Just Updosed on Valium to get off Ambien

Dear Jessie, I can't thank you enough for your kindness in replying. I was doing very well in my taper--no symptoms at all reducing from 5 mg of valium to 2 mg. Then I stopped because I was on call for my sister's care.After I started taking ambien, I became dizzy but no other symptoms until I started to taper--maybe too fast under the advice of stupid doctors who don't know about benzo wd. I was tapering off ambien ever so slowly during the last 8 months and then crossed over to valium per Ashton protocol because valium has a long half life. I thought I would feel less symptomatic! I feel so afraid of updosing because what if I keep having to updose to feel well? What is the upper limit? Did you ever have to updose and what dose did you take if I may ask? Also were you symptomatic at all? It seems like you have had a fortunate easy time of getting off! At least withe the Ambien I was reducing by 5 per cent every three weeks and more and was so symptomatic! Hope to hear from you soon and again, thank you for your ideas! It does give me hope that maybe I can get off hearing about your success!  Lily

My own relationship with Valium began with the sudden loss of my younger brother just over 9 years ago, so, without understanding your feelings completely, I DO feel I can relate to you a little...❤️

Jane, Thank you so much for your reply! I think you are quite correct in the opinion of not upping/tapering and then going back again! It only creates even further problems down the road. My own tapering had gone smoothly until ambien was introduced. I am so glad things are going smoothly for you. May I ask what dose of valium you were on, for how long, and what your taper schedule is? Are you almost done? Lily

Well, much higher than you!  I have a naturally high tolerance to benzos, so am tapering down from 60mg which barely touches my anxiety.  I used it for about 4 weeks (first time since my brother's death) and was able to function completely normally.  It's going well - about 10mg less per week -  and I am speaking with my doctors as I go through the journey.  I have never tried Ambien, though - is it something to be avoided?

Jane, I think all benzos should be avoided now that you are trying to get off of one. If I hadn't  touched ambien, I probably would have been ok with my slow taper off valium.i had no wd symptoms coming slowly off off 5 mg valium to 2 mg valium. Funny things started happening once I started ambien.After I started my taper off ambien, I became very symptomatic due to too big a cut that my doctor recommended. 10 mg ambien to 7.5 in one week. Then 7.5 to 5 in another week.Remember as you start getting to lower doses, be more conservative in your cuts.However, it may just be that you can handle big cuts! Also you have only been on benzos for a short period of time, so your CNS and gaba neurotransmitters are probably not too downregulated and you will heal faster than someone like me who has been on a benzo for a long time though a low dose.read the Ashton manual on benzos,also Dr Reg Peart. A lot of doctors know far less than we do about benzo wd syndrome! Take care!

I also have a very high tolerance to benzos and the 'z' drugs, one of which is 'ambien' - trade name for zolpidem. I was taking 140 mg diazepam daily - sometimes more. When I finally sought help I was cut down to 30 mg daily immediately, which terrified me. However, I found that I coud manage perfectly well on this. My doctor wants me to get down to an acceptable level (2 - 10 mg daily.) He believes that with my history, this would be a success, and I'm inclined to agree with him. So, to those of you struggling to get from 5 mg to 2 mg, I can only say that this woould be something I'd personally be proud  to get down to. Don't mess things up with promethazine, zopiclone or zolpidem - just stick to diazepam and reduce it slowly. Really slowly. Admitting you have a problem is the most important firt step towards recovery.

Jessie,   Thank you for your encouragement! It

Jessie,Thank you for your encouragement. The Ambien most definitely messed me up as I was tapering slowly but really well down to 2 mg from 5 mg valium. No symptoms whatsoever. It already has been since Nov 2013 that I started taking ambien and have been tapering since Feb 2014 so I have been suffering for well over 1 1/2 years! I Updosed to 4 mg valium to drop the remaining 3.6 mg ambien due to the short half life of ambien. This has been advised by Ashton manual. But now I have the long journey ahead. It seems like I can only taper by at most 5 percent and hold for quite a few weeks. This can take forever at 4 mg. But I am prepared to do it. You seem to have tapered off quickly ----in less than a year? How large were your cuts and how long between cuts did you take? It seems as though you have a good doctor!

Hello Lily,

I did  a slow withdrawal, 4 weeks between each drop in dose.    It took me a year,  my dose was as prescribed for muscle spasm but increased as and when required so nothing regular.  I never increased at any time during the withdrawal.

My Dr.    -   no support or patient care of any kind during the entire process.  I was told to come off it and that was that,  no advice of any kind given to me as to how to do the withdrawal,  I was told it would take a year,  never saw my Dr. again.  No family to give me support,  unable to access the web for advice due to severe pain,  It  was 5 months after final dose before I was able to get online.   

It was not easy.   I did start to feel better after about eight months from  last dose,  still having withdrawal syptoms a year and two weeks after it, but -  baring the w/d symptoms which came in waves and lasted differing periods of time I felt better in myself.   I took the Diaz for over 30 years,  it obviously had quite an impact on my life but I did not realize it while taking it.  I am still coming to terms with it all.    It is hard to explain feeling better being off it and  still having episodes of w/d.  At this point in time am good,  I don't know if or when there will be a next episode,  time will tell.    It has made a big change in my personality,  how much of this is anger / annoyance / bitterness  with my lack of information and support from my Dr - who showed no 'Duty of Care'    I don't know.    Complaining would be a waste of time, it is all over now.  It was hard enough for me to deal with the w/d and current health issues  to  complain while going through it,  I was far to ill,  had no support of any kind.   I did come onto this forum where I was told horror stories about how bad it is,  sue the Dr,  tell the papers - that was not support or helpful at all,  this was from people  unable to come off the drug and who had family and a Dr who let them continue to carry on taking it.

That Lily is the reason I have not said much about the symptoms,   I will though continue to state that I am better without the drug,  pleased to be off it.    It is feeling alive again,  I did not realise how dulled my brain was.   Another reason I would not complain - no matter how negligent my Dr was,  emotive words,  but when you have no support or anyone to talk to  it would have been impossible for me to go through the w/d and start making complaints or takeing any action.   Six months after my last dose I did have a telephone conversation with my Dr,  no matter how many times I mentioned the drug he would not reply to me  and although I rang due to the severe pain I was in he would not help me in any way.   I am taking very strong pain meds and should be monitered for using those drugs anyway  but I am not.    Young Drs  having taken on an established practice due to retirement,   doing what the Govt. directs to cut costs.   I was taken off them because of my age and the increased likelihood of falls and breaking a hip which in many instances leads to death from pneumonia.   They took me off the drug - end of.

Stay strong and positive Lily,  you will find it worthwhile when you finally get it out of your system and  life takes on a very bright and energised meaning.    1 mg every 4 weeks,  then 1/2 mg ,  then  1/4   ....  those weeks will  get by,   I can't guess at how long it will be after your last dose,  so many other factors come in,    lots of exercise,  walking is good,  plenty water,  apples , oranges  - protein for your muscles.  If possible stay off other similar drugs that may prolong the time taken to get a clear system.

I do wish you well,  you can do this you know,  I promise.

warmest regards

Jessie xx

Dear Jessie, I so appreciate your sincerity and the goodness in you to share your story! You have been through so much and all on your own! I am so sad that your doctor and the health care system ditched you... But you are so right not to be bitter, not to complain, and to move on! I have support but my story is no different than yours. The doctors did a terrible disservice to me because they do not know about benzo wd syndrome. But I will not complain. I plan on getting my Valium compounded or titrated so that I can do very small cuts. It is the only way I can get off! My heart goes out to you and I hope we can chat more regularly by email if you want? I live in the US in California ---not from the UK but surprisingly due to Ashton and others people in the Uk seem to be more aware than we in the US. I hope that there will be no more bad waves for you! It does seem like you are coping well! Hope you will agree to a more personal correspondence by email! Love, Lily

Hello Lily,

I hope you will not be offended when I say  'No '  to  email correspondence    I have said all I can really,  I do not spend a lot of time on line as it is to painful to do much typing,  using the mouse even to browse.  

I will suggest you go to YouTube and have a look in there from people who have come off Diaz.    There is  quite a lot of information.

I saw your post Lily and I wanted to give you something positive,  coming off the drug can be done,  not easily,  but if you want off,  have to come off,  you can and will.     

Others may reply to you telling you how hard it is,  that you don't need to come off.

The Ambien caused problems,  other drugs may do the same,  you say you came down from 5mg to 2mg before the Ambien with no problem,  in theory you should be able to do so again,  unless you are still taking the Ambien - or other drugs.

I do wish you well Lily,    it's a new year and I hope it is a good one for you,  you look forward to a positive new life free from vallium.

Warmest regards

Jessie x

 

Jessie, of course I am not offended! I so appreciate your attempt to help me in spite of the pain in typing ! This is very kind of you and I am hopeful that one day you will be totally pain free. I am not on any other medications.That is why I dropped the ambien and crossed over to valium. The pharmacist felt that the synergistic effects of two benzos together might exacerbate the symptoms. I will take it slow and try to remain positive. Again,thank you for taking the time to try to help a stranger.... Love, Lily

It is essential to get a doctor who is an expert in drug withdrawal. Ordinary GPs are not experienced enough to assist patients. They often cut off your supplies suddenly and randomly because they do not understand the awful symptoms of withdrawal. God Bless you for sticking to it. I'm still on 30 mg daily and wil go down to 28 mg in three weeks, but I'm not afraid. Keep away from zolpidem (ambien) Love Tess.