40 years gone

[[hi...]]

I have been on valium 20s and temazepam 10s for 40 years and need help to get off them, I needed them for insommnia and anxiaty, now I cant do without them. I want to reduce them but dont know how to. Need help and advice please!!

[[me...]]

Hello hillwalker.  Welcome to the forum, we're glad you found us!  Congratulations on deciding to get off valium.  We have many members here who've been on benzos 10, 20, or more years, and often we do not realize how negatively they've affected our lives until we're finally off of them.  We generally recommend a taper rate of about 5-10% every 10-14 days. Here are a few links you may find useful:

 

General Taper Plans

 

Withdrawal Support (during your taper).

 

The Ashton Manual is an authoritative source on what to expect in withdrawal and recovery.  Dr. Ashton is an expert in the field.  She describes and explains withdrawal symptoms, and there is also a section with withdrawal/taper schedules.

 

Please take the time to Create a Signature.  This will allow others to see where you are in the process so they can better support you.

 

Again, welcome!

 

 

[Guest [Mi...]]

Hi, hillwalker. I'm so glad you found us. I was on benzos for 30 years and finally came off in June.

 

Go slow and you'll be fine. Like megan said, there are a lot of folks with long-term use who've successfully come off and we're here to help you, too. 

[[be...]]

I have been on valium 20s and temazepam 10s for 40 years and need help to get off them, I needed them for insommnia and anxiaty, now I cant do without them. I want to reduce them but dont know how to. Need help and advice please!!

 

Welcome  I was on high doses of benzodiazepines for over a decade. I suffered horrible from insomnia and anxiety during that period. I stopped them one year ago and went through a horrific withdrawal because I stopped cold turkey. However, at one year out I consider myself healed. My anxiety is greatly reduced and I no longer have insomnia. I never realized until I stopped that it was the benzodiazepines that created the high anxiety and insomnia. I think if you do a slow taper that you can greatly reduce withdrawal symptoms.