Aa
DR. PLEASE READ AND ADVISE NO ANSWERS YET
Doctor, I have been off zanax now for 117 days. I have the following symptoms: In my legs when I walk especially is this bouncy feeling, when I lay down I feel waves going thru my legs, the muscles on the top of my eyes hurt too. This bouncy effect is so scary I've even seen these symptoms as for CP & Parkinsons. I was on the zanax 2.0 mg for years and took aprox. 5mgs a day, about three bars a day that is. Please let me know if this is normal because I am at my wits end I don't want to live like this. Now I started taking a GABA & cortisol CO2 pill. Is there anything else that can help me or am I a done deal? You have no idea how helpful it is to know that a real Doctor is here to help so I am very grateful for your service.
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MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi-- Yes, I'm wandering in a bit late today!
As for the symptoms, I agree with N.O. that you aren't a done deal. People often talk about being 'damaged' by drugs, but most of the drugs that are abused don't have any significant permanent effects on the body-- at least not 'physical' effects. What I mean is that they don't destroy neurons-- but in some cases they cause personality effects that can be longstanding. The actions of benzos, opiates, and barbiturates occur through reversible binding to receptors, and the actions at the receptors do not destroy the neuron. There are exceptions; ecstasy is toxic to neurons and even single doses can do a great deal of harm to the brain; demerol is metabolized to normeperidine, which is neurotoxic; cocaine in high doses can raise the body temperature to levels that will harm the brain.
I noticed something about your post. You are still focused on that day that you quit-- 117 days ago. That tells me that either you are a fairly obsessive person, or you are at least very focused on this situation. All addicts become very 'somatic', meaning that they become more aware of physical feelings and sensations than non-addicts; a person can focus on a sensation long enough to make a sensation that was once barely noticed become uncomfortable. As an example, start thinking about how your eyes feel-- concentrate on the tension of the muscles in your upper eyelids.
Ouch! I hate doing that...
I don't mean to say that your sensations are not significant-- only that your best chance for getting beyond the sensations will be to find a way to avoid thinking about them.
I think that one of the positives of 12 step programs is the focus on a 'higher power', as the focus helps get addicts 'out of their heads' and thinking more about things other than their physical sensations. I often think of the men and women in the military, standing in the 110 degree sun wearing full gear-- to do that, a person would have to completely disregard how he/she is feeling! As an aside, I give those men and women a lot of credit for tolerating so much discomfort-- let alone the risks they face on a daily basis.
I would not be a fan of supplements; the way I look at them, they are either inactive, in which case they are a waste of money, or they are active, in which case we don't know what the heck they are going to do to the body. People tend to see supplements as 'safer' for some reason, but your body doesn't know any difference between a chemical from a pharmaceutical company and a chemical from a nutrient company. In both cases, your brain is seeing a foreign molecule-- at least with the pharmaceutical molecules we have data on what the chemicals do!
I know I haven't given much of an answer to the likely cause of your sensations. The sensations sound as if they are related to the tension in your muscles, and benzos affect muscle tone, but I doubt there would be any imbalance in tone after being off benzos for several months. The body is pretty good at getting back to normal-- which makes me suspicious of the substances that you are taking. I think your best bet is to get back to basics: stop the supplements, eat a good, balanced diet, establish a good sleep cycle, and exercise. Get to where you are more aware of the wind in your face as you run, and I have to think that the bouncing sensation in your legs will become less of an issue.
I wish you the best,
JJ
As for the symptoms, I agree with N.O. that you aren't a done deal. People often talk about being 'damaged' by drugs, but most of the drugs that are abused don't have any significant permanent effects on the body-- at least not 'physical' effects. What I mean is that they don't destroy neurons-- but in some cases they cause personality effects that can be longstanding. The actions of benzos, opiates, and barbiturates occur through reversible binding to receptors, and the actions at the receptors do not destroy the neuron. There are exceptions; ecstasy is toxic to neurons and even single doses can do a great deal of harm to the brain; demerol is metabolized to normeperidine, which is neurotoxic; cocaine in high doses can raise the body temperature to levels that will harm the brain.
I noticed something about your post. You are still focused on that day that you quit-- 117 days ago. That tells me that either you are a fairly obsessive person, or you are at least very focused on this situation. All addicts become very 'somatic', meaning that they become more aware of physical feelings and sensations than non-addicts; a person can focus on a sensation long enough to make a sensation that was once barely noticed become uncomfortable. As an example, start thinking about how your eyes feel-- concentrate on the tension of the muscles in your upper eyelids.
Ouch! I hate doing that...
I don't mean to say that your sensations are not significant-- only that your best chance for getting beyond the sensations will be to find a way to avoid thinking about them.
I think that one of the positives of 12 step programs is the focus on a 'higher power', as the focus helps get addicts 'out of their heads' and thinking more about things other than their physical sensations. I often think of the men and women in the military, standing in the 110 degree sun wearing full gear-- to do that, a person would have to completely disregard how he/she is feeling! As an aside, I give those men and women a lot of credit for tolerating so much discomfort-- let alone the risks they face on a daily basis.
I would not be a fan of supplements; the way I look at them, they are either inactive, in which case they are a waste of money, or they are active, in which case we don't know what the heck they are going to do to the body. People tend to see supplements as 'safer' for some reason, but your body doesn't know any difference between a chemical from a pharmaceutical company and a chemical from a nutrient company. In both cases, your brain is seeing a foreign molecule-- at least with the pharmaceutical molecules we have data on what the chemicals do!
I know I haven't given much of an answer to the likely cause of your sensations. The sensations sound as if they are related to the tension in your muscles, and benzos affect muscle tone, but I doubt there would be any imbalance in tone after being off benzos for several months. The body is pretty good at getting back to normal-- which makes me suspicious of the substances that you are taking. I think your best bet is to get back to basics: stop the supplements, eat a good, balanced diet, establish a good sleep cycle, and exercise. Get to where you are more aware of the wind in your face as you run, and I have to think that the bouncing sensation in your legs will become less of an issue.
I wish you the best,
JJ
Just stopped one day. Yes, I had seziures (cant spell right now) and was hospitalized.
Thank you for your reply! At last a caring soul. I orignally started taking it after 911 for panic. Thank you so much for your reply!
Thank you for your reply! At last a caring soul. I orignally started taking it after 911 for panic. Thank you so much for your reply!
He will probably answer your question by tonight......hang tight. He is really good about answering. I am not sure about your symptoms, but I would almost bet what you are feeling is due to the xanax......5mgs. per day for years is a pretty decent dose. Did you just stop cold turkey or did you taper at all?.......
Your not a done deal. It does take time......
Nauty.............
Your not a done deal. It does take time......
Nauty.............
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