8mg Valium to 2mg for a week (migraine) how long till I can stop?

[[Ar...]]

Hello, so I didn't get off the 2mg of Klonopin I started with initially as quickly as I thought I could.  My doctor has been really cool and switched me to Disappear after I went from 2mg to 1mg of Klonopin at once very painfully for about 17 days.  He gave me 10mg (twice a day as is the substitute value in the Ashton Manual).  I have to admit, I didn't combine Klonopin with Valium, and switched from one to the other immediately which was kinda rough, but not as rough as the 50% Klonopin reduction.  After a month on Diazepam I dropped from 20mg to 10mg relatively easy.  I visited my doctor and complained how difficult it was to cut the pills into quarters (they kind of turn to powder at that point [i am on the generic ones, not the fancy ones with the 'V' in them]).  Anyway I said I was ready to go down to 8mg so he wrote me a script for 4 x 2mg tablets (120 pills every 30 days) and also gave me propranolol to help (which it does).  Anyway five days ago I dropped from 8mg to 2mg.  I think the worse part was the muscle aches (so he called in Flexural for me which helped a lot), and the last really bad symptom is migraine like headaches which I'm taking Ibuprofen for, which doesn't do much.  Lastly for sleep a friend gave me 30 100mg tablets of Trazodone (told me to only take half) if I need it for sleep which I haven't used yet (just Benadryl).  I noticed the worse thing on this journey was going out with friends for even 2 drinks.  It felt like my hangover lasted 4 days and would send me into panic attacks.  So I completely cut out alcohol which helped a lot.  Anyway at this point it's my 5 day since I dropped to 2mg, and it's been about 32 hours since I took my last dose.  My head feels like it's gonna explode from a migraine.  It's very tempting to gobble up a bunch of Disappear but I'm determined to get off this crap.  I know I didn't follow the slow taper plan like in the manual and doing 50% reductions isn't recommended, but here I am now, and it is what it is.  Can anyone recommend anything to help with the migraines, or tell me if they think trying to just stop now is ok?  I have 3 refills on Disappear so supply is not an issue, I am just SO SICK of this months long process.  I've read withdrawal can cause seizures but if I can function stably on 2mg a day, is there really much of a risk of that anymore?  Thank you for any advice.. it's very appreciated.  I feel like I'm at the last leg of the race and just want off this stuff ASAP.

[Guest [ba...]]

What's Disappear?  I tried Googling it, but found nothing.

[[Ar...]]

sorry my Mac changed it, Diazepam

[[Ta...]]

Hey Buddy

 

I hope I have understand you correct. I am not American, so my English is not perfect.

 

But I understand that you drop from 8 mg to 2 mg Valium in only one week.

 

Well I am taping off from almost same dose as you. I have tried to make short cuts (dident work and caused very bad with drawal syndroms)

 

Just before Christmas I forgot two night doses. 2x5mg diazapam; which is equal to valium. The "punishment" came with full strenght just 3 days later. I allready noticed on the 2. day that withdrawal syndroms was coming. I just thourght "great - taping quickly makes me free earlier"

 

As I said 3 days after I was hit by a very hard panic attack. Heart was BANGING and sweath was spring even from my shin. I felt VERY bad - I had to eat the dose which I dident take earlier. 5 minuttes later I was 100% okay again.

 

My advise is: STICK TO THE PLAN.. - do not try to make it faster. It doesent work (for me and most others)

 

Taping is not so hard if you just stick to the plan and use long time benzodiazapins like valium or diazapam.

 

YES - and now I say "stick to the plan" - anyway.... I dident want to tap in the Christmas, som from Dec. 24 to Jan 02 I wasent taping my 0.08 mg pr. day. So yesterday I lowered my dose with 0,08mgx8days = 0,64mg. Meaning:

 

December 24 I took 10,02mg pr day. I took that dose until January 01. At January 02 I took 9.14mg and continued taping as planed.

 

I am really looking foreward to see if I will be forced to return to 10,02 mg again. I will be warned - I know my reactions; first my "nipples" becomes very sensitive (i am a man - forget it buddies ), my upper lip feels like sleeping, starting to sweath, instant tinitus. If my plan will not last and a panic-attack will come, I will as last - but I think I will try to only take 6-7 mg to stabilize.

 

Just told you this because its very-very dificult to give a forecast of your reactions. I will never do what you did. Maybe its right for you. I just think its better beeing patient than rist giving up a taping plan.

[[Ar...]]

hey, thanx for the reply.  Honestly going from 8mg to 2mg was not bad by the 4th day.  All the cuts I had made before were roughly 50% (2mg Klonopin to 1mg Klonopin, switched to Diazepam at 20mg, then after a month of acclimating to the switch dropped to 10mg, then 8mg, then 2mg).... I should have probably stayed at 2mg another week.  The headaches are killing me, but the flexeril and propranolol help with the anxiety and muscle spasms.  Anyway.. gonna try and go as long as I can and if it gets too bad, I'll take 1-2mg. 

 

I understand what you're saying.  I should have tapered slower.  But I have been doing 50% cuts since I started this taper.  I dunno why, but I like to just do a big cut and deal with the acute symptoms for a few days to a week.  This is the first time I'm going without any though, so I am just worried about the whole potential seizure aspect (which I'm not sure is a big concern at the dose I was on).  But yeah, I went from 8mg (I'm prescribed 2mg pills 4X a day), to 2mg and it didn't take long to acclimate.  Anyway the headaches are the worst part right now.  Best of luck on your taper plan, and  I appreciate the advice.  I'm in new territory hear so if things get really bad I'll go back to the 2mg a day for another week, drop to 1mg for a week and stop.  But I'm hoping I can just stop.  I'm so SICK of being addicted to a medication where the withdrawal symptoms duplicate the exact reason I was prescribed this junk to begin with.