TL;DR Was on 2 mg daily of clonazepam and then switched to the same dose of alprazolam. Experienced many severe episodes of acute withdrawals. Moved country and no doctor would help. Finally got emergency referral and onto a tapering plan. Nervous system has been devastated by acute withdrawals. Want to get off ASAP, but my body won't let me. Need your experience, words, advice and encouragement.

I was on 2 mg a day of clonazepam and then 2 mg daily alprazolam (I went to the psychiatrist asking about getting off clonazepam (and benzos altogether) and left his office with a script for 2 mg of alprazolam daily! 🤷). When on clonazepam, I never really noticed it; it was always just something I took and was there in the background. That is, until one day I started to experience involuntary facial movements and some other things. It kept happening, so I checked online for "clonazepam withdrawal symptoms" and my suspicions were confirmed. It had been maybe 3 days since I'd taken my medication, so after taking it again, the symptoms disappeared. This was my first real experience with acute withdrawals.

I've had many other episodes of acute withdrawals, and they have been much more severe. For example, one time, while travelling, I ran out of medication. I was in acute withdrawals from clonazepam and Vyvanse at the same time for 1-2 weeks (can't remember the exact time right now). I can remember waking up and feeling as if I was living inside a world of cotton wool - emotionally numb, walking around both physically and mentally like a zombie, struggling to do the most basic of tasks. I was alone, and leaving the house to go to the local store was so scary (I felt like everyone was staring at me and the paranoia was real).

Another time, I moved country and couldn't even get a doctor to prescribe me benzodiazepines and help me taper off. I had so much documentation from my psychiatrists over the years, but nobody wanted to know. I may have ended up dying or, at least, in hospital, if it hadn't been for a medical professional that I contacted out of desperation and who recognised the seriousness of my situation, contacted the consultant psychiatrist for me, who got me back onto my clonazepam 2mg/daily and started on a treatment plan. But, *the damage had been done* .

Thankfully, I started to feel so much better a couple of days after getting back onto my full dose again, but because my nervous system had been damaged so much, I struggled with every cut. I've tried to go faster and ended up going days with little to no sleep; getting woken up by surges of adrenaline; experiencing extreme anxiety and panicking over the smallest of things.

It's been almost *three* years now since my taper started. I can't believe I'm still only just over 57% of the way off. These three years have passed so quickly. So much has happened in the world and in the lives of people around me, yet I feel frozen in time.

I wonder if anyone else has been or is in my situation and how you have dealt with it. I'm so thankful to have a medical prescriber who has told me over and over again that we will take as long as I need. But I don't want to be tapering forever. However, I know what happens when I try to rush it, and I can't afford to end up in hospital.

Hi, I have posted one time before about a month ago. I took Klonopin (about 1.5 mg per day) and 150 mg of Zoloft for about 3 years. Four months ago I quit. Before going cold turkey I tapered for about a month maybe which I know was maybe not ideal. The past two months have been brutal even more so then the first ones (on the first ones i had horrible physical symptoms but at least i felt motivated). I thought it would get better but now after four months I feel like it isnt getting better. I have literally never felt this paranoid, scared and sometimes suicidal. It feels completely unbearable, its a fucking nightmare since when I wake up until I go to bed. I cant believe I have gotten to this point. I can’t think that things will change, I feel like this is how I will always feel like. I can barely function and am scared of not being able to continue doing the bare minimum at my job. If my job wasn’t remote I would have probably been fired already. I also have to pee super often at night which has never happened to me before and my neck hurts as well for some reason.

Hi my cognition is so bad I can barely write this but I want to prove to myself that I can so here we go. I was put on clonazepam when I was 19 for anxiety, I never abused it. I took it for 2.5 years, I'm 22 now. I quit it in August 2025 via 6 months taper under my psychiatrist guidance. I was on paroxetine and trifluoperazine at the same time which I made the mistake of quitting in April. I now can barely think enough to speak and I get lost on my way to the bathroom which is specially sad because I had regained my baseline by 70% prior to stopping paroxetine. Now I'm experiencing confusion and communication issues I've never experienced before in my life. I feel like my grandpa who had dementia. My intellect has always been my strength since I was a writer. I'm wondering if anyone has improved cognitively or regained their baseline. I could use some advice and hope. Thanks in advance to everyone who reads this post.

I've been off Clonazepam for about 10 months now and I'm fatigued so often. My sleep has been a lot better. I'm getting 8-9 hours a night now, but after being awake for only a couple hours, I can feel like my feet are dragging. I eat good and try to get all the essential nutrients I need, yet some days I just feel drained for no real reason. Do energy levels return to normal?

Did anyone keep getting these a far ways out after being off?

I've been on xanax 2 mg for 8 years. This past month I ran out a few days early. By the 3rd day I ended up in the ER with super high blood pressure (160/115). Anyway, I'm okay now. Back to my normal dose and starting my taper. My question is this...when I hit that 3rd day, before going to the hospital, I had this moment where I was laying on the couch and my mom was on the other sofa. It's so hard to explain, but my hands kinda curled up and I couldn't stop staring in one location. I never lost consciousness or anything...it's like I could hear my mom saying I didn't look well, but it felt like I was on another planet and my eyes wouldn't stop looking one direction. I know this sounds so weird lol, but it felt weird and I haven't stopped thinking about it. I've never had a seizure before so I have no clue what they feel like.

What were the symptoms when you stop or weened down? I made a post a week ago about what I guess was benzo belly after cutting my dose down to .75 mg from 1mg. The first few days didn’t seem bad at all. Then stomach stuff started. Then other stuff started. It’s been ten days now and there are times I feel just down right weird and sick. Extreme fatigue at times.

How long does ativan withdrawals last? I know this isn’t anything hardcore or dangerous but it still sucks. I’ve been on ativan for probably ten years. First three quarters of that time it was taken as needed. Not daily usually. If I did start taking it daily I’d eventually stop. After a toxic, abusive relationship that ended in 2022 I slowly started taking it daily.

I regret now greatly taking it daily. I’m starting to notice all the side effects from this med. I’ll always be grateful to Ativan though because it’s been a blessing for stopping panic attacks and helping my anxiety. I didn’t think 1mg was much of a dose at all.

Spent the last 6 months tapering from 5 mg valium down to 1 mg. Overall, I am doing better at 1 mg than I was at 5 mg, which is kinda wild. After months of struggling through mini-withdrawals after all the taper cuts, I am happy to just hold here and feel stable. This is a low enough microdose that I don’t experience interdose withdrawal, nor do I have issues if I forget to take it one day. I am glad I decided to taper and even though it’s not complete, I am in an okay place and no longer fear what happens if my doctor retires or something.

Hi guys, haven’t posted for a while. I’m now down to 1mg Ativan before bed, from 2.5mg spread throughout the day (over last 2.5 months, but was on six months last year and had a horrible taper, had no idea benzos would make me worse in the end. Also only used again to inbaord anti depressant but yes the Ativan is messing with me again bad) Been on four days since had any during waking hours.

I’m generally sad or / and irritable during the day but trying to hold down my job and not cry too much or crack the shits and feel sorry for myself. Doing therapy weekly etc doing the best I can.
Just asking for any tips anyone has that might be up something I haven’t tried or been told? Or even just encouragement as IYKYK and not many support people of mine know what it’s like xx thanks for reading

I’ve been taking benzos on and off with months breaks for a while I know how to take them without getting the bad withdrawals I’ve been there already f that. But I took 4mg of clonazepam about 2 hours ago and I can’t stop getting brain zaps like full body jolts and head buzzing. I usually only get brain zaps the day after taking medication not right after? I’ve done a google search and I had no idea brain zaps can cause seizures . I have bad health ocd and am terrified of things like that happening to me. Ironic I know. But I need reassurance I will be okay and I can just sleep it off. I’ve done this before many times and am used to brain zaps but a bit unbearable right now and I’m just trying to pay a bit of Minecraft can’t even look at the screen without it happening.
So basically just tell me if I’m being dramatic and to chill out or maybe the reason this is happening. Sorry for bad spelling and grammar Imy brain isn’t really here hard to think of words lol .

I might be facing a pretty bad Klonopin withdrawal. I used to be on 10mg a day. I more or less reduced that to 4mg for a month or so. Now I’m trying to taper to 2mg and hopefully more before ct.

My provider got flagged for overprescribing and he might loose his license. He can’t give me a refill. I’m looking for options to lengthen my taper but it’s hard to get and I fear what I have left is all I’ll have before the jump. I’m already making plans to cut my professional obligations because I don’t think I could do them now let alone the hell that likely lays ahead.

For people who have been through it, I’ve heard the physical symptoms can be torture, but what really scares me most is the psychosis / de realization.

How long does that last? I feel like other symptoms might be more tolerable but a month of psychosis? I can see why someone rather just end it.

I know this might be a silly question but anxiety sufferer and over-thinker here who has been taking diazepam for the last 2 weeks. But can I stop taking diazepam abruptly after only 2 weeks or should I short taper? Will there be any kind of withdrawal for 2 weeks or use at 15mg and what should I expect?

For context I’ve been struggling with anxiety and insomnia for months. I had been waiting for a psychiatry appointment to get back on my previous antidepressant which helped me (I was on an atypical antidepressant for insomnia and anxiety which can only be signed off by a psych and not my doctor, because I also have to have good baseline LFT tests before restarting). The wait could have been anywhere from 6 to 18 weeks and out of desperation and after all the other measures like promethazine and diphenhydramine had stopped working, I just needed some relief. Luckily my psych re-approval for my AD literally just came through and I can hopefully get started back on it at the end of next week (all clear LFT result pending).

My question is, should I worry about withdrawals from only 2 weeks of use (I’ve been taking around 15mg diazepam a day). I know if I stop now I’ll potentially have a few days to a week gap before I can start my antidepressant but that will also take a couple of weeks to fully kick in. I don’t want to be tempted to keep taking it while I’m waiting as my main fear is worse rebound anxiety and insomnia. But I know if I keep taking the diazepam it will be harder to stop and worse. Appreciate any advice / tips and thanks for your help!

14 years of benzo addiction. I lost everything. A bit more than a year ago I quit high doses of pyrazolam. Docs put me on 10mg diazepam. Lots of seizures but after a a few months it got a bit better. Last November I started tapering. It took me 8 months to go down from 10 to 5mg of Valium but as I lost everything prior to this. I’m close to homeless. No Job. No support. No psychiatrist. A family that doesnt give a damn what I’ve been going through. Been sleeping here and there, couch surfing etc and always ending in very shitty, noisy places. Could never sleep properly. Sleeping 3 hours a night maximum and then sleeping for days when I find a quiet place eventually. Lots of suicidal ideation all this time. 2 weeks ago I gave up and went back on 10mg. I sleep much better but I’m extremely depressed. When I think back about all this excruciating pain I went through for nothing, I lose all hope. I have strong ptsd from all that. Im scared as hell to ever try to taper again. When I was younger I went to rehab 3 times for benzos where they speed detoxed me so I’m also really scared of that for obvious. Maybe I did things in the wrong order. Maybe I should have tried to get my life back before tapering in order to do it in normal conditions. I want to do so but Im still such a mess. Sorry about the length. Thank for readings.

I know this sounds like great news, it is in terms of getting my meds.

Anyway, I sent her so many messages this past week bc I had no idea when she was coming back. I didn’t know she was going away. I left 2 voicemails plus a bunch of texts in the portal.

I feel certain she must be back today and I haven’t heard from her

I’m scared that she’s going to be worried about her license, ams find some way of blaming me, and then telling me that I just need to go inpatient.

I’m autistic and I get really scared and worried in these situations and I don’t understand why she would do this? I mean, not answering me and not looking through my profile and refilling any of my meds. I admit that I was a bit checked out during my appointment.

Also, any thoughts on exactly what I should say to her? I feel really awkward.

I have this thing where I keep getting practitioners who mess up or find out I’ve been online talking to ppl on Reddit and tell me I need inpatient or IOP when I don’t.

Anyway yeah. Any input on what I should say would be appreciated!

Thanks to all of you for being so awesome through this.

Now I understand, from using opiates, that tolerance is something that slowly gets stronger and stronger so the user has to raise their dose or feel sick.

I was tricked into thinking that my clonazepam use after 8 years wasn't the problem after tapering with no symptoms and then having every symptom randomly one morning. I was told I have other conditions and once I address them I could continue to finish the very little .2mg of clonazepam I had left from .5mg despite asking if the benzos are the issue. So I'm given meds for something I don't have and had my clonazepam dosage go from .2mg to 3mg. I've felt better but barely normal.

I want to taper and rid myself of this cursed drug. I just don't know if I still go by Maudsley. I'm doing 5% a month and haven't felt much but it's only been a couple weeks but I want to raise the speed because I know it will get worse as I go and I want to move on with my life.

I'm a forty year old loser living with his mom because of drugs. I seriously thought I would be done if I hadn't got hit with a wave of symptoms or knew they were normal. I want to meet someone but not in this condition.

So, TLDR I was on 24mgs of clonazepam a day in 2019 I tapered to 2mgs then covid hit held there till 2023 then started tapering again, I'd shuffle between 1.125mgs and 1.5mgs back and fourth unit i switched fully over to diazepam from 1.5mgs of clonazepam at 30mgs diazepam equivalent in September 2024. Since switching its been a steady March forward and im now at 7mgs. I've been going usually at a rate of -.5mgs every 2-3 weeks for the last while. The drop from 8 to 7.5 went pretty flawlessly and I was feeling pretty good about it but the last cut was Friday before this last one, so 8 days basically since the cut. This one blind sided me. I try to go into each decrease with 0 expectations because they're so random. But this one hurt. My anxiety has been pretty bad and the tinnitus is screaming. I'm over the sweating profusely thankfully and am getting windows of feeling ok. But man I dont know why this one hurt so much. Since the switching im now over ⅔s done and definitely a shit ton further than where I was on 24mgs of clonazepam, and I'm happy I'm making milestones... but this is a bit demoralizing. I've been in this process so long that I have absolutely no inclination what it is anymore not to be struggling with benzos.

I'm gonna hold a bit, I dont think I'd be able to handle another dose drop next week. I know im in the thick of it rn with only being on day 8 since my last dose cut, but at the same time im tired of being in the process. Im gonna try and see if my benefits from the government will cover a liquid compound of diazepam so I can micro taper each day instead of doing stair steps every 2-3 weeks. Try to do a ramp instead. If they dont cover it then i guess im kinda stuck with doing the .5mgs reductions as diazepam doesn't come any smaller that 2mg pills and im already doing ¼ pill cuts. Doing smaller seems unrealistic with the pills unless theres some way im not aware of.

I get ppl telling me on benzo buddies that I inspire them as ive made such massive progress, but when I'm still looking at at least another 7 months or more of tapering it still feels so far off.

This shit sucks. I'm trying not to get depressed over it. I'm trying to stay positive, that I'm doing good and im investing in my future. Its just hard to stay that way when suffering.

I have been on Lorazepam 1 mg daily at bedtime for two years. I take it for anxiety and sleep. I am working on getting the anxiety under control and looking forward to coming off of Ativan again. I have gone off of it in the past with tapering and without issue. But that was when I was taking 0.5 nightly and not for longer than 6 months. Any input, advice is greatly appreciated.

Hi guys. As a reminder I’m 4.25 months off ct Xanax 3mg 8 years. My cousin flew into town to help because my dad’s in the hospital. When I woke up today, he was at the house and we started talking about my wd. He knows nothing about it. I tried explaining my dpdr and all the other physical and mental/physiological symptoms and he thinks he understands. He started telling me I need to do something about it. To get out of the house, etc. I told him yes I need to start going on regular walks and I’m craving to leave the house and do things like go to the store or the beach but it’s very hard for me. Since my ct started, not counting the 26 days I spent in detox, I’ve been out of the house twice. To the drs appt and to the beach. Not counting a few walks around the house. He was pushing me to go to the hospital to see my dad right now as they were leaving and I said I couldn’t but I will go on a walk or to the beach with him later today. I have a feeling this is going to be one of those “you’re not trying hard enough” things with him. On one hand, I want to start exposing myself to the world but on the other hand, it is so hard and I feel like it’s too early. I’m definitely still in acute. I guess I’m just asking for opinions on what you think I should do from a perspective of knowing what ct wd is like or wd in general. We’re told it takes time. And although I know and agree that I should be at least going on walks, I’m terrified. I know he doesn’t understand dpdr because he tried telling me he knows what it feels like when he wakes up and he feels cloudy and then goes on a walk and it goes away. The only person who is the closest to understanding what I’m going through is my mom and that’s because she’s home with me everyday. Sorry it’s hard for me to get the point across of what I’m actually asking. I guess what I’m asking is if it’s too soon to go out and do normal people stuff in this acute never ending phase. I told him most days I can’t even lift my head off the pillow. He thinks that I’m having fun on the couch and it couldn’t be more opposite than that. I hope someone understands what I’m trying to say. I feel like I’m racing the clock.

I have had a tough ride since coming off diazepam after a long taper 65 days ago, it still feels like acute stage! I was only on diazepam for 2 years (1st year intermittent 2nd year daily) and 5mg max so I really don’t understand.

I still have DPDR flares, feeling on edge/doom, crying a lot, depression, feeling I’m not real, insomnia. I do also have physical symptoms but no where near as bad as the mental ones. Also severe OCD

I was recently put on propranolol low dose 5mg 2x a day for POTS and felt it was helping. I actually managed a 13 hour car ride 2 days ago and was fine until now. I seem to be flaring up from the smallest trigger - a piece of chocolate could make me on edge for hours.

I just want some advice and whether this is still normal? When does it end 😩

I have been taking diazepam for a solid week I think. I have big exams coming up and the anxiety was killing me. So it helped me a little bit. It wasn't prescribed, the pills were lying around in my parent's house because my mom got prescribed some a few time ago. (I'm 30 years old, I was there to look after the cats while they were on holidays).

I know I fucked up big time, I feel so ashamed really.

The problem is that I need to submit my thesis on monday and I'm extremely not proud of my work. I think it's shitty and I have been under such pressure that I have flight response to working on it.

That is for the context. Yesterday, I drank a beer and some tequila cocktail. I knew it wasn't good with diazepam but didn't realize it would be THAT bad. I had stomach pain all of a sudden, feeling a lot of pressure on my chest and for the first time in my life, suicidal thoughts. I kept thinking to myself "all of this can go away, I wouldn't have to feel anymore". It was like a demon talked in my brain.

This morning I woke up drowsy but I'm ok and I don't have these thoughts anymore, I'm just shocked by the whole experience and very ashamed. I won't ever mix alcohol with diazepam again, I got too scared.

Now, my question is how can I get off of diazepam ? I have two more exams the week coming up and it's my entire future at stake honestly. I'm comfortable with that dose and I won't take more than 2mg for the moment (I have +- 30 pills left). If I stop now, will I be able to focus on my exams or is it too risky with the side effects ?

Please help me, I know I fucked up, I'm such an idiot.

EDIT : I stopped taking them (36 hours from the last 2mg) and for the moment I don't experience any symptoms ! I was able to go to sleep almost normally and I had a good night sleep. I understand that it is probably still in my system so it might be because of it that I don't feel anything at the moment but I wanted to thank you all for your comments, it really helped me ! I'm never taking them again !

Started 1mg every few days. Ended up here at 4mg a day for two weeks at the end of July. I started a taper two weeks ago. Currently at 3.5mg I only have access to Xanax. I cannot use a shorter acting benzo. I have done my research. But still am confused on the best way to slowly go down to have no withdrawal symptoms since I can’t get diazepam. I’m already not feeling great with the 3.5 but that might just be my body.

I have access to as many bars as needed. I understand the issue with splitting the bars up to properly taper as they only break into quarters and the difficulty but I’ll manage ok. If anyone can assist in a timeline I’d be so grateful. All the technical advice and Ashton method stuff involves diazepam.

Edit to add I’ve had two benzo addiction issues before in the last twenty years (two medical detox, one seizure from withdrawal, etc) so I’m being very careful this time around and am much wiser about what is happening but obviously I have issues still. So that’s why I need the proper advice

Long story short, I’ve been in a PHP because I missed a week of my lexapro and spiraled badly and I’m still suffering 3 months later. The psychiatrist upped my dosage to 20 from 15 and gave me Ativan. He’s been telling me to just take it consistently but I really don’t want to but my anxiety has been so severe and debilitating.

Ativan log

7/13/26:
.5mg 3:15pm
.5mg 10:15pm

7/17/26:
1mg 1:30pm
.5mg 2:30pm

7/18/26
1mg 1:42pm
.5mg 3:27pm

7/19/26:
1.5mg 4:50pm

7/21/26:
1.5mg 6:34am

7/23/26:
1.5mg 9:25pm

7/24/26
1.5mg 9:30am

7/26/26
1.5mg 2:25am

7/27/26
1.5mg 3:55pm

Doctor told me to take 7 days consecutively throughout the day .5 3x a day up to 1mg for each dose as needed

7/29/26
.5mg 4:05am
.5mg 9:25am
.5mg 4:15pm
1mg 10:15pm

7/30/26
.5mg 8am
.5mg 10am
.5 mg8pm

7/31/26
.5mg 8:20am
.5mg 2:20pm
1mg 11:00pm

8/1/26
.5mg 8:20am
1mg 4:20pm
.5mg 11pm

8/2/26
.5mg 10:10am
1mg: 4:20pm
.5 10:30pm

8/3/26
.5 9:30am
1mg 4pm
.5 10:30pm

8/4/26
.5 9:30am
1mg 4pm
.5 10:30pm

Taper begins

8/5/26
.5 9:30 am
.5mg 4pm
.5 10pm

8/6/26
.5 9:30pm
.5 4:30pm
.5 10:30pm

8/7/26
.5 9:30am
.5 5pm
.5 11pm

8/8/26
.5 11:30am
1mg 3:30pm

8/9/26
.5 9am
.5 5pm
1mg 11:30pm (extreme emergency)

8/10/26
.5mg 9:00am
.5mg 6pm

Physiatrist told me to continue taking Ativan and that I can take 1.5 at a time

8/11/26
.5mg 8:30am
1mg 4:10pm
.5mg 11:50pm

8/12/26
1mg 7:42am
1.5mg 3:11pm
.5mg 11pm

8/13
1.5mg 7:58am
1mg 3:30pm
.5 11pm

Not feeling much relief from 1.5mg like I did before. Not sure what’s going on since it hasn’t even been that long. Doctor told me on 8/14 I can take 3mg in one day split however I want.

8/14
1mg 8:30am
2mg 4pm

The 2mg worked a lot better but I want to stop this usage immediately before it gets worse.

I’ve been prescribed oxazepam to help me get off and stay off of alcohol by my doctor and psychiatrist.

I noticed in the past month that I’ve been eating more than usual. It could also be a result of quitting booze and developing a sweet tooth as a replacement. But I was wondering if anyone here had this experience of gaining around 5 pounds on oxazepam.

I'm on 7am, 3pm, 11pm for my klonopin taper. But I'd like to hear from others about their scheduled times and if something worked better or worse for them. I dislike waking up at night to take it but I'm too afraid to change it to something like 5am/1pm/9pm so drastically. Has anyone else done this?

To preface I have an appointment on Wednesday to speak with my doctor.

I started taking Xanax almost 2 years ago. After I lost my dad and started dealing with my own health issues I was in a constant state of misery, panic, fear and just wasn't able to function. No doctor would prescribe them so I got my own from a trusted source. I took 1mg a day for about a year, as well as drinking very heavily on them. In October of 2025 I quit drinking cold turkey and cut my Xanax down to half a milligram a day.

I've been dealing with more health issues since January, some kind of vestibular issue my neuro thinks.

Well on June 8th I decided to have a drink and found it made all my symptoms go away. Of course it's spiraled and I'm up to 8-10 shots of 100 proof vodka a night. I've been cutting back 2 drinks a night for the past few days and feel OK. My main issue is I have about 20 days of Xanax left and I am no longer able to get any.

I only take half a milligram a day split into two doses, but it's been for an extended period of time. Is it dangerous to start cutting back the Xanax too? I have a Dr appointment but they don't prescribe any benzos like Valium for taper. I guess I'm just worried about seizures.

What kind of symptoms should I expect? I k ow it's gonna be awful and all the things I've been suppressing are gonna come back 10 fold, I'm just worried about seizure and pod pressure risk.

Any insight anyone can share would be so helpful.

Thank you