We usually think of the word tolerance as having a positive meaning. After all, tolerance is sometimes defined as a fair and objective attitude toward those of differing backgrounds. Being tolerant or accepting of others with different backgrounds is generally considered a good thing. Some words that have similar meaning of tolerance include patience and impartiality. Tolerance can also mean endurance. All good things, right?
Well, the word ātoleranceā gets a little more complicated when weāre talking about drugs. If we say someone tolerates a drug well, this usually means that the person experiences no or low incidence of side effects while enjoying the therapeutic benefits of the drug. So tolerating a drug well is a good thing.
But tolerance can also mean something bad and altogether different depending on the context.Ā What about if you hear the phrase, ābecome tolerant to a drug?ā Thatās not a good thing.Ā But what does that mean? Tolerance in this context refers to a personās diminished response to a drug, which occurs when the drug is used repeatedly and the body adapts to the continued presence of a drug. Simply put, some drugs donāt work as much or do not work at all after repeated use over a period of time.
What does it mean if I have become tolerant to a drug?
Again, tolerance to a drug is the failure of the drug to continue to work effectively or work at all after repeated use. In this situation, the drug fails to have the same or any therapeutic effect at some point during repeated or chronic use. Tolerance can occur as quickly as within just a few weeks of initially taking a certain drug, but it may not occur until after years of use, or it may not ever occur at all. Predicting if and when tolerance might occur is not possible.
Developing tolerance usually applies to psychoactive or mind altering drugs, and drug tolerance can mean more than just the drug no longer working effectively at the same dose you took when you first started the drug. If you are taking a habituating psychoactive or mind altering drug, say a benzodiazepine for example, you can experience more consequences than justĀ the fact that the drug no longer makes you feel the way you want it to.Ā Unfortunately, in this situation you may not simply be āback at square oneā or in the same condition as you were before you began taking the drug. In fact, if you become tolerant to the effects of habituating mood altering drugs you may likely be in a worse place than you were before you started. This is because many mind altering drugs canĀ lead to physical dependency or the need to continue taking the drug in order to avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
You mean I can experience withdrawal symptoms even though I am still taking the drug?
After you become tolerant to a benzodiazepine that you are physically dependent upon, unless you increase the dose you may experience not only re-occurrence of symptoms of your underlying problem, such as anxiety or insomnia, but you may also experience withdrawal symptoms. So, yes, you can experience withdrawal symptoms while continuing to take a habituating drug such as a benzodiazepine.Ā This is sometimes called ātolerance withdrawalā and it is milder than withdrawal experienced after discontinuance of the drug.
Wait a secondā¦My doctor told me that I need to increase my dose of benzodiazepine because my condition got worse.Ā He doesnāt think I have developed tolerance because I do not have an addictive personality.Ā In fact, I only take the drug as prescribed.Ā But I have a bunch of new and strange symptoms that are unexplainable.Ā Iāve undergone many medical tests, and so far none show anything abnormal.
Doctors sometimes confuse addictive drug cravings and excessive use of the drug with tolerance. But these are two different things. Often times people become tolerant to a drug without abusing it.Ā So, yes, you can take a benzodiazepine only in the manner prescribed by your doctor, but still develop tolerance.Ā It is likely that your strange or unexplainable symptoms are linked to tolerance withdrawal. There is no medical test yet that can detect tolerance withdrawal from benzodiazepines.Ā So this may explain why you experience such distressing symptoms, but none of them show up in medical tests or lab work.
It is not possible to distinguish the negative effects of tolerance to a drug, such as benzodiazepines,Ā from an unrelated condition because the symptoms of withdrawal are so varied and overlap with symptoms associated with other conditions. Tolerance symptoms can include those considered to be psychiatric, such as anxiety, as well asĀ those that are considered physical, such as changes in blood pressure. But it is important to note when a doctor says you need to raise the dose of a benzodiazepine in order to have the same therapeutic effect as when you first began taking it, you may in fact be experiencing drug tolerance, and perhaps even withdrawal symptoms.
Iām tapering off Paxil and starting Lexapro. Managing the brains adjustment to Paxil leaving and starting Lexapro is causing additional anxiety. How do I handle it?
Iām still on Clonazapam
Iāve been taking clonazepam for 30 years at a very low dose. Only now am I experiencing tolerance withdrawal. I have never went above 1 mg and Iām now taking 0.7 mg. I am too scared to increase my dose. Iām trying to decrease, but I heard that withdrawal completely is a nightmare
I feel like my Xanax is not helping my anxiety anymore. I have been on them for 20 years and I donāt know what to do.š¢
What would you advise a 86 yr old on klon 30 yrs. I tried I x to get off. Got too sick. Had to updose to start dose. 2.25.
Yes I feel horrible. But what choice do I have
Iām 70 and not wanting to go thru withdrawal for god only knows how many yearsā¦
If I can get some relief from taking this med, which I should not have been left on this longā¦ who knew? Not much choice!
I went through withdrawal tolerance off Xanax after 35 years it about killed me and i haven’t been them same since, is there any drug non addictive that will calm my mind ? I believe it did something to my neotrainmitters that cause my anxiety to be way worse, my doctor wants me to keep on 0.5 mg of klonipin a day, should I?
Do you have more information on clonazepam withdrawal and tapering? Thanks
How are people taking klonopin for years without developing tolerance? Are you only taking it as-needed and not daily? Seems most people should develop tolerance within weeks.
I take it as needed for major panic attacks
Klonazepam toleransı ne zaman geƧer?
I am in The center of a judicial problem I guess we can say what the problem is. Is that what people are not realizing is the difference between someone who has been taking colonoscopy for 26 years and someone who was just taken their first dose nobody taking into account how much you weigh nobody takes into account how long you have been taking the drug and nobody takes into account your metabolism so how can the judicial system be fair?
Hello, I am now at 10.5 diazepam crossed over from 2mg Xanax to 45 mg Diazepam after a too fast taper of 7 months and slowed down in August to a much slower taper. I am doing a cut and hold pill taper but also taking propranolol and 1500mg gabapentin and 200mg Zoloft which 2 doctors thought would help my depression.
I am severely depressed and cry all the time I have no joy or smile and fear leaving the house or seeing people. Husband is at his wits end. May make me move out and I will certainly think the worst will happen if that is the case.
I have a long road to get off everything and I am in my mid 60ās. Would taper off Valium faster than .5 less every 2-3 weeks but my anxiety is horrendous from the moment I wake up till sometimes bedtime. Now and then I get an hour at bedtime I feel a little relief. Trying to avoid PAWS but thereās no guarantee especially if I have to quit other meds too. Any opinions or good advice for meš¢?
Iām feeling like life is not worth it with this unhappiness, agoraphobia, fear of making decisions and dr appts or meeting friends, apathy and constant intra dose withdrawal feelings.
My Dr has poly drugged me trying to help my symptoms. I feel like Iāve hit tolerance on something or withdrawal while tapering diazepam or maybe all meds & that I get no relief between doses 3x a day. Is there a magnesium with or without calcium that is recommended to help inner trembling and withdrawal?? A specific brand and combo that will not make my gastro symptoms worse too! So much irritates in the worst way! Donāt want to Use Facebook and have my name on there.
I have no life left and want so much to be a good wife, Mom, grandmother, fun happy friend and person again .
Please help!
I am in your shoes totally and am ready to jump out of my skin and off the roof!!! Nobody understands and they think I am crazy!!! So do I!!
Have nowhere to go!
I am in your shoes 100% and it is so hard and I donāt want to end up in rehab. My anxiety is so severe it is torture! I have agoraphobia too.
If you need the drug, to get out of the house, then why get off of it? Klonipin is not as depressing as Valium and has to be taken less often.
I have taken a Valium and am depressed the next day. Y
I was able to leave the house on klonipin.
Donāt give up.. you are in a loop.
I need help I was on Ativan for 30 years and have been off for 7 months and I donāt have a life anymore please help
Iāve been on for 26 years, still at .25mg clonaze, life is difficult! š
Iām so sorry you are going through this. I can only imagine how bad the withdrawals are after 30 years. Iām so sorry because I know what it feels like to go insane coming off this medicine. ā¤ļøšā¤ļø
Why did you get off of a medication that works?
What is the body of research or evidence you use to support the assertion that one can go into withdrawal while on a stable dose of a benzo, in addition to tolerance?
I’m not seeing this anywhere else in the literature
Thank you
Sorry, didn’t mean to be anonymous. I’m Laura
I donāt know about studies, but I do know from personal experience that this does occur. I was on .5 mg twice a day once in the morning and once at night for three years right around the three-year mark, my mind and body started to come unraveled and I couldnāt figure out why. I did testing that cost me $2500, just to find out that there is no Health issue that should be causing my symptoms. They raised my dose .5 mg, so I would be taking three doses of .5 a day instead of two and all my symptoms disappeared. This is a real phenomenon, Even if it is anecdotal. And if all there is our anecdotes, this should be a very easy study to prove its real.
There are people who benefit from Clonazapam. I am one of them. I started noticing panic attacks as a young person. Certain places and audiences would make me sick with panic. This went through college. I also suffered horrible post partum depression . Iām going to be 79 and do not want to deal with horrible withdraws at my age. Iām currently cross tapering off Paxil and onto to Lexapro. Itās not fun. Thank goodness I can take something to help me with the changes due to the withdrawals.
Mjdennis
I have been on 2mg of this for a little over a year. I to feel I have developed a tolerance as I am having bp spikes again, anxiety and panic attacks. I have never gone over 2 mg. I am not a drug user. I didn’t even want to be on it but after trying several other meds this was the only med that worked at first without horrible side effects. Now I am reading about so many problems with this drug and want to come off but not sure what is safest for me. I read about doctors tapering you off slowly then I read it’s best to be in a detox center. I don’t know what to do…..I just know I want off.
Iām so sorry you are stuck. Just like me. Research the Ashton method. Itās the only way. šā¤ļø
In exact same boat as you. I wish I knew what to do. It was helping in the beginning but is now ruining my life.
I kept trying to get off of klonipin, my heart rate would go upnton172 and I would be in The ER.
I am 70 and on for 30 years. I have decided I donāt want a heart attack, I have just relaxed and take the drug and get out of the house.
I still try now and then, but too many side effects. Everyone has actually encouraged me to stay on it with their stories.
Too much k always made my bladder spasm, unusual side effect but it was real. I spent all day in the rest room.
Iām tapering off Ativan with a compound liquid form.Can you experience withdrawals symptoms while tapering.
Absolutely! It is expected and universal. Each time you taper down, you will experience mild withdrawal symptoms as your body adjusts and starts producing GABA again. I hope you are doing well. šā¤ļø
Super scared… I hit tolerance with my xanax and i dont know if i should taper now… Or updose and then taper? Someone please help….
Me too!
Check out the Ashton Manual. You will need to Google it. I don’t have much information on it.
I gradually up dosed my prescription Xanax over 15 years. I reached 1.5mg at bedtime and was still having anxiety and some panic (although prescribed for sleep only!). I started a water taper last July and will be off this poison in October. I am tapering while in tolerance withdrawals and just keep tapering slowly. I’m so ready to be off this evil drug! Good luck to you!
Just checking in to see if you were able to rid yourself of this evil drug?
I have been taking sertraline and clonazepam for about 25 years. I was taking it for anxiety and had agoraphobia. It helped me very much until maybe 2 years ago. It stopped working and I’ve been experiencing depression, anxiety, overeating, sleep problems. I do not have agoraphobia but feel more comfortable if I stay at home. Is there anyone out there that can help me?
Karen there are groups you can join on Facebook. Please look into this, they can be very helpful. One is called Benzo withdrawal. Another one is Benzo friends.
Are you going to wean off or detox off since it’s not working anymore?
Sounds to me like you’re in the same place as me. Same reasons I went on clonazepam and same tolerance to it that I have. My doc wants me to taper off, but I’m not finding it easy to do. Talk to your prescribing Dr. They will know more than anyone, including me. On this board. Good luck.
What percentage of people actually hit tolerance? Reading this makes it sounds like everybody does. Been talking one the last 25 years now just at bedtime. Should I be worried? I have GAD sure to a head injury.
Iāve been on kl 30 years no tolerance yet. But reading all this is terrifying Iām 78 donāt want 3 years of pain not sure
Sa
Same. Iām 86 and back on 2 .25 and miserable. Tried couldnāt get off.
Eff benzos
I have been on Clonazepam for 32 years.
I was overwhelmed with phobias that interfered with just living. I have had 1 dose raise in all that time.
I tried to come off on my own initiative, thinking, since I had been exposed to all my fears over 15 years ( at the time ) I may have overcome them. I had a doctor monitor my tapering. Six months, with absolutely no withdrawal symptoms, I found out that all my phobias came back. Exposure therapy apparently, did not work.
So I went back on.
I would have to say that between my Clonazepam and my anti depressants, I was given a life. I have been more than grateful for these drugs for 32 years. I am 71 years old now.
I am stumped at all these cases with so many problems.
No idea why people have had so many problems.
Ii am tappering of diazapan. Took it for anxiety. Anxiety is a lot worse. My doctor said I won’t get withdrawal symptoms. How do i know if it is vwithdrawal. I’m sure it is. Thank you
A friend had a terrible time with Tolerance Withdrawal; I was with him throughout. When I told my own doctor that my friend was on Clonazepam, my doctor gasped and said disapprovingly THATS A Benzodiazepine! as if that said it all.
I have been taking clonozapam since 2006. How do you get off.
Check out the Ashton Manual. You will need to Google it. I don’t have much information on it.
For all the vulnerable people, especially during this pandemic, that medicines like klonopin help, your article is frightening and a real set up. If you more carefully clarified that this is āYOURā story, though these medicines very successfully help other people..I would feel ok, it is what happened to you, and respect your story. But this is not a black/white tale, and your presentation can be very destructive to vulnerable people who were made more fragile the past 15 months in this pandemic. Klonopin helped, but they still hurt because it is a very difficult time for us all, but especially for some with anxiety issues. Klonopin may not solve their problems, but certainly in some case(not yours!) it helps them. Reading the article which did not tell of the benefits, but rather only the stories of the deficits, can frighten someone who benefits from this medicine into not taking it.
Benzodiazepines ruin lives ! Iām being 100 ! You go into tolerance or Interdose withdrawals. Benzonn no injury happens to everyone on the medicine and should not be taken for longer then 3 weeks ! Please understand. I have been going through benzo withdrawals after taking it last year for almost 9 months ! I am a healthy women . And the benzo is the worst hell to come off of . While on it is hell when stops working . I hope u take this into consideration that the drs donāt know what to do for u once this happens! I beg u ?
I’m 76 years old and was given diazepam in my 20s when out of nowhere I started having debilitating anxiety attacks. Doctor’s had no idea why, though i was diagnosed with a “thyroid problem” – later found to be Hashimotos. I leveled out and was doing fine on the diaz, no increases, achieved my dream of becoming a writer and spent the past decades as a successful publisher/editor. No increase in use, no side effects, mind working fine. Now my doctor says that because I’m ‘old’ I need to get off. She had no idea how to do a safe detox, so she gave me two months of diaz and said to find a professional to help me. Still looking. The entire situation is really increasing my anxiety,
Dear Danielle,
This whole issue with benzos is getting out of control. If someone has been on a benzo long term and all the benefits outweighed any risk, there is no medical rationale to just cut you off. What your doctor is putting you through it horrible. I know, because I am going through the same thing. My anxiety is also very high. Maybe we need to organize and start filing lawsuits against these incompetent doctors across the country. People are suffering and even dying from the withdrawal symptoms. Why fix something that is not broken? Regards, Anita
I agree. A doctor should never just cut someone off diaz. Rather they should initiate a taper plan or help their patient find someone who knows what they are doing before taking them off the benzo.
After doing a lot of research and reading the feedback of many, many benzo users posting on Facebook, there really is a problem with benzos, especially with withdrawal for many.
I’m down to 5 mg and once I’m under the care of an experienced doctor, which will be soon, I’ll continue tapering. However, it’s been suggested because of my “elderly” age I might benefit by holding at a small dose. It all makes me very nervous, but then in life you never what’s coming next…
What a jerk, get a new Dr.
Iām in tolerance withdrawal and klonopin helped me for years before this happened but the medication is not meant to be used long term I wish this werenāt true Iām suffering terribly now but it is a real thing.
Im suffering from 3mg of klonopin a day. I just started feeling deathly ill the past 4 days this is my second time on them the first time I did a rapid taper and I was so bad i couldn’t function get out of bed. Get dressed, leave the house , I had extreme anxiety ,and acquired Agoraphobia. So I went back on time after two months I just started feeling sick im not sure if it from the klotapin or antidepressants or suboxone they put me on when I was withdrawling. Im so lost its ruined my life my relationship. I need help!!
I hope you found out what was causing you to feel so ill. Yes this drug can help in many ways but if it doesn’t it is time to taper off and find a safer method to help anxiety.
I’m about to enter a rapid detox program. I’ve been on klonopin for 12 years and now on 3 mg a day, buy going through tolerance withdrawal really bad for the past 6 months.
What are your symptoms ?
Has anyone managed to keep working while going through tolerance and/or tapering off? This is my second time getting awful symptoms and I’m seriously about to give up on my life. Not in the sense of taking my life but rather than I just cannot keep working while feeling like this. I feel truly desperate and want my life back. I want to get off those meds and start living again. I can’t go anywhere alone.
My boyfriend has to drive me to work every day and I am not even able to walk to the bus stop.
An advice to anyone going through benzo tolerance or withdrawal: don’t let them put you on antidepressants. It just made things 1000 x worse for me. I just want my life back…
I agree! The antidepressant does-not help when youāve developed tolerance withdrawal to a benzo! 2 separate issues! Why donāt drs. Admit this?
Do you mean my antidepressant will not work I wasnāt put on it for withdrawal I was put on it for depression
I should say it dos not help me! Everyone is different! šš»
Why are you getting off a medication that worked for you?
All benzos are horrific. Should never b used
Yes, but they have their place in medicine
Does anyone know a doctor in the Phoenix Arizona area to help with getting off of Ativan. My sister has been tearing off 5 mg daily for 4 months and is down to 2.5 mg daily. She has terrible agoraphobia and must be in tolerance. We are stuck here. Our psychiatrist doesnāt go along with the Ashton method but we need her because no one else will give her this much Ativan. We are desperate for a doctor.
Can’t believe how many specialists I saw for all my strange symptoms before realising what I was experiencing! Figured it out myself- benzos tolerance! Try talking to a doctor about your discovery, not much sympathy and definitely no agreement with my research and opinions.
My husband was in xanax for 22 years and kept gojng to doctors and emergency rooms for chest pain and many other bizzare symptoms, always with no answers and all tests normal. What a long , miserable life. After he decided to wean off( he had never increased his dose and only took it once or twice a day so was always in withdrawals), but no one had the brains to figure that out. After he decided to wean off the Xanax after he had weaned himself off of the anti depressants, antisiezure,and antipsychotic that he had been put on. He took 6 months to wean off and 8 months afterward, went into prolonged withdrawal symptoms. Of course, we have been going to specialists at a major University, every test normal for nearly TWO YEARS! They say, we do not know but if it was fatal, you would be dead by now. I figured out it was prolonged Benzo Withdrawal Syndrome by finding the Benzo site on the internet. No treatment for what my husband has and no one knows how long it will last or if it will even go away. My advice is, STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM DOCTOES!
Reach out to dr Jennifer leigh. Google her. This is a nightmare! With little help for us. Been struggling for 10 years PAWS. Prayers
What were your symptoms
What is a better benzodiazepine if I am getting tolerant to klonopin?
Tapering off benzodiazepines. https://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/
Discuss with your prescribing doctor and dedicate at least a year to tapering off.
Been on .25 for 4 weeks 1x a day weening off with liquid at .25 mg and got tolerance and weening off with liquid
I’m taking diazipan ( valium- 5mg) for anxiety, my anxiety seems to come from the hormone injections for prostate cancer, I quit drinking months ago & only take a valium once or twice a week, and it helps ( I am prone to panic attacks) are there other non- benzo drugs I can take? I take 60mgs Mirtazapine before bed but still get anxiety
Tya playing with fire on any benzo…all will turn on ya at some pt
Hi, I was just wondering how you can determine the difference between benzodiazepine tolerance withdrawal & an actual Psychiatric Problem? Both my medications have seemed to lose there effectiveness & my insomnia is getting extremely bad? Causing horrible physical symptoms through the day
See a clinician, get an assessment, learn stress tolerance and sleep hygiene skills. Benzos will stop working. They did for me and I used alcohol to sleep which was another whole disaster.