Is Valium Half Life really relevant??

[[dr...]]

When I crossed over to Valium I found that I started having interdose withdrawal despite the longer half life.  I was dosing twice per day.  I know some people can't c/o to valium and maybe this is why.  I am thinking of going back to clonazapam(Klonopin)  I have been researching this an came across these articles which worry me:

 

"Diazepam has a duration of action of approximately 3hrs, and a half life of 20-70hrs." http://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/Workfiles/basehospital/Diazepam.pdf

 

"For example, diazepam (Valium) has a long half-life (26 to 50 hours), but because of its higher lipophilicity, it crosses the blood brain barrier more quickly than lorazepam (half life of 10 hours) and actually has a shorter duration of action clinically. Thus, diazepam’s onset of action is rapid, but its duration of action is short. The long half-life of diazepam can, however, become burdensome because it gradually accumulates in the fatty tissue and then can slowly cause more side effects when dosed long term for chronic anxiety" (Sheehan and Raj, ibid). http://pro.psychcentral.com/benzodiazepines-a-guide-to-safe-prescribing/004651.html

 

"Diazepam is metabolized by the liver and

is specifically metabolized into

the active metabolites desmethyl

diazepam, oxazepam, and temazepam. 

Diazepam and metabolites are then excreted in the urine." http://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/Workfiles/basehospital/Diazepam.pdf

 

If the above quotes are accurate I don't feel like staying on Valium to taper.  Anyone have any knowledge of this aspect of valium?

[[li...]]

My experience: diazepam binds (to some extent) to different receptors than clonazepam.

 

'duration of action' vs. 'half life'.

 

For most people, clonazepam lasts a lot longer than diazepam. Diazepam's half life is tricky after you let it accumulate in the fatty tissues, and the metabolite desmethyldiazepam itself is active.

 

As I understand, both the dose taken by mouth and the accumulated diazepam/its metabolites ' do something'.

 

I never fully understood why Prof Ashton completely ignored the concept 'duration of action' in the manual.

And please keep in mind, clonazepam's 'duration of action' is unusually long.

 

3 hours for duration of action is a bit short. I've seen various numbers, 4-6 hours, 6-12 hours etc.