Wanting to crossover from Ativan to Valium, suggestions how to approach doctor w

[Guest [...]]

So I now see my doc on Jan 12 to discuss coming off Ativan (generic) from 1.5 to 2.5 mgs of daily use. This is my second time around. 1st time I was on 1 MG and cold turkey. Now I have been on again at higher dose sincec11/28/16 at the 1.5 to 2.5 mgs daily, usually at night because I can't sleep. I also takex300 mgs of gabapenti which I want off of. I since the first cold turkey have had  terrible tinnitus.

So my questions...I can't just crossover to Valium, I have to wean onto it? Can someone give me an example? I know that I may need  15 to 25mgs of Valium, but how do o crossover? Any suggestions to bring to my doctor would be nice!

I fear the tinnitus and insomnia the worst! Will crossing over and slowly tapering possibly slow this?

One more thing...antidepressants... I have tried a couple and no luck. Would it be a good idea to discuss with my doctor?

Thanks in advance

[Guest [...]]

I apologize for my typos. Benzo brain. If you can't under what I am asking I will happily clarify.

[Guest [...]]

Please help...I am lost and ready to get off this stuff. I suspect that I am becoming tolerant ad with it my anxiety goes through the roof. Any suggestions to original post welcomed.

[[Ju...]]

I had no luck adding either SSRIs or gabapentin during tapering.

It is a good idea to stabilize on a single daily (once or split into multiple doses) dose before beginning to cross over so you know where you are starting from. Is it more like 2.5 or 1.5 mg per day? Trying to be "tough" and shooting for a lower dose can set you up in a difficult place to taper. Let's say it is 2 mg/day. The valium equivalent for ativan is 5-10X. So that is 10-20 mg/day valium. A crossover might look something like:

week 1- 1.5 mg ativan and 5 mg valium

see how you feel here. Are you sleeping all the time? If so, you might not need the 10X equivalent, but that sleepiness can wear off after a couple of weeks.

week 3- 1mg ativan and 7.5 mg valium

see how you feel here. Not sleeping? very anxious? maybe you do need the full 10X equivalent...

week 4- 0.5 mg ativan and 15 mg valium

Feeling ok? You could try tapering the ativan directly from here... or crossing to the full 20 mg valium, or crossing to 17.5 mg valium....

 

In my experience it is best to feel your way forward with your doctor's support and dont make a firm plan from the very beginning. As long as you end up between 10-20 mg valium and feeling fairly stable then you are in a good place to start tapering.

JKS

[[ho...]]

Pumpkin just explain all this to your doc and he should be able to help somewhat. There are lots of tapering methods in the Ashton Manual    Its trial and error with anti deps fluoxetine works for me.