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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Paul Smith on April 22, 2005, at 17:17:41
I want to hear opinions. On the net you hear a lot about tolerance and so many want to wean off, but I simply cannot take the withdrawals, call me a wimp or whatever, but I got no one to pay my bills. I have come off 3 times, once a very slow taper and I was a freak show for months, walking on clouds, dp/dr, scared around people, seeing surreal, no capacity to relax, skin burning like fire. And my shrink said it was all psychological, nonsense! I have been back on 35 mgs of Valium 3 weeks now and am fine, plus take a bit of Paxil, 5 mgs. I can see the world again. My skin does not burn, just a bit of brethelessness and get dizzy and off balance sometimes. But i no longer want to die! And I am looking for a job! But some people tell me this is not going to last. Will be a basket case again and have to try and taper off again. My god people. Somebody comes with some good news but be honest. Thanks.
Posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2005, at 17:45:42
In reply to Can you take benzos for life??, posted by Paul Smith on April 22, 2005, at 17:17:41
I've been on benzos for 35 yrs. I never became tolerant and increased the dose. I started with valium years ago, went full circle of all the others and am now back on a total of l5mg a day. I did take an extra 5mg the last few nights as I've been going through a lot of stress. I don't know if I'll ever be able to work again, but I'd like to. I also just take 25mg of zoloft. Low because I don't thinkk they do anything for me. I will see my pdoc next week because my therapist thought I was experiencing derealization, but that's from all the anxiety I believe. So my answer to you is yes you can. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Paul Smith on April 22, 2005, at 19:47:24
In reply to Re: Can you take benzos for life?? » Paul Smith, posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2005, at 17:45:42
If you do not mind me asking, why is it that you cannot work? Do you think it is because of what benzos have done to you? I mean I have to work. You know all the b.s. with disability. I`ll be pushing a shopping cart. Plus I cannot convince anyone that there has been anything wrong with me. Could not prove that I felt like I was in a glass bubble seeing the world surreal or that my legs burned liked crazy. All my shaking was internal. Docs just told me to breathe slow and calm down. Big help....
Posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2005, at 19:53:11
In reply to Re: Can you take benzos for life?? to philipa, posted by Paul Smith on April 22, 2005, at 19:47:24
Believe it or not I had a pdoc that had me in the hospital when my thyroid pushed my anxiety to the limits. One day he said to me "Do you want to work anymore". Being the wimp that I am I said no. The next thing I knew I had disability. Now it's been 8yrs, and my skills as an RN would probably necesitate me going back to school. I'm not that young and close to retirement age. And being at home so long has created a "learned helplessness". Sad but true. The pdoc keeps saying Volunteer. I feel that if I could do this I could again work. I need a plan. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by fachad on April 23, 2005, at 0:10:48
In reply to Can you take benzos for life??, posted by Paul Smith on April 22, 2005, at 17:17:41
He was prescribed 4 5mg tablets of librium per day.
He took somewhere between 2 and 4 tablets per day from the lauch of librium in 1960 until his death in 2000.
His doctors never asked him to taper or quit - he never tried to escalate the dose - in fact he rarely took all 4 of his tablets.
Posted by chemist on April 23, 2005, at 3:46:27
In reply to Can you take benzos for life??, posted by Paul Smith on April 22, 2005, at 17:17:41
> I want to hear opinions. On the net you hear a lot about tolerance and so many want to wean off, but I simply cannot take the withdrawals, call me a wimp or whatever, but I got no one to pay my bills. I have come off 3 times, once a very slow taper and I was a freak show for months, walking on clouds, dp/dr, scared around people, seeing surreal, no capacity to relax, skin burning like fire. And my shrink said it was all psychological, nonsense! I have been back on 35 mgs of Valium 3 weeks now and am fine, plus take a bit of Paxil, 5 mgs. I can see the world again. My skin does not burn, just a bit of brethelessness and get dizzy and off balance sometimes. But i no longer want to die! And I am looking for a job! But some people tell me this is not going to last. Will be a basket case again and have to try and taper off again. My god people. Somebody comes with some good news but be honest. Thanks.
hello there, chemist here...the other posters in this thread share different stories...i am a tremendous fan of benzos/derivatives and 10+ years now and counting...words of advice: no alcohol, minimum dosage (undercut the dx if need be, as less is more), and therapy for what ails one...all the best, chemist
Posted by Paul Smith on April 23, 2005, at 9:37:45
In reply to Re: Can you take benzos for life?? » Paul Smith, posted by chemist on April 23, 2005, at 3:46:27
(undercut the dx if need be, as less is more),
I do not understand this statement. Less is more?? Undercut the dx? What is the dx? Thanks for the help.
Posted by zero on April 23, 2005, at 15:22:17
In reply to Can you take benzos for life??, posted by Paul Smith on April 22, 2005, at 17:17:41
Valium 20mg./day for 13 yrs. Stopped it way too fast out of ignorance and due to AA's influence. 3 yrs. off of it and I was still ever so socially phobic w. panic attacks & often cried myself to sleep (just like I'd been before Valium). I was also using Niacin/B-3 in megadoses with the Valium (Niacin had a modest antidepressant effect and made me very "clear-headed").
Xanax came out, and I had gone to my 1st true psychopharmacologist, who put me on it. Later we switched to Klonopin 3mg./day. After 3 months I lowered the Klonopin to 2mg./day (with no problem and a clearer head), and there I've been since 1993 or so.
Never upped the dose of either. The Klonopin still works.
This is my experience. Hope it's helpful.
z.
> I want to hear opinions. On the net you hear a lot about tolerance and so many want to wean off, but I simply cannot take the withdrawals, call me a wimp or whatever, but I got no one to pay my bills. I have come off 3 times, once a very slow taper and I was a freak show for months, walking on clouds, dp/dr, scared around people, seeing surreal, no capacity to relax, skin burning like fire. And my shrink said it was all psychological, nonsense! I have been back on 35 mgs of Valium 3 weeks now and am fine, plus take a bit of Paxil, 5 mgs. I can see the world again. My skin does not burn, just a bit of brethelessness and get dizzy and off balance sometimes. But i no longer want to die! And I am looking for a job! But some people tell me this is not going to last. Will be a basket case again and have to try and taper off again. My god people. Somebody comes with some good news but be honest. Thanks.
Posted by Paulbwell on April 23, 2005, at 15:44:34
In reply to Re: Can you take benzos for life?? to chemist, posted by Paul Smith on April 23, 2005, at 9:37:45
> (undercut the dx if need be, as less is more),
>
> I do not understand this statement. Less is more?? Undercut the dx? What is the dx? Thanks for the help.
>He means it's wise to use the lest amount to get by, and if possible use less than Rx, so theres spareleft over, for rough times.
Posted by Phillipa on April 23, 2005, at 17:10:28
In reply to Re: Can you take benzos for life?? to chemist » Paul Smith, posted by Paulbwell on April 23, 2005, at 15:44:34
Yes, that's what I believe chemist means. Like right now I am extremly anxious and have added an extra 5mg of valium to sleep. I haven't been back on it long enough[a couple of months] for my anxiety to have gone down significantly. I'm so stupid that I seem to continuously add more stressors into my life instead of taking it easy. And it seems like whatever I do something happens. Like today I took my toy poodle for a walk and got bitten by a large dog while protecting him. I feel like I just can't win! Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Paulbwell on April 23, 2005, at 18:47:48
In reply to Re: Can you take benzos for life?? to chemist » Paulbwell, posted by Phillipa on April 23, 2005, at 17:10:28
> Yes, that's what I believe chemist means. Like right now I am extremly anxious and have added an extra 5mg of valium to sleep. I haven't been back on it long enough[a couple of months] for my anxiety to have gone down significantly. I'm so stupid that I seem to continuously add more stressors into my life instead of taking it easy. And it seems like whatever I do something happens. Like today I took my toy poodle for a walk and got bitten by a large dog while protecting him. I feel like I just can't win! Fondly, Phillipa
Hi ya Phillipa!
Take a bottle of water next time and squirt it on the dogs if they fight, it works.
Posted by chemist on April 23, 2005, at 19:21:52
In reply to Re: Can you take benzos for life?? to chemist, posted by Paul Smith on April 23, 2005, at 9:37:45
> (undercut the dx if need be, as less is more),
>
> I do not understand this statement. Less is more?? Undercut the dx? What is the dx? Thanks for the help.
>hello there, chemist here...typo on my part - i meant to pen rx - but the message is: if you are prescribed, say 1 mg b.i.d. yet find that 0.5 mg b.i.d. treats you just fine, go with the lesser amount. in this manner, dose escalation is kept at bay for a longer period and your malady is kept in check. of course, inform your doctor should such a situation arise...all the best, chemist
Posted by billgill1 on April 27, 2005, at 19:53:01
In reply to Re: Can you take benzos for life?? to chemist, posted by Paul Smith on April 23, 2005, at 9:37:45
I have been taking ativan for years. I tried to stop and it felt like I had a bad hangover for days until I took more. I have been hooked for 7 years but it still calms me down.
Posted by Declan on April 28, 2005, at 4:56:45
In reply to Re: Can you take benzos for life?? to chemist, posted by billgill1 on April 27, 2005, at 19:53:01
You can of course take them forever if only because some people, probably those who need them most will find it hard to give up. I've taken them (in various ways) since 1972. Perhaps like many drugs, they may exacerbate the symptoms they are designed to relieve. The less I took the better I felt. (What's the surprise in that?) Never managed to stop. It can't be good for you. So I'm trying to do other things, herbs and all the rest.
Declan
This is the end of the thread.
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