Are dizzy spells and chronic fatigue feelings part of long term withdrawal?

Hi I have just changed over from Ativan to Valium and was doing well for a little while after the cross over but the last while I have been doing horribly (even though I just made another cut 2 days ago). For the last month I have felt this horrible chronic fatigue feeling, some dizzy spells at times and exercise which used to help is more tiring and doesn't now help. Is this just part of the withdrawals or could there be something else going on? Is there anything that could help? Also the depression part of it and shaky/edgy part of it which seemed to have subsided for awhile is now back in full force which is very scary and hard.

Thanks Sean

I've had both dizziness and fatigue throughout my taper and post benzo experience.  I think everyone's worst and longest lasting symptoms are different, but those two have been pretty regular companions for me.  Unless you have a specific reason to suspect something else, I'd say that they're fairly definitely a part of withdrawal and will clear up with time.

Best wishes.

Dkaplan

this is normal , lower  dose is your body more and more crave the drug , reason why  less drug in body worst you feel . Listen to your body , always , and go slowly .  For me hell started moment I stop clonazepam . But then month after month getting better .

Best is not  mix any other drugs , b/c  you  have more chemicals in and w/d  is more mixed up .

I never took any  due 15 months  recovery and maybe this is why  at 15 months i am pretty ok , only one symptom .

Just listen to your body.

Hi guys. Ashton mentions balance exercises http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzcha03.htm#15 Here is what she says:

"Problems with balance. Some people during benzodiazepine withdrawal report feeling unsteady on their feet; sometimes they feel they are being pushed to one side or feel giddy, as if things were going round and round. An important organ in controlling motor stability and maintaining equilibrium is a part of the brain called the cerebellum. This organ is densely packed with GABA and benzodiazepine receptors (See Chapter I) and is a prime site of action of benzodiazepines. Excessive doses of benzodiazepines, like alcohol, cause unsteadiness of gait, slurred speech and general incoordination, including inability to walk in a straight line. It may take some time for the cerebellar systems to restabilise after benzodiazepine withdrawal and the symptoms can last until this process is complete. Exercises, such as standing on one leg, first with eyes open, then with eyes closed, can speed recovery."

 

I found it useful to do more exercises than what Ashton suggested. I added two exercises from Vestibular Retraining Therapy (VRT) commonly used for certain types of balance disorders.

 

One was for gaze stabilisation (known as VOR exercises) . See the description of moving business card/pencil while moving your head given here. http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/treatment/rehab/gaze%20stab.html

 

The other was for gait stabilisation. I used the one where you walk in a straight line looking at a fixed spot and turning your head left and right. 5 minutes back and forth in a room. See http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/treatment/rehab/visual%20dependence%20exercises.html

 

The second was more useful for me. It takes a week or two before they start to have an effect.  Need to be done twice a day. I found it took self discipline, time and effort (especially when I was feeling awful) but has been worth it! The exercises are no fun even at the best of times as they try to provoke mild imbalance and your brain learns to correct it (in a similar way that you have to keep trying to ride a bicycle and slowly learn what reaction to make to the way the bike as it's about to fall over).

 

-Zoner

All of you are so reassuring, I really appreciate the support and feel better that this is withdrawal and not something else.

Thanks

Sean

I wonder why the valium had that affect so much more then the ativan, like chronic fatigue. It is so scary when we feel like this. I will keep believing it will change.

Thanks

Sean

I wonder why the valium had that affect so much more then the ativan, like chronic fatigue. It is so scary when we feel like this. I will keep believing it will change.

 

Thanks

Sean

I don't see it as caused by the Valium, as much as I see it caused by the Ativan wd during the crossover. I had a bad crossover due to the Ativan wd and couldn't fully cross over.