VOTE PLEASE: Clonazepam vs Diazepam for taper?

[[Ro...]]

Could you please let me know which one you preferred or felt easier for you if you have tried tapering off of one or the other at one point in time (i.e.have experience with both) and also if you remained clean, which one you did it with?

 

My current dilemma is whether I should use clonazepam or diazepam for a taper given I have used several different benzos over the last 6 months including mostly clonazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, temazepam and oxazepam. But predominantly Clonazepam, Diazepam and Alprazolam. Please don't ask what my equivalent dose is...i dont know. I can get by easily on 10mg but usually used a lot more for what that's worth.

 

Anyways, any comments welcome my dear fellow benzo recovery warriors!!!!  :laugh:

 

Oh and I made it 9 days after that jump in january and reinstated....

[[jr...]]

there is alot of difference between 10mg of diazepam and 10mg alprazolam. in fact 10mg alprazolam is equal to 200mg of diazepam. Diazepam is the easiest to withdraw from because of its long half life (24+ hours) dont really know what you are seeking to know as your sig says you are not taking any meds currently.

[[Ro...]]

I meant I can get by on 10mg of diazepam fairly easily. Sorry about the signature. It's not steady enough to really write down. Bascially I primarily take clonazepam, alprazolam and diazepam. Either alone or a combination, on most days. I'm fairly well versed in all things benzo (equivalencies, metabolism etc, subunits). SO my guess is I take an equivalent of 20-30mg of diazepam on average per day.

 

It all depends on which cnversion table you believe in. Let's just assume 10mg diazepam = 0.5 alprazolam = 0.5mg clonazepam, which is the case on man charts and for PRN use probably close to true. For daily use it's more difficult to estimate given the different half-lives and the fact I only ever dose once a day.

 

For daily use it is probably closer to 10mg diazepam = 0.5mg alprazolam = 0.25mg clonazepam given the buildup under clonazepam steady state is much more pronounced due to its long half-life.

 

Anyways, it's not an exact science.

 

But back to the question NUMBER 1. I take a mix of those 3 to the tune of about 20-30mg of diazepam equivlent. Now, do you think it would be easier to taper just with diazepam or just clonazepam? Has anybody got experience either way where they came to the conclusion that one had major disadvantages or advantages over the other? Or was it a mixed picture where both had some advantages and disadvantages?

 

My gut-feel tells me diazepam binds weaker, has a longer half-life so should make a taper more pleasant. At the same time though it is more sedating than clonazepam and think that's where clonazepam might outshine diazepam, especially for daytime dosing?

 

And question NUMBER 2 added for good measure: Please tell me an approximate dose you think I should start with? I know you can't advise but maybe ballpark. I'm kind of looking for somebody to tell me what to do and then be accountable to a plan because every time I do it alone I fail.

 

I have made sure I have enough of both diazepam (5mg) and clonazepam (2mg) on hand to see this through and most likely will flush the alprazolam once i have decided on a taper schedule/consulting buddies. The docs here are often ill-informed with regards to benzo WD and many people get cut off and flagged - sent home with 10-20 5mg Valium and being told that's enough to taper down. Hence why I have not gotten 'sound medical advice' It'd be a risk to my life!!! :'( :'( :'(

 

In my head ideally I want to taper fairly quick...2-6weeks. But that's probably unrealistic. I have taken benzos on and off for 8 years. To be honest, I am not sure how long

 

 

[[Ro...]]

there is alot of difference between 10mg of diazepam and 10mg alprazolam. in fact 10mg alprazolam is equal to 200mg of diazepam. Diazepam is the easiest to withdraw from because of its long half life (24+ hours) dont really know what you are seeking to know as your sig says you are not taking any meds currently.

 

By the way, congratulations on the jump and the freedom. Hats of and respect. i know how hard it is.

[[jr...]]

I think everybody is different but you already know how you feel on a variety of benzos. so with that being said, the ball is in your court. You have to decide because you are the one tapering.Sorry not to be more help, but I do wish you the best of luck and smooth seas.

[[Ro...]]

Thanks mate. Yeah, I need to man up or it won't work. Ok. So diazepam it is given the lower binding-affinity. I'll start at 20mg diazepam and drop 2.5mg after 5 days. My body isn't too sensitive so it should work (there's hoping  )

 

My Taper:

 

15/02/2017 20 mg

16/02/2017 20 mg

17/02/2017 20 mg

18/02/2017 20 mg

19/02/2017 20 mg

20/02/2017 17.5 mg

21/02/2017 17.5 mg

22/02/2017 17.5 mg

23/02/2017 17.5 mg

24/02/2017 17.5 mg

25/02/2017 15 mg

26/02/2017 15 mg

27/02/2017 15 mg

28/02/2017 15 mg

1/03/2017 15 mg

2/03/2017 12.5 mg

3/03/2017 12.5 mg

4/03/2017 12.5 mg

5/03/2017 12.5 mg

6/03/2017 12.5 mg

7/03/2017 10 mg

8/03/2017 10 mg

9/03/2017 10 mg

10/03/2017 10 mg

11/03/2017 10 mg

12/03/2017 7.5 mg

13/03/2017 7.5 mg

14/03/2017 7.5 mg

15/03/2017 7.5 mg

16/03/2017 7.5 mg

17/03/2017 5 mg

18/03/2017 5 mg

19/03/2017 5 mg

20/03/2017 5 mg

21/03/2017 5 mg

22/03/2017 2.5 mg

23/03/2017 2.5 mg

24/03/2017 2.5 mg

25/03/2017 2.5 mg

26/03/2017 2.5 mg

27/03/2017 2 mg

28/03/2017 2 mg

29/03/2017 2 mg

30/03/2017 1 mg

31/03/2017 1 mg

1/04/2017 1 mg

2/04/2017 0.5 mg

3/04/2017 0.5 mg

4/04/2017 0.5 mg

 

then skipping days to get the last bit out slowly.

 

49 days - quick I admit. But I will give it a go.