Zyrem, Xanax withdraw-HELP

[Guest M]

I am posting here to see if anyone can shed some light on what is going on in my body. This will probably end up a long post but since no Dr. will see me at this point, I thought maybe one of you have gone through this and could educate me. I wold greatly appreciate any info.

I have Fibro but am posting here because of people like ZZZzzz's info on Benzo's. Also, AnnEmigma...I had the same reactions to Xyrem as you posted in "Xyrem side effects" I would like to know if you are getting good results from your Xyrem now?

Here are the facts: I was diagnosed with Fibro. Dr. gave alot of meds and Xanax. As stress and pain increased meds were increased. Sleep meds didn't work. Had sleep test- Dr. recommended Xyrem. While waiting for Xyrem to be approved and arrive, I read how bad Benzo's were and started to decrease meds. Dr. gave me a triturated plan to withdraw from the Xanax. I started Xyrem at the end of July and continued to decrease the Xanax as planned by Dr.

I completed this withdraw plan on Monday,Sept. 13. My feet started to really hurt during the last few days. I went to a rehad center to put myself into the hospital because it was starting to scare me. I was disappoint to find out the Dr. would NOT admit me because I wasn't "Taking the Drug anymore." She had no knowledge of why my feet would feel cold. She said it was probably sweat from anxiety. But, I had pains in my lower leg too. So, I had to go back home and deal with whatever happened because I wasn't actually taking the drug any more.

I have been 17 days with no Xanax. The fist seven days without Xanax I didn't take any Xyrem because I was scared. But, after a week of no sleep I decided to start Xyrem again. All that being said, I would like to know if anyone out there has gone through this, or knows what is to be expected during this time.

I feel like the veins in my body are tight/ strectched thinner than usual. My legs have striking pains up them. I feel more tightness in my chest each day. My hands look all "pruned/ shriveled/ dry" but lotion doesn't help. I have been taking "Cal-Mag" to help with withdraw side effects. I haven't put any Xanax in my body for 17 days and I just don't know if it's normal for my body to keep feeling this bad????

[Guest]

It depends on your body, how long you took Xanax and how much and what other Benzo class drugs you took along with it or before. Because Xanax is a very short half life ( a few hours) and the most potent of the Benzos, it is the easiest to get into trouble.

I knew a girl who spent 60 days in rehab from excessive Xanax use. You did not likely use the amount she did but it shows how bad it can get if you let it go out of control.

Unless you took it for a short time ( a few months) and in a small dose ( .5mg/day), 17 days is no where near enough time. That is enough time for the severe symptoms to decay but the protracted symptoms can last a number of months.

Because Xyrem is a GABA-A agonist, it has some cross tolerance to Xanax so it will put you to sleep but since it too wears off in 1 hour, your withdrawal symptoms will likely return the following day. This is what happened to me from switching from Ambien ( also a short half life) to Xyrem.

The experienced doctor's approach to withdrawing from Xanax or equiv. is to switch you to a long acting benzo like Librium or Valium of equal dose strength ( 10mg Valium = .5mg Xanax) so it does not wear off every day creating a withdrawal roller coaster. Then depending on how long and how much you took, titrate it by 5-10% every 2-7 days. When you get down to maybe 20% slow down a little bit until done. This can be done while on Xyrem as long as the dose is not so high, the two interact and become dangerous and as long as a doctor is monitoring.

Here is a respected doctors manual on how to do this:

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm

Everyone is different as are the different Benzos, dose and time but here is the comprhensive list of symptoms. I included it so you don't think you are sick or crazy as they will receded over time if you titrate properly.

Benzodiazepine Symptoms List

1. ACUTE
2. PROTRACTED
3. PARADOXICAL
4. TOLERANCE EFFECTS (including toxicity)
5. SIDE EFFECTS
6. CATEGORIES OF SYMPTOMS


1. ACUTE:

- aggression
- anxiety
- agoraphobia
- apathy
- ataxia
- breathlessness
- chest discomfort and tightness
- choking
- constipation
- convulsions (muscle usually)
- dental pain
- depersonalisation
- depression
- derealisation
- diarrhoea
- distortion of body image, misperceptions
- dry, itchy skin
- "electric shock" feelings throughout the body
- dysphoria
- excitability
- fasciculations
- flushing
- formications
- head sensations
- heart palpitations
- hyperacusis
- hypersensitivity to stimuli
- hyperosmia (sensitive sense of smell)
- hyperpyrexia (overheating)
- hyperventilation (overbreathing)
- insomnia
- intrusive thoughts
- irrational rage
- irritability
- jumpiness
- metallic taste
- nausea
- nightmares
- obsessions
- panic attacks
- perceptual disturbances and distortions
- photosensitivity
- psychotic symptoms (usually transient and
confined to rapid withdrawal)
- restlessness
- seizures (on abrupt discontinuation)
- sensory disruption
- scalp burning
- sore tongue
- sweating, night sweats
- tinnitus
- tremor
- vomiting
- weakness, "jelly legs"
- weight gain
- weight loss (this may be quite rapid)


Cold Turkey
Symptoms usually confined to 'cold turkey' or rapid
withdrawal from high doses of benzodiazepines:

- confusion
- delirium
- fits
- hallucinations
- psychotic symptoms
- seizures

2. PROTRACTED:

- abnormal muscle tone
- anxiety
- aching joints
- ataxia
- allergic reactions
- back pain
- blepharospasm (eye twitching)
- breast pain
- apathy
- constipation (often alternating with diarrhoea)
- cravings
- dehydration
- dental pain
- depersonalisation
- depression
- derealisation
- diarrhoea (often alternating with constipation)
- dry, tickly cough
- dysphagia
- fluctuations in blood pressure
- "electric shock" feelings throughout the body
- fasciculations
- formication (sensation of bugs crawling over skin)
- gait disturbance (the ground seems to move underfoot)
- gastritis
- glassy eyes
- hair loss
- heartburn
- heart palpitations
- heavy flu-like symptoms
- hyperacusis
- hyperaesthesia (sensitivity to stimuli)
- hyperosmia
- insomnia
- iris colour changes
- kakosmia
- joint pains
- leukonychea (whitening of nails)
- libidinal changes
- malabsorption
- menstrual irregularity
- muscular cramps
- muscular rigidity
- muscular spasms
- muscular (and bone) weakness
- myoclonic convulsions (muscle/nerve spasms)
- nausea
- neurological problems (topical nerve anaesthesia)
- nose bleeds
- oedema (especially of ankles and face)
- oesophagitis
- paraesthesiae (numbing, burning and tingling; pins and needles)
- poor concentration
- poor short-term memory
- perspiring, night sweats
- severe headaches
- sinusitis
- skin insensitivity
- sore, itchy eyes
- spine (burning sensation)
- stomach cramps
- thirst
- thrush-like symptoms
- tremor
- tinnitus (ear buzzing, popping, ringing, hissing)
- tiny pupils
- urinary problems (bladder either 'all on' or 'all off')
- vertigo
- visual disturbances (blurred, double, vivid)
- vomiting
- water retention

3. PARADOXICAL:

- acute hyperexcited state
- agitation
- aggressive behaviour
- anxiety
- breathlessness
- excitability
- fear
- hallucinations
- hostility
- hyperactivity
- increased muscle spasticity
- irrational rage
- insomnia
- nervousness
- nightmares, vivid dreams
- phobias
- rage
- restlessness
- restless legs, arms
- sleep disturbances
- tension
- tremor
- panic attacks

4. TOLERANCE EFFECTS (including toxicity):

- anxiety
- apnea (night)
- breathlessness
- dyspnea (breathing problems)
- fibrositis
- fatigue
- gait disturbance
- impotence
- leaden heaviness
- lethargy
- libido disturbances
- loss of self-confidence
- menstrual irregularity
- neurological problems
- panic attacks
- phobias
- severe muscle rigidity
- short-term memory impairment
- vasovagal attacks
- vertigo

5. SIDE EFFECTS:

- abnormal behaviour or false beliefs
- aches and pains (muscle tension)
- aggressiveness
- agitation
- agoraphobia and claustrophobia
- anger
- anti-social behaviour
- apathy
- ataxia
- blood disorders (resulting in severe tiredness
and possible infections)
- blurred vision
- bradycardia (slow heartbeat/pulse)
- breast enlargement
- changes in appetite
- changes in libido
- changes in salivation
- chemical sensitivities, allergies
- cognitive impairment
- confusion
- daytime drowsiness
- depression
- diarrhoea and constipation
- diplopia
- dizziness
- dry, itchy skin
- dysarthria
- dysphoria
- emotional blunting
- exhaustion
- fatigue
- feeling afraid
- feeling unreal
- feelings of anger and anxiety
- flu-like symptoms
- hair loss
- hallucinations
- headaches
- hypotension
- IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
- inability to pass urine/holding of urine in the bladder
- impairment of motor co-ordination
- incontinence
- insomnia
- irritability
- jaundice
- jaw pains
- lack of concentration
- lack of confidence
- lethargy
- many people wonder why they have changed from being happy
and outgoing, to being over-anxious and unconfident
- memory loss or forgetfulness
- mild hypertension
- muscle weakness, spasticity, cramps, abnormal tone
- nausea
- nightmares
- numbed emotions
- oedema
- panic attacks
- personality changes
- poor muscle control
- problems with vision
- psychomotor impairment
- rashes
- reduced alertness
- reduced blood pressure
- restlessness
- shivering
- skin problems, rashes
- sleep problems
- slurred speech
- stomach and bowel problems
- stomach upsets
- suicidal behaviour
- thyroid disturbances
- tolerance
- tremor
- urinary retention
- vertigo
- violence
- water retention
- weight gain
- xeroderma (dry skin)

6. CATEGORIES OF SYMPTOMS:

CARDIOVASCULAR:

Fluctuations in blood pressure
Mild hypertension
Shivering, feelings of extreme cold or hot
Heart palpitations


DERMATOLOGICAL:

Allergic reactions
Chemical sensitivities
Dry, itchy skin
Dry throat, sore tongue, and thrush
Formications (sensation of crawling on skin)
Glassy eyes
Hair loss
Leukonychea (whitening of nails)
Nosebleeds
Oedema
Paraesthesiae (numbness, tingling)
Perspiring, night sweats
Rashes, blotches


GASTROINTESTINAL:

Bladder incontinence
Constipation (sometimes alternating with diarrhoea)
Diarrhoea
Dyspepsia (indigestion)
Gastritis
Heartburn
Nausea
Oesophagitis
Stomach cramps


GENITOURINARY:

Impotence
Libido disturbances
Menstrual irregularities
urinary problems (continence or incontinence)
Encopressia (faecal incontinence)

MUSCULOSKELETAL:

Aching joints
Blepharospasm (eye twitches)
Formication (sensations of bugs crawling on skin)
Gait disturbance
Jaw, tooth, neck and shoulder pain
Muscle wasting
Muscle spasms
Rapid weight loss
Severe headaches
Severe muscle rigidity
Tremor or feeling of inner vibration
Vertigo

NEUROLOGICAL:

Blurred vision, seeing spots, flashes, vivid vision
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Dysphagia (difficulty eating or swallowing)
Electric shock feelings
Fatigue, leaden heaviness
Hypersensitivity to light, sound, and other stimuli
Neurological problems (e.g. topical anaesthesia)
Severe muscle rigidity
Speech difficulty
Thirst
Tinnitus (ear buzzing, popping, ringing, hissing)
Tiny pupils
Tremor

PARADOXICAL:

Agitation
Aggressive behaviour anxiety
Breathlessness
Excitability
Fear
Hostility
Hyperactivity
Irrational rage
Insomnia
Nervousness
Nightmares, vivid dreams
Phobias
Restlessness


PSYCHIATRIC:

Apathy
Anxiety
Delirium
Depersonalisation
Depression
Derealisation
Distortions or hallucinations
Dysphoria (inability to feel pleasure or happiness)
Fear
Hyperventilation
Hyperreflexia (‘jumpiness’)
Hypnologic hallucinations sleepwalking)
Lack of concentration
Nightmares
Obsessions
Paranoia
Phobias (hydrophobia, agoraphobia, monophobia,
acrophobia, anthropophobia and others)
Rapid mood changes
Suicidal thoughts
Short-term memory impairment

RESPIRATORY:

Breathlessness
Choking
Dry, tickly cough
Dyspnea (breathing difficulty)
Hyperventilation (overbreathing)
Inability to draw satisfying breath
Night apnea
Sinusitis


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These lists are pretty comprehensive and include symptoms reported by members of the Benzo Group. It is mercifully unlikely that any one person will experience all the symptoms recorded here. They are given purely for reference purposes.

Note: It is difficult to determine exactly which symptoms are acute and which are protracted. Everyone's experience is clearly different.

[msbandy]

is there anyone that you can discuss neurontin (gaba pentin) with. it will need to be prescribed.

i am so sorry for your pain and distress.

[mfortmarcia@aol.com]

I would like to reply to your post about Xanax/Zyrem. I am thinking about zyrem. Have been taking klonipin/any cocktail of different things (ambien, elavil,etc.) Nothing works anymore and feel horrible. A psychologist says it is my emotions, trauma. It is the way I think about sleep, very nagatively and worry about it. I find that going to the gym and stretching, using machines, treadmill help with the pain alot. Want to get off meds but afraid. Is there anyone out there who can identify.