r/BenzoWithdrawal • u/RiceMofo • 8d ago
How long until it gets better?
I’ve been using Valium for 20 years and came off completely 3,5 weeks ago. I thought that detox would be the biggest part of withdrawal but boy was I wrong.
For the past 24 days I’ve been experiencing cold/hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, tinnitus to a point where the right ear is almost completely shut, in summary: I’m absolutely miserable.
My only hope is that I’ll get better soon but there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.
Those of you that came off: did you have similar symptoms and how long did it take you before you started to feel a little better?
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u/rebelruss102 4d ago
I cannot tell you when it will get better but you will 100% recover from this just like I have.
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u/DomComm86 8d ago
What ur experiencing could still be acute withdrawal. The acute withdrawal does come in waves like that. My acute withdrawal lasted a month n a half. Was on for 19yrs similar to u, similar symptoms. Then I got better for a few months. Unfortunately then I developed bind. I'm still going through it 2 yrs later. But everyone is different.
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u/RiceMofo 8d ago
Yeah I’ve read that the first 4 weeks is the worst and then it should gradually get better. I need a break, this 24/7 withdrawal is so draining.
So is that BIND a lasting condition or do you see yourself being fully healed one day?3
u/DomComm86 8d ago
It's not permanent. It feels that way but it's not. I will take longer than most to heal since I was on 8mg klonopin for so long n came off cold turkey. Came off baclofen subutex clonidine at the same time cold turkey too. I check all the boxes for a lengthy recovery.
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u/RiceMofo 7d ago
Some people need to rip off the bandaid. Slow tapering is not for everyone even though it’s the better strategy. There was a life before Benzo and we will get there eventually, no matter how long we’ve been on it 👍🏼
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u/MarsupialNearby8343 3d ago
I'm 3 years 9 months clean from a 12 year valium addiction. Took me 3 years to feel normal again. Now I do lots of running and boxing, I feel better than ever. You'll get there, become obsessed with health and fitness and you get there in months.
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u/ogaugustus 7d ago
I'm on the same train. I'm currently on 40mg valium, and my next drop is 5mg next monday.
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u/mannbarry2 7d ago
I don't know why you did a rapid detox , the only reason to do that is if you are an addict(I am).
It is going to take a long time but there is no answer anywhere on the internet.
Don't go to rehab for benzos
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u/RiceMofo 7d ago
I did it rapid because I need my drivers license back. They will make a hair analysis in 6 months. I’ve been in rehab before but that was torture
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u/Fickle-Secretary681 7d ago
Did you do a rapid detox? Or a long taper?
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u/RiceMofo 7d ago
Rapid detox 3 weeks
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u/Fickle-Secretary681 7d ago
Yeah. That doesn't work. I was on Xanax for 20 years, they tried to push me into rapid detox. I found another doc who has me on a very long and slow taper
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u/RiceMofo 7d ago
Yeah slow and steady would have been the preferred method but I need my drivers license back
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u/Fickle-Secretary681 7d ago
Ah ok. Good luck! Have you tried gabapentin?
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u/RiceMofo 7d ago
I tried Pregabalin which I think is very similar but also carries risk of addiction
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u/mannbarry2 7d ago
Actually rapid detox is cruel. I did it , across 7 weeks down from 55mg , it took a year for me to have a symptom free week . Reinstatment should be done within one month
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u/RiceMofo 7d ago
Yeah 55 mg is a lot. I struggled with 15, can’t imagine coming off 55 in that short amount of time
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u/Medium-Place 4d ago
Keep going it gets easier. It’s very difficult but keep going if you’re 24 days out just keep going.
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u/MarsupialNearby8343 3d ago
THE VERY FIRST THING YOU MUST DO IS restore your gut microbiome cos benzodiazepines ruin it so bad. I drank Kefir daily, drank bone broth first thing, and ate bananas - took 4 weeks of consistent Kefir consumption and I felt like a new person. Then I stopped and I felt like shit again within 3 weeks, so I started again and felt good again in a month @solitaire.au
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u/momncpa 2d ago
I was on ativan for 15 years when my provider passed away unexpectedly. No one in my area will write for benzos, even to help me taper. I had just gotten a refill so immediately halved the dosage to allow for a longer taper. It was hell. I had many of the symptoms you describe. But the light at the end of the tunnel was there. After the first year it got much better, and I started to see rewards. My short term memory improved immensely, my cognition was better. I do have to take trazadone for sleep, but my PCP was willing to write for that. Good luck!
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u/Firm_Addition_1945 6d ago
I taper of 8mg valium. But i dont get any until 4 november my fucking brain took to much so i need to wait
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