xanax to etizolam to diazapan to tamazapam to etizolam....NEED to pick a road

[[be...]]

I took xanax for 10 years....usually 1mg to sleep, sometimes on a bad day another 1mg.  The prescribing dr. retired and I switched myself to etizolam because from what I had read it was very similar in strength and acting time.  I had been able to titrate from xanax in the past so I thought I could do the same thing with etzi.  However, the whole time I was taking kratom and that became the most obvious demon in affecting my day to day performance.  I went to a partial in-patient facility because I just could not stop the kratom, I was totally addicted.  The benzo always seemed minor since I never wanted to abuse it. 

 

The dr. at the rehab switched me to valium to do an ashton type taper.  But I was experiencing such horrible PAWS from the kratom and I thought the switch to valium was making them much worse.  I asked him to switch me back to xanax but that is against the rules of addiction medicine.  He switched me to 30 mgs of temazapam.

 

But I was still feeling so awful I used the etizolam also and the temazapam seemed to just make me tired and I didn't understand it.  So I've been trying to just use the etizolam like i did xanax and establish a baseline to start titrating from.  It is so hard.  I feel like I'm in benzo wd so much and the dosage is higher than when Ijust took xanax.

 

so now from reading everything here I am trying to figure out what to do from here.  I was just about to refill the temazapam and go back to the dr,'s plan to use 30 mgs at night and titrate down from there.  However, if they haven't filled it yet now I'm thinking I should have stuck with the valium taper.  It just seemed to make me so depressed constantly, unlike the short acting.  I haven't picked up the temazapam so at this point I could have a quick consult with the dr. and go back to valium.  He had me starting the taper at 16 mgs and I got down to 14 mgs but of I'm not sure how much etzi I added to the mix.

 

I have to get off of the benzos.  I want to.  I need to.  Even though it seems like I am all over the place, and I am, its only because I have never really properly switched from xanax and everything has been so exagerrated by quitting kratom....a momnumental feet and very hard on my body.

 

So my choices are: 1. stick just with the etzi as I have been writing down every dose and not taking anything else.  I have almost established a baseline. 2. pick up the temazapam and jump back to the prescribed dose until i stabalize again and then start tapering 3. switch back to valium at 16 mgs and not add any etzi and establish a baseline again and then begin to titrate.

 

What makes the most sense?  I also could find another dr. who would be willing to prescribe xanax as that is what my body was used to before all this messing aroung started about 5 months ago.

 

I really appreciate any help.  As you know, this is crazy difficult and I need to choose a plan and move forward no matter what.

 

Maybe a combo of the valium and the etzi would be similar to folks who are combining short and long acting and getting a good result.  I just called and cancelled the temazapam and am going to switch back to the valium and try a combo plan I guess.  seems the best from what i've read here today for me.  I just wish I still had xanax instead of etizolam because my body knows that one the best.

[[be...]]

Well, even though no one replied I read a lot of other people's experiences and decided to go back to valium over the temazapam which really did nothing for me.  As soon as I took 8 mgs of the valium I felt so much better.  Now I am cutting the etizolam very quickly and will stick to a plan to get off of that as quickly as possible.  And then start cutting the valium as quickly as my body will allow.  I think its good that I am keeping the valium dose low...10 mgs.  I've come down 1 mg in one day of the quick acting already.

 

The problem always remains....how to sleep without the quick acting benzo but since it has finally dawned on me that I am not getting REM cycles no my sleep is not restorative I am VERY motivated to taper/titrate and find natural solutions for better sleep.  Right.now I am taking magnesium/l-tryptophan/holy basil but its not really working.  I think I won't be able to create better sleep until I discontinue the quick acting all together.

[[Su...]]

Hi there BBE,

It looks like you've a plan for yourself and I just want to say that going slowly often leads to better outcomes....

i know how tempting it is to be off as quickly as possible and all, just encouraging you to listen to your body and your sxs....they'll let you know if the pace is right...

As for sleep ... I hope it comes soon.... gotta have sleep.

i use a low dose of Remeron which is super helpful!!!..... I know you're asking for natural remedies just putting it out there.

 

Also I've had really good success with some flower remedies -- available in the US -- FES quintessentials -- they have a sleep spray...

SS