New and wanting to taper off 5mg of Librium

[[Li...]]

Hi!  I'm new to the forum.  My original post is in the introduction.  I need advice on how to taper off 5mg of Librium.  I've been told that 25mg of Librium is about equal to .5 mg of X.  I guess I have a couple of things going for me in that it is a weaker benzo, I've only ever needed 5mg at night and it's long acting so I will not switch over to Valium...I hate Valium.  I have been on Librium 5 mg for 18 years so that's what's not going for me for sure.  I'm 50 and need to taper off as I know I can't be on this stuff when I'm 60 or over.  I see a psychiatrist on the 24th as my new PC doctor will not give me any refills (well she gave me one).  My other doc was always willing to give me more saying it was too dangerous to get off.  But I've learned a lot since my time with her.  My new doc says to take a pill every other day then two days, etc....lol.  I don't think so!!  I'm hoping the shrink will lower me how I want to be lowered. This is what I was thinking but I'm not sure if it's the best.

 

I found a compounding pharmacy that can lower my dose by .25 every month in capsule form.  So that's  a 5% reduction at first.  Then go down to 4.50, 4.25, 4.00, etc.  I realize at some point I'll need to see if they can give me the drug in a liquid as I may need to taper more slowly then...like around 1mg?  I really don't know what to do.  Should I go down .25 every two weeks or every 4?  At one point should I consider micro tapering if I even have to that?  How do I micro taper with liquid suspension? Pharmacy can give me that at some point I believe.  I totally don't understand the titration method at all...I need more very detailed info on that in regards to a capsule with powder in it.  Sounds very confusing so will try to get it in liquid form at some point but don't understand how to do that either.  I don't trust myself doing anything right now.

 

I'm currently withdrawing somewhat from my Progesterone use since Feb....got off 100mg of that cold turkey as I thought maybe it was making me lightheaded.  That is usually a withdrawal symptom for me tho.  I'm 3 weeks out from that and doing better.  I had no idea Progesterone worked on the Gaba receptors till it was too late.  And I even asked the pharmacist and doc if it would react to my Librium and they both said no.  However, I was wondering if maybe taking the P would help me taper off the Librium.  I need hormone therapy badly but afraid to proceed with that further at this time. 

 

I plan to start tapering after my Aug 24th appt...so the first of September.  Any input?  OH and the Asthon manual says to go from 5mg to 2.5mg within 2 weeks...seems very harsh. 

 

Thanks!