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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by yoga4me on June 7, 2009, at 16:26:48
I have read about those who used high doses of Lyrica to help with benzo withdrawal, but nothing about anyone using a low dose. My doctor prescribed Lyrica 25 mg to be taken as needed to help with the anxiety and pain that I have while doing a slow benzo taper from Klonopin. I find that the Lyrica helps improve my mood,aids with the anxiety...(so far) and helps me sleep. It is helping so far...but I know it can turn on a dime.
This is a trial using a small dose of Lyrica. I am not planning on raising the dose more than 25 mg 3 x day. If the med "poops out" on me, I will slowly taper off of it. I will not get into a high dosage Lyrica trap. I know of the potential for dependency, but feel if it will help me off my Benzo, then it will be worth it.
I will keep posting on my progress or ... lack of. It seems that everyone is looking for a less painful way to become benzo-free. This may help or it may flop, but I am going to give it my best shot.
If only the Pharmas would read the forums and make a safe med to help those going through benzo, AD withdrawals,etc. Even tapering slow is "intolerable" and there are so many people searching for answers and needless suffering.
Yogagirl
Posted by SLS on June 11, 2009, at 5:23:00
In reply to Using Lyrica to help Benzo withdrawal, posted by yoga4me on June 7, 2009, at 16:26:48
Thanks for posting this. I hadn't thought of using Lyrica as a buffer to ease withdrawal.
Yes. Please continue to post your progress.
Thanks.
- Scott> I have read about those who used high doses of Lyrica to help with benzo withdrawal, but nothing about anyone using a low dose. My doctor prescribed Lyrica 25 mg to be taken as needed to help with the anxiety and pain that I have while doing a slow benzo taper from Klonopin. I find that the Lyrica helps improve my mood,aids with the anxiety...(so far) and helps me sleep. It is helping so far...but I know it can turn on a dime.
>
> This is a trial using a small dose of Lyrica. I am not planning on raising the dose more than 25 mg 3 x day. If the med "poops out" on me, I will slowly taper off of it. I will not get into a high dosage Lyrica trap. I know of the potential for dependency, but feel if it will help me off my Benzo, then it will be worth it.
>
> I will keep posting on my progress or ... lack of. It seems that everyone is looking for a less painful way to become benzo-free. This may help or it may flop, but I am going to give it my best shot.
>
> If only the Pharmas would read the forums and make a safe med to help those going through benzo, AD withdrawals,etc. Even tapering slow is "intolerable" and there are so many people searching for answers and needless suffering.
> Yogagirl
Posted by qbsbrown on June 17, 2009, at 22:12:21
In reply to Re: Using Lyrica to help Benzo withdrawal » yoga4me, posted by SLS on June 11, 2009, at 5:23:00
I've read about tegretol and trileptal being used for benzo WD.
I'm in the midst of a bad WD, and thinking about trilepal.
I began my taper on trileptal, and was having an easy time moving down, and got stupid and cold turkeyed the trileptal, had to re-instate higher dose of valium, now having a rough time getting off.
Also 3 years ago, i was stuck on 17mgs valium, added trileptal, and was able to taper down to 10mgs quite easily, and be functionable at the same time.
Have you heard of evidence of this scott?
Brian
Posted by SLS on June 18, 2009, at 7:10:53
In reply to Re: Using Lyrica to help Benzo withdrawal, posted by qbsbrown on June 17, 2009, at 22:12:21
> Have you heard of evidence of this scott?
>
> BrianBrian, in all immodesty :-), I came up with a theory of kindling as the driving force behind some aspects of the withdrawal syndrome, and hypothesized that anticonvulsants should mitigate it. It was only later that I discovered that anticonvulsants did indeed mitigate the withdrawal syndrome of alcohol discontinuation. I felt pretty smart. Actually, it is probably the smartest thing I have done here, but it was largely ignored.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20081229/msgs/877349.html
The thing is, I never went much further as to theorize which anticonvulsants would work best for which types of drug withdrawals. I was hoping to get some feedback from people who actually tried using different anticonvulsants. I guess I would have chosen valproate for alcohol and benzodiazepines. I am very happy to learn that it is Trileptal that is effective. I feel somewhat vindicated. Thanks for reporting.
Part of my kindling theory suggests that each time you allow the discontinuation syndrome to proceed without mitigative treatment (like Trileptal), the more severe and long-lasting are the withdrawal episodes subsequently.
Where did you get the idea for using Trileptal? That person must be smarter than me!
- Scott
Posted by qbsbrown on June 19, 2009, at 9:51:34
In reply to Re: Using Lyrica to help Benzo withdrawal, posted by SLS on June 18, 2009, at 7:10:53
Well, I just got the idea of Trileptal from reading research online, especially pubmed, with the success that tegretol has had in some cases of benzo wd, which seems to have had better success than depakote.
During my second taper, was having a really tough time, and i added trileptal, and it made tapering much easier. But the stupid doc yanked me off of it, and put me on an antidepressant, not good.
Then very recently, i wanted off all meds. I was taking trielptal, and had reduced valium from 30mgs to 10mgs in 10 days!
For some stupid reason, i dropped the trileptal, and was left with a severe mess at 10mgs valium. So i re-instated valium at 30mgs.
I've only been on valium now, down to 18mgs, the withdrawal is brutal and crippling. I can only drop 1mg every 2 weeks. This is after 6 years benzo use, tolerance/interdose wd, 5-6 taper attempts, switching benzos, a cold turkey, a rapid detox in the hospital (which worked better than this slow taper, lol).
But yes, most if not all of the benzo forums do not advocate using or adding any meds during withdrawal.
I am re-considering re-instating trileptal,,as it helped twice in the past, and praying that it has the same effect that it used to, and can make me semi-functionable.
The benzos have been my only problem for years and years, causing all of my emotion problems.
I will be thankful the day i am off of them, can heal, and continue my life.
Let me know what you find in regards to tegretol/trileptal for benzo WD.
Thanks bud,
Brian
Posted by Gmill on July 13, 2009, at 20:25:19
In reply to Using Lyrica to help Benzo withdrawal, posted by yoga4me on June 7, 2009, at 16:26:48
I was on Ativan for a short period of time and quit with a few withdrawal problems but my doctor wants me to continue therapy. I refuse as I understand that benzo withdrawal can last for months. The jumping out of the chair when the phone rings and numbness in my fingertips are gone. This is what keeps me from going back. Keep me updated on your progress. do you know if Lyrica has any withdrawal effects?
Posted by qbsbrown on July 14, 2009, at 0:36:46
In reply to Re: Using Lyrica to help Benzo withdrawal, posted by Gmill on July 13, 2009, at 20:25:19
Yes, Lyrica was the second most difficult drug that i tapered off of other than benzos.
Antiseizures, antidepressants, antipsychotics, stimulants etc, i could cold turkey all easily.
Not benzos and lyrica. Lyrica is a class V schedule drug i believe, meaning that it is a controlled substance, and can cause dependence
Posted by morganpmiller on July 22, 2009, at 20:51:13
In reply to Re: Using Lyrica to help Benzo withdrawal » yoga4me, posted by SLS on June 11, 2009, at 5:23:00
http://www.mindandmuscle.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=38670
This is the end of the thread.
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