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Post by robinhoodlym on Jan 27, 2005 18:52:23 GMT -5
Well we are starting to get a few members but not many postings. I want to get teh ball rolling by letting you all introduce yourself. Though I posted my story on the other topic, I will give you all the reader's digest version.
I am 33, male, married father of a nine year old boy. I have been on MMT since Dec. 2001 and had my last dose of any benzo Dec. 19, 2003. Withdrawal syndrome from benzos lasted until mid March '04 when abruptly, most symptoms went away.
Unlike Opiates, I have never craved another benzo again. I have a powerful revulsion for them due to the hell the w/d put me through - is that common for others??
I feel 95% better now, the lasting symptoms I still have are nocturnal muscle jerking (myoclonus I think it is called) plus some screwed up vision - increased number of what are called floaters. Other than that, I gained all the weight back I lost during w/d (I could have stand to keep it off)
I really have a lot of people to thank for helping me and other people I would like to wring their neck for the wrong advice - those are mainly the medical community!
Please let us get to know you through a brief introduction and also what you would like to get out of this forum and what brought you here in the first place. Thank you so much everyone!
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jagee
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Posts: 3
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Post by jagee on Jan 27, 2005 21:32:13 GMT -5
Hi. I'm a female 51 yrs old who just started MMT 2 weeks ago. I just started taking valium again because of the withdrawals and hope to do a taper instead of cold turkey.
My counselor at the methadone clinic is very supportive. I thought the methadone alone would be enough but I guess not.
I still have not reached an adequate dose of methadone yet, and the benzo withdrawal I felt was getting in the way of finding that right dose. I'm up to 80mg today, and on Saturday will go up to 90mg.
Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.
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Post by robinhoodlym on Jan 27, 2005 22:23:07 GMT -5
Jagee, that is probably smart to hold off on any benzo tapering prior to being stable on a good methadone dose.
Thank you for introducing yourself on this board and hang in there !! You should hopefully find your right dose of methadone on average between 80-120 mg - but that is by no means an absolute - many are at higher and lower doses...
It may up to six months to find out just what dose is right for you... Sometimes you will think you are at the right one only to find out you have too much or too little methadone, it is advisable to keep a log of your symptoms day by day...
We are here for you whether you want to talk about your MMT or when / if you decide to come off of benzos. Thanks for your introduction - please keep on contributing as much as you can - thank you!
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Post by Aliveonmeth on Jan 28, 2005 15:43:36 GMT -5
Hey Guys, My name is A_____ and I am a 43 year young single male living in NYC. I am sober on Medical Maintenance (read my story for more details) and work in the entertainment field. I posted a more involved profile in the stories section, and encourage others to do so too. There is strength in numbers, and what we cannot do alone.........So I look forward to getting to know lot's of you. Peace,
Aliveonmeth PS- Kudos to RobinHoodlym for setting up the site!!!!
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Post by skye aka tweety on Jan 28, 2005 16:13:22 GMT -5
:-*hI ALL/ WOW I finally made it after many trys on this board i mean...i am on 5mg valuims ,but am doing great with them at this time,im needing them at this time to help with my side effects from my hep c tx,i actually wold take handfuls and handfuls of 10 mlgs of valiums,i havent ever been able to get that feeling from them like i used to...when i did taper i did it the first time cold ,wow never again that was hell,then my doctor starting to taper my ammounts of 10 mlgs then finally down to 5 mlgs and now finally just staying on them for my treat,ments sake they do help alot with many sides from the interferone.riba ,i know i really cant get that feeling that i loved so why do them,its so tataly doiferent taking them as perscribed then by the handfI alsoloved 2ndols an twenals(spelling)oh boy do i love the feeling of them too ,i feel in many ways that they were more of a choise then opiates,perks,tylenols3 or 4 ,they just made me float and forget my problems everything seems like happy like,nothing bothered me,until i ran out then look out,what a pregnant dog i was!! but im going to lie down now my meds are kicking in the riba i get all the sides ...go figure,,skye
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Kate
Full Member
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Post by Kate on Jan 29, 2005 1:28:33 GMT -5
Okay, where do I start? My name is Kate (that's my real name too!!), I am a 32 yr old single mother (happily, delightedly, fantastically single!) of a gorgeous 10 yr old daughter named Hannah and the sweetest, most gentle 5 yr old son named Jesse. I have been on MMT for almost 7 years. I have always, always, been on Benzos..for several reasons. Actually, very necessary reasons. My benzo dose, Diazepam...has always been between 40mgs to 80mgs/day. I am being unduly pressured by my methadone clinic to taper completely off of Benzos.... I am waiting to start seeing a new shrink, in order to have more medical back-up to help me fight this punitive, unjust system...clinic system... I do not want to remain on 40 to 80mgs/day of Diazepam. It is frightfully like being a half-zombie! I do however, know that I will need to be on benzos for as long as I feel it is necessary. ....but I certainly want to taper to a much, much, much lower daily dose. Okay, more about me !! I adore reading...I mean I [glow=red,2,300]adore[/glow] reading. Mainly Irish or British authors.....and only funny, sexy, girly books...I call them "mental massages"....although the books have to be intellegent reads! Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds!! ......I wish one day, to be able to build on future land that I will own, a rescue area for all dogs...abandoned, mis-treated, stray, in poor health...etc.... All I meant by naming 2 breeds of dogs...well, they were the last 2 breeds I had. My Great Dane, Mayaan, my gentle giant! My Irish WolfHound mix, Harry..a comedian! I am also a La Leche League Leader, which is essentially, a breastfeeding consellor. I have been now, for 10 years!! Wow! I forgot it has been that long! Okay, I must sound like a crazy person! I'm about much more than what I have written, but my 5 yr old will be waking shortly for mommy to come and sleep in his big scary bed!!! Take Care, ...and thank you kindly for reading my essay! Kate
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jagee
Full Member
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Post by jagee on Jan 29, 2005 8:49:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome. I'm so glad this forum was created. I have just gone up 10mg of meth this morning so I'm now on 90mg a day. Yesterday, I didn't take the third dose of valium. Although I did have some nasty panic feelings last night making me want to take more valium but I didn't.
I took a total of 20mg of valium yesterday and hope to begin to taper starting this monday by only taking half a dose in the am and a 10mg tab at night. I'll post how it goes when that happens, in an appropriate thread.
Again, thanks so much for this forum. It couldn't have come at a better time.
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Post by robinhoodlym on Jan 29, 2005 12:46:09 GMT -5
Best to go very slow on the taper - the length of the taper can have a lot to do with how you feel on the stepping off point -
It is common for the taper of benzos to be fairly easy believe it or not, but when you go from your last dose, even a very small dose like 1 mg of valium to nothing, be careful, that is when the w/d starts... w/d usually does not hit hard during the taper but once you are off everything...
That is why the Ashton Manual does like a six month taper - I know that may seem excessive but if you can get off and have zero effects, it is worth it completely - believe me!
Good Luck
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Post by skye aka tweety on Jan 29, 2005 13:55:42 GMT -5
Hi again,I also wanted to mention that i have been on benozos for at least 25 years,its been a crazy ride,but im also on mmt and have been on mmt for 10 years now ,my highest does was at 280 mlgs and ive tapered down to 10mlgs as of today,but as well going through hep c tx ,the sides are all over the place ,from headaches,to insomina,to aches ,pains ,dizzyness,lack of energy is the worst,i have genotype 1 b ..which by the way is the worst genotype to have to treat,its a 48 week tx program ive been on this treatment for 13 weeks now,i will go next week for another viral load test which will tell me if my numbers have dropped any ,in order for me to stay on tx i need a 2 log drop ,if i dont get that ,out the door i go ,boom kicked of,this is because its goverment funded!,if one has there own insurance plan they can choose to stay on tx but i have no choice,
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Post by robinhoodlym on Jan 29, 2005 15:44:06 GMT -5
mlgs? Is that the same as mg? just curious as we don't use the at measurement in the u.s that I know about...
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Post by skye aka tweety on Jan 30, 2005 2:56:55 GMT -5
sorry typo mgs...
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Post by samier09 on Jan 31, 2005 15:29:42 GMT -5
Hello My name is Samier and I live in Germany...I`m in Methadone program since 9 years now...was very heavy addicted to Benzos (Rohypnol & Oxazepam) for 4 years and now Benzo free since 6 years and 3 months :)my last detox I had in October 1998..The withdrawal symptoms were the worst "experience" I ever made in my entire life..I was on a very high daily dose that time (2000mg Oxazepam and up to 10mg. Flunitrazepam). took 8 months untill I cleep through again for 4 hours. If anybody wants to know more feel free to send me a mail..I will answer as soon as possible. Wish you all the best..Greetings from Germany
Samier
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Post by samier09 on Jan 31, 2005 15:32:30 GMT -5
Oh..seems I typed little bit to fast. I mean...it took 8 months untill I could sleep through for 4 hours again. ;D
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Post by skye aka tweety on Jan 31, 2005 15:48:48 GMT -5
Hi sam,Welcome to this great site!,glad you could stop by and share some of your story,feel free to post regularly at any time,its much experience as youve had on benzos im sure ther will be many questions,take care ....skye!
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Post by skeet on Jan 31, 2005 18:16:00 GMT -5
Hey ya all? im glad this board was created ill try and spread the word 2.. I used benzo's for like 8yrs?? and i still do to be honest? but only 2mg daily??? I'ts an addiction ive not yet beat?... althought i have accomplished from 20mg to 2mg daily that's huge for me ive been like this now for 10yrs??? with the occasional stuff up of max 5mg now and again?? anyhow ya all know me from previous boards regards skeet ;D
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