CT from 4mg Valium??

[[Wa...]]

Last week I tapered down to 4mg. I was only on 4mg for 3 days. The next day I went down to 2mg. The only reason I did this was because I was running out and couldn't reach my doctor. Now that I have reached my doctor, she said that I'm fine to go cold turkey & "don't need to taper anymore".

 

I don't know if this is right or if I'm going to be okay. Has anyone jumped off from this high of an amount before? If so, any advice?

[Guest [ba...]]

Your title says 4mg, but since you're currently taking 2....

 

Jumping from 2 to zero isn't a huge jump.  I don't think that you should fear for your health or well-being.  But it's a bigger jump than most people make (except for us crazy c/t-ers).  I guess the big question is how are you feeling with your cut from 4 mg to 2 mg a few days ago.  While the full force of a valium cut takes over a week to kick in, the majority of its effects should be felt within a few days.  If you're feeling OK, then go for it and be done with it.  If you're being slammed with symptoms, then maybe hold at 2 for a while, then do a more cautious taper.

[[Wa...]]

Thanks! I apologize for the miscommunication; I was on 4mg for 3 days. The last dose/day was 2mg yesterday, and now I'm at zero today. I am completely out of diazepam now. When I called in for a refill, the doctor told me to just go cold turkey...I'm just hoping for the best!

[[un...]]

Most people will not have difficulties with a jump like this. I did a fast taper and jumped off 2 weeks ago at 2,5mg, the last cut before that was 10 days before at 5mg. I went from 40mg to clean in 3 months and I'm fine.

[[be...]]

Most people will not have difficulties with a jump like this. I did a fast taper and jumped off 2 weeks ago at 2,5mg, the last cut before that was 10 days before at 5mg. I went from 40mg to clean in 3 months and I'm fine.

 

Most can not go that fast. A taper from 40 mg should have taken many more months, than the three months it took to complete yours.  The best way to minimize symptoms is a slow gradual taper. The recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks.

[[Da...]]

That is a pretty hard jump. I did it in rehab and it has really not been easy, it is hard as hell and I'm 14 months out now. Difficult times for sure. I hope it works out for you I feel your doctor has no idea what she is talking about. It is a shame the doc prescribe this heavy doses of drugs, my doctor prescribed me Xanax for 15 years then when he found out I went to rehab he did not want to see me at all. I went to him once and he said he could no longer prescribe me anything including my blood pressure medicine. I hope it goes well for you a lot of people have no problem with WD so maybe you will be one of those.

[[un...]]

The recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks.

Who recommends this?

[Guest [su...]]

The recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks.

Who recommends this?

For example Dr Heather Ashton. Writer to the Ashton Manual.

I can't cut that quick. I need 4-5 weeks and around 10 % or even less...

[[un...]]

The recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks.

Who recommends this?

For example Dr Heather Ashton. Writer to the Ashton Manual.

I can't cut that quick. I need 4-5 weeks and around 10 % or even less...

 

I tweaked the Asthon Manual and tapered at a speed I tolerated

The recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks.

 

5 to 10 percent every 1 to 2 weeks is what Dr. Ashton recommends. Remember this is an recommendation, everyone is different!

[[Tr...]]

The recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks.

Who recommends this?

 

Who recommends this? Basically anyone who knows anything about benzo tapering. It's a common rule of thumb.

[[un...]]

The recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks.

Who recommends this?

 

Who recommends this? Basically anyone who knows anything about benzo tapering. It's a common rule of thumb.

 

It's not a rule, it's a recommendation. That means some can go faster and some will have to go slower. Don't scare people to much, truth is most people quit benzos without any problems. At least the first time.

[[Va...]]

That's correct unuser, also wasser, I would try out keep myself busy for the next couple days for sure. Valium stays in your system for so long that you would think feel sfx for some time. And just because one person tapered a certain way doesn't mean that it's right for everyone. A lot of us didn't have the luxury to taper for months or years, to be honest, that seemsounds like prolonging the inivetablebecause those people have tolerance withdrawal for the entire length of taper. Listen to your body, don't freak out with every sensation, exercise and keep busy! That's my opinion. Peace

[Guest [Lu...]]

I had awful withdrawal symptoms without having any idea why or what the hell it was. it took 8+ months of dr visits and tests to convince me "theres nothing wrong" and then shrug my shoulders in defeat and decide to taper my diazepam cause it was the only thing left in the equation, and my anxiety was through the roof anyway....then i found this forum. it was then i realized, holy crap, ive been in withdrawal all this time.

 

so i started tapering. i feel the cuts, they suck, but im whacked out of my face 24/7 for the last 14 months or so and i seriously considered C/T and just get through this already. the taper really feels like just prolonging my misery. ive already felt and am constantly experiencing all these symptoms. the cuts arent as bad as when i was on a full dosage and nearly blacking out and feeling dizzy and jelly legged and etc etc....ugh. and ive managed to hold my job all this time, which has been the hardest thing to do in my life.

 

im NOT going to go c/t, but i am doing a fairly accelerated taper and ill probably jump somewhere between 1 and 2mg and just hang on for dear life. ive already been through the ringer with this, my instinct is screaming to get this out of my system.

 

ive had enough.

 

im also not at all recommending anyone do anything i am, but this whole ordeal is really complicated because of tolerance withdrawal. REAL tolerance withdrawal. total withdrawal before i ever even tapered. this drug has just felt like poison for so long, i want it gone...

[[Tr...]]

The recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks.

Who recommends this?

 

Who recommends this? Basically anyone who knows anything about benzo tapering. It's a common rule of thumb.

 

It's not a rule, it's a recommendation. That means some can go faster and some will have to go slower. Don't scare people to much, truth is most people quit benzos without any problems. At least the first time.

 

You apparently have no idea what the phrase "Rule of thumb" means. Here, let me help you out:

 

Rule of thumb - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thumb

"A rule of thumb is a principle with broad application that is not intended to be strictly accurate or reliable for every situation."

 

Also, I think you meant too, not to. The two words have totally different meanings.

 

1) To: A preposition, used for expressing motion or direction toward a point, person, place, or thing approached and reached, as opposed to from.

 

2) Too: An adverb, meaning in addition; also; furthermore; moreover.

 

"Don't scare people to much, truth is most people quit benzos without any problems. At least the first time."

 

Yeah, that's true (not). I guess this forum exists because we all just quit taking benzos one day without any problems and went on our merry way. We just all congregate here because we have nothing better to do with our lives than invent stories of horrible benzo withdrawal.

 

Here's something you could try for fun, take a poll here of how many people who've used benzos for any consequential amount of time had no withdrawal symptoms.

 

Obviously, we all react differently to psych meds and our withdrawal experiences are all different. But the generally recommended guidelines for benzo tapering, as told to me by numerous medical professionals, is a maximum cut of 10% with a minimum of two weeks between cuts. Some can do it more rapidly, some more slowly. I personally did a 2mg Xanax (equivalent to 40mg Valium) total detox in 8 weeks once. It was the worst experience in my not short life and I would not recommend it to anyone unless medically necessary.

 

OP, I hope you find whatever works best for you. Personally, my goal is to taper with as little discomfort as possible. I need to be able to work and take care of my children, and don't have the luxury of going to a detox center or taking time off due to debilitating withdrawals.

 

Signed: A guy who is in the throes of a mere .5mg Valium cut and is seriously pissed off at the world ATM.

 

 

[[un...]]

Your rule of thumb is wrong, and why use the phrase at all when we already use recommendation? One week between the cuts are what Ashton says is the most aggressive approach, not two like you claim. Don't lecture me, I understood perfectly.

 

This forum is mostly visited by the people who faces problems related to benzos. Most people quitting benzos do it without problems and that is a fact.

[[ba...]]

I believe you didn't have many problems quitting benzo's. There are some that don't (a minority). I was on valium for 15 years and had a really hard time, still had symptoms that pretty much were gone at 2 years however, I didn't take any other antidepressants, maybe that's the key. For you to say most people don't have problems getting off a benzo is ludicrous. Please speak for yourself, I don't share many of your opinions. I'm happy for you. Maybe you telling people not to lecture you when they have opinions too is a sign you are highly excitable and ornery. Most of these people have been very sick for many long months. Just because you got off easy doesn't give you the right to lecture either.

[Guest [ba...]]

I've looked several times, and it's difficult to get a solid number for the prevalence of benzo dependency among those who used these drugs for prolonged periods of time.  I've seen published numbers ranging from 10% to 45% which would mean that something like 55% to 90% of people who used these drugs got off of them fairly easy.  We often see introductions posted in which the individual easily quit (often by c/t) at some point earlier in their life, but now (the 2nd or 3rd time around) they're having difficulties.  We would have never heard from these people the first time (or two). 

 

It's true that most of the folks who join this forum are generally those who have more difficulty, so a survey of our members would paint a somewhat skewed picture. 

[[Tw...]]

...and it's threads like this that give benzobuddies a bad name and scare people off. Just bc some folks are pissed that people can taper faster than they can doesn't make it cool to use newbies posts as a place to vent frustration. To the guy that posted originally...If it becomes too much try a slower approach.

[Guest [su...]]

Most people will not have difficulties with a jump like this. I did a fast taper and jumped off 2 weeks ago at 2,5mg, the last cut before that was 10 days before at 5mg. I went from 40mg to clean in 3 months and I'm fine.

No bad sxs after your jump?

[[...]]

I jumped off of 3.5mg because I didn't have a cooperative doctor and I am definitely regretting it.  I jumped over 5 weeks ago I don't know what I was thinking not going down to at least 2.5

[[Va...]]

I've looked several times, and it's difficult to get a solid number for the prevalence of benzo dependency among those who used these drugs for prolonged periods of time.  I've seen published numbers ranging from 10% to 45% which would mean that something like 55% to 90% of people who used these drugs got off of them fairly easy.  We often see introductions posted in which the individual easily quit (often by c/t) at some point earlier in their life, but now (the 2nd or 3rd time around) they're having difficulties.  We would have never heard from these people the first time (or two). 

 

It's true that most of the folks who join this forum are generally those who have more difficulty, so a survey of our members would paint a somewhat skewed picture.

This would be me. The first time ct off Xanax was pretty easy compared to this go around. Had no idea back then that there was any withdrawal related to benzos.  —V

[[Yo...]]

I had been prescribed 1 mg ativan(10mg valium)for over a year got  . My doctor decided I should come off so reduced my dose to .5mg Latvian (5mg valium) for 3 weeks and then cold turkey. It was HELL on earth. I Have never been so sick in my life and wanted to die. Initially I had no idea what was going on. I had no preparation. Please follow a proper taper. No one should suffer like I did.  6 months out now and finally I Have had short windows of wellness. Good luck.

[[Ca...]]

I jumped at 2mg. I was worried because I was kind of ok for the first week and them baam. I posted on here and asked other members if I should reinstate. The thread didn't get very many replies, but one fellow user told me to hold out if I could tolerate it. However, in July I unknowingly ct'd from .5mg of ativan. Thought I was a goner. Didn't now I was in wd. After about a week of hell - I couldn't figure out how I was still alive - I took .5mg of ativan and my symptoms lifted (like 70 %). I tried switching to valium but it made me so crazy and depressed - which in turn was my ticket to a pysch ward!!! No valium there, but .25mg of ativan twice...kept me going...mom busted me out...i switched to 2mg of v. Was on 2mg of v daily for about a week and a half - it knocked me out and made me depressed again so I jumped. 5 weeks off this week. My mom and friends say I'm doing better, but I can't say I've felt well for more than like 5 minutes here and there. So, I guess to answer your question, you'll be ok. But don't be fooled by the first week...V stays in your system longer than most. Keep in touch with me if you jump. Good luck!!

 

[Guest [Lu...]]

funny i commented on this thread earlier this year saying i was having an awful taper but tapering down - i ended up jumping at 3mg diazepam after a bizarre day. what hell my taper was, and it pretty much continues 5 months out. have seen teeny glimpses of light here and there, but arghhhhh.

[[Ca...]]

so glad my brain is working and I commented on a post from January as if it were from two days ago. HELLO wd.