Daily Micro-Tapering Support Group

[[ga...]]

Healing, Remember, we're a bunch of benzo brains here! 

 

Congratulations! 

 

Gard

[[He...]]

Thank you very much gardener!!!  :smitten: I have a benzo brain but I manage to give congrats when I'm on here. Maybe this is not the venue for me. It's happened (or failed to) too many times. Aloha. HM

[[ed...]]

Thank you very much gardener!!!  :smitten: I have a benzo brain but I manage to give congrats when I'm on here. Maybe this is not the venue for me. It's happened (or failed to) too many times. Aloha. HM

 

Congrats Healing! 10mg is a great milestone! Now update your signature; that's one of my favorite parts of hitting a milestone.

 

 

Best,

Ed

[[Ma...]]

In studying this forum daily, many hours, for last 2 months, it seems that no matter how fast one starts the taper the length of taper is probably the same as someone who microtaper ed.  It seems they start big. Have major sx and then the end is a long tail.  That is why I made my decision to Mt. The desire to x off ml by ml is so strong but the suffering I have seen here is unbelievable when you try to rush and stress your nervous system. Does anyone else believe this?

[[bu...]]

In studying this forum daily, many hours, for last 2 months, it seems that no matter how fast one starts the taper the length of taper is probably the same as someone who microtaper ed.  It seems they start big. Have major sx and then the end is a long tail.  That is why I made my decision to Mt. The desire to x off ml by ml is so strong but the suffering I have seen here is unbelievable when you try to rush and stress your nervous system. Does anyone else believe this?

 

Absolutely.  We taper off of the med so our body can adjust to the declining dose.  No matter how fast you try to go, the body's recovery rate will not change.

 

It takes as long as it takes. 

[[Ma...]]

I'm only at day 3 with a million to go (ha).  Realistically,I know it's not going to be symptom less.  Can I have some feedback for higher does. (11- on what I might expect symptom wise? I know it's a huge span. Hopefully this will be my only taper so I don't want to get discouraged.

[[bu...]]

I started my daily microtaper at 9mg.  I had only minor, occasional sxs...sleep disruption, mild headache, tremors. But at the same time, there were also very noticeable improvements in my energy level, general emotional level, and other issues that my continued use of diazepam had obviously caused.  There were some definite positives from the vary beginning of my taper.

 

I only had significant sxs at 3.5mg.  Once I got past that point, I had zero sxs after that.

[[Ma...]]

That's extremely positive,Builder.  I have to ask. What were the symptoms at 3.5. And how long did it last?  Also do you use any form of medical marj?

[[Pl...]]

Hi all! [glow=red,2,300]10 mg today!![/glow]  I do have mild sx which vary. Today my eyes are blurry. Astigmatism; I can only assume that it causes my lenses to change shape. I mean, I can see OK except for reading the smaller print or like magazine print. Keep blinking. Hey, that's a "cadillac problem" as we'd say in AA. The other sx are sort of background.

 

@magnolis: glad you got what you needed and finally started your mt. I believe you will find it fine at that rate if you're like me. In answer to your questions, my sx only came on stronger once, and I held for 3 days. It was not serious. I did hold for a couple weeks due to a strong cold which was with me for almost a month; finally I just held to help heal. Otherwise I am doing well. My sx have not been worse at any time than when I tried the Ashton protocol back in 2013. That was severe and took months to get back to a baseline which included tolerance w/d. In fact the tolerance w/d was worse than during this taper except for that 3-day period. Times of extra stress can tire us out and bring it on, so I pace myself as carefully as I can. Oh, re the liquid: I've been getting it Rx from a compounding pharmacy but I'm going to use the vodka/water and pills because I need the $$ and Rx liquid is lots of $$! I have extra 10 mg pills, need to contact doc for 5's. So I can make my own. At 'way lower doses I may go back to the compounded but may not need to.

 

@Pleasebehere: so sorry you're having the tardive dyskenisia (sp) I did work in mental health for awhile and looked at some of those drugs. I suspect the Paxil and AD's. Could be a combo of all. Your nervous system is over-firing. My dream is for all psychiatrists to spend one hour experiencing w/d sx from these drugs. It would change the face of psychiatry. I so wish I had a solution for this. Hope it stops soon. Hugs, HM

 

Thank you so much for your well wishes.... I am terrified as I so much want this to go away.... I am fairly certain it was the ativan and visteral...(the second which I barely took)

[[bu...]]

That's extremely positive,Builder.  I have to ask. What were the symptoms at 3.5. And how long did it last?  Also do you use any form of medical marj?

 

The worst symptom at 3.5 was tremors.  There were days I really couldn't even use a keyboard.  And my sleep problems were worse, and my anxiety was elevated.  It really lasted until I did the small updose, then it took about 5 days for the updose to kick in.  After that, I was OK. 

 

The only adjunct meds I used during my taper was doxylamine or remeron for sleep.

[[Pl...]]

That's extremely positive,Builder.  I have to ask. What were the symptoms at 3.5. And how long did it last?  Also do you use any form of medical marj?

 

The worst symptom at 3.5 was tremors.  There were days I really couldn't even use a keyboard.  And my sleep problems were worse, and my anxiety was elevated.  It really lasted until I did the small updose, then it took about 5 days for the updose to kick in.  After that, I was OK. 

 

The only adjunct meds I used during my taper was doxylamine or remeron for sleep.

 

Builder... I think you also used propornol for tremors as needed also? my dr. gave me a beta blocker last night to stop these crazy adrenaline surges and tremors and tachycardia ... He feels if I take this as needed it might help make my withdrawal  just a little more bearable....

 

He stated that beta blockers are used quite frequently especially in drug withdrawals for this very purpose ( such as alcohol)

 

The timing was appropriate because I read about you discussing this the other day and then he brought it up to me last night...

 

 

He could see how I'm suffering and the crazy surges in my legs.. He feels the adrenaline and i believe its called ephinerine and norepipherine is most likely just creating more crazy anxiety which in turn is probably increasing the intensity of all my other sxs.....

 

He said they work by blocking these releases....  If the tachycardia and tremors lessen , teeth chattering you name it; hence most likely the anxiety as well and then perhaps my other sxs may decrease in intensity too...

 

I mean I am a bonafide mess!

 

He basically confirmed word for word what you said about the usefulness of them and how they work...( they do not work directly on the brain like a psychotropic)

 

Many people on here are against other meds when going thru this and I'm no exception but if you can use something as needed to help thru some unbearable sxs I'm thinking at least try.... Even the smallest amount...

 

Anyway... I'm glad you brought it up the other day...

 

I'm still scared out of my mind to try it though but will...the tiniest sliver of course at first.... I just get so scared because if I reacted to a probiotic I wonder how am I going to act to another med?

 

I worry about side effects such as dizziness and sedation ( not sure if it does that) because one of my hard to cope with sxs I have now is  over sedation and boaty feeling... I don't want that to get worse...

 

My understanding also is that it works on the physical anxiety aspect mainly ..which can create the mental...

 

Do you think his logic makes sense? just asking because it seems you've been there albeit maybe not as severe...

 

 

[[Ma...]]

I would love to hear from micro taperers that did not have acute at the end.  The more happy positive stories the better for EVERYONE.

[[ed...]]

I would love to hear from micro taperers that did not have acute at the end.  The more happy positive stories the better for EVERYONE.

 

I think the majority of people that are done and living life are not hanging out in this thread. I'd sneak a peek over at the Success Stories board. You may find an abundance of positive stories over there.

 

Best,

Ed

[[bu...]]

Builder... I think you also used propornol for tremors as needed also? my dr. gave me a beta blocker last night to stop these crazy adrenaline surges and tremors and tachycardia ... He feels if I take this as needed it might help make my withdrawal  just a little more bearable....

  Yes, that's correct.  During that 2-3 week period that I had bad tremors, I did take propranolol PRN

[[Pl...]]

Builder... I think you also used propornol for tremors as needed also? my dr. gave me a beta blocker last night to stop these crazy adrenaline surges and tremors and tachycardia ... He feels if I take this as needed it might help make my withdrawal  just a little more bearable....

  Yes, that's correct.  During that 2-3 week period that I had bad tremors, I did take propranolol PRN

 

Thanks builder for answering....

[[ga...]]

Thank you very much gardener!!!  :smitten: I have a benzo brain but I manage to give congrats when I'm on here. Maybe this is not the venue for me. It's happened (or failed to) too many times. Aloha. HM

 

HM, Could possibly be this is not the venue for you. Sometimes it's not the venue for me, and I take a break for awhile. Hope you find a place that works for you. Don't give up!

 

Gard

[[ga...]]

Oh drat, I was 2 hours late on my afternoon dose today.   Somebody tell me it won't matter. Even if you think it will!

 

BTW, with these slow benzos, how long would it take to notice something like that? I was tapering X before and felt everything very fast.

 

This weekend I plan to bravely dissolve one more capsule on my way to starting my MT up again! Except now I'm paranoid because of the late dose today.

 

Gard

[[ga...]]

I've read a lot of bad press about the Gemini gram scale on Amazon.  Does anyone have comments or suggestions for alternatives? 

[[ga...]]

I've read a lot of bad press about the Gemini gram scale on Amazon.  Does anyone have comments or suggestions for alternatives?

 

Liquid titration.

 

I think a better scale would cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

 

Interestingly, I've read good stuff about the Gemini, with the caveat that it is as good as an affordable scale gets.

 

Gard

 

P.S. If builder or SG disagrees with me, go with what they say!

[[ed...]]

I think the Gemini scales are fine and dandy for most people. What I did was buy 2 since they are so inexpensive. I always like to double check my work. 

 

Best,

Ed

[[bu...]]

Oh drat, I was 2 hours late on my afternoon dose today.   Somebody tell me it won't matter. Even if you think it will!

 

 

 

Gard

 

It won't matter! 

 

And I'm not telling you that to make you feel good, it really won't matter!

[[ga...]]

Oh drat, I was 2 hours late on my afternoon dose today.   Somebody tell me it won't matter. Even if you think it will!

 

 

 

Gard

 

It won't matter! 

 

And I'm telling you that to make you feel good, it really won't matter!

 

Thanks!!!!

[[ga...]]

edzo, that's great idea!

[Guest [ba...]]

I've read a lot of bad press about the Gemini gram scale on Amazon.  Does anyone have comments or suggestions for alternatives?

 

That's interesting.  The scale gets a 4+ star average rating.  Most people (myself included) think it does a pretty decent job for the money.  It's not a Mettler XS64, but if used properly, it will give results within a few milligrams which is plenty accurate enough for tapering benzos.

[[fi...]]

I've read that there is a spreadsheet somewhere here at BB for computing and tracking my micro-taper - can someone tell me where I might find it??

 

Thank you!