please help with itching /flu madness

okay so this is about benzos and gabapentin and lyrica...good story.

I am on 3.5 ativan and 5 mgs valium.

3 months ago dumped lyrica-took 3 months.and coped by taking small amounts of gabapentin.

1-300 mgs a night.well 3 days ago quit the gabapentin because the swelling in my body Causing Congestive heart failure was jsut too much.

OMG itching flu symptoms and feel horrific.I worry its a reaction to diuretics given to stop bloating..I am so bloated I cannot breathe.Look 9 months pregnant.

But stopped the diruretic and I feel I am going crazy.

I want to take a higher dose of benzos just to get thru this.

I have itched my skin raw.and i feel like i have the flu.this is nasty.

ok so I am planning to quit benzos next but getting thru this is rough ..I am not going back to Gabapentin or lyrica...its been 3 days and they say 5-7 to get thru this -PLease please dont take these drugs to get off benzos ,,I took them for pain and its been 4 mnths of hell to get off.I wish I had not taken the gabapentin but needed sleep.

How am I ever going to get thru w/d of a 20yr benzo habit when this other drug is so nasty???

I took an atarax (antihistime) its so bad.

anybody who can get rid of benzos is heroic ...I see now these drugs cause all kinds of reactions.

I am sorry to post but anyone got any ideas about the itching /flu deal?

I have breathing problems too.

on the upside this is the first day I woke up with less swelling.

Please tell me this will pass.Anybody?

okay so this is about benzos and gabapentin and lyrica...good story.

I am on 3.5 ativan and 5 mgs valium.

3 months ago dumped lyrica-took 3 months.and coped by taking small amounts of gabapentin.

1-300 mgs a night.well 3 days ago quit the gabapentin because the swelling in my body Causing Congestive heart failure was jsut too much.

OMG itching flu symptoms and feel horrific.I worry its a reaction to diuretics given to stop bloating..I am so bloated I cannot breathe.Look 9 months pregnant.

But stopped the diruretic and I feel I am going crazy.

I want to take a higher dose of benzos just to get thru this.

I have itched my skin raw.and i feel like i have the flu.this is nasty.

ok so I am planning to quit benzos next but getting thru this is rough ..I am not going back to Gabapentin or lyrica...its been 3 days and they say 5-7 to get thru this -PLease please dont take these drugs to get off benzos ,,I took them for pain and its been 4 mnths of hell to get off.I wish I had not taken the gabapentin but needed sleep.

How am I ever going to get thru w/d of a 20yr benzo habit when this other drug is so nasty???

I took an atarax (antihistime) its so bad.

anybody who can get rid of benzos is heroic ...I see now these drugs cause all kinds of reactions.

I am sorry to post but anyone got any ideas about the itching /flu deal?

I have breathing problems too.

on the upside this is the first day I woke up with less swelling.

Please tell me this will pass.Anybody?

Hi, K,

I'm sorry you are having such a rough time right now.

If it were me, I believe I would check with my doctor about this, especially if you say you are full of fluid and having problems breathing, just to make sure the doctor is aware of what your status is and is aware of what meds you have or have not been taking, in case doc needs to make some changes for you. 

Sunnyside

but thats just it ,I have seen my doctor once a week ,a heart dr ,and all kinds of drs in the last 6 months.

and in Canada thats saying something it takes months to see a specialist.

They dont know anything and say I have ashma,nothing about lyrica ,gabapentin or BENZOS,\in fact the shrink is the worst.Benzos are his favorite perscription.

I am being treated for sleep apnea.

Its not like in the United states,cant go to hopsital and say ...please give me an iv and help me rid myself of this fluid and do some tests.they dont take u unless you are immediately dying.its go home and take more pills.

I give up.

I have had to manage my own health.Doctors are overworked so until I am at deaths door,stroke or heart attack -nothing.I have crawled to the doctors ,short of breath and the whole bit.

its enough to make you give up.

and as for getting off of benzos that would be my own trip ...there is no real help for w/d here .

unless you go cold turkey and then they just have nurses that watch you.

I will die of drugs,I honestly believe this and I am a fighter.

all because I trusted doctors years ago.....sad so sad.

Its a big hole i have dug myself.and it feels like a grave.

sorry but it just is disheartening.

Hi, Katy,

Please don't give up.  Many of us have felt we were in the bottom of a dark pit with no way out.  I have felt that way in the past and it was horrible.  There is a way out, Katy.    You will find the support and help here for getting off your benzos.  Rather than try to rewrite things I have looked back through some of your posts and found this:

I see my Family dr GP every week ,it is how I got off of lyrica....but I DUMPED MY SHRINK WHO GOT ME ON BENZOS.

hE COULDNT HELP ME W/D FROM A CUP OF COFFEE! But he sure knows how to prescribe them.

I found it important to see the dr weekly in W/d as there were so many issues.

My GP was so proud when I quit lyrica ,,,and he knows more about benzos too.

as an aside I asked him about ashton method...he said he didnt have much success,it was too long and people got discouraged,

it is a proven method -just not working for everyone

Are you still seeing your doctor once a week?  Since you are no longer seeing your psychiatrist, will your GP cooperate with you on a taper?  Going cold turkey is not a good idea, and can be dangerous.  Please see here from our FAQ, especially #5:  http://www.benzobuddies.org/benzodiazepine-information/frequently-asked-questions/

Here is some information on benzo withdrawal methods:  Withdrawal Methods 

Also, please see The Ashton Manual.  Some people print it out and take a copy with them to their physicians when planning a taper:  The Ashton Manual

If you think your itching is coming from you reaction to your diuretic, your physician would want to know this as there are several different types of diuretics/brands, maybe he could evaluate you for a different one, if it's still needed.  It is difficult to know if your symptoms of swollen belly, itching, flu, are related partially to an adverse affect to your diuretic which you mentioned, or possibly suddenly stopping Gabapentin, as I have read that people can have withdrawal symptoms from suddenly stopping it, too, or  benzo withdrawal symptoms.  People here withdrawing from benzos have described withdrawal symptoms of "benzo belly" (including boating), "benzo flu" including aches, feeling feverish, and flu-like.  People withdrawing from benzos have also experienced itching.  Since we are not physicians here but an online support group, we aren't qualified to diagnose, which is why I asked if you were still seeing your physician once a week.  At least he could assess your breathing and make any changes needed in your diuretic.  How is your itching now?  Did the antihistamine help?

Most of all, I want to reach out to you to let you know you aren't alone with this.  There is help for benzo withdrawal here.  What is your current dose and how long have you been on that dose? 

We are here to help.

Sunnyside

If the itching turns into a rash on one side of the body or face, see your doctor right away as it could be shingles.  Don't want to alarm, but something to be aware of.

V

well the itching turned out to be Guess what? Pancreatitis,I almost died ,seriously.my number was 3330 and was supposed to be 60.

The internists were alarmed.So was I -and they were apalled by the benzos.

anyway who knows....?

I dont drink,have not got diabetes ,and the benzos couldnt have done it.they figure a stone but i have no gall bladder.

anyway I survived,but it was dicey.

They told me to put quitting benzos,at the top of my to do list,or i will never get any sleep or have  a normal life.

And I wasnt even going to go to the hospital....