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Long term diazepam use-

Posted , 4 users are following.

Aven
Aven

hi, ive been taking 10mg of diazepam daily for around 28 years.

I'm so over being owned by a tablet.

I have detoxed from SSRI drugs and feel better for it. It was very uncomfortable but worth it.

I know it's a long road ahead, but I'm ready, partly because I now live a 3 hr drive to doctor to get scripts every few weeks...this has to stop.

I'm wondering if there is any supplements to help the brain recover?

and is there anything natural I can use to lessen the side effects? * hopeful...

thanks

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Sears
    Sears Aven

    Posted

    Please make sure you taper very slowly. Hoping you have a supportive doctor.

    • Aven
      Aven Sears

      Posted

      I'm happy if it takes a year...

      I know how it feels to taper I have been on higher doses- while it feels raw I also feel myself coming back to life...sometimes I miss days just to feel the amazing highs - and the lows too.

      I've started a slow reduction.

      I was taking 15mg for 6 months and recently dropped back to 10mg.

      it wasn't as hard as I thought.

      the pills do nothing for me mentally, it's just a physical dependency. infact they have almost started doing the opposite of what they used to. I feel worse for taking them.

  • RubySlippers
    RubySlippers Aven

    Posted

    Hi Aven. I was on 3 mg of ativan which is equivalent to 10mg diazepam for 21 years. Took me about 5 months of tapering but I am off of it and so happy. I made sure every 2-3 weeks I tapered down no matter what. Wasn't anything that really helped me. Just knowing that I soon would be off was what motivated me. You most likely will lose sleep which I did forever. You never think its going to get better, but it does. Please google the Ashton's Manual as it can surely help. Just take your time and taper slowly. Please keep us posted. Ruby

    • Aven
      Aven RubySlippers

      Posted

      thank you 😊 I have a very supportive Dr. and friends too. Hearing success stories give me the confidence that things will be ok-

      I can do this.

      really appreciate your reply

  • RubySlippers
    RubySlippers Aven

    Posted

    Yes I did, but looking back on it....it is well worth it. I am disabled and have lots of medical conditions that require pain medications through pain management and with the new Arizona laws, I couldn't be on my hydrocodone and ativan at the same time. So I had to make a choice and that was to come off the ativan. So 3mg is equivalent to about 24 mg of diazepam. So I tapered about 25 percent every 2 weeks or more. I sleep do well now it is unbelievable. I should have never been on that much for that long. Hope this helps. I lost a lot of sleep but I survived. I am 63 years old. Best of luck. Ruby

    • Sears
      Sears RubySlippers

      Posted

      God bless you! Im 67 . Yikes! Getting ready taper Xanax. Will be switching to diazapam for the taper. Thankfully Im on no pain meds at this time. Glad to hear you're doing well!

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