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psyche: 4 year diazepam use for chronic pain


psych

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As a brief introduction, I was put on 20mg of diazepam in 2012 for chronic pain and spasms. 2 years later I began to suffer the side effects of diazepam (twitching, nerve pain, facial, tics, adrenal insufficiency, and others). I didn't attribute my symptoms to the medications I was taking and my life began to spiral out of control in 2015. In December of 2015 after doing extensive research, I came to the conclusion that it wasn't my condition causing the problems, but the combination of opiates and benzos. I began tapering diazepam in mid December. By mid January I had cut 7.5mg. I did have some withdrawal, but it eased up after 3 weeks, so I cut 1mg. The withdrawal hit me hard after four days and again at 10 days. I have been holding for 2 months but am still experiencing withdrawal although I do have windows and waves. I continue to cycle through this pattern and wonder if a slight updose back to where I was stable would be recommended. I know it would be a crapshoot at this point, but I'm becoming more worn out going through this as I have continued to work and exercise throughout the worst of it. I'm just running out of gas at this point and need to be able to function. I knew better than to cut so fast, so I only have myself to blame. Doing a a ct of opiates did not help me think clearly about this process. Any advice would be appreciated.

April 2012 20 mg diazepam - 5mg 4 times per day.

April 2012 120 mg oxycodone 30mg 4 times per day.

December 14, 2015 stated diazepam taper.

January 11, 2016 12.5mg diazepam ct of oxycodone (stupid idea but got through it) tried updose to 15mg for 3 days after a couple of weeks but had a paradoxical reaction (may have been too much).

February 3, 2016 stabilized on diazepam cut 1mg - now at 11.5. 5mg morning-6.5mg at night - symptoms were brutal so have been holding since then.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi psyche , welcome to the site.

 

We have a "Members Only Benzo Forum"  where our benzo specialists hang out.   Please could you start a thread

there too.

Thanks for doing your signature , it's a big help.

 

Best wishes ,  Fresh

 

If you click FOLLOW at the top right , you'll receive an email each time someone posts.

1987-1997 pertofran , prothiaden , Prozac 1997-2002 Zoloft 2002-2004 effexor 2004-2010 Lexapro 40mg

2010-2012Cymbalta 120mg

Sept. 2012 -decreased 90mg in 6months. Care taken over by Dr Lucire in March 2013 , decreased last 30mg at 2mg per week over 3 months. July 21 , 2013- last dose of Cymbalta

Protracted withdrawal syndrome kicked in badly Jan.2014 Unrelenting akathisia until May 2014. Voluntary hosp. admission. Cocktail of Seroquel, Ativan and mirtazapine and I was well enough to go home after 14 days. Stopped all hosp. meds in next few months.

July 2014 felt v.depressed - couldn't stop crying. Started pristiq 50mg. Felt improvement within days and continued to improve, so stayed on 50mg for 8 months.

Began taper 28 Feb. 2015. Pristiq 50mg down to 45mg. Had one month of w/d symptoms. Started CES therapy in March. No w/d symptoms down to 30mg.

October 2015 , taking 25mg Pristiq. Capsules compounded with slow-release additive.

March 2016 , 21mg

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Thank you Fresh!

April 2012 20 mg diazepam - 5mg 4 times per day.

April 2012 120 mg oxycodone 30mg 4 times per day.

December 14, 2015 stated diazepam taper.

January 11, 2016 12.5mg diazepam ct of oxycodone (stupid idea but got through it) tried updose to 15mg for 3 days after a couple of weeks but had a paradoxical reaction (may have been too much).

February 3, 2016 stabilized on diazepam cut 1mg - now at 11.5. 5mg morning-6.5mg at night - symptoms were brutal so have been holding since then.

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