When to stop tapering and go cold turkey?
Posted , 6 users are following.
When you are tapering off Benzos, when do you say enough is enough and stop completely, ie (with Diazepam) is it 2mg, 1mg 0.5mg?
It feels like I have been trying to get off these things forever. Now even the smallest amounts cause insomnia mood swings and anxiety. I am down to 2.75mg from 15. I am doing water titration and am coming down at 0.006mg per day (2mg dry and toss 2ml/100ml from 1mg suspension) and still feeling pretty bad even though that’s less than 10% per fortnight.
I am thinking of taking 10 days off work, and going cold turkey on that (relatively) small amount (2.75mg), but don’t want any seizures or anything
Any advice would be much appreciated.
0 likes, 6 replies
tess33005 richard70589
Posted
You won't get seizures at that small dose, but you might get withdrawal symtoms/
How long have you ben tapering from the 15mg?
Finally DON'T go cold turkey on the last bit - you'll end up back where you started. I know it's a small dose, Richard, but the tapering has to be done correctly (i.e. very slowly) and stuck to until the bitter end.
It's taken me ten months to get from 30mg down to 8mg, and this was supervised by an expert doctor.
Ask me anything else if you think I can help.
Tess.
pat11500 tess33005
Posted
Hi Tess, In relation to the tapering question, I was prescribed Lorazepam 1 mg a long time ago and was advised to "take as needed" I do believe I have become dependant on them and I only now, in an attempt to stop taking them, have cut them into quarters (as best I can) sometimes it alleviates my anxiety and sometimes I have to take another quarter during the day. I go a couple of days without sometimes, but I seem to be always having to take it. I would really appreciate some advice here as I want to stop altogether. I also take Zolpidem to help me sleep (years on this).
tess33005 pat11500
Posted
I'm on night shifts at the moment but I'll get back to you.
Tapering off ativan and zolpidem is a challenge - you need diazepam.
Speak later xxx Tess
pat11500 tess33005
Posted
Thank you Tess, you are so helpful. I'm ok with taking the Zolpidem, Insomia runs in my family. It's really the Ativan I want to stop.
xx
Tezes richard70589
Posted
The smaller the dose the slower the taper is a general rule. It took me 8 months of tapering 10% each month. I think 10% a fortnight is too severe hence the withdrawals. At each cut if I didn't stabilise after a month I waited for more than a month before the next cut on two occasions I had to wait for 2.5 months to stabilise on the lower dose. I didn't stop completely until I was left with the size of a pinhead of the original pre taper dose. It takes patience but works these are powerful mind altering drugs so it takes a while for your nervous system to adjust to each cut. The very worst thing you can do is to go cold turkey as you could be left with permanent damage.
Good luck x
denyse07327 richard70589
Posted