Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tiina on April 30, 2006, at 3:11:13
Hi!I got addicted to benzos last summer (only a low dose though) and have been trying to get off of them ever since. Right now I'm doing so bad that I haven't been able to cut my dose and I've been at the same dose for about two months. Does anyone know how soon tolerance withdrawal normally sets in?
I can't really explain how I feel that makes me think I might be in tolerance withdrawal. I've woken up earlier than usual a couple of times and with a feeling that I need to take something mind-numbing and with a big need to binge eat. I binge normally also but it feels different this time.
I just don't know what to do cause I don't want to go up on my dose cause it takes me so long to bring it back down. But I can't take this either if it's gonna be like this now. Does anyone know if cutting your dose when you're REALLY not doing good will make things worse?
Sorry if this makes no sense. I just don't know what to do.
Tiina
Posted by Tiina on April 30, 2006, at 3:22:52
In reply to Benzo tolerance withdrawal or not? And what to do?, posted by Tiina on April 30, 2006, at 3:11:13
Also, I took a slightly bigger dose on Monday and then went back to my original dose. I guess it helped but now I feel the same way I did before I took it. Maybe the effect of that is wearing off.I think I didn't explain well enough how bad this is making things. I feel like I will go off the deep end if these withdrawals or whatever this is will continue.
Tiina
Posted by Glydin on April 30, 2006, at 9:50:31
In reply to Re: Benzo tolerance withdrawal or not? And what to do?, posted by Tiina on April 30, 2006, at 3:22:52
In three years of using only a benzo, I had no tolerance. I did titrate my dosing according to status and had a dose range I maintained without any problem.
Dependence is different from addiction.
Signs of addiction are:1) Psychosocial disruption - quality of life is lessened by your use.
2)Tolerance - doses keeps increasing and increasing over a fairly short period of time and goes beyond what is normally considered therapeudic
3) Drug seeking behavior - doctor hopping and ER visits to obtain more than prescribed or going "street retail" to get med
4) Inapproiate use - seeking to obtain a "high" or euphoria as opposed to treating an anxiety disorder
Dependence can happen when an agent is used to treat a disorder and withdrawal symptoms or discontinuation symptoms can occur but the presence of withdrawal symptoms does not necessarrily mean one is addicted. There are physical and psychological dependence issues with benzo's.
I think this is a time you should speak with your doc and between the two of you figure out what is really going on - addiction versus dependence - and how to proceed.
Benzo's have a good use. Not everyone falls into a horror with them but some folks do.
Posted by bassman on April 30, 2006, at 12:05:58
In reply to Benzo tolerance withdrawal or not? And what to do?, posted by Tiina on April 30, 2006, at 3:11:13
You said you are on a low dose; maybe you need a slightly higher dose, at least for awhile. I know what you mean about not being happy about the benzo withdrawal, but feeling badly in the now isn't very good, either. There is a major school of thought with meds that says, "treat the patient now, worry about dependence later" You aren't "addicted", you are dependent. meaning if you stop suddenly, you experience unpleasant symptoms. I think you need to talk to your doc and see what both of you are comfortable with; my guess is that he/she will say to increase the dose slightly...staying very uncomfortable isn't a good option. Best of luck!
Posted by Phillipa on April 30, 2006, at 13:40:12
In reply to Re: Benzo tolerance withdrawal or not? And what to do?, posted by bassman on April 30, 2006, at 12:05:58
Agree completely with above. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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