How to taper a Benzo while on Birth Control Pills or Progesterone

November 1, 2011

Hello Buddies,

I am looking for information about Progesterone or Birth Control Pills and how they effect or interact with benzos. I ran into really big trouble going off BC Pills and would like more information. Does anyone have a way for me to research this? I know I MUST stay on BC Pills to complete my taper. It has a stabilizing effect.Yet, I am not sure how long to stay on them after I am benzo free or how to get off of them.

Or maybe I don't need to stay on the BC Pills. I don't know. All I know is I was hospitalized when I went off of them for only a few weeks.

Moderators PLEASE Leave this in Withdrawal and Recovery Support. It IS BENZO related and it is regarding my TAPER.

Love,

Summer

November 1, 2011

Summer come to chat

November 1, 2011

Hello Buddies,

Thank you GG, I am not able to get the information yet. Does anyone know how to research my above question? Does anyone have information about this issue of how GABA from Benzos are effected by Birth Control pills or Progesterone.

Any Help would be appreciated.

Love,

Summer

November 2, 2011

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=26215.msg398225#msg398225

Just to add to the conversation, this is what I posted several months ago. The link is above. And to add to the discussion below, when I was on 40 mg, the problem existed. However i dropped from 40 to 25 and the problem ceased and the pms went away That drop almost did me in however lol

Quote from: WiseWomanWithIssues on December 27, 2010, 07:32:00 PM

Thank you for your help and suggestions, but it appears there is an additional problem that I have just become aware of having to do with how different benzo's impact hormones (female ones in my case) and are responsible for complicating my transition to Valium. So as a result I can't use Valium (causes severe hormone reaction) or Ativan (causes significant interdose w/d) to w/d from. I've checked out other variants of benzos and they all fall into one of the two scenerios listed above. So basically I'm plainly and simply screwed. I can't get off of them, and I can't stay on them.

Quote from: Beeper on December 28, 2010, 04:47:02 AM

I've not heard that before about valium causing a "severe hormone reaction". We've had a lot of female members taper off valium (as well as klonopin) and this is the first such report I've heard. If you are having interdose withdrawals on ativan, perhaps you need to spread your dosing out better over the day. Of course, if you are in tolerance withdrawal and not just experiencing interdose withdrawal, there is no real "cure" except to take more benzo or get off of it. You've probably heard the saying: If you find yourself in hell, keep going.

Quote from: WiseWomanWithIssues

I use a specific combo BC (progestin and estrogen - Microgesting FE) to control severe hormone issues that I've had most of my life. The only alternative to BC for me is to have a full on hysterectomy which I've successfully avoided by shutting down my hormones using the BC daily (no breaks). The problem in this context with Diazepam/Valium, is that it can decrease the effectiveness of birth control. And did in my case. To be honest I wasn't aware of this until my cycle started and then did some googling. I found the following:

http://contraception.about.com/od/prescriptionoptions/tp/medication.htm

Anxiety Treatments

Ask your healthcare provider if your specific anti-anxiety medication will decrease the effectiveness of the Pill as certain medicines used to treat anxiety or sleeping problems, such as Diazepam or Temazepam, may interfere with successful combination contraceptive use.

Ironically this issue seems to apply to the longer half-life version including Clonazepam and Chlordiaepoxide(Librium), but has a different effect on other benzos which I found information about here:

Baltimore Washington Medical Center

http://204.232.242.190/library/41/051860

Benzodiazepines: Combination hormonal contraceptives may decrease the clearance of some benzodiazepines (alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam) and increase the clearance of others (lorazepam, oxazepam)

I have been unable to find cooberating information in any benzo literature which frustrates me greatly. I don't know how common this happens, but I've never seen it posted anywhere on boards (doesn't mean it's not there, I just haven't seen it). Which worries me to think, not for myself knowing this now, but for other women the possible increased risk of pregnancy as a result.

November 2, 2011

Hello Buddies,

I am 51 and have a gyn willing to help me stay on BC Pills until I am 53, maybe longer. I would like to hear from anyone who has run into trouble tapering from a benzo and also taking BC Pills.

I can say that it was a BIG problem for me going off of them for only a few weeks.

WiseWomanWithIssues. Thank you for sharing your story and information with ALL of us. So kind of you.

I know I am not alone with this issue. It would be nice to have a place for other members to be able to get this information when they do a search.

Love,

Summer

November 2, 2011

I've been on birth control pills the whole time for endometriosis and never had a problem other than occasionally forgetting to take them due to benzo brain. There certainly hasn't been any sort of interaction between the two for me.

November 2, 2011

Summer I will tell you what's going on although i would rather Joe explain. Benzos initially lower cortisol output, which is produced through the adrenal cortex. Taking benzos for a long time and keeping cortisol low, will start to fatigue the adrenals which control your progestrone. You will hear including myself that a lot of us have issues during our cycle... Like wd is worse. The reason is because our progestrone and estrogen are at their lowest during our cycle and progestrone acts on the GABA receptors to a degree. It's the calming hormone. When you stopped bc pills before you more than likely blew out your progestrone which was low to begin with thus cause the adrenals to collapse and you stating that you felt you were going to die. I've been there! I drop kicked my adrenals and my entire endocrine system crashed. I had adrenaline running through me 24/7 and I felt like my organs were shutting down. I am now on biodentical progestrone.

There r some on this site that are against progestrone but everyone is different. My feeling is if you talk to Joe, he will recommend your getting on biodentical progestrone in Lou of your bc pills.

I'm not a doctor, I know everyone is different and I'm not giving advice. I'm giving you my experience and years of reasearch on how benzos effect the endocrine system and hormones. He can explain it all and lead you in the right direction. Call him tomorrow and ask for Amanda. She is always there. Tell her you were referred by Lana and you need to speak to Joe as soon as possible.

Joe also works with benzos on a daily basis so he understands how all of this works.

Hope this helps!

November 5, 2011

Hello Buddies,

Here is some information about hormones and Benzodiazepines. It may be important know that hormones effect the GABA receptors. I wish I had known this before going off of my Birth Control Pills for only a few weeks. This flipped out my withdrawal symptoms, here is some information to share with your doctors to help make the best decision possible when tapering from a benzo and how Progesterone, Estrogen, etc. effects the GABA receptors and hormone function. If you and your doctor choose to change your hormone medications at least you can have some information to share with them and know that they do affect the same receptors.

Simply Google "progesterone benzodiazepine withdrawal", you will hit two very technical scientific studies one performed on rats and another on women. The one discussing women will tell you that progesterone withdrawal is similar to benzo withdrawal due to the reactions within the GABA receptors; thus women who experience more than the average PMS were shown to be more resistant to the effects of benzos (this would then make their withdrawal harder) however, these times of resistance correlated to low progesterone or withdrawal of progesterone.

From what I understand, synthetic progestogen that has progestinic effects similar to progesterone. Progesterone is cross tolerant to benzodiazepines. Cross tolerance means that one drug will alleviate the withdrawal effects of another. It also means that tolerance of one drug will result in tolerance of another similarly-acting drug. Progesterone is a neuroactive steroid, which will precipitate similar withdrawal effects characterized by central nervous system hyper-excitability.

Here is a reference that explains how progesterone is actually GABA-ergic and how a drop in it right before our period can cause many of the anxiety symptoms that may accompany PMS.

http://www.benzosupport.org/Hormones%20and%20benzo%20diazepines.ht

If anyone has any additional information that may be helpful, that would be great. I would like women to be informed that hormones play a role and help us to be better informed when making decisions that may affect our taper or recovery.

Be safe.

Love to all,

Summer

November 5, 2011

Summer,

Did you ever talk to Joe?

Grace

November 5, 2011

Hello Godsgrace,

I called him several times and NO I have not heard from him. He is a really busy guy. And he has not called me back either.

Thank you for the contact. I really appreciate it.

Love,

Summer

November 5, 2011

It would have been enough just to have lived with debilitating PMS since the age of 13 starting in 1976. It has affected my life and all of my life's choices by forcing me to my knees monthly. Failure to mitigate the PMS by Ob/gyns, PMS specialists, other medical professionals, psychotherapy and multiple variations of BC and progesterone treatments led me to psychiatry simply for the possibility that within their tool box they could offer if not a cure, then perhaps symptom relief. Upon entry into the world of psychiatry, my PMS was immediately dismissed and the multiple psych misdiagnoses began.

In 2008 I was finally introduced to a bc that came out in 2006 that I not only could tolerate but if taken consecutively would stop my cycles entirely and therefore stop the PMS entirely. So after 32 years of PMS I had finally found my cure.

That's when I began the removal of ALL psych drugs. That's also when the actual damage of all of the years on those drugs became apparent. The first to go was a c/t of Zoloft and the "discontinuation syndrome" cost me about 5 months of illness and distress and proved to be only the beginning. It is now nearing the end of 2011 and since 2008 I have been diagnosed with two chronic diseases that I will have for the rest of my life, lymphocytic colitis and Celiacs disease as a result of the anticonvulsant that was prescribed for a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder. Prior to the diagnosis of these two autoimmune diseases, it was first thought I had gallbladder disease and therefore my gallbladder was unnecessarily removed.

During all of this the daily panic attacks increased. I was told this was a result of all of the trauma my body was going thru. As it turns out it was a result of after close to 10 years of Ativan use for sleep as a result of PMS, having reached a dose of 4 mg, taken only at night for sleep and as a result suffering interdose w/d for 16 out of 24 hours everyday for years.

This month I am beginning my second year of getting off this drug, the very last one and I anticipate that by this time next year I will be drug free.

I suppose it shouldn't surprise me that my PMS is contributing to the challenges that benzo w/d has and is creating for me. But I would be lying if I said it wasn't disheartening. I suppose I should feel somewhat justified that this may be a good portion of the reason that I am not one of the many who can get off of benzos easily and why I belong to the group that everyone of us on the board belongs to.

As a result of this information about PMS and benzos I am incredibly saddened today at thinking once again, what my life could have been if only the last 35 years of my life I hadn't been required to spend it this way.

November 5, 2011

Hello WWW,

I am so sorry this journey has been like this for you. I understand. We are not alone. I have not seen Sunny71 on here for a short while, yet she has had a mis-diagnosis due to hormone imbalance too. She speaks of it on October 21, 2011. It would be great if she could share her experience here as well. If you want some of her story is posted in her Buddie Blog on that date. It has been helpful for me to know I am not alone.

We will get through this. We will succeed. We have learned so much and can now move forward with more wisdom.

Love to you,

Summer

P.S. The information you posted here will help many other women that use the Search function. They will find valuable information to help them in their journey. We are all here to help one another and to get well. Thank you for being who you are, kind, giving, and thoughtful.

November 5, 2011

Well I am sorry about that. The information you found on your own describes it perfect.

November 5, 2011

Hello Godsgrace,

You are so kind. Thank you again. Maybe Joe and I will connect some time in the future. I am happy to hear that the information I was able to find describes it well.

I am hoping to have a place where other women can have the information when they use the Search function. They will find out valuable info on GABA receptors and hormones and be able to take that in to their doctors and make informed choices on what is best for them.

Thank you so much for ALL of your help. We are all in this together and the more information we have the better. I know we are not alone with the benzo/hormone issue.

Love,

Summer

November 8, 2011

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01059.x/full

This is a very long and involved article but it focuses on Tolerance to allopregnanolone with focus on the GABA-A receptor. I've only included the abstract below but the link to the entire article is above. This involves PMS, Benzos, progesterone, moods, gaba receptors et al. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the information and am not sure there are any real conclusions, more of a discussion but interesting nonetheless.

What appears to be occurring is that like with benzos, there is a "tolerance" that occurs in relation to the GABA-A receptor. So when benzos are used chronically, the GABA-A receptor begins to become less sensative. In the case of PMDD/PMS the substance in question is allopregnanolone. This is a hormone produced by the body in response to stress that normally serves to calm. However when it's chronically induced, as in PMS or pregnancy, a tolerance can occur. Under what conditions are more contributary, or why this impacts some more than others is still being theorized.

One section of the article states: "PMDD/PMS patients are less sensitive to GABA-A receptor modulators such as benzodiazepines, ethanol, and GABA steroids (pregnanolone) during the luteal phase when they are exposed to allopregnanolone, but not during the follicular phase when the GABA steroids are absent "

Another states: "The effects of allopregnanolone on the CNS via the GABA-A receptor can be divided into three categories: (i) direct effects on the receptor function; (ii) induction of tolerance; and (iii) withdrawal"

Abstract:

Many studies have suggested a relationship between stress, sex steroids, and negative mental and mood changes in humans. The progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone is a potent endogenous ligand of the -amino butyric acid –A (GABA-A) receptor, and the most discussed neuroactive steroid. Variations in the levels of neuroactive steroids that influence the activity of the GABA-A receptor cause a vulnerability to mental and emotional pathology. There are physiological conditions in which allopregnanolone production increases acutely (e.g. stress) or chronically (e.g. menstrual cycle, pregnancy), thus exposing the GABA-A receptor to high and continuous allopregnanolone concentrations. In such conditions, tolerance to allopregnanolone may develop. We have shown that both acute and chronic tolerances can develop to the effects of allopregnanolone. Following the development of acute allopregnanolone tolerance, there is a decrease in the abundance of the GABA-A receptor 4 subunit and the expression of the 4 subunit mRNA in the ventral-posteriomedial nucleus of the thalamus. Little is known about the mechanism behind allopregnanolone tolerance and its effects on assembly of the GABA-A receptor composition. The exact mechanism of the allopregnanolone tolerance phenomena remains unclear. The purpose of this review is to summarize certain aspects of current knowledge concerning allopregnanolone tolerance and changes in the GABA-A receptors.

November 8, 2011

Hello WiseWomanWithIssues,

Wow! What great information. Thank you! I think it is wonderful to have as much information about hormones and benzos as we can. Being better informed will help greatly.

Thank you again.

Love,

Summer

November 10, 2011

Hello Buddies,

Here is someones experience of tapering Progesterone after a Klonopin taper.

I hope this is helpful:

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=37450.msg528225#msg528225

Love,

Summer

November 15, 2011

I saw a gyn today regarding getting off the birth control pill that I have been on for around 11 years (maybe longer I don't remember). I have been on BC for long before I even touched a benzo so I have just continued taking birth control. My gyn said she did not feel it was necessary or possible to taper off my BC pill and to just stop at the end of a months pack when I am ready. I explained to her my concerns and my experience with benzos, but she is convinced that I should have minimal issues stopping BC. She said I might experience some mood swings and acne, but nothing more severe then that. I am 16 months off and was thinking maybe around 18 months off to stop taking birth control. I am still having some benzo symptoms. I don't know what to expect. I do not wish to stay on birth control forever. Is it at all possible to cut or taper birth control pills?

November 15, 2011

Hello CW,

I am curious about it myself. I am going to look into how to taper off of birth control pills, but I am not there yet.

Maybe someone else will see this and have some input. I do know that my gyn said she will not ct me off of my birth control pills after seeing what it did to me.

Love to you,

Summer

November 16, 2011

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5381676_can-progesterone-cause-anxiety.html

November 16, 2011

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11489254

November 16, 2011

I was off benzos almost one year... Doing pretty well... a little fogginess and slight dizziness here and there... very slight anxiety mainly at drs appts !! A dr put me on bio ID progesterone cream...At first it was like Ahhhh... I felt great...Like wow I feel like I just took a xanax so maybe thats whats wron with me !!! BUT..after a few months I had all my w/d sx come back really badly

Oh it was horrid !! Then my dr said to stop it and I did... wel on like the 4th day after stopping it I had the WORSE panic attack EVER !! It lasted for hours...then for 2 months I was sooooooo sick I thought for sure I was dieing

I was NOT going to use a benzo again...so I suffered...I could barely stand up my heart would pound so severely and I would almost pass out !! The anxiety and fear and adenaline was full thyrottle 24/7

I finally had to reinstate

I have been back on a year now... am at 6 mg... It has taken me a long time to get to doing things again my anxiety and fear waas the worse ever...I still dont do so well driving far..which is INSANE b/c I was driving and going just fine !!!

Its like I had major PTSD

I am still not stable... I mean... I was on xanax = to 10 mg valium for years..and am only on 6 mg !!! I am just now taking 1 mg in day to stop the daily interdose w/d I have been having... ALL my drs want me on an ssri

Iam NOT depressed...and I have never had anxiety before... I have had some nervous habits...BUT never anxiety.... Now I am a mess... Working on getting back to the old me.. oh....I had a full hysterectomy in 2005 b/c no dr could figure what was srong with me.... ummm... drug withdrawal !!!!!!!

Every time I would ovulate or just 1-2 days prior to my period while still on xanax same dose all those years I would get panic attack...every single solitary month !!!!! Other than that I was just sick at work every day....bit no anxiety until the pms and ovulation... who knows

? Its been 6 years of my life stolen from me :'( I mis my job( dental hygienist) and going to the gym and going out for drinks etc.. Now I just survive... Makes me so mad b/c I wont know how I wouod had been

If I didnt take progesterone !!!

November 16, 2011

I had no idea that birth control and benzos had anything in common....it's really disheartening. I am off klonopin now but still taking BC. I don't plan getting off of them anytime soon but I am only 26 and recently married and do plan to eventually get off them and have a child. It sounds like I am going to run into huge problems doing this tho...

November 16, 2011

Hello CW, Meljo and Sunkist,

I am happy to see all of you here. I am so sorry for all you have been through Meljo. I know your story along with your research will help many of us women looking for answers. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. It means so much to me that women have a way to get informed about this on BenzoBuddies.

Here is some information I found regarding Stopping Birth Control Pills and Side Effects.

Here is the Link;

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEYQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbirthcontrolsideeffects.org%2Fstopping-them%2F&ei=dvTDTpWmPMWMiALwn-jvCw&usg=AFQjCNG3MdFN31FivQ895zsKhif4pqK8KQ

I think it is way better to be informed. It will help us. If and when someone dose stop taking their Birth Control Pills: Will you please come back here and let us know what your experience was. I plan to do the same when I am at that point.

In the next post I will post the information from the above link.

I hope this is helpful,

Summer

November 16, 2011

The reference to this information is in the previous post.

Stopping Birth Control Side Effects

by admin on January 17, 2011

Side Effects of Stopping Birth Control

For various reasons, a woman may decide to stop taking her birth control pills. She should be aware of the side effects of quitting her medication. Birth control pills contain hormones, and therefore cause changes to a woman’s body. Once a woman stops taking birth control pills, these hormones will be out of her system within a few days. However, it can take several months for her body to produce its own hormones.

No Menstruation

No menstruation birth control pills function to stop a woman’s period. Therefore, when she stops taking the pills, it may be several months before her period returns. It is common for a woman who quits taking birth control to experience post-pill amenorrhea, or absence of her period, due to the change in hormones.

Irregular Menstruation

A woman who stops taking birth control may also find that she has an irregular menstrual cycle. Her period may be heavier or lighter than usual. She may also find that now her period is very long or very short. It will generally take two or three months before her menstrual cycle is regular again.

Mood Swings

A change in hormone levels caused by discontinuing birth control may cause a woman to experience changes in mood. She might feel depressed, anxious, sad, or angry for no reason. She sometimes will start crying and not know why. These mood swings will go away once her body adjusts to creating its own hormones.

Weight Changes

Some birth control pills contain high levels of estrogen. This may cause a woman to retain water and gain weight. When she goes off birth control, she may lose weight due to a decrease in water retention.

Acne

Sometimes, birth control is used to help a woman with acne problems. When she stops using birth control, she may notice that her skin is more oily or that she has more skin problems than before.

Reduced Interest in Sex

Hormones have an influence on a woman?s sex drive. She may feel a decrease in sexual desire when she stops taking birth control pills.

Pregnancy

A woman who stops taking birth control can now become pregnant. If she is sexually active and wants to prevent pregnancy, a woman should immediately begin using another form of birth control, such as condoms or a diaphragm.

Other Side Effects

Some women may experience other side effects when they go off birth control, including cramps, nausea, and breast tenderness. Talk to a Doctor Side effects will vary from person to person and may depend on the type of birth control used. Hormones affect every person differently. If you are concerned about stopping birth control, consult with your primary care physician or gynecologist.

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