success Hibari: tapering Remeron and want to start tapering Lamictal

[Ather]

When did you last check your TSH, T3, T4 levels? Have you gained weight or lost weight during the past few weeks or months? asking because my big brother had a roller coaster ride between Hyper and Hypo thyroidism before finally settling down on the correct dosage of his thyroid medicine.

 

Also note that he had sleepless nights but no depression.

[Hibari]

2 hours ago, Ather said:

When did you last check your TSH, T3, T4 levels? Have you gained weight or lost weight during the past few weeks or months? asking because my big brother had a roller coaster ride between Hyper and Hypo thyroidism before finally settling down on the correct dosage of his thyroid medicine.

 

Also note that he had sleepless nights but no depression.

Had them checked in May.   My psychiatrist felt the T3 was a little high so brought me down from 90mgs of thyroid to 75 mgs.

 

I feel my sleeplessness is cortisol related.  I have such stress riding through the withdrawal that I am in an acute fear state most of the time.   I then can't sleep every other night, which is wearing me down. 

[Shep]

4 hours ago, Hibari said:

I feel my sleeplessness is cortisol related.  I have such stress riding through the withdrawal that I am in an acute fear state most of the time.   I then can't sleep every other night, which is wearing me down. 

 

The every-other-night sleep phenomenon is a classic on the benzo forums. You may be having a benzo wave even four years after stopping (the additional benzos you took recently may have made this worse). 

 

If you listen to Baylissa and other benzo survivors, they say some of the worst waves come before the best healing, so you may be getting hit with some late-stage benzo waves. 

 

8 hours ago, Hibari said:

I actually am thinking i may have go back up on Lamictal and be medicated again or consider another medication.  I just dont seem to be making any progress.  

 

 

If this is the benzo withdrawal working its way out, you may be making more progress than you think. 

 

A great thread that explores benzo withdrawal is here: 

 

What is happening in your brain?

 

It could also be a 20-month out wave from the Remeron. If you read this thread, you'll see that a wave around the 18-month mark is not unusual. 

 

It doesn’t end at “0”

 

On 5/21/2018 at 3:12 PM, brassmonkey said:

There is frequently a similar but less severe wave that hits again at twelve months and in some cases, another in the eighteen-month range.  The latter two tend to be less severe in each case. Lately I’ve been hearing about another wave that happens about the three-year mark, but I haven’t been able to find out much about it.

 

I actually documented a 3-year wave on my own thread a few months ago, so I do believe there's truth to this. 

 

Shep's Journey - 3-Year Wave

 

I'm not sure that Lamictal will help and adding another medication likely will complicate your situation even more. Being grateful for getting off your previous drugs can help. Finding calming distractions such as walking in nature or listening to music and if you're too ramped up for quiet distractions, crank up the stereo or play video games. 

 

And likely, battle fatigue is also in play. This is common with people who've spent year after year tapering and suffering from withdrawal symptoms. 

 

Stay the course, Hibari. Keep your supplements to a minimum and your non-drug coping skills to the maximum and you'll reach the finish line. 

[Hibari]

4 hours ago, Shep said:

 

The every-other-night sleep phenomenon is a classic on the benzo forums. You may be having a benzo wave even four years after stopping (the additional benzos you took recently may have made this worse). 

 

If you listen to Baylissa and other benzo survivors, they say some of the worst waves come before the best healing, so you may be getting hit with some late-stage benzo waves. 

 

 

If this is the benzo withdrawal working its way out, you may be making more progress than you think. 

 

A great thread that explores benzo withdrawal is here: 

 

What is happening in your brain?

 

It could also be a 20-month out wave from the Remeron. If you read this thread, you'll see that a wave around the 18-month mark is not unusual. 

 

It doesn’t end at “0”

 

 

I actually documented a 3-year wave on my own thread a few months ago, so I do believe there's truth to this. 

 

Shep's Journey - 3-Year Wave

 

I'm not sure that Lamictal will help and adding another medication likely will complicate your situation even more. Being grateful for getting off your previous drugs can help. Finding calming distractions such as walking in nature or listening to music and if you're too ramped up for quiet distractions, crank up the stereo or play video games. 

 

And likely, battle fatigue is also in play. This is common with people who've spent year after year tapering and suffering from withdrawal symptoms. 

 

Stay the course, Hibari. Keep your supplements to a minimum and your non-drug coping skills to the maximum and you'll reach the finish line. 

 

Dear Shep,

I'm crying as I write this because after a very hard day yesterday that went into 2am last night  I ended up taking 1mg of Ativan.  

 

I tried every non drug skill that was recommended.  I took a bath. I listened, to various relaxation tapes, I kept light tv on even though I could barely concentrate.   I rested with a heating pad.   I was pacing and crying at certain points thought out the day.  I called friends. I ate well and still my body was in that unrelenting tension and trembling. 

 

I took magnesium before bed and lay there shaking. Finally I took some tryptophan but still nothing.  I lay in agony till 2am trying to talk myself through it. When I say agony, i mean ust so exhausted physically but unable to drop mentally. I thought of taking a benadryl but it usually winds me up.    My head felt like a steel.band even with an ice pack on it.  I finally and regretfully took the 1mg of Ativan and slept for 6 hours. 

 

I dont know what else to do Shep.  I'm not in wd normal. I'm in a cold turkey wd from my jump in Novenber where I was having a paradoxical reaction to Lamictal. That started happening in September and made me very sick. So I do  have battle fatigue and it has kept me housebound and depleted. . 

 

I do get that there are often big waves before big healing and i understand that it doesn't end at 0 but I dont seem to have the inner strength right now to do this without sleep.  

 

I'm so upset by my choice last night but I felt trapped without options.   I dont really want to be on another med but this passage off Lamictal has been grueling for me. 

 

I have taken to heart and tried so many of the non drug coping techniques that people have suggested. 

 

Please know I trust your guidance and also feel at a loss around how to get through to the end if this taper without sleeping consistently.  

 

[Aquarius]

24 minutes ago, Hibari said:

 

Dear Shep,

I'm crying as I write this because after a very hard day yesterday that went into 2am last night  I ended up taking 1mg of Ativan.  

 

I tried every non drug skill that was recommended.  I took a bath. I listened, to various relaxation tapes, I kept light tv on even though I could barely concentrate.   I rested with a heating pad.   I was pacing and crying at certain points thought out the day.  I called friends. I ate well and still my body was in that unrelenting tension and trembling. 

 

I took magnesium before bed and lay there shaking. Finally I took some tryptophan but still nothing.  I lay in agony till 2am trying to talk myself through it. When I say agony, i mean ust so exhausted physically but unable to drop mentally. I thought of taking a benadryl but it usually winds me up.    My head felt like a steel.band even with an ice pack on it.  I finally and regretfully took the 1mg of Ativan and slept for 6 hours. 

 

I dont know what else to do Shep.  I'm not in wd normal. I'm in a cold turkey wd from my jump in Novenber where I was having a paradoxical reaction to Lamictal. That started happening in September and made me very sick. So I do  have battle fatigue and it has kept me housebound and depleted. . 

 

I do get that there are often big waves before big healing and i understand that it doesn't end at 0 but I dont seem to have the inner strength right now to do this without sleep.  

 

I'm so upset by my choice last night but I felt trapped without options.   I dont really want to be on another med but this passage off Lamictal has been grueling for me. 

 

I have taken to heart and tried so many of the non drug coping techniques that people have suggested. 

 

Please know I trust your guidance and also feel at a loss around how to get through to the end if this taper without sleeping consistently.  

 

This is me sometimes im so worked up nothing works i have some Diazepam and was so tempted when you are in that state all you want is for it yo go away please don't feel upset you were desparate i understand that its hard to do this day in day out ...i am 8 months off sertraline after a very fast taper and a previous cold turkey 

[Hibari]

4 minutes ago, Aquarius said:

This is me sometimes im so worked up nothing works i have some Diazepam and was so tempted when you are in that state all you want is for it yo go away please don't feel upset you were desparate i understand that its hard to do this day in day out ...i am 8 months off sertraline after a very fast taper and a previous cold turkey 

Thank you. My use if Ativan is creeping up more and more and I'm.getting close if not already being dependent on a benzo again. 

 

Thank you for being understanding.  

[Aquarius]

I feel it too everything you go through it is so hard we all try and stay strong but sometimes we feel like giving in i know i do i just think about all the people on here going through the same thing and yes i wish i had tapered but i didnt know i dont think you will get dependant again i think like me you are going through a rough patch maybe its the time if the year just believe this will get better and everyone on here are supporting you nothing lasts forever there has to be am end to this we have to beleive it 

[Hibari]

6 minutes ago, Aquarius said:

I feel it too everything you go through it is so hard we all try and stay strong but sometimes we feel like giving in i know i do i just think about all the people on here going through the same thing and yes i wish i had tapered but i didnt know i dont think you will get dependant again i think like me you are going through a rough patch maybe its the time if the year just believe this will get better and everyone on here are supporting you nothing lasts forever there has to be am end to this we have to beleive it 

I want to believe that things are getting better even when I make bad choices. 

 

I'm sorry you have struggled too. I know that a cold Turkey wd is hard, doable,  but it can be wearing.  I did kind of both, I tapered two meds pretty carefully but at times too quickly and tapered them together for awhile.  Then I jumped too high from my last one and I am in the second month of cold Turkey.  

[RusTW]

On 12/16/2018 at 2:55 PM, Shep said:

Thanks Hibari. That's very helpful.

 

You've taken 9 doses in the past 4 months. Even with the 7 doses taken within the past few weeks, that's still not enough to cause dependency. I would stop taking them. They don't work and you risk developing a dependency on drugs that aren't working and have a high risk of paradoxical and rebound symptoms. 

 

I would stick to peppermint or ginger tea and stop trying to fix this with supplements and herbal remedies. Your nervous system is crying out for rest. Given time, you'll sleep again. 

 

A warm epsom salt bath (if you're able to tolerate magnesium), put a bit of lavender oil in it if you have some, put some gentle music on. 

 

Watch a gentle comedy on TV or the internet tonight. 

 

Before trying to sleep, listen to a guided meditation to help with intrusive thinking. Here's a good one:

 

Guided Meditation Deep sleep | anxiety and insomnia relief | relaxation before bedtime video (21 minutes)

 

Your body is in fight-or-flight mode right now. Don't attach your thoughts to the bodily sensations. Just let them pass by. Let your thoughts pass by. As my favorite online meditation guru Mooji says, "Your thoughts are just visitors and you are NOT a hotel! Don't let them in."

 

Let your thoughts pass without engaging in them. Let the anxiety and bodily sensations pass without attaching thoughts to them. Simply be the Observer. 

Good advice Shep.Hibari hope you feel better soon

[Ather]

Hibari do you stay home and if you stay home how much of the time do you stay online reading and discussing health?

 

I have stayed a patient of panic, I know that a few words by anyone telling you that this is an impact of you stopping a drug years ago is simply devastating, it is not a fact, its a disaster, this is the reason why I stay away from the internet as much as I can. 

 

Remember just staying Positive heal much of our psychological problems, reading Negative things will doom us.

 

Try to be physically active as much as you can, drag yourself out.

 

No disrespect meant to anyone, please !

[Rabe]

Just wanted you to know I am thinking about you Hibari!!!  Take care!! 💜

[Hibari]

Thank you Rabe.  I am in a a very bad way with a now newly created dependence on a benzo.  I was falling apart physically from the lack of sleep and constant akathisia.  

 

I dont have a clear plan for getting off the rest of tiny amount of Lamictal and now this new benzo dependence.  I tried very hard not use them but nights of no sleep and days of physical pain were too much. 

 

I alao tried many things to rest, relax, breathe, pace take magnesium, eat well anything to stop the akathisia but nothing was helping.  

 

So I had to make a choice to try and get sleep to save my sanity.  

 

I know there will be opinions about my choice but I did not have many options. 

 

Thank you as always for offering me support.  

[Rosetta]

Hang in there, Hibari.  Thinking of you.  I don't think you are dependent yet.  You slept without a benzo recently, right?  I think I remember that you wrote that in the last week or so.

[wantrelief]

I am thinking about you too, Hibari.

[Rabe]

Hope you can be kind to yourself and know that you did what you felt was best for you and your family...that's all any of us can do.  Also hope you can take things a day at a time and know that there is a plan and it will all be okay.  

Im really hoping that the fact you haven't posted for a bit means you are having an ok holiday weekend...perhaps with family.  

Thinking about you lots, Hibari!!!

[Hibari]

17 hours ago, Rosetta said:

Hang in there, Hibari.  Thinking of you.  I don't think you are dependent yet.  You slept without a benzo recently, right?  I think I remember that you wrote that in the last week or so.

Unfortunately I am.dependent now.  Tried to not take them and had dry  heaves, sweating,  and acute physical pain.  So I am dependent on them now.  

 

I haven't really slept much at all and the Lamictal taper has made me so sicj that I had to find some relief.  

 

Thank you all.for your suppirt on this forum to stop them but it's too late. All i can do now is keep the dosage low till I am ready to taper them. 

[Hibari]

13 hours ago, Rabe said:

Hope you can be kind to yourself and know that you did what you felt was best for you and your family...that's all any of us can do.  Also hope you can take things a day at a time and know that there is a plan and it will all be okay.  

Im really hoping that the fact you haven't posted for a bit means you are having an ok holiday weekend...perhaps with family.  

Thinking about you lots, Hibari!!!

It's a very tough time Rabe but thank you so much for your continued  support. 

I am very depressed and even though I tried so hard to make it through this Lamictal taper without touching anything. I could not.  

 

Wishing you the best. 

 

 

[Hibari]

15 hours ago, wantrelief said:

I am thinking about you too, Hibari.

Thank WR.  

 

Wishing you the best too. 

[Hibari]

Just a short update.

 

It's been a very upsetting time for me since I reintroduced benzos back in my life.  

I tried very hard to come off after being on them for about 12-14  days but the lack of sleep, and physical withdrawal were too  much.

 

I am trying to forgive myself for choosing them because otherwise I would know I would be in a psychiatric ward due to sleep deprivation and continued non stop trembling and inability to to get off the couch.   But I am deeply sad a lot of the time about the choice. 

 

So as I creep downward on my tiny Lamictal reinstatement, I am already researching how I will taper the benzos hopefully with help from this site.  

 

 

[Altostrata]

Hibari, that might be the best you can do. Please let us know how you're doing.

[Hibari]

On 1/1/2019 at 3:12 PM, Altostrata said:

Hibari, that might be the best you can do. Please let us know how you're doing.

Thank you @Altostrata

 

I am feeling so, so.   

 

I still will need help with the final aspects of the Lamictal wd as I head into my 3 month of cold turkey since I mainly jumped off the mediation in early November.  I still am taking 2 tenths of a dose twice a day of the reinstatement dose.

 

I continue to feel speedy after the morning dose and a little bit in the afternoon.  Have eliminated the evening dose completely as I wanted to sleep better. 

 

I will get some logs out as soon as I find my notebook.  

 

I asked Shep this question but will ask you as well.   Since I have only been on the benzos a little over 4 weeks, do you think doing an incremental taper to get the process started would be okay or would it be too much on my system? 

 

PS  Getting out to get my thyroid tested tomorrow.  

[Altostrata]

9 hours ago, Hibari said:

Have eliminated the evening dose completely as I wanted to sleep better. 

 

Did you sleep better? When did you make this change?

 

What is your benzo schedule?

[Shep]

11 hours ago, Hibari said:

Shep, my psych doctor has suggested I start splitting my benzo .50 dose at night to taking in order to avoid interdose wd.     That is her concern not mine though  I do get a headache in the late afternoon. 

 

So it would .25 at night and .25 in the daytime with the additional .12mgs as needed. 

 

I wanted to run it by you.     

 

Hibari, I copied the above post from your benzo thread and am answering it here on your main intro thread since you're requesting information on tapering Lamictal at the same time you're requesting a change in the benzo.

 

We all need to all be on the same page.

 

How often are you taking an "as needed" benzo dose?

 

On 12/28/2018 at 1:01 PM, Hibari said:

I have settled at a dose of .62.50 because my dosing was muddy and between 50mg-75mgs.

 

This is from your earlier post on your benzo thread. If you are taking the "as needed" benzo regularly, you may want to updose and pick a steady dose taken at the same dose and at the same time every day (you can split it up if you're dealing with interdose withdrawal). You may have become dependent on the higher dose. 

 

You are going to have a very hard time tapering - or even being able to stabilize - while you are manipulating your symptoms with an "as needed" benzo dose. 

 

Please start posting your drug and symptoms journal again so we can see where you're at now. Also include any supplements you are taking. Right now, you are making so many changes, there's no way to guide you off this. Instead of thinking in terms of "tapering", think in terms of "stabilizing". 

[Shep]

21 minutes ago, Shep said:

Instead of thinking in terms of "tapering", think in terms of "stabilizing". 

 

For more on why I am encouraging you to hold and stabilize and to stop making changes, please re-read my post here:

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/9000-hibari-tapering-remeron-and-want-to-start-tapering-lamicatal/?do=findComment&comment=393701

 

You are dealing with the effects of all of those changes and continuing to want to make more changes. 

[Hibari]

2 hours ago, Shep said:

 

Hibari, I copied the above post from your benzo thread and am answering it here on your main intro thread since you're requesting information on tapering Lamictal at the same time you're requesting a change in the benzo.

 

We all need to all be on the same page.

 

How often are you taking an "as needed" benzo dose?

 

She called it "as needed" dose.   I take it daily at 12PM.

 

 

This is from your earlier post on your benzo thread. If you are taking the "as needed" benzo regularly, you may want to updose and pick a steady dose taken at the same dose and at the same time every day (you can split it up if you're dealing with interdose withdrawal). You may have become dependent on the higher dose. 

 

You are going to have a very hard time tapering - or even being able to stabilize - while you are manipulating your symptoms with an "as needed" benzo dose. 

 

I have tried to maintain a 12PM .125 dose and then my .5 dose at 10:30.     However, I think I need another dose at 4PM when I feel headachy and down.

2 hours ago, Shep said:

 

Please start posting your drug and symptoms journal again so we can see where you're at now. Also include any supplements you are taking. Right now, you are making so many changes, there's no way to guide you off this. Instead of thinking in terms of "tapering", think in terms of "stabilizing". 

 

I haven't made many changes,  I have kept my nightime benzo dose at .5,  I have kept my lamictal doses at 8:30AM and 1:30PM. 

 

The only change I have made is trying to find a dose or doses in the daytime for the benzo to keep me out of interdose withdrawal.   When I first started its was 4PM but I realized I needed a dose earlier so it became 12PM.   Now I realize I think I need that second dose at 4PM as well. 

 

I very much want to stabilize on this benzo dose but it may have been too low a dose to start with because of how I ended back on it on the first place.

Even though I want to taper this benzo, I really know I can't.  I was thinking that way because I was upset about being on it in the first place.

 

So I need help in choosing a stabilizing dose, on that helps me sleep and keeps me steady throughout the day.   If the dose has to be slightly higher than .625, then so be it. 

 

I hope that is clear.   Not planning on tapering at this time even though I want off of it so badly. 

 

 

 

 

[Hibari]

5 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

Did you sleep better? When did you make this change?

 

What is your benzo schedule?

I was less hyper and it helped somewhat but the cortisol surges were still bad.

 

I made the change in two stages early and mid December.    The first was per a moderator suggestion. 

 

When I go the blood test back from the emergency room on December 12th, they did a blood serum level on my Lamictal and it came back negligible.

 

I still haven't turned the corner on any Lamictal stabilizing.  Meaning I was hoping since i am entering my 3rd month of mainly being off the medication, I thought I  would feel better. Some of the more agonizing symptoms have lifted slightly but sometimes I wonder if I should go back on  dose that allows me to live my life, which has stopped completely. 

[Hibari]

Logs

1/1/19 

Sleep 5 hours due to .5 Clonzapam

Wake up very hyper 

8:00am .75 thyroid 

8:30 am .10 Lamictal

Banana and 2 packets natural oatmeal, 1 magnesium 

9:15 Feel hyper 

12pm .125 Clonazepam 

1:30pm Lamictal 

Turkey burger, orange 

6pm hamburger, bannana

8pm Bad headache, take 1 advil

10:30 .5 claonazapam, magnesium, 1 tryptophan 

Fall asleep at 11:30

 

1/2/19

Speep 4 1/2 hours 

Wide wake and hyper at 4am

4:30am take .125 Clonazepam to sleep, (here I off track.in dosing due to hyperness ans lack of sleep) 

Sleep, 2 more hours 

7:45 Shaky, anxious

Bannana and tea 1 magnesuim 

8:00 75 mg Thyroid

8:30 .10 Lamictal

1:30 .10 Lamictal

Stir fry hamburger, banana 

2:00pm .125 Clonzapam (felt interdose wd)

3pm chicken salad, rice, avacaso

1 mag, 1 calm CP for cortisol surges  

Chicken. Salad, rice, avocado 

10:30 .50 Clonazapam

Listen to guided meditation 

1 mag, 1 Calm CP for cortisol surges 

11:30 sleep

Wake up at 2:30, take 1 tryptophan and 1 mag, fall asleep till 7:30. 

 

1/3/19

Broken Sleep

Wake up hyper

8:00am 75 mgs thyroid

8:30am .10 lamical

Bannana, tea

12:00 .125mg Clonazapam

Tuna fish and roasted potatoes

1:30 .10 Lamictal 

2pm go to new accuputurist 

5pm stir fry beef

6Pm.bad headache. Take one advil. 

8:30pm .125 clonazapam.

9pm Calm CP ans 1 magnesium 

10.30pm take .375 Clonazapam (since I already took the 125 a few hours earlier and wanted to keep the dose .625 for the day. 

Wake up ar 2:30 am take a magnesium and tryptophan, listen to guided mediation  but only doze off and on. 

 

I can from above that my benzo dosing is not as consistent these past few days as I thought. As I keep trying to keep dose at .625 I see that body knows it's too low right now.  I maybe should be at .75 for now.  I do need help with this as I think I am trying to handle interdose wd and I'm not doing it well. 

[Altostrata]

Without a doubt, your Lamictal blood level is negligible, there was no need to test it.

 

The reason you're taking Lamictal is to reduce the Lamictal withdrawal syndrome you developed when you cold-turkeyed it.

 

Hibari, you've made so many drug changes, I can't even follow what's going on. Since you're now experimenting with benzos, please do not change the Lamictal, that throws yet another confounding variable into your symptom pattern.

 

The benzo path means interdose withdrawal. Not sure about your dosing schedule, please confer with @Shep

[Hibari]

1 hour ago, Altostrata said:

Without a doubt, your Lamictal blood level is negligible, there was no need to test it.

 

The reason you're taking Lamictal is to reduce the Lamictal withdrawal syndrome you developed when you cold-turkeyed it.

 

Hibari, you've made so many drug changes, I can't even follow what's going on. Since you're now experimenting with benzos, please do not change the Lamictal, that throws yet another confounding variable into your symptom pattern.

 

The benzo path means interdose withdrawal. Not sure about your dosing schedule, please confer with @Shep

I am conferring with Shep. 

 

Alto I  was advised fo make a Lamictal med change by a moderate  due to the hyperness at night.  The hyperness continues with the morning and afternoon doses as well. That is the only lamictal.change I have made.

 

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

Let's see what happens when you spread out benzo dosing before changing Lamictal again.

[Hibari]

1 minute ago, Altostrata said:

Let's see what happens when you spread out benzo dosing before changing Lamictal again.

Ok.  

 

My mistake with the benzos.

 was I never knew exactly what dose I was at to begin with and then I was switched to Clonazapam.  I chose a dose between 50 and 75 but I think was to low.  I also, naively thought that benzos stayed level  in your system them same way a mood stabilizer dose or an ad.  My error.  

[Hibari]

Shep, if I were to keep my dose at .625, would you help me figure out a dosing schedule that would keep me steady during the day and night?

 

Right now, I plan on taking .25mg at night and then have .375 to work with during the day.  

 

Again, if I have to go up to .75mg to stabilize, I am open to the option as well,  I just need to figure out how to dose it. 

 

Thank you. 

[Shep]

Please keep a log of your drugs and symptoms in this format over in your benzo thread. 

 

Hibari: Swtich from Ativan to Clonazapam

 

You need to keep your dose and times the same over the next few days - no changes in doses, timing, or adding in supplements. You need to have a baseline established to figure out any inter-dose withdrawal symptom patterns. And that takes several days without any changes. 

 

If you aren't able to do this, you'll need to work with your doctor. We can't help you here and it really is taking a lot of time to go over this again and again. 

 

On 1/4/2019 at 8:02 AM, Hibari said:

I have tried to maintain a 12PM .125 dose and then my .5 dose at 10:30.     However, I think I need another dose at 4PM when I feel headachy and down.

 

Hibari, it's NORMAL to feel headachy and down during withdrawal. Are you eating small high protein, low sugar meals and snacks throughout the day? Perhaps a snack before dinner might take care of this. Also, this could be a sign of dehydration, so make sure you're drinking plenty of water throughout the day. 

 

From what you've written in your two threads, I would focus on your sleep more than any other symptom. If you feel "headachy and down", grab a quick snack and go take a walk or play a video game or whatever distraction works best for you. If you don't learn to distract through your symptoms and continue to feel you "need" something, we can't help you. 

 

 

[Hibari]

1 hour ago, Shep said:

Please keep a log of your drugs and symptoms in this format over in your benzo thread. 

 

Hibari: Swtich from Ativan to Clonazapam

 

You need to keep your dose and times the same over the next few days - no changes in doses, timing, or adding in supplements. You need to have a baseline established to figure out any inter-dose withdrawal symptom patterns. And that takes several days without any changes. 

 

If you aren't able to do this, you'll need to work with your doctor. We can't help you here and it really is taking a lot of time to go over this again and again.  

 

 

Hibari, it's NORMAL to feel headachy and down during withdrawal. Are you eating small high protein, low sugar meals and snacks throughout the day? Perhaps a snack before dinner might take care of this. Also, this could be a sign of dehydration, so make sure you're drinking plenty of water throughout the day. 

 

From what you've written in your two threads, I would focus on your sleep more than any other symptom. If you feel "headachy and down", grab a quick snack and go take a walk or play a video game or whatever distraction works best for you. If you don't learn to distract through your symptoms and continue to feel you "need" something, we can't help you. 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Shep said:

Please keep a log of your drugs and symptoms in this format over in your benzo thread. 

sorry meant to post this on the benzo thread.

1 hour ago, Shep said:

 

Hibari: Swtich from Ativan to Clonazapam

 

You need to keep your dose and times the same over the next few days - no changes in doses, timing, or adding in supplements. You need to have a baseline established to figure out any inter-dose withdrawal symptom patterns. And that takes several days without any changes. 

 

If you aren't able to do this, you'll need to work with your doctor. We can't help you here and it really is taking a lot of time to go over this again and again.  

 

 

Hibari, it's NORMAL to feel headachy and down during withdrawal. Are you eating small high protein, low sugar meals and snacks throughout the day? Perhaps a snack before dinner might take care of this. Also, this could be a sign of dehydration, so make sure you're drinking plenty of water throughout the day. 

 

From what you've written in your two threads, I would focus on your sleep more than any other symptom. If you feel "headachy and down", grab a quick snack and go take a walk or play a video game or whatever distraction works best for you. If you don't learn to distract through your symptoms and continue to feel you "need" something, we can't help you. 

 

 

 

[Rabe]

Hi Hibari...wanted to thank you again for stopping over and let you know that I am thinking about you so much.  

I think we all drift in and out of the place of wanting to find the fix that will make things better...that will keep us stable...that will make us feel better, especially when we are having a particularly challenging day.  I know that I have done that for so so long but am finally becoming more aware of it and trying hard to work on acceptance that this is how WD is.  Im not stable and it will take lots of time to heal and move forward.  

Today I was able to get a carwash which for me is huge....and go for a long walk in the sun though chilly.  Yesterday it was very hard...today I walked better and longer.  Hoping longer will be ok and grateful for the carwash!  

You are way stronger than I feel you believe....you will make it through all this Hibari.  We are all here with you and for you!  Love and hugs!💜  

[wantrelief]

Hi Hibari - Thank you for your kind message on my thread.  I know you are disappointed being on clonazepam but sometimes we have to do what we have to do. You are still going to make it to the finish line....there just has been an unexpected detour. I hope you are feeling a bit better than you were.  Thinking about you - WR.