Withdrawal symptoms at 5mg of Valium?!?

[[Mi...]]

I have taken 5 mg of valium nightly for about 8 years for panic disorder and anxiety. I began a medically-supervised taper on January 3 and went down to 4mg. A few days later I began to feel awful...upset stomach, increased anxiety, terrible heartburn...but the most difficult aspect has become what I can only determine is a moderate amount of depersonalization/derealization. I asked my psychiatrist if these symptoms were normal and she said she'd be surprised that they were from the taper because of my low original dose. However, I feel like I am in a protracted state of panic that doesn't want to end. I don't know if this constellation is withdrawal or if my panic/anxiety has skyrocketed (and is it rebound anxiety?).  I'm wondering if there are others familiar with withdrawal from 5mg of valium and can offer me insight and advice.

[[me...]]

If you have been on 5 mg of Valium for 8 YEARS--then yes, you are highly dependent! I'm surprised your psychiatrist would say that. If you went directly from 5 mg to 4 mg, then you made a 20% cut, which is too much. The highest cut usually recommended is 10%, and a 5% cut is better. Even low doses of these potent drugs can be very strong, sometimes more than the higher doses.

 

You might want to consider updosing to 4.5 mg, or even back to 5 if you are feeling that awful. Stabilize and try again with much smaller cuts. Obviously you willl need to figure out a way to make small accurate cuts--take a look at the stickies here on using a scale, or doing a liquid microtaper. The smaller the cut, the better your body can handle it.