Investartist
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- Jun 23, 2019
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I have suffered with GAD for over 20yrs. I have been in remission for 4 years after coming off Valium before. So I decided to taper off 7.5mgs Remeron I have taken for many years by cutting in half for 3 weeks then stopped for 12 days and reinstated to 7.5 mgs when I began having withdrawal symptoms. Since then over the last 6 weeks I have had progressively worse physical anxiety symptoms that are getting worse by the week.
I have muscular body aches and skin burning and muscle Ticklishness rotating every day to the point I had to miss a few days of work in the last two weeks. I have had severe depression and emotional lability too at times as symptoms get worse. Out of desperation 5 days ago I took 0.25 Xanax to get through work. The next day I took another 0.25 Xanax. Two days later I saw my psychiatrist and he advised me to temporarily increase my Remeron for 2-3 days and take Xanax as needed to stabilize over the next week. I have since only taken 2 more doses of 0.5 Xanax separated by 2 days. I have now only taken (3) 0.5mg Xanax as of today.
I have tried to will myself to not take them but my body is causing so much pain I am literally in tears and depressed now. I can’t just meditate my way through the pain.
It seems that I am having no choice but to start the Xanax just to survive and get stable. I know it will cause dependence and I suspect I will have to start a low dose Valium regimen to get a stable relief of the pain.
Biologically, I seem to be between a rock and a hard place. If I don’t have relief with a Benzo I won’t be able to function and will be in agony 24/7. If I use a Benzo again I will have to accept a possibly long term dependence.
I tapered off of Valium about 5 years ago for the same problem and it was hell. Ironically, all the severe physical symptoms I have been having now before taking any Benzos feel exactly like the pain I associated with Benzo withdrawal in past years. I did not fully realize that a severe anxiety disorder relapse feels just like Benzo withdrawal.
If this is the case I am suspecting I have no choice but to find a stable dose of Valium just to control my anxiety symptoms to have a decent quality of life.
Anyone’s thoughts would really be appreciated as I feel pretty conflicted and uncertain right now.
Investartist
I have muscular body aches and skin burning and muscle Ticklishness rotating every day to the point I had to miss a few days of work in the last two weeks. I have had severe depression and emotional lability too at times as symptoms get worse. Out of desperation 5 days ago I took 0.25 Xanax to get through work. The next day I took another 0.25 Xanax. Two days later I saw my psychiatrist and he advised me to temporarily increase my Remeron for 2-3 days and take Xanax as needed to stabilize over the next week. I have since only taken 2 more doses of 0.5 Xanax separated by 2 days. I have now only taken (3) 0.5mg Xanax as of today.
I have tried to will myself to not take them but my body is causing so much pain I am literally in tears and depressed now. I can’t just meditate my way through the pain.
It seems that I am having no choice but to start the Xanax just to survive and get stable. I know it will cause dependence and I suspect I will have to start a low dose Valium regimen to get a stable relief of the pain.
Biologically, I seem to be between a rock and a hard place. If I don’t have relief with a Benzo I won’t be able to function and will be in agony 24/7. If I use a Benzo again I will have to accept a possibly long term dependence.
I tapered off of Valium about 5 years ago for the same problem and it was hell. Ironically, all the severe physical symptoms I have been having now before taking any Benzos feel exactly like the pain I associated with Benzo withdrawal in past years. I did not fully realize that a severe anxiety disorder relapse feels just like Benzo withdrawal.
If this is the case I am suspecting I have no choice but to find a stable dose of Valium just to control my anxiety symptoms to have a decent quality of life.
Anyone’s thoughts would really be appreciated as I feel pretty conflicted and uncertain right now.
Investartist