life but my doctor said I had to go off one or the other so I decided to taper off the Clonazepam 5 years ago because I thought the opioid was causing my problems. That made things worse of course and I had a hold on both until Feb 2022 when my Psychiatrist left and I was forced to taper the Clonazepam for 6 months. I was never stable and it was horrible but I thought I needed to just get done and I'd be better. I also did 2 rounds of TMS for the gut wrenching depression. The first was 2 yrs ago and I was better for 2 months but then worse again. I was desperate and told to do the 2nd round of TMS at the end of my benzo taper so when I got off my depression would better. I ended both at the same time and I would not recommend that, I think it made my acute withdrawal worse. I'm surprised I'm still here.
I'm still on a small dose of the opioid and a new doctor wants me to start the taper right now. I'm terrified. He doesn't understand that I'm still in benzo withdrawal. I have forgotten to take a my opioid dose on occasion because I forget everything, I now have alarms set. The thing is, hours later I end up in a hellish place being severely depressed and feeling suicidal again. I get worse other side effects when forgetting my Magnesium so I get it but this is so ridiculous. I don't know what I'm going to do. I have had some stressful situations that put me in a setback but going to that place where I feel suicidal again I don't know how to get through that. The suicidal feeling is like a compulsion (not a thought) that I have to do it in order to get out out the deepest pit of despair I've ever known. Sorry I went here. I really wanted to put out there the relationship I have found between the two prescription medications that some people are put on and the dangers I have found that aren't addiction related. The risk of suicide for me comes only from what the benzo has and is still doing to me.
Good luck to all fellow benzo injured out there. I hope you find some peace and healing soon. Sending love 💛🧡❤
4 months after your comment and sincerely hope that today is better than it was. It does not take the pain away but does help to know that you are not alone and so many others are going through many of the same difficulties as you. Many may not understand fully what you have had to endure....but those of us who have been through the same hell full DO understand. For what it's worth....from someone you have never met....I pray that today is a day of peace for you with the hope that future days will also be filled with moments of comfort. Please take care and God bless.
Has anyone tried Lexapro to lessen panic & anxiety after years of stopping Benzos?
I am not a doctor. But I would stay clear of anything like that. To me it's just another addiction you got to have to deal with eventually. I was tempted to use something of that sort. When I was going through my taper and withdrawal.
@@Josh_James76 I had to start something Bea cause my heart wouldn’t stop pounding & the nightmares when I slept & I couldn’t fall asleep ! It seems to be helping all that! The Benzos really destroyed my brain & nervous system! We should ALL Be getting disability 💰💰💰💰💰HAVENT been able to work in years
@@michelebergman4336 I wish you the very best.
@@Josh_James76 Hey Joshua, I think I get the point that you're trying to make. However, Lexapro is an SSRI and does not have any of the same addictive qualities that benzodiazepines do. I am not a doctor either, but I think that this kind of thinking can be potentially harmful to people who are looking for solutions to their BWS and are dissuaded because "they don't want another addiction." Lexapro has helped many people I know with their benzo withdrawal symptoms, namely depression.
@@edwardhill3410 hi Ed. Cessation of Lexapro use can result in withdrawal symptoms collectively referred to as discontinuation syndrome. The most severe complications and side effects of the use of escitalopram occur when the patient stops taking the drug abruptly. The normal protocol for discontinuing the use of escitalopram involves a gradual reduction in dose. Patients who had been taking 40 mg a day will gradually reduce to 10 mg a day over the course of a few weeks before finally stopping.
Even when doses are gradually reduced, symptoms of discontinuation syndrome can occur. These can include irritability, headache, insomnia, dizziness, anxiety, excessive dreaming, flu-like symptoms, vertigo, nausea, and confusion. Feelings of hopelessness and thoughts of suicide are less common but are most likely to occur in patients under the age of 25.
Abruptly stopping treatment or accidentally missing doses can make the onset of symptoms more severe, especially in regards to suicidal ideations. This risk makes proper support and aftercare with your doctor critical.
Discontinuation syndrome begins 24 to 48 hours after doses are reduced and can peak after five days. For most people, symptoms stop after one to two weeks. However, many individuals report that it can take three months before their brains have adjusted to being off the drug.
Personally, I wouldn't take them.
WHAYS GRIPPING ME?
Gotta say, her story is as depressing as ****. Good lord almighty.
It’s crucial, absolutely crucial in healing to find and deeply inculcate stories of positivity and success. 💖
@@donna6165 Had to look up that word inculcate but yes definitely getting that impression…. It’s as if there is a whole industry of sorts about gloom and doom prognostications about this
Thankyou Donna
@@donna6165 indeed. Seems to be a whole industry of gloom and doom about getting off these things that only feeds into one’s own situation.
Benzodiazepines are going nowhere get over it
Is brain lock a symptom from benzo and tapering?
Like you don't understand a simple thing and become overwhelmed of any normal things and can't understand that people can live their lives.
I was prescriped a big amount of oxazepam in 2021 summer after my dog had to put to sleep at the age of 16 and I had terrible panic attacks. I became to suffer brain lock. I was very anxious and became worried and couldn't understand that I was hooked with a drug medicine. I wanted to taper and a rude doctor sent me to rehab center. I had got 2 x 15 mg off myself. Then in rehad center they took 30 mg of oxazepam in a week. I could barely speak, not sleeping, puking, my blood pressure was high. A doctor outside the rehab center saw me and sent me to hospital (year ago) and doctor did crossover from oxazepam to diazepam and brain lock went away and I got home and could sleep and wake up first time in peace after my dog died. I could go to store and Cook (agoraphobia went, normally don't have it) and see my partner and mom and other people (now and earlier with oxazepam I am isolated a lot because I tell my hell all the time to my loved ones) and exercise and have good feeling. But taper was too quick and went badly wrong, I had first panic attack for many weeks, depression came back, insomnia puking and they stopped at 6 mg but after three weeks off suffering I lost hope and took overdose and my partner found me uncounsious after four hours and I got to hospital. After week I got home very sick. Doctor rised diazepam to 12 mg and didn't help, I tapered 1 mg per week and at 5 mg I went to hospital and they tapered me to zero straight and I had terrible panic attacks and withdrawl symptons and rude doctor said I couldn't have any withdrawl symptons and I got to home very sick. My new doctor prescriped me klonopin to get me relief for a while and then taper but it didn't help. 😥 My head was scanned in the mri few months after my overdose and it was fine. Was prescriped also 200 mg of quetapine (normally I sleep and year ago I slept with 25 mg) and 20 mg of temazepam. Now I sleep but I wake up every morning to hell and feel like I have no brain.
This has been now like this for months and me and my mom said to my doctor that I think I suffer withdrawl even don't taper and want to taper with Ashton manual and she was willing to read it and we started week ago. I feel awful. I have good doctor who is understanding. But I have multiple times a day in panic because I can't believe this suffer and brain lock can be true. I am alone a lot. If I try to walk and run brainlock is ruing it. Normally it helps. My doctor thinksI have tolerance and that's why klonopin didn't help and I suffer withdrawl symptons. She thinks this drug is making me sick and more anxious and I agree. And when I get off of this drug enough long time my anxiety will get easier and brain lock will go away. But I have no power left to believe. And have a long tapering ahead and i'm exhausted and Lost hope. I was earlier active, social person, loved to exercise and cookhealthy food. Now I feel depersonalization and derealisation and agoraphobia. And can't be with anybody because I'm in constant panic. I want my good life back and off of this evil drug. Please I really need support and help and if someone can relate to that brain function problem and that panic that the reality you are in can't be from this planet please tell me it can be from benzo and tapering. My life like this is not worth living and my soul and heart is screaming for that life I had. This is pure hell. Thank you if someone can read this and answer and give hope this can be from the drug.i have suffered so long (instead of year ago the month of good) And I have survived from "normal depression" and this is nothing like that even though I am depressed because I can't do things would help me. Hope you all the best.
Stop 🛑🚏. Prescribing. Benzodiazepines. Period. .......