Could there be a link between benzo use and Fibromyalgia?
Phooey! - 0.0% - 0 votes
Interesting. I’ll look that up. - 0.0% - 0 votes
Maybe - 0.0% - 0 votes
What tha!?! - 0.0% - 0 votes
I took benzos for more than 30 days. - 100.0% - 3 votes
I take them now to help me sleep - 0.0% - 0 votes
Teeta
New Member
Joined : May 2021
Posts : 1
Posted 5/16/2021 10:12 PM (GMT -6)
I was prescribed Clonazepam for 12 years for insomnia and anxiety. I was married to a physically and mentally abusive man, so I also have PTSD. Didn’t know anything about benzos. 6 years ago started having pain in neck, traps, jaw, head, arms, chest, thoracic. I never raised my dose, so I may have reached “tolerance”. Over the years pain gradually worsened and included a few other minor symptoms. 28 mo ago went to treatment for PTSD and chronic pain. They tapered in 10 days. Disaster!!! Pain went from 5 to 8 and has stayed. One day out of 8-10 weeks, might have tolerable symptoms. Muscles burning, stabbing, and pulling in those areas, numb fingers and face, tremor, confusion, dissociation, dizzy feeling of movement, numb hands and face, tinnitus, malaise, bouts of diarrhea, achellis tendinitis, sensitivity and or allergies to medications (can’t take ANY meds usually prescribed for Fibro!) and foods, and plenty more. I’ve seen dr after dr for diagnosis and have been to 4 treatment centers for chronic pain and PTSD. All say it’s PTSD. Last week I was diagnosed with Fibro. But what about benzos and the subsequent Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome? Every symptom is identical! See: benzoinfo.com . It’s hard to believe, but 4 of 4 treatment centers did not acknowledge this syndrome and only 2 out of many many healthcare providers have ever even heard of it. The hypothesis is the two may be linked as a causation. See: Pubmed, How Chronic Administration of Benzodiazepines Leads to Unexplained Chronic Illness. Just curious, how many of you were prescribed benzos, longer than a few weeks prior to Fibro diagnosis? What do you think about this possible link?
Thank You.
Sherrine
Forum Moderator
Joined : Apr 2005
Posts : 18413
Posted 5/18/2021 6:39 AM (GMT -6)
He, Teeta, and welcome! We don’t hear of members taking benzos so you probably won’t get a great response here. I also don’t know of anyone here that has had all these symptoms at the same time. So, my uneducated response would be that this is caused by withdrawal from benzos. We are not doctors so we are guessing along with you. It’s easy to label someone with fibro and some doctors have done this when they don’t know what it going on with the patient.
I’ve had fibro for 34 years and it affects the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. We also have fatigue...some worse than others...and also cognitive memory problems. These are the main issues with fibro. We can get weird things like a buzzing feeling or hot or cold spots on our skin. I’ve felt like water was running down my leg but of course none was there. These things definitely aren’t as severe as what you are describing.
For fibro I use ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, vitamin D3, magnesium malate, and a muscle relaxer named Robaxin (methocarbamol) to help control my symptoms. Exercise helps and so does trigger point therapy.
Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links to good info about fibro and it will give you a better idea of this illness and might help you see what really is going on with you. You will see that low vitamin D can cause a lot of symptoms too and it’s an inexpensive and safe way to help yourself. The same with magnesium, potassium, and even calcium. These all can cause muscle cramping and pain if your body is low in these vitamins and nutrients. If nothing else, trying these thing won’t hurt you but could possibly help you feel better!
Please let us know what you find out because we do care about you. Your symptoms sound horrible but hopefully they will get better soon. 👍
Sherrine
James9393
Regular Member
Joined : Sep 2012
Posts : 67
Posted 8/29/2021 11:17 AM (GMT -6)
Took me two years to taper benzos and 3 years to get through withdrawals - fibro is a cake walk compared to psyche drug withdrawal
Linda72
New Member
Joined : Nov 2021
Posts : 1
Posted 11/4/2021 11:54 AM (GMT -6)
I took benzodiazepines and agree with James9393! Worst drug ever made. Must do very slow taper. Mine was almost two years of hell going down by 2%/ every 2-3 weeks. Most docs are completely ignorant when it comes to tapering off drugs like this. I hope you start feeling better. It’s not fun. Best wishes!