Hi all,I haven't posted much on this forum, but I read it often, and it has helped me greatly to know that I'm actually...okay!After several years of no BFS symptoms (yay!), I had some kind of prolonged viral illness (similar to mono) this past winter. Then all of a sudden they're back...twitches, strange sensations, and worst of all, anxiety and panic attacks.I was prescribed Xanax for my panic attacks, which I had never really had much experience with, which worked for the panic attacks of course. But little did I realize just how quickly your body adapts to Xanax, and subsequently withdraws from Xanax. I only took it only a few times, when having a panic attack, or when I was feeling a little anxious. Then, suddenly I realized that I only ever felt "normal" just after taking Xanax. Several hours to a day after my last dose, I would feel all the following symptoms:Anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and doom, much increased levels of muscle twitchiness, confusion, memory loss, muscle cramps and aches, parasthesias, visual snow, night terrors....you name it, and I had it. This went on for almost a year before I realized that it wasn't just BFS, or just anxiety, but it was physical dependence on a GABA drug - Xanax.Finally I've now managed to taper, and have now finally gone over a week without taking a single one. I can still feel some of the withdrawal effects, including occasional muscle spasms in my hand, and I'm still having mild night terrors almost every night. I'm hoping these will also resolve over the next several weeks.I can't help but to think that BFS is somehow GABA related, seeing as how anxiety almost always goes along with it, and the fact that Xanax withdrawal (even after just a few pills) amplified the BFS symptoms tremendously.BFS and Xanax don't mix. My advice: only use them when you absolutely MUST, i.e., when facing a crippling panic attack. Don't take them when you're just feeling "a little anxious", or because you feel you *might* have a panic attack soon. That's what I did, and because of it, I was almost never able to feel "normal" at all for the past year! If you're taking it, and never feel quite "normal" (except just after taking a dose), it may be the Xanax itself causing the symptoms!Sorry for the long post, and thanks to everyone for all their posts here, they help tremendously!
Seeking Support After BFS Return
- Thread starter kevinhnc
- Start date
Kevin,How much Xanax did you take? I am now wondering if your theory is true. I take something to sleep every night (either Ambien or Xanax, or Kavinace - which is an OTC amino acid based supplement, that supposedly works on your GABA system).My twitching is non stop in my calves and right foot.Right now, I have a good 3 weeks to go before my EMG, and I'm a basketcase. Honestly, about to have an anxiety attack every day waiting and not knowing. So, I've been taking Xanax every day (today it was half a milligram, but I intend to take it tonight to rest).I honestly don't know how I'll cope without it during the next 3 weeks. But, I want to know how much you used to take?Mitra
Hi Mitra,I took one half of a 0.5 milligram tab, usually about one (half) per day, or else I started feeling "strange" and panicky. Back before I was trying to quit it, I sometimes needed another half pill, for a total of 0.5mg per day.Once you realize that you can have a withdrawal effect in as little as 12-24 hours of taking your last pill, you start to realize that a lot of your symptoms are actually withdrawal symptoms, and not pure anxiety.By all means, if you need it take it then take it, but with the ultimate goal of not taking it at all...as quickly as your anxiety will let you.I used Valerian root to help get off of it, but even that has GABA effects, and I don't recommend taking it unless you absolutely have to, but it did help taper me down. I can't believe I actually had to taper down from 0.25 mg per day, but I did! I went every other day, then every three days, etc. Then once I got to a week, I was able to come off of it. But again, I'm still having symptoms almost two weeks out (hand spasms/twitches, night terrors). But I actually didn't have a night terror at all last night! And I can tell my anxiety has really calmed down a LOT.Perhaps a longer acting benzo like Klonopin is easier to withdraw from, but again the goal for me is no benzos at all unless I absolutely need them. Also, exercise, exercise, exercise!Good luck!
GlitterFountain
Active member
Oh my gosh, I just had to chime in on this. I agree that BFS is GABA related for some of us. I had been taking a large dose of an herb called ashwagandha, similar to valerian root. It is thought to work on GABA. Within a week of stopping it, my symptoms started. WebMD's herbal database just added a warning to ashwagandha, saying that it is a central nervous system depressant similar to Klonopin or Valium. Also, lookup The Ashton Manual online. Dr. Ashton is a British neurologist who has studied what happens to people when they take/stop medications that work on GABA.I am currently tapering off Klonopin, which I was given to stablilize along with Keppra, and her writings have been very helpful. The Klonopin was a lifesaver at first. After awhile, it just perpetuated my symptoms. I am down to .0125mg after tapering down from .75mg-1.0mg.
It would be really interesting to see how many people take something to work with their GABA system on a regular basis. As I said, I haven't gone one night without one form or another for a year now, and interestingly started twitching like crazy. Of course, I haven't had my first EMG yet either (scared to death -- it's 3 weeks away), so I'm not officially considered a BFSer.Good find. I'm really going to consider this in the future.
LeftyCanuck1
Active member
I put the following search in Google, Benzo Withdrawal Twitching, and I was surprised when I went on the first link and read what the people were saying, their symptoms sound very much like ours!I think I will check into this further, thanks Kevinhnc! I find one of the hardest things about having this condition is not knowing what the heck caused it but this could be another pieceof the puzzle.Lefty
No problem Lefty!I'm pretty sure that though Xanax binds the GABA receptor and relaxes you, I think it also has a very high ability to down-regulate the neuron's production of GABA receptors (thus leaving you effectively GABA deficient when you stop taking it).Also remember you have LOTS of neurons in your intestinal tract, which also have GABA receptors. Anyone else extremely constipated after a few days without Xanax? I know I sure was. That's getting better now too.As an update, I'm officially 2 weeks off of any form of GABA drugs (Xanax, Valerian, etc.) No night terrors for the past few nights (finally!), and my weird right hand spasms/twitches I had been having (which were extremely worrisome for me), are nearly completely gone too. I'll update again week 3 or 4, I'm suspecting that's how long I'll need to go in order for my neurons to replenish their normal levels of GABA receptors.
PrickLedPin
Well-known member
I told that long time ago.Don't use BENZO (xanax, klonopin, ... etc) for long.I had ALSO withdraw symptoms. You name it, i had it! They are similar to BFS ++++.I gave the link It took me 1 full year to go from 1 mg of Klonopin down to 0, cutting 1/8 of a pill every month ... and one other year to recover almost completely.