You did not fail a taper plan. A taper plan failed you.
Benzos And Back.org
By the time you find this site, you most likely know that you can't just stop taking your benzo no matter how small your dose might be. What you might not know about are the changes that have taken place in your body which make simply stopping your dose impossible. It is wise to want to learn more about your condition as this will help you to make good decisions as you work to become free of benzos.
We hope to be a source of useful information which will help you to make positive choices during your benzo withdrawal.
WHY YOU ARE SO SICK
Benzodiazepines increase the effect of your normal GABA amounts. A normal nervous system operates with a constantly changing balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter functions. Excitatory neurotransmitters act to cause alertness as well as anxiety. GABA, the main inhibitory transmitter, modulates or provides the brakes for what would be an otherwise out-of-control nervous system. When you take a benzodiazepine, your body responds by maintaining less GABA. After all, it doesn't need as much while a benzo is making the existing GABA more effective.
When a benzo supply is interrupted, as in just stopping your benzo, your GABA levels are reduced quickly. This leaves a benzo patient with too little GABA to do the work of managing neurotransmitters. So while we can reduce the drug to zero quickly, we can't repair the GABA damage right away. GABA isn't synthesized nearly as fast as the benzo levels drop. This leaves your nervous system unable to work properly. The resulting symptoms are varied. They can be bizarre, painful, and dangerous. They may be both physical and psychological. They are also commonly mistaken as symptoms of other conditions. They array of consequences of a too-small supply of GABA at its receptor is amazing.
So why does the idea that "getting the drug out of the body is the problem" flourish? Why do physicians insist that the benzo doses be suddenly made inadequate and not close enough to properly augment existing GABA? Physicians who are aksed to treat benzo victims do not commonly understand the consequences of a too-rapid decline in benzo levels. Some physicians also fail to understand that Xanax and Klonopin are very potent. We hear of people being told that 1.0mg of either is a "very small dose". It isn't.
It is clear that we must reduce a benzo dose to keep in step with the production of GABA. The real issue is finding how you can reduce your benzo dose in keeping with your own body's ability to repair. We do repair this situation; our bodies do make more GABA. The problem is that this takes time. That ability can be supported. It cannot be accelerated. The process is a DIY thing. No doctor can tell you when your limit is reached. You must make detailed notes to keep track of your condition. You must monitor your blood pressure and heart rate. You then respond to your body's messages. This is your job. No one else can know what you know.
Your body rules. You have to determine what your body really requires. If you can lose X mg of Valium in a day, that's what you do. You can't say that you'll just lose so many mgs in order to be finished by Christmas. It doesn't work that way. A lot of people still believe that it does. They can suffer for years while not knowing what went wrong. This is what went wrong: their cuts exceeded their own body's ability to make repairs. This is not a difficult concept. Using that concept forges your own path to benzo-freedom.
DISCLAIMER AND COPYRIGHT
Remember, you alone are responsible for making decisions regarding your health. We are not medical professionals; we do not engage in the practice of medicine. We do not diagnose or treat medical conditions. We do not diagnose or treat psychological conditions. We offer plain facts, our own histories, and the ways that we came to benzo freedom.
This site is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. By using this site, you agree not to hold the owners or any participators liable for any damages, costs, or expenses resulting from your reliance on the information presented.
All content of this site is protected by copyright, and all rights are reserved. Members and visitors of this site are prohibited from modifying, copying, displaying, publishing, creating derivative works, or using any information available on this site for commercial or public purposes.
Common Benzodiazepines
- Ativan (lorazepam)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
- Valium (diazepam)
- Xanax (alprazolam)
Have you tried to stop taking a benzodiazepine such as:
Some of the most common benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms are:
- anxiety
- depression
- headaches
- insomnia
- inability to concentrate
- muscle problems
- obessive or repetitive thoughts
Our Goal
Our goal is simple: to give you the information you need in order to have a successful benzodiazepine taper.
We are here to provide help that isn't offered elsewhere. We encourage genuine open discussion of all aspects of benzodiazepine withdrawal without fear of recriminations. This includes, but is not limited to: nutrients, supplements and other medications.
FAQs
I have read that I should embrace my withdrawal symptoms as a sign that I am in fact healing. Is this true?
No, withdrawal symptoms are a sign that your body has neither enough natural GABA to run your nervous system nor enough benzodiazepine, the GABA helper, to make the GABA that you have left do its work. The result is withdrawal symptoms. These are signs that your nervous system is in trouble.
If you are interested in reading more of our honest answers to your benzo questions, please click here.