Week One

Well, I started off the first two days on 25mg, no nausea, but very tired feeling and I think my anxiety increased a little. However, the great thing was I really didnt want to drink. The first couple of days I just find it hard to drink. As the week went on I stil didnt drink as much as I normally would do, and one night I just had two drinks (unheard of before). It is sort of like, I taste the drink, which is nice, but then because I am not getting a buzz from it, after a couple I dont need anymore. Sort of like if you want a nice drink of say "fresh orange", but after two, you have had enough It is like that. Sort of miss the buzz though, because the anxiety stays without the buzz. One night, we had guests round and I had 8 drinks, and had a worse than normal hangover in the morning.

Found out about the benzo stuff this week though, and that has really worried me. I was diagnosed benzos to try and go AF, didnt realise they were addictive and that you couldnt mix them with AL. ie. i knew it was advised against it, but i didnt know why. to cut a long story short, I halfed my dose a few weeks ago over night, not really realising what I was doing, but somehow believeing that they werent helping my anxiety in the long term. Well the anxiety was crippling, which I put down to some lifestyle changes at the time. It wasnt until I read the posts on here that I realised that it was more than likely cos I cut the benzos so dramatically. I now only take them at bedtime, but am still struggling sleeping, and want to cut them out completely if I can because I am scared that TSM wont work. Now I am addicted to two things, so it would seem.

Been told on benzo detox sight, that to detox from benzos, I need to quit AL, been told on here for TSM to work, I need to quit benzos. I am in such a pickle now, just do not know which way to turn. I know I need to cut the AL. I start a new high powered job in September, and need to have this mostly cleared up and in control by then, but now I know I need to cut the benzos too. This is my major problem this week, still waiting for advice on both forums and holding in here.

However, overall it would seem I am reacting just like everyone else, having the reduced cravings and the honeymooon period. so pleased.

Pre TSM - 60 - 80 UK units per week

Week 1 - 35 UK units, no AF days, average drinks per day 5

Soberwith, it seems from your units and what you say that it is working for you as it has for those not on benzo's. Maybe you were not on benzo's for a long time, maybe you don't take a high dosage, who knows. Yes, the people at benxorecovery are going to tell you to quit the drinking because they are opposed to just about any altering drug. There are people there who will help you with a taper and I hope you find one. I would probably keep a low profile on tsm over there and just find out how to get off of the benzo's in a safe manner. It is supposed to take some time to do it without harm. Exchanging benzo's for other meds as has been suggested here may just be very dangerous to brain function as stated quite profusely at benzorecovery. I tend to believe them. To switch from one type of med especially a benzo to another, I believe, can cause serious problems.
Doctors today really do not know how to titrate patients off of these meds properly. I am a believer that benzorecovery has the answers. When any of us were perscribed these meds for anxiety we did not realize the dangers involved and the drug companies and the physicians are still pushing them and getting rich over our suffering. Just my thoughts and I do wish you luck.

Thanks La Bear

I am getting no luck over at benzorecovery, have posted a question, but nobody seems to be able to give me the answer as to how to titrate. Getting a bit worried as to whether I should have done that first before this, but i cant wait the long amount of time it takes to titrate if you do it v, v slowly as suggested.

Day 2 week 2, had nal 1 1/2 hours ago, and still not had a drink, unheard of for me. Usually at witching hour that is it wham drink in hand before anything else.

As for the anxiety I have noticed this has increased quite a lot since starting nal, but not sure if that is because I read about the benzos and what they do so I am noticing it more, or the side effects of the nal, do hope it gets better soon.

Baclofen? do you know if you can switch safely from benzos to baclofen, this seems less addictive and safer and seems to be good for anxiety alongside TSM. Am I right in this? Still so much to learn......

I plan to titrate off benzos AND do TSM and I hope you do the same. They can be a bit slow over at that other board. Jana does not like to post because it is such an individual thing, and others have borrowed from her method and botched it (e.g. using water for liquid, which is assinine because neither Klonipin nor Valium are water-soluble so you get uneven doses). I started a benzo thread here and I hope you join us. Take care.

Soberwithin, yes I agree with Lena they are slow over at the other place. I don't think they will buy TSM, that is just my impression so I did not mention it to them! I realize that people are using Beclofen with success, but because of what I have already been through and what I have read about benzo's I think it is very very dangerous to start mixing meds or substituting for benzo's. The medical profession just doesn't realize what they are doing to people with these drug or how we react. This taper can have very serious consequences. If you start a taper and you do it too quickly down the road lets say a week or three weeks from now all kinds of symptoms can occur, depression, depersonalization, severe anxiety, the list goes on! If you go to that site and read the posts or read about benzo syndrome, believe me you will think twice. When I was on 4 mg. of xanax I was put on a three week taper, it was horrible and it took me literally a year for my head to stop spinning!!!! So, having said all of this I would try another post at the other site and try to get Jana to respond and don't go into tsm, just my opinion. Titration is very individualized according to what you are taking and how much and is very very slow. I wish you luck and hope you find a safe way to do all of this.

Soberwithin, go to benzorecoverydetox and see that Jana has replied there is a second page drop to your post where you will find the nitty gritty. I would suggest you now pm her over there to get your personal plan. Looks like she is willing to find something to work for you. I read your post there. Let us know how you make out. Good luck!