Serax taper to begin via Ativan crossover

[[Buddie]]

Thanks, [...].  I was so scared at first - I had been on my benzo for over 11 years.  I knew I was feeling terrible for the last 6 of those years, but never could get my doctor to provide any sort of withdrawal plan.  She would just say "people have trouble" and never came up with anything.  So I stayed on the drug thinking I was faced with something I could never be free of.  It's this forum that helped me to see hope and that there is a way off. I took the ideas I learned from this forum to her and told her how this was going to happen.  She cooperated for the most part, all with an attitude that I was not the expert, she was. But I did stuck to my guns with her.  I'm really grateful to everyone who shares their stories - it helped me to believe.  I'm actually at the point now where I feel way less anxiety - I had no idea that the drug was causing it via rebound.  I learned that here. I hope to be done by August 1 - which is also, coincidentally the date of my next appointment with my doctor.  Life is good, and those of you who say things in your posts, like "it will get better" gave me a lot of courage.  Thanks everyone!   

[[Buddie]]

PS [...]:  Looks like you are marching right on toward the finish line, too! 

[[Buddie]]

PS [...]:  Looks like you are marching right on toward the finish line, too! 

Yup.  Will both have Success Stories to post very soon. Yay us!!!

[[Buddie]]

I'm almost done with this stuff.  I made my final cut last night to .125 mg per day (that is before the one I make in which I will be taking 0 mgs/day).  In 7-14 days I hope to be free of this drug.  I had SO much anxiety about doing this, and it hasn't been easy, but life is better over all.  I had so much anxiety before - it's amazing that the drug I was taking to help with that problem was actually CAUSING it in between doses.  I'm MUCH less anxious today than I was when this whole process began.

[...] - Congratulations!  I see in your signature line that you are now Benzo-Free! Hope you are feeling well.  I'm so happy for you!   

[[Buddie]]

I hoped when we didn't hear from you for a while that it meant you were not having a lot of trouble tapering and it's so good to know that is the case. 

That is really something, that you can tell you are less anxious the less ativan you have in your system.  It was the same for me after the first month or two, though other symptoms did pop up from time to time.  I found where I once posted that I wanted to crawl out of my skin.  ewww.

None of that now.  Thanks for the congrats.  I am doing pretty good, thanks for asking, and definitely relieved about finishing the taper.  Our fear about the process is often worse than what actually happens; come to think of it,  I think that's true for most new things we face in life.

We now have a Celebrations board and I look forward to you posting your Independence Day news in another week or two as another benzo bites the dust.

I'm so excited for you. 

[[Buddie]]

I haven't posted in a while - just found out my mom has lung cancer, so I was out of town.  I also held on to my last dose a little longer. 

Side effects have been present... I have had the creepy crawlies, and felt like I was going to jump out of my skin and fly across the room a couple of times.  I've had lots of stabbing pains - in the legs, but not limited to there - ribs, arms, you name it.  And some dizziness and migraine headaches, which I've posted about elsewhere.  It's still better than the panic and dread, the impaired memory, and general inability to get along in the world that I was feeling before.  I always always feeling angry before.  Many people say their feelings are blunted by these drugs; I was just a bundle of anger and fear all the time. I'm better already and I thank God for this every day that I get closer to the end.  I remain determined.  Can't wait to see my MD on Friday and tell her this plan is working!!!

Taking it all one day at a time...

[[Buddie]]

I'm so sorry about your, Mom.    I sure hope it was caught at a treatable stage.

I have read a number of posts from people who had the anger/rage thing going on, but, yeah, I think blunted emotions is a bit more common.  But bottom line is you are feeling better and your plan is working.   

One day - and sometimes one hour - at a time is the way to go IMO. 

[[Buddie]]

[...] - one thing is troubling me... I was on Serax, and switched to Ativan.  Serax has less anxiolytic properties than Ativan...i.e.: Ativan is better for anxiety.  Do you think that this new lack of anxiety, anger and fear I am feeling is because of this switch?  Maybe the Ativan is doing it's "thing", for the short term?

Thanks for asking about my mom.  Not sure about the treatability yet...will know more this week.

[[Buddie]]

I guess it's possible but you are on an awfully low dose.  You will soon be off all together, though, so try not to worry about the emotions thing.  One way or another they will right themselves. 

[[Buddie]]

I haven't posted in a while - just found out my mom has lung cancer, so I was out of town.   

Sorry to hear about your mom, that's tough to deal with when not in wd.  I hope you get good news from the dr. next week.