Question about benzos

[seho_j]

I take 50mg Tofisopam in the morning and 50mg Tofisopam, 0.5mg Clonazepam in the evening every day. I know this is a really low dose, but after hearing about the fact that you build tolerance over time, I thought that taking this every single day seems a bit weird.

I'm also taking Venlafaxine and Aripiprazole, is there really a need for daily benzodiazepines? I know I should really be asking my psychiatrist, but wanted this forum's opinions, too.

 

[Tamazi 123]

I'm a daily amount of 30mg diazepam because my anxiety is so extreme I get impulsivluy suicidal to escape

 

[Quarky00]

It's hard to answer that without knowing the background and rationale , you must ask your psychiatrist . That said , SNRI+antipsychotic target many sites and that may contribute to side effects (tremors for example). Tofisopam does not posses all of benzo effects , like being a muscle relaxant , anticonvulsant, and sedative . Clonazepam maybe the required addition . Small amounts are effective . Taken before night may make it a mild sedative , but there are more reasons for that .

There's usually a primary condition/medication , and add-on therapies , I don't know which is which (the SNRI or Ari) . I assume anxiety is not your most prominent condition , but may be a side effect , hance Tofisopam and Clonazepam .

Clonazepam has long onset (not quick to act) and long effect time , considered less addictive . It has tolerance , but long-term usage is common as add-on therapy to further reduce anxiety . Generally , withdrawal symptoms of SNRI are more wide and systematic than benzo . Many patients use long-term benzo in low dosage as add-on therapy .

Many patients are concocted their own special delicate "dish" of meds , fine tuning the 'main protocol' , after test and trial , to address very individual requirements or reactions they had .

I don't really know what's going on, tried to give some general background ..

 

[seho_j]

@Quarky00
Wow, thanks for all the information! I feel better about taking my meds. I just recently heard a lot of horror stories about benzos, which is why I asked. I will definitely ask my psychiatrist as well, I just can't meet him for a while.

 

[APharmaDestroyedLife]

Benzos are bad news. It is likely that if you have been on .5 mg of klonopin for more than a month , it is literally doing nothing, and will eventually cause problems. The best way to reduce this is very slowly. Get a pill cutter and cut your.5 into .125 quarters. Reducing every 2 to 4 weeks. Sometimes you have to hold longer. I know .5 sounds like nothing, but in reality it is comparable to around 8 to 10 miligrams of Valium. It is a very potent and dangerous drug. Your doctor would likely taper you to quickly if you express interest in going off it. If it where me I would just keeping filling the script and taper off at your own rate. Benzo Withdrawal can be a disaster if it is done to quickly. Also how fast you can taper depends a lot on how long you have been on them. Benzobuddies is a good place to learn about tapering, also the benzo withdrawal support group on facebook.

 

[Quarky00]

@Quarky00
I just recently heard a lot of horror stories about benzos, which is why I asked. I will definitely ask my psychiatrist as well, I just can't meet him for a while.

Mostly happens with quick-acting (10m) and short effect (4h-8h) . These benzo ARE problematic -- "get high" quickly and "comedown" is hard . That's why they got bad reputation . One solution for that was extended released Xanax .

Clonazepam and Diazepam are "good benzos" -- actually used for Xanax withdrawal .

Due to their long acting nature (it changes from patient to patient: 12h-36h) it's easier to taper gradually .

 

[seho_j]

@APharmaDestroyedLife
This is what I've heard about benzos so I was worried.
In the past, I've lost access to my meds but had no withdrawal symptoms so I am probably okay for now. But it does sound like it's better to taper off soon if I can.

 

[APharmaDestroyedLife]

@APharmaDestroyedLife
This is what I've heard about benzos so I was worried.
In the past, I've lost access to my meds but had no withdrawal symptoms so I am probably okay for now. But it does sound like it's better to taper off soon if I can.

Some people have no problem with Withdrawal , so if you're feeling good, definately don't overthink it. I think for Klonopin you would start to feel the Withdrawal between days 2 to 5 depending on how you metabolize it. What you don't want is some long acute withdrawal so if it gets bad you can always go to the ER, tell them you are benzo dependant and need help getting off. It may not be horrible for you especially if this is your first time coming off a benzo. My sister cold turkeyed .5mg of ativan with very little discomfort.

 

[Quarky00]

Well said , @APharmaDestroyedLife :)

I wouldn't worry about small dose of Klonopin ... It's effective but really nothing. I've known people like APharma described (what a horrible withdrawal!!!), they swore never to touch benzos ever. Years later took Klonopin and Valium (the "good") and were totally fine with it. Never developed tolerance or withdrawal and use it PRN (occasionally). It's the Xanax and alike that are really a problem.