Ashlee Stroupe Success from Benzos

[WebDevElijah]

Hey everyone,

 

I have decided to share my success story about coming out of Big Pharma Hell and getting a second chance at life. Please bear with me, as it’s long and I still have some issues with words. On Monday, September 2nd, I celebrated three years off benzos, opiates, and a slew of other medications.

 

I was severely poly-drugged and under the care of a doctor who was forced into early retirement by the DEA three and a half years ago. This led to me being abruptly taken off these medications when my new doctor discharged me due to three positive drug tests for THC. Looking back, cannabis saved my life, as it forced me to confront my dependency on the medications I had been taking for over a decade.

 

It all started when I was 17 and got into a bad car accident. I was prescribed opiates, muscle relaxers, and antidepressants. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have been put on psych meds—I was simply recovering from an accident. By 19, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, leading to years of physical therapy, countless doctor visits, and an ever-changing cocktail of medications. I was always on an antidepressant, opiate, muscle relaxer, and Ambien for sleep.

At 25, I was hospitalized for severe stomach issues. After a week of tests, the doctors found nothing physically wrong and suggested it was stress. My primary care doctor then prescribed 3 mg of Klonopin daily, which resolved my anxiety immediately. Over time, my anxiety worsened, and the dose increased to 4 mg daily. I also developed interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder condition, and my fibromyalgia worsened. Eventually, I was referred to a pain management doctor.

 

Under this doctor’s care, my medications escalated. By the time he retired, I was on 10 mg of Klonopin daily, 50 mcg of Fentanyl, 120 mg of Oxycodone, Ambien, Soma, Seroquel, and many others—13 medications in total. My new doctor was shocked by my Klonopin dosage and required proof before prescribing a reduced amount of 4 mg daily. She also warned me about her clinic’s THC policy, which ultimately led to my discharge.

 

Losing access to my medications forced me into an abrupt withdrawal. I began tapering Klonopin on my own, dropping 1 mg every 4-5 days, while simultaneously stopping Fentanyl, Oxycodone, and other medications. By Labor Day weekend, I jumped off Klonopin completely. The withdrawal was beyond anything I could have imagined. I didn’t sleep for three weeks, hallucinated, and experienced severe physical and mental symptoms.

Eventually, I sought medical help and was prescribed Gabapentin, Seroquel, Amitriptyline, and other medications to manage withdrawal symptoms. While this brought some relief, Gabapentin withdrawal later caused significant challenges, sending me back into a benzo-like withdrawal state with derealization, depersonalization, and mental fog.

 

During this time, I realized I was in an abusive relationship. Breaking free from that situation became a turning point. I was forced to rebuild my life, securing a car, a job, and an apartment within three weeks—all while in withdrawal. It was one of the hardest periods of my life, but it gave me a second chance.

Today, I am 20 months out of that abusive relationship and three years off benzos and opiates. I still have two antidepressants to taper before I am completely free from Big Pharma, but I am nearly there. I no longer experience benzo withdrawal symptoms, and I’ve rebuilt my life. I’ve taken on the responsibility of caring for my mom, found us a beautiful apartment, and am now living a happy, healthy, and successful life.

 

 

To anyone going through benzo withdrawal: don’t give up. It gets so much better. Our minds and bodies are incredibly resilient, and healing is possible. Stay strong—you’ve got this!