Mood Stabilizers for Benzo Withdrawal

[Graduisic]

For a little background, SWIM used to take mg after mg of alprazolam for several years. The abuse had gotten out of control. SWIM sees a psychiatrist regarding coming off this abuse. She has switched SWIM over to clonazepam (3mg/day) and over the next series of months will be tapering down this dosage.

From reading around the forums here, this was a curve ball thrown at SWIM. It seemed to make more sense to switch over to something less potent, and longer acting like Diazepam as it would be easier to titrate the dosages down on schedules that are posted here. SWIM's doc was against this idea, and preferred to keep him on a potent benzo (but longer acting) and SUPPLEMENT it with a 'mood stabilizer' sheathed as an anti-seizure med. First one he tried was tegretol (carbamazepine) and it made him feel lethargic and empty inside. He has now switched over to Lamictal (lamotrigine) and he is titrating up this drug (double the dose every two weeks until up to 100mg/day) in order to titrate down the benzos.

SWIM knows that he is taking them to prevent seizures during withdrawal, but has never seen this method posted here. Is this really legit medicine or is his doctor just being a pill pusher? Thanks

[Venusia]

SWIM personally thinks the Klonopin and a slow taper with Lamictal to control any seizures is a wise way to go. Klonopin will keep SWIY from having the horrid benzo withdrawal (which, from what I understand can really mess one up and is akin to quitting a heavy alcohol habit) and a slow taper is the way to go. The Lamictal may help keep SWIY from seizing, and may even smooth SWIY's moods for to the taper down. SWIM's no doctor, but it seems like a good way to go. SWIM is on both meds and used to take Xanax regularly, and SWIM is so happy to have found these drugs to help her quit the Xanax. They helped a lot. Hope it all goes well for SWIY. SWIY's shrink sounds like they know what they're doing.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Thank you for the shared experience, extremely helpful for SWIMs confidence

[dog bone]

venusia is right lamictal was developed for people who suffer from seizures, then doctors found that it also works for people who suffer from bi-polar disorder. people who self medicate do so for a reason, people who suffer form mood disorders tend to use benzos or alcohol. benzos and alcohol affect the same part of the brain, so it makes it quite simple to prescribe a mood stabilizer with an anti seizure med to help. my doctor per scribes for me 100mg lamictal with .5 to1mg klonopin for sleep to scratch that part of my brain that craves alcohol or benzo binges.

[malsat]

SWIM will confirm here and now that the right anticonvulsants will do more than prevent a seizure; they will attenuate several benzo WD symptoms. Gabapentin or pregabalin would be the most effective IMO but carry their own withdrawal syndromes. Levetiracetam (keppra) can be useful in treating emotional symptoms of withdrawal. As posted previously by swim, sodium bromide is remarkably efficacious in alleviating the emotional symptoms of benzo WD's, emotional lability and irritability. Complete cessation of those symptoms when treated in the manner desribed in SWIM's previous post on the subject. I imagine that valproate or lamotrigene would be more effective than carbamazepine or phenytoin. SWIM will be happy to answer any further questions.

[WorseThanSwim]

I have been taking Xanax 6 x 2mg. per day, for two years and cant remember a lot of things i did or my bad behavior. I want so bad to come off of this Drug as it is ruining my life and family. Each time i try to come off, I cold turkey, can't sleep, have twitches in bed, sweat. I get nervous and anxious. I read to taper off, but I can't just take 2mg a day. Please advise.

[Graduisic]

SWIM has found that carbamazepine when mixed with other drugs like marijuana or benzos or opiates, the lethargy came from combining these drugs. SWIM is taking 400MG of carbamazepine daily and it has helped to keep his mood down... it helps, but it isn't a miracle. SWIM's addictive behavior meant he had to quit them cold turkey under the advice of his psychiatrist. This drug has worked very well with minimal side effects to prevent seizures, and help to stabilize his mood. Unfortunately it doesn't help everything... It takes a long time to develop a normal behavior pattern after quitting alprazolam.

The best thing to do is admit to one's doctor that they have a serious problem with xanax dependency. SWIM has never been judged harshly and it has really saved him a lot of personal suffering.

[AvonBarksdale]

From champion swimmer Ian Thorpe's experience, he would recommend using as little drugs as possible to step down from Benzos, although at the end, a mood stabilizer might be helpful for sleep... it was for Ian Thorpe.

Definetly do a nice easy SLOW taper from the benzos... allowing yourself to go back up if swim starts freaking out at all. It's proven that the longer the taper, the more chances swimmers have to stay off it for good.

when thorpe got down to less than 1mg clonazepam from 6mg he read all about titration and did that for at least a month till nothing was ingested. when you get down on the dose enough to where the swim cant sleep...

thorpe re-upped on a "sleeping pill dose" of seroquel, 100mg...
The seroquel is a great non narcotic sleep aid that puts champions out and snoozing, it has a half life of like 12 hours although the "effective" half life is much longer and last into the next day, effectively stabilizing mood.

Good luck to all swimmers struggling with Benzos; those and Methadone and alcohol are the only withdrawals known to kill swim. Thank goodness for all those pharmaceutical companies out there who care so much about swim.

AB

[BmmB]

Originally Posted by AvonBarksdale

From champion swimmer Ian Thorpe's experience, he would recommend using as little drugs as possible to step down from Benzos, although at the end, a mood stabilizer might be helpful for sleep... it was for Ian Thorpe.

Definetly do a nice easy SLOW taper from the benzos... allowing yourself to go back up if swim starts freaking out at all. It's proven that the longer the taper, the more chances swimmers have to stay off it for good.

when thorpe got down to less than 1mg clonazepam from 6mg he read all about titration and did that for at least a month till nothing was ingested. when you get down on the dose enough to where the swim cant sleep...

thorpe re-upped on a "sleeping pill dose" of seroquel, 100mg...
The seroquel is a great non narcotic sleep aid that puts champions out and snoozing, it has a half life of like 12 hours although the "effective" half life is much longer and last into the next day, effectively stabilizing mood.

Good luck to all swimmers struggling with Benzos; those and Methadone and alcohol are the only withdrawals known to kill swim. Thank goodness for all those pharmaceutical companies out there who care so much about swim.

AB

I couldn't agree more. I still take Benzos because I suffer from a very severe care of Insomnia, so I stick with Midazolam and Seroquel. I've tried literally all of the Benzos; but that couldn't be compared since SWYM has a very strong resistance according to doctor.

During the treatment of SWYM depression, it presented a large quantity of mood stabilizers and might I say, among with anti-depressants I did not feel the need to take any Benzos whatsoever. In my humble opinion, Oxcarbazepine is the one that will make you feel "aight". The good thing about it however, is that the side effects are of very low quantity (of course that this depends on each individual). I would start with indeed the medication posted in this thread, because since your addiction is very low (compared to SWYM) I do not see the need to administrate Lithium which in SWYMs case was the solution. What a great medication it is even though old; however unless your case is very severe I would try something less "toxic" first (Not saying Lithium is toxic, just that it's different from the classes mentioned above).

May I ask what was the reason for Alprazolam use during these years?

Because Diazepam and Clonazepam are indeed the drugs to "come off" Classic Benzos, others as well such as Chlordiazepoxide may help the process because they all have longer half-lifes.

If the need for the use was Anxiety, Fluoxetine combined with a mood stabilizer (in SWYMs case Lithium) was the solution. Lithium did make me feel stable but like a "robot", wasn't sad, wasn't happy, was just there. But it did help me very much on the subject of quitting Benzos.

Does someone take Benzos today? Yes; but only because he is going thorugh a very hard time in his life. But no problem to quit whatsoever doing what SWYM did above.

And no, I do not think that your doctor is doing the wrong thing; this is the right procedure, otherwise you could suffer a Benzodiazepine withdraw syndrome; and that you can find easily on the Internet. But if you are not satisfied with your doctor, don't think twice, go ask for a second opinion but remember that he is the know that knows exactly what you've been taking, for how long, and how much you needed it.

Once you're off, like the Gentleman above posted, Seroquel is a great solution. Warning though: Both Lithium and Seroquel tends to cause an increase in weight so make sure to exercise always and eat healthily.

I do think that Fluoxetine+Wellbutrin+Low doses of Seroquel while decreasing the Clonazepam + (Mood Stabilizer of choice) would be something to be discussed with your doctor. I honestly do not see a need of mood stabilizers, but that's just my opinion. Oh and I guess I missed the point about Seizures; so yes, if that's the case please ignore any references and disregard the possible solutions in which it can not be avoided while tampering off.

Warning about Seroquel: Prepare to have a good night of sleep =)

Good luck mate!

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good advice --offers experience and solutions