Looking for some help with a Valium taper

[[Ca...]]

So I have been a member here for a couple of months, and have posted once - got such a strange response to that one that I am a little hesitant to try again but here goes.

 

I was very sick with Lyme for many years, and took massive doses of Gabapentin to combat nerve pain. Also took a variety of anti depressants and other stuff, which I was able to get off slowly. I came off the Gabapentin over 18 months, jumped to zero in July. Had hideous withdrawals, including intense pain and neurological stuff, insomnia, and such bad anxiety I thought I would die. I began taking Ativan every third day or so to keep from jumping off a bridge. On the advice of many here, I got my doc to agree to a Valium substitution and taper (starting in early November). Started at 4 ml a day, and felt great. When I dropped to 3.5 (1 and a half morning and 1 at night) I had a recurrence of anxiety and some nerve pain, but my sleep is still good. Is this to be expected? I know some people have said you should not feel a drop of .5 ml. Any reassurance or advice?

 

[[Va...]]

So I have been a member here for a couple of months, and have posted once - got such a strange response to that one that I am a little hesitant to try again but here goes.

 

I was very sick with Lyme for many years, and took massive doses of Gabapentin to combat nerve pain. Also took a variety of anti depressants and other stuff, which I was able to get off slowly. I came off the Gabapentin over 18 months, jumped to zero in July. Had hideous withdrawals, including intense pain and neurological stuff, insomnia, and such bad anxiety I thought I would die. I began taking Ativan every third day or so to keep from jumping off a bridge. On the advice of many here, I got my doc to agree to a Valium substitution and taper (starting in early November). Started at 4 ml a day, and felt great. When I dropped to 3.5 (1 and a half morning and 1 at night) I had a recurrence of anxiety and some nerve pain, but my sleep is still good. Is this to be expected? I know some people have said you should not feel a drop of .5 ml. Any reassurance or advice?

Your question is hard to answer due to not knowing what your current dose is and what .5ml means in relation to your current dose. However the symptoms you describe sound like withdrawal.  --V

[[Ca...]]

Sorry - I am currently taking 1.5 ml valium in the morning, and 1 ml in the evening. So I dropped by about 20% - from 3 to 2.5 ml a day

[[Va...]]

Sorry - I am currently taking 1.5 ml valium in the morning, and 1 ml in the evening. So I dropped by about 20% - from 3 to 2.5 ml a day

A 20% drop is pretty big. It's recommended to stay in the 5-10% range every 2-4 weeks so a 20% drop would definitely bring on more sxs. Are you referring to mg rather than ml?  That's where I'm confused.  --V

[[Ca...]]

Sorry - it's mls. Doing it with liquid and a syringe. Yeah and after looking at some other people's taper schedules I can see that 20% is probably too much. Thank you so much for the response.