Posted by titleistguy on January 27, 2003, at 19:37:01
In reply to Re: Questions about Benzo's/GABA, and AED's!!! » titleistguy, posted by mattdds on January 27, 2003, at 7:16:38
For the record, I was on Imovane (a Canadian hypnotic; similar to your Ambien) for 10 months, and inbetween there I was put on Rivotril (Clonazepam) for 3.5 weeks (my Doctor thought I was "manic". . . what a BONEHEAD!!!).
I got my first "dissociative" symtoms after I "cold-turkeyed" the Rivotril (actually about 2 days later, which is when you'd expect withdrawal to turn up, once the drug is cleared), but when I took the Imovane at night (not a Benzo, technically, but functions in the same manner: GABA-A, BZD-receptors), ALL my symptoms DISAPPEARED!!!
Finally, I "cold turkeyed" the Imovane (beleive it or not, my Psychiatrist TOLD ME TO DO THIS!!!), and subsequently went through 3.5 weeks of SHEER HELL!!!
(Many "residual" symptoms still "linger", which is what is known as "Protracted withdrawal", it only affects about 30% of long-term Benzo users but is a REAL phenomenon!!!)
Just to clarify, I've now seen 3 Psychiatrists and they ALL say that I have NO pathology for ANY "endogenous mental illness", yet I have 3 pages worth of symptoms!!!
I spoke to a Psychiatrist/Pharmacologist who is now "Medical Director" of a Chemical Dependency Recovery Program in Oakland, California, named Dr. David Cohn, and he says it definately sounds like a "Protracted withdrawal", and was quoted in an article saying, "Most Psychiatrists won't admit to a "Protracted withdrawal syndrome" because they are hung-up on the nomenclature" (ie. they don't want to admit that it was the pills that THEY prescribed that actually did all the damage!!!).
Also, for further proof: depersonalization, photophobia, tinnitus, and muscle-twitching, as well as heightened anxiety are the MOST common symptoms of Benzo-withdrawal. . . I just happen to have all 5 (as well as a few others!).
Dr. Cohn recommended that I try an anticonvulsant (such as Tegretol or Depakote) for the physical symptoms, to go with the Effexor (for anxiety).
Finally, I came off the Benzos because I never origanally even wanted to be on them!!!!!!!!!!!
(Read my story, under the heading "Please help me!!!", it explains everything!!!)
To conclude, I think Benzodiazepines are absolute CRAP, and should NEVER be prescribed for more than 2 weeks. . . MAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Sean
P.S. I don't mean to offend anyone, by bashing Benzos, but when you've gone through the type of withdrawals that I have. . . you'll feel EXACTLY the same way!!! (That is, if you haven't already killed yourself!). I'm NOT kidding: it's HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
poster:titleistguy
thread:137721
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030125/msgs/137839.html