I have been on a cocktail of antidepressant/benzos for nearly 19 years. I first got on them because of panic attacks. I have tried twice to become med free and was successful at getting off of them but after about a month would have to go back on them because of panic attacks due to a large move, daughter graduating high school going to college, etc. This is my third attempt and doctors have always said they did not think I would be able to go without medication but I want to try again to be med free. I was just wondering if anyone else had success after failed attempts before?
Anyone Else Have Previous Failed Attempts To Be Med Free?
#2
Posted 30 June 2014 - 05:58 PM
I have had to use a couple of different benzos on & off to help control the anxiety / fear / panic attacks .
It's been almost 7 months now & although I am Cymbalta free I am now dealing with terror , anxiety & panic .
Over the past ten years I have tried Valium which worked quite well because it was my first benzo & I only used 2 1/2 mg or 5 mgs if things were particularly awful . Never on a daily basis though , only on a needs basis .
A friend convinced me to try Zanax because it worked quicker so I did but still only a small dose 0.5 mgs when absolutely needed .
I read somewhere that Ativan was better than Zanax & not as addictive so I have only just switched to that ..
I would give the world for there to be something natural & non addictive or threatening to our health ..something to stop our anxiety feelings right Its tracks ...I am rambling .. If you ever find something that works without the fear of becoming addicted , please let me know !!!:-)
#3
Posted 30 June 2014 - 06:16 PM
Downtongirl, The problem is that for most of us that have been on meds several years our nervous system has gotten use to it. Even if we come off the meds it will take a long time for our body to adjust to not having the medicine. Studies have shown that for benzos it takes 2 years for the benzo receptors to readjust and return to normal. Cymbalta and many of the ssri/snri cause radical changes to some of the nerves in our brain, The researchers are not even sure that these nerves will heal with time BUT if the amount of time it takes ti recover from the withdrawal I would expect around 3 years. Even with that there is no guarantee that we would return to normal and many of us can't put up with 2 or 3 years of panic attacks, anxiety, depression ....etc.
#4
Posted 30 June 2014 - 06:47 PM
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