Wikipedia defines kindling as: “the phenomenon of increasingly severe withdrawal symptoms that occurs as a result of repeated withdrawal from alcohol or other sedative–hypnotics with related modes of action” Those other sedative hypotonic include benzodiazepines. Kindling is a real phenomenon that can occur in benzo withdrawal. Let’s take a look at what may cause kindling and let’s dispel any myths about recovery after kindling occurs.
Updosing, Some people have such severe withdrawal symptoms during their taper that well-meaning doctors may suggest that they go back up in dosage to stabilize then taper again. The problem is that we may not stabilize after an up dose, and our subsequent taper may produce even more symptoms, presumably due to kindling. However, it’s important to note that some people do find better footing at a higher dose and can then go slowly down. Everyone is different. If you want to avoid having to face the gamble of an up dose working or not, taper slowly the first time. Listen to your body. Be kind and gentle with yourself.
Reinstating. If you reinstate after a month off of your benzo it can backfire (as we’ve learned from so many who have tried it and shared their experience with the benzo community). You may not get stable and/or your next taper may be even more symptomatic, presumably due to kindling. Does that mean you shouldn’t reinstate if you absolutely can’t hold on another minute, especially after a cold-turkey? Of course not. It just means that you should educate yourself about the risks and make the best decision for yourself.
Going on and off a benzo. Some people have gone on and off their benzo without any withdrawal symptoms. They’ve taken them for months at a time with no consequences. Until now. This time, they’ve been slammed with withdrawal symptoms and can’t understand why. Kindling may be the reason.
You’ll recover if you’ve been kindled. You’ll recover, just like someone who hasn’t experienced kindling will recover. Being kindled doesn’t mean you’re damaged forever.
Kindling doesn’t predict being becoming protracted. It just means that you have more symptoms than you did before you were kindled. You may heal within the six to eighteen month average time-frame.
You don’t have to be frightened of kindling. Some people worry or obsess over becoming kindled. That isn’t necessary. If you do a slow taper, listen to your body, and be kind and gentle with yourself, chances are high that you’ll not be in a position to risk being kindled. If you’ve been taken off your benzo at a rehab or detox and you are considering re-instating due to severe withdrawal symptoms that are beyond your coping abilities, don’t worry if that will kindle you or not. If feel that you’ve got to reinstate to survive, live in this moment and don’t worry about the future. (That’s good advice for anyone in benzo withdrawal and after recovery!)
I’m living proof that we can be kindled and heal. No matter how many symptoms you have right now, you’ll recover too, even if like me, you were kindled. That’s the bottom line for anyone in benzo withdrawal: we all recover. You will too!
Please seek the medical care of a doctor who is educated about benzodiazepine withdrawal if you are concerned about kindling or any other benzo withdrawal symptom.
Thank you for the helpful info💁
“That’s the bottom line for anyone in benzo withdrawal: we all recover. You will too!” Thank you Jennifer! That line alone was one I need to read! It’s been over three months since I stopped clonazepam and I am still having withdrawal symptoms. It just seems like forever and I have been feeling a bit discouraged, but basically I know it will end. Reading your line “we all recover” reinforces my hope! Dan
Thanks Dr Jennifer for another useful blog. I am in the 12th month of benzo off but still facing severe symptoms like anxiety, fear, terror and sleeplessness. Most of the time I am feeling discouraged. I think I am kindled . Although feeling very much obsessed but confident that I will heal with in a few months. Thanks A K Singh
I am sure that I too was kindled. After being on 1 mg. Xanax for 13 years, in 2006 I stopped cold turkey and was put on Ambien but suspected I was sleep walking and returned to the Xanax. I was only off the Xanax for several weeks and had only mild anxiety and often wonder now whether I would have had full blown withdrawal at that time if I had not restarted it. One thing for sure it probably kindled me for my cold turkey July 2016 after I reached tolerance. I will always wonder had I never gotten off in 2006 if my withdrawal would have been as bad this time around….I think probably not. Everything I have read points to the fact that it is a very real phenomenon and it seems those of us with the worst withdrawals indeed was kindled at some time in their past. It is so tragic that this on top of just stopping this poison drug can damage us even further. Wish there was some way to warn people to never take this drug and if they do to never get back on it once they quit the first time. I guess all we can do for the thousands of souls still on it is to pray they never get kindled. Praying for complete recovery for all of us, Kathy
Week three of cloazapam 2 mg at night for sleep. Cold turkey for week 1 – totally unaware of the bento withdrawal symptoms- nausea , dizziness , fatigue, loss of appetite. Called prescribing internist who told me go back on . 5 mg for a few weeks. Now mt w/d symptoms have decreased it gone as I start week 3 of this lengthy process and found your site- OMG I never would have started this drug 5 years ago had I known!!! Hoping you go completely off slowly but keep reading how it could take years for w/d symptoms to go away. Now that alone is a trigger for my anxiety! How easily physicians prescribe this drug and how disasterous it is to rid yourself of the poisonous control it has over your total body! Thanks for writing each of your comments help me know I am not alone in this journey. Louanne
Hi Jenn, Hope you are well. I don’t think I kindled as I took them for 15 years straight at the same dose. The withdrawals are completely barbaric, I am now 6 and a half months and feel like my life is over. I have nerve pain all over my face and scalp, throat, spine and legs. My stomach sounds like a washing machine and I have bouts of vomiting. I continually have squeezing all over my body. On top of the afore mentioned I have lost my ability to think clearly. I have just re-read your post on the 6 month wave, I think I might be right in the middle of it. No human or animal should suffer like this, it is ungodly, and degrading. I’m totally disgusted by so called “health professionals”.
Sorry for ranting and thank you for listening.
Love and hugs across the Pond
Jackie
Edinburgh
My thoughts are with everyone who comments x
I will keep you in my prayers as I begin week 3 of gradual withdrawal from cloazapam 2 mg for sleep innocently prescribed by physicians for 5 years never stating to me the again of getting off this poison!
Please someone help me. I’m terribly suicidal. I’ve kindled twice and I’m still tapering. I can’t sleep, my skin burns, my hair is thinning & falling out. I don’t think I can stand to live another day like this. How do I get through this.
Jennifer,
How many people suffer as terribly as we do? For instance how many people do you consult? Why is this not recognized by the medical profession? Why is it sooooooo many people can take high dosages, go to a rehab, and walk out fine?
Hello dear jen, Jackie and everyone else on this arduous journey. Yes… I was kindled. It was a difficult family funeral involving staying away from home. I only took one higher dose, but it was enough I think to cause mayhem.I’m praying for everyone. I’m finding bone broth really healing. Also homemade kefir ….Helps with the benzo belly .much love and big blessings, nicki
Hi Jen, I am still plugging along, definitely not where I’d like to be, however I will persevere. I also suffer severe adrenal insufficiency. I had No idea the implications. When I saw my Rxing physician a few weeks ago, he said to just take some pathogenic herbs, DHEA, a few other things and I should be good to go. What a mess. I’ve also been taking vaginal valium in cream and suppositories, I had No idea that added to the load. I was told that it would be localized to those areas and not get into my system like the oral. WRONG . I’ve had to reinstate the oral at a higher dose, and getting much grief from my physician. I managed to contact a specialist in adrenal ISSUE (Dr Lam) I had NO Idea what a mess I am in due to the lack of knowledge in this physician. It’s definitely a double whammy and I’m feeling very overwhelmed.
I hope to soon be able to talk to you.
Thanks for listening. I’ve private messaged you in the past, it’s REALLY difficult when there’s NO support.
Should read adaptogenic herbs. Not pathogenic
Jennifer, I am confused. Nicola said she thought she was kindled because she took a higher dose One Time during a time of stress….would that cause kindling? I thought kindling happened when you completed stopped and started back at a later time or when you are tapering and go back up on the dose for a period of time not just one single dose. The reason I ask is because thru the years a number of times under bad circumstances I would take an extra does just for one day and am wondering if that cause withdrawal to be worse later down the road. Thanks Kathy
I am not sure that one “rescue” dose would kindle someone. Rescue doses shouldn’t be taken very often as the brain doesn’t do as well with the up and down doses. It seems to do best with a steady dose that is slowly tapered.
I am so sorry that you are suffering so much. Many people DO suffer extreme symptoms in benzo withdrawal. Not everyone gets off without a hitch. If you are suicidal, please seek help. Talk to family or friends, or go to a hospital where you can be safe. You will recover, in time. We all do. Millions of us have gone through benzo withdrawal; you are in good company. Please hold on. Better days are ahead.
Hi Sharon, did you have Addison’s disease (adrenal insuffiency) confirmed by an ATCH test performed by your endocrinologist before Benzos? Or was it confirmed by a 24 hr saliva test during benzos? I know everyone’s different, but benzos do skew a saliva test. There is a HPA Axis dysfunction that occurs with benzo use. I had a perfectly good thyroid radiated due to benzos mimicking Graves Disease. I was put on hydrocortisone acetate (steroid for AI) for 3 years. There was never anything wrong with my adrenal function. I took all the supplements for adrenals and contacted Lam as well. Bottom line it’s all fuel to the fire unless you do have Addisons diagnosed by your endo. The steroid was as horrific to taper as my klonopin and xanax. They also had me on a beta blocker, that I should’ve never been on and had to take months to taper. I Had so many more drugs added as fuel since I didn’t know what was happening to me, doctors just kept adding. . Just thought I’d pass that info to you for what it’s worth and do not let them put you on a steroid or adrenal supplements. These make it only worse and one more thing to taper. Anyway, hope any of this helps.
Hi Jennifer Thank you for sharing your personal experience with others. There are many personal horror stories online that deal with benzo withdrawals ~ with varying degrees of articulation. To have someone with a doctorate in psychology who possesses excellent communication skills ~ relating your story gives much needed clarity and some level of objectivity.
After reading several of your interviews and articles published in various sites – I was able to find this blog. I’m one week post-jump at the end of a 7 month taper off of Clonazepam, where I switched to Diazepam & used an Ashton tapering schedule. It was a brutal experience to be sure, yet I feel luckier than most as I experienced clusters of mainly physical symptoms. The worst being severe headaches and gastric pain, with all the other symptoms being more or less tolerable. On about 4 or 5 occasions during the taper, I did resort to single ‘rescue’ doses of no more than 10mg Diazepam at a time, in addition to a non-opiate analgesic. My experience was that these didn’t appear to have a ‘kindling’ effect and was able to carry on at the level of Diazepam that I was taking at the time. Here at 1 week of being totally off of any benzo, I’m feeling very positive that I’ll be able to beat this thing. If I need any single ‘rescue’ doses down the track in addition with an analgesic – I shall take that with your reassuring advice of doing what’s necessary, without the fear that it may be kindling my brain.
I’ll be reading your past and future blog posts and shall update on my recovery progress at a later date.
Again, thank you for sharing your experience and creating this blog for others to share their experiences too. It’s very encouraging and reassuring information. Cheers.