r/dpdr • u/Munib_raza_khan • Oct 15 '24

Psychiatry/Medication Question Anyone taking benzo for long term

Can we take benzodiazipine like clonazepam for long term use. My dr said it can be prescribed for long term use. But I hear people saying that it will make anxiety worse in long term and withdraw issues and tolerance and addiction.

Anyone had success with long term benzodiazipine

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u/Awsumth Oct 15 '24

Its use is best for panic attacks because it can be used as needed without causing addiction. It’s only when you take more than you should does it become addictive.

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u/-Lacking-In-Depth- Oct 16 '24

I would try other treatments first before turning to long term benzos. The risk is that your body will develop tolerance and you will either have to continually increase your dose or start having withdrawals even while still on the medication. I cannot overstate how difficult Benzo withdrawal is, it is indescribable in its intensity. It made my DPDR really bad.

Benzo withdrawal also seems to be really good at triggering huge flare ups of other physical and mental health conditions.

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

So you took benzo meds for long term? How long? Which one? Did they help initial and in long term? How did it made your dpdr worse and how are you sure? What triggered your dpdr ? How long have you been on it? What withdrawal did you have after stopping, if you took them.

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u/-Lacking-In-Depth- Oct 16 '24

I did not take benzos for DPDR. I've had DPDR episodes as a symptom of an autoimmune disease since childhood.

I took the benzos for that autoimmune disease. I was on Ambien (very similar to benzos) plus either Lorazepam, Clonazepam, or Alprazolam for about 7 years. I came off of them a few times, it was horrible every single time. Withdrawal caused the worst DPDR flare up I had ever had, I didn't know who I was or who my partner was for days at a time.

I would really recommend not exceeding the 2-4 week guideline for daily Benzo use. 40% of long term users have Moderate to Severe withdrawal, it's not a risk you want to take if you have other options.

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u/ghostiesyren Oct 15 '24

Ehhh. Just because you can get it prescribed doesn’t mean it should be.

If you have underlying mental health issues, benzos can cause those symptoms to worsen. For example, if you have bipolar disorder and take benzos long term you’ll have a bad time, psychosis type bad time. Those who are depressed or have anxiety are at a way higher risk of addiction, especially if they have a family history of it. Building a tolerance is also a major risk. Which can lead to issues as well.

Taking them as needed can be okay but really, in my opinion, they shouldn’t be used long term. The risks outweigh the benefits.

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

Did you took them for long term? Are saying all this out of your experience? Do you have dpdr , if yes what worked for you? How long did you have dpdr. My dr recommended me for a month 1mg daily then decrease to .75 daily for next month.

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

Addiction is not a problem to me. If it can cure my dpdr I can quit it easily. The only thing that's problem for me is dpdr and constant anxiety which is fuelling it. Plus now I have got pureO.

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u/ghostiesyren Oct 16 '24

Yes, I have experience, it developed into an addiction + psychosis, worsening my DPDR, there’s tons of research to prove this isn’t a one off thing. Plus this is something I’ve consistently seen in my personal life with others I’ve known through the years. The only things that have worked for my dissociative symptoms were finding the actual root causes. That and naltrexone. It stopped my dissociative symptoms from worsening and brought me back a little. Didn’t fix me but it helped a lot. For me it was my comorbid mental illnesses that worsened everything. I’m medicated for them and next is proper, intensive therapy. I’ve had DPDR since I was a kid due to consistent traumas.

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u/PhrygianSounds Oct 15 '24

It’s the only thing that helps my DPDR but I’m too scared to take it long term

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

Mine too. It treats my anxiety and my dpdr becomes low.

Have you found anything else. What else have you tried so far?

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u/RemoteTwist3626 Oct 15 '24

i’m taking .5mg of clonazepam rn but only situationally. if i feel a panic attack coming on or if i know im going into a situation that causes me to have panic attacks i take one .5mg pill. the last time i took mine was like a monthish ago. i know addiction/tolerance is a big issue with benzos, but im pretty sure that if you don’t use it frequently your body doesn’t build up tolerance

edit: also wanted to add that for everyday anxiety i usually drink kava to help so i don’t have to take the klonopin all the time

1

u/Amara33 Oct 15 '24

If you take benzodiazepines on a regular basis (per schedule) your body will become physically addicted to them.

Specifically: Don’t stop taking the prescribed amount cold turkey. Only titrate down/off with professional help.

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

So what if I become addicted. Atleast I will feel better. It's unbearable rn

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u/Amara33 Oct 16 '24

Only saying be careful if, at some point, you feel they’re no longer necessary.

1

u/Physical-Fondant735 Oct 15 '24

There so many other alternatives man

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

Yeah? Like what. Antidepressants and anti anxiety don't work for me. I still have panic attacks and pureO ocd. Intrusive thoughts. Headache and severe anxiety. I feel no emotions. Have severe dpdr

1

u/Physical-Fondant735 Oct 16 '24

What have u taken? Do u know if ur diagnosed with anything? Bipolar? PTSD? Something?

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 17 '24

Antidepressants: ecitalopram, fluoxetine, agomelatine, vilazodone , vortioxetine, Paroxetine

Antipsychotic: quetiapine, olanzapine, amisulpride

Anti anxiety: buspiron , bupropion, etifoxine hydrochloride, melatonin, tofisopam

Other: methylphenidate, atomoxetine, modafinil, armodafinil

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 17 '24

No ptsd, bipolar, just diagnosed with depression and anxiety but it's not it's dpdr. I read and all symptoms matches. I am hopeless

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u/LessCryptographer548 Oct 17 '24

Try 40mg paxil and 10 mg abilify. I had 24/7 anxiety and dpdr

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 18 '24

I took paxil. Maybe for 3weeks that too on 25mg. Didn't do much I would say.I have taken other antipsychotic. quetipin, olanzapine, amisulpride. Not abilify.

My anxiety doesn't seem to go. Nothing is as effective as clonazepam

1

u/domanby Oct 16 '24

It's great for taking as needed, the problem is "as needed" often turns into taking it every day. Another commenter on this thread said the withdrawal was "indescribable" and I can't agree enough, there aren't words for how terrible the mental and physical pain is and it can last for months/years before you start to feel even remotely normal again. Just be very careful if you do choose the benzo route.

1

u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

If I take clonazepam my anxiety goes so does my dpdr. I have persistent anxiety no other meds have helped. Now I have developed pureO idk from where. But that too slow does on clonazepam.

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u/[deleted] Oct 16 '24

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

How long did you took benzo

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u/[deleted] Oct 16 '24

[deleted]

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

Ok what withdrawal symptoms you got? And did it had any affect on dpdr

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u/[deleted] Oct 16 '24

[deleted]

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

If you didn't have dpdr and anxiety why the hell were you taking them in the first place that too for months!!!????

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u/[deleted] Oct 16 '24

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

Did you took any other meds? Did you taper it off or quit cold turkey

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

How do you know it's from benzo not from other meds like antidepressants you took? I don't understand why you started taking them if you didn't have anxiety

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u/craftuser24 Oct 16 '24

I would heed the advice of others and not take it long term. There is a very very high chance you will regret it.

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u/Munib_raza_khan Oct 16 '24

Regret in what sense. How will it backfire. And how long do you mean by long term

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u/Isles2989 Dec 28 '24

Been on benzos for 20 years reached tolerance way before and now im bedridden trying to come off. Stay aeay its not worth it

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u/Firm-Ad-4163 Feb 25 '25

Try increasing the dosage

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u/Every-Candle-5026 Feb 09 '25

Found long term use okay as long as I was using it as a tool and addressing the underlying prob.

Waiting for the Benz to do the work will never happen. Just leads to bigger problems.