Posted by bubblegumchewer on May 19, 2002, at 12:18:12
In reply to Benzo question for all users, posted by johnj on May 19, 2002, at 10:29:41
I would be very careful of getting into regular use of benzos if I were you. A year ago I took the advice of people on this board (although I take total responsibility for my actions and I had my doctor's OK) and I took clonazepam 3x per day for four months, at which time I landed in the hospital for the first and hopefully only time in my life. The persistently recurrent panic attacks and sickness that I developed from tolerance to benzos was the worst nightmare that I can imagine a person going through. I was unable to eat anything or drink much of anything and had nearly constant adrenaline related symptoms such as raised hair, nausea, pacing, insomnia, panic attacks breaking into the little restless sleep I did get, all while being dulled and sedated, if you can imagine that. I thought I was going to die a miserable death. I wanted out but whether I took more benzos, stayed the same, or took less, my suffering increased in one way or another, whether it was adrenaline overload or the crushing depression caused by the continuation or increase of benzo. I could not function at all and checked into the hospital. Thankfully, I recovered after some time.
Someone may criticize my story as being "only my story," and that it is. I hope that you get into ongoing benzo use VERY carefully if you do at all. I felt ok for a few months and the onset of illness was subtle, but when it struck, it was horrible, and my life deteriorated day by day until I was incapacitated and not myself at all. I felt that I would never be myself again and I was only able to withdraw from the clonazepam under medical supervision, with nortriptyline, and a lot of misery.Be careful.
poster:bubblegumchewer
thread:106961
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020517/msgs/106964.html