advice for tapering VALIUM (after crossover from ATIVAN)

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OK, have only been on Valium for 2 weeks now (had been using it while tapering Ativan which is done now as of yesterday..) - current dose (a little variable) but generally no more than 2mg per day - jumped off Ativan at around .15 to .2 mg)

 

have only been on this journey for 11 weeks and do not wish to keep Valium going for long.. and my doc doesn't want me to draw things out..

 

given that my valium dose is only one fifth of what i started on with Ativan (1mg nightly) i don't expect it will be a big problem to taper this off reasonably quickly (say a few weeks)..?

 

my biggest concern is making my current symptoms worse (tinnitus and insomnia) - do i make these worse the longer i stay on benzo's? ie should i get off more quickly (but not ct)?

 

any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

Meowie?

 

XOX

 

 

[[me...]]

I would suggest to aim for a couple of weeks or so, since the Valium was a recent addition. With your usage, you can estimate the cuts and be fine, they don't have to be super-accurate. Sleep will probably be affected, so expect that, but it should resolve quickly after you are off.

 

The valium I have is in tablets and very crumbly. You could try a good quality pill cutter and see if you can get it into 1/4s or so. If they break up, sort them by size. You can make minor adjustments with a good quality (diamond) nail file. Kind of a mess but close enough.

 

The great thing about Valium is that it keeps your blood levels constant for so long, but that is also a drawback. Once you make cuts, you won't know how your body reacts for a while, up to 3 days or so (unlike Ativan). You are just going to have to make a cut (like 1/4) and see how that goes.

 

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meowie- i am sooo confused because some people including yourself (and my doc) say get off the valium quick/quickish, others tell me to do a slow taper.. one person just told me do taper over 4months and also to return to my week 7 dosage..?

 

thing is i am not stable, what i mean by this is my sleep is very inconsistent - slept good the night before last, but then last night complete disaster - one hour sleep maybe.. poor sleep really affects my mood tho i try to not let it.. also the tinnitus is bothering me.. plus i have to go back to work on monday and actually right this moment feel that i am not fit to work..

 

which option is best? quick or slow? these are the options

 

1. updose the valium to relieve some symptoms, stabilise and then do slow taper - the probs with this is that i i might have to updose quite a lot in order to get relief.. and then what?? possible re-emergence of symptoms when i start taper again.. so just prolonging the inevitable?? or would a slow taper prevent symptoms?

2. taper off the valium over the next 2/3 weeks, and put up with the withdrawals HOPING they will remit with time - my dose currently is around 2mg (varies atm so i need to decide on dose and stick with it, maybe go up to 3mg?)

3. as 2 above but add in melatonin, maybe use doxy at times

4. as 2 but if melatonin doesn't work try Mirtazapine - not happy with this idea as these can cause tinnitus also..

 

also should i spread the dose of valium out or take all in one hit at night?

 

oh meowie - please help me decide  !! no pressure lol

 

P.S. hope your doogie is better now? XOX

 

I would suggest to aim for a couple of weeks or so, since the Valium was a recent addition. With your usage, you can estimate the cuts and be fine, they don't have to be super-accurate. Sleep will probably be affected, so expect that, but it should resolve quickly after you are off.

 

The valium I have is in tablets and very crumbly. You could try a good quality pill cutter and see if you can get it into 1/4s or so. If they break up, sort them by size. You can make minor adjustments with a good quality (diamond) nail file. Kind of a mess but close enough.

 

The great thing about Valium is that it keeps your blood levels constant for so long, but that is also a drawback. Once you make cuts, you won't know how your body reacts for a while, up to 3 days or so (unlike Ativan). You are just going to have to make a cut (like 1/4) and see how that goes.

[[Tw...]]

I would just do a taper off current Valium dose of 2mgs and not add any other meds in so you can tell if your tapering is working. Can't tell you how long but if tinnitus and occasional sleep disturbances are your main problems your doing pretty good. Lots of folks here, myself included, would pray for just those symptoms, your fortunate honestly. Start reducing by 10% every 1-2 weeks (have to figure out by trying) and if that's too much do 5%. That's just the text book answer but recommended.

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hi there - i have crossed over already and am down to 1.5mg valium. i figure that because i have not been on these drugs for v long - just three months i can do quicker taper.. so looking at doing .5m valium every one to two weeks.. don't think i can avoid the withdrawals altogether (the sleep is bad, as is the tinnitus).. but hopefully these will improve after a time.. plus i figure that as i am also off, i'm over the worst of it? i hope..

 

I would just do a taper off current Valium dose of 2mgs and not add any other meds in so you can tell if your tapering is working. Can't tell you how long but if tinnitus and occasional sleep disturbances are your main problems your doing pretty good. Lots of folks here, myself included, would pray for just those symptoms, your fortunate honestly. Start reducing by 10% every 1-2 weeks (have to figure out by trying) and if that's too much do 5%. That's just the text book answer but recommended.

[[Tw...]]

yeah I mean your going to find out when you cut either way. I'm sure it wont be symptom free so don't be discouraged if it gets worse but your on a low dose and short time span so the odds are with you.