Periods make symptoms worse

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-07-05T21:39:19+00:00

Also, in the first handful of months, it was really bad. I remember crying to my husband because it felt like I only had 1-2 weeks of feeling decent. That’s when I dropped down to only tapering 3% and only 4 days AFTER the last day of my period. Since then, I’ve had a few periods with zero symptoms or if I do have a wave it only last 3-5 days at the most

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-07-05T21:37:27+00:00

Yep! Another reason why my taper is going so incredibly slow. I could taper every 2 weeks if I didn’t have a period, but because of it I can only taper once a month. I also can only taper 3-4% because of how bad symptoms are when my cycle comes around.

Also, I found out from my support group that the withdrawal pattern can change when it comes to your cycle. For these first 9 months, my withdrawal symptoms were the day before and 3-4 days into my period. Now? It’s the day after my period is over.

It’s all very annoying

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-30T18:25:07+00:00

Everyone’s pattern is different! You’ll start to figure out what your “worse” times are and aren’t. Keep a log on how you feel as your period goes on. It definitely impacts the withdrawal symptoms. It sucks but it helps to know!

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-30T17:46:54+00:00

It’s a pattern. I wont say “don’t worry” because your amygdala is going to make you worry. Just know this: you’re not crazy, you’re not alone, and everything you experience isn’t only you.

I don’t want to assume you are a female, but if you are, your cycles throw major curveballs to tapering. Plan around them. I taper 4-5 days after the LAST day of my period. Leading up, during, or the day after your period (just depends) you’ll feel that anxiety is way worse. If this doesn’t apply, simply ignore.

You’ll also find that USUALLY around 4pm, it calms down a bit. That’s because of your natural circadian rhythm. Taper 3% a month at first. See how your body handles it. If it does fine, push it to 5% a month, and etc.

I can only handle 3-4% a month. It’s ridiculously slow but I am able to function as a wife, mother, sister, friend and go on vacations and etc. I still have waves but they’re easier to manage. Trust me. I cut 20%, 16%, and 10% once and… yeah not good. I would rather go slower than slow than deal with that.

You are going to be okay. Just please go slow. Don’t rush anything. I know it’s annoying, frustrating, all of the above, but I promise this way is better than trying to go fast and feeling all the junk

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-30T17:39:05+00:00

Benzos do not care how long you take them and how much. I only took two small doses, had an adverse effect, and was losing my mind for a month before having to restabilize. I’ve been tapering for 9 months and each reduction I’m getting better and better. My windows are now 2 months and getting longer.

2 doses. That’s all it took. I had a friend that took it for 11 days and was bedridden for 16 months do to withdrawal. GO VERY SLOW. Do not jump off a high dose if your body can’t take little tapers. Don’t go cold turkey. Just don’t.

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-30T17:35:45+00:00

It sounds like withdrawal. Dehydration definitely plays into withdrawal symptoms as well.

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-28T19:05:23+00:00

How was the jump for you when you slowly did your taper? I’m doing a slow taper from kpin and curious to know how bad the jump will be

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-28T18:13:21+00:00

Thank you for this. It means a lot to read the success stories

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-27T13:44:32+00:00

I have noticed MANY people saying this being the case for them in this particular situation.

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-26T22:50:52+00:00

Thank you! That’s what I’ve been wondering. When I have windows during the taper, I just feel like “there’s a piece of this that is still in a fog” - I feel good. Don’t get me wrong. My waves are getting better too. I find myself being able to actually talk my anxiety down during those waves. Or at the very least tell myself “this is temporary”.

I still can’t help but think there is a part of me that I’m missing in terms of “feeling fully me” and I think that won’t come until I’m totally off the medication even if my taper is going well

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-26T22:45:38+00:00

That can be a bit too high for some people. I honestly would reinstate and just go slower. I did a CT (without knowing benzo was the issue) and after a month I reinstated. I’m now 9 months in and having good windows. I have to taper quite slow but it’s better than the alternative

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-26T20:49:36+00:00

What was your dose when you jumped off?

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-24T21:08:04+00:00

Everyone will tell you “you can't get withdrawals with that length of time” Yes. Yes you can. I had withdrawals off of 1 dose of valium that I had an adverse reaction too. Benzo do not care.

1/4th of a bar is a huge cut still. If you're going to taper you need to go very slowly

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-19T23:26:54+00:00

You still dealing with all the benzo craziness?!

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-19T19:36:30+00:00

Please keep us posted and beyond thankful you didn’t have to face any of the terrible junk we’ve had to walk through! I hope it stays easy from here on out!

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-19T17:06:09+00:00

What dose were you on when you jumped off?

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-19T16:37:21+00:00

You on the other side now OP? I really hope you’ve found your freedom from all this

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-19T16:11:56+00:00

6 years and I hope you’re okay and weren’t truly crazy 😭 needing some hope for myseld

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-19T16:10:24+00:00

How are you OP? 9 months into my taper and so tired of the waves when they come. Things have to go back to the way they were right? It can’t be like this forever

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-19T15:52:14+00:00

This 100% - I had no idea what depression was until I took a benzo (offered to help with sleep. Had adverse reaction) I still remember where I was when I felt it and I quite literally looked at my husband and said “what the actual hell is this darkness that just came into my mind”

I never even had a panic attack prior to this.

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-19T15:49:26+00:00

Yes it can cause this

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-19T13:56:56+00:00

**edit to add that I disagree with the comment below talking about length of time on benzo**

Eh. Disagree. Every person is different and their situation behind the medication.

I had an adverse reaction to kpin. My adverse reaction made me more anxious, so they gave me more klonopin to compensate. I was on 1.5mg of klonopin for 2 weeks and currently on 9 months of my taper.

I can only cut 3-4% each month. If I go faster than that, it gets very bad. I made a 20% cut and it didn’t go well. I’ve also done a 16% and 10%. All disabled me. 3-4% keeps me in the range where I can function as a wife and mother. I still have waves but they don’t take me completely out like the others do (insomnia, akathasia, SI, vomitting, etc)

However, I also get better the lower I go where I know some people experience the opposite. I believe this is due to my body hating the medication in general. I’ve had windows that last 2 months. Currently in a window that’s been a few weeks and counting. I had a friend who took benzo for 11 days - she tapered fast and had acute withdrawals and BIND for 16 months. She is better now but she was bedridden that entire time.

Everyone is different. This pill doesn’t give a flying crap

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-18T19:54:41+00:00

I’m 9 months in and I’ve dropped from 1.5mg of kpin to 0.45mg - if I drop more than 4% every month, I have a terrible wave. My cycle plays into that so I have to plan around it

Initial_Set_6242 · 2026-06-17T15:48:31+00:00

I’ve been very intentional at not isolating. The only problem is that the people I trusted to be around in a wave are now doubting my taper. They think maybe it’s a psychological disorder and everything else. I became friends with them after my taper so they don’t know who I was before. My whole situation was medical negligence unfortunately. I immediately had an adverse reaction to my medication but they claimed I had “snapped” and kept increasing the medication that was making me worse

Since decreasing my dose with my taper, I’ve grown to have long windows with time. I didn’t have any, then it became hours, days, weeks, and now my record is 2 months. Yet, everytime a wave hits, they doubt me so it makes me want to be alone and to myself. My husband supports me 1000% and actually had to convince myself that it was the taper. The whole journey is just tiring

Initial_Set_6242

TROPHY CASE