How long do you hold a dose?

[[ma...]]

Until you feel good or until symptoms get manageable?

Thanks a lot 

[Guest [ba...]]

Feeling good would be nice, but it might not happen.  I think one holds until they are 'stable'.  To me, 'stable' means that you are can cope with whatever symptoms you're experiencing.  You're should be doing well enough that you can handle another cut (knowing what that cut might bring). 

 

Everybody's discomfort thresholds are different, and so is everybody's resolve (inner strength).  So when to cut is a personal decision.

[[ma...]]

Thank you badsocref! I don't feel bad, just a mild headache, less energy and some floating. But I'm afraid I'm tapering too fast. So many people get horrible symptoms for such long times due to cutting too fast, and I don't want that. I'm at a loss as to how to proceed!

[Guest [ba...]]

When I looked at your graph, I see that your plan is to be at ~0.5mg on October 12 and down to 0.25 by November 4.  That's a 50% reduction in 3 weeks which is a very fast taper.  If you want to play it safe, I'd suggest that you slow down.  Ashton recommends no more than 10% every 10-14 days.  Most people taper slower than that.

 

I know it's no fun to think about a taper from 0.5mg taking 6 months (or more), but that's the safest way to do this.

[[Gr...]]

This is a good question.  I'm wondering the same thing for myself right now.  The muscle tension in my shoulders in so painful right now but most other problems are not so bad right now.  I'm not sure I'm willing to hold until this goes away because I think it is going to be an issue until I'm done tapering.

 

If only I knew how much better or worse it would be if I held another week or another month.

[[ma...]]

badsocref, yes, I want to play it relatively safe because there is a lot going on in my life now, professionally and personally. Many are good things and a few are not so good, but all are very demanding.

Thanks again for your feedback I want to get rid of Ativan so that I can deal with Effexor because this med really freaks me out (makes my hands tremble which is not practical and looks weird, and every time I forget a dose I get sick, in bed). But you're right. I've updated the schedule which is now only a little faster than Ashton's. I think I'll be able to handle it because I never stopped exercising and I'm able to sleep well. I'll keep a line in the graph with Ashton's schedule, for reference, and will reassess my progress as needed.

 

GreenCup, thanks for sharing your doubts, these are not easy decisions! All the best to you

[[Ol...]]

Also check out the long hold support group!

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=153201.0

[[ma...]]

Thanks OliveKitty

[[An...]]

I hold until symptoms are manageable usually around 2 to 4 days. I am cutting slowly at .5 ml per cut. Every cut is bad these days. This has happened as I have gotten lower. My advice would be not to have a plan unless pills dictate that you need to. Go by how you feel. I usually cut until the symptoms are unbearable but I kind of wish I would have held longer sometimes. It might have been easier. Either way I will be glad to be off this stuff. This last bit is taking a long time.

[[Si...]]

I went to my Dr. Aug 25 and she told me to taper from 1.5 mg to 0 in 3 months. I have no idea if that makes sense or not but from reading the posts above, it's way too quick. I started taking 1.25 mg Sept 30 and didn't sleep too well last night. But the restlessness from akathisia keeps me wired during the day.

Dr. also told my to try melatonin but 3mg a night backfired and I never rested. I felt better when i quit but then started 1.25mg a few days after stopping that. I didn't sleep well last night at all.

Should I slow down the taper and take 6 months instead?

 

[[ma...]]

Hi Sixam,

See the Ashton schedule (the faster option) here. It seems your taper from 1.5mg should be longer than 6 months, to be safe.

[[Si...]]

Thanks magnesi.

So as usual, dr. doesn't have a clue as to how to wean off drugs.

It's hard to believe that I need over a year to wean off this but I'm learning.

There are a few things that also might be causing insomnia since I am hypersensitive to anything my body doesn't like. I'm going to take 1.5 mg lorazepam tonight and see if that takes care of it and go from there.

[Guest [ba...]]

I went to my Dr. Aug 25 and she told me to taper from 1.5 mg to 0 in 3 months. I have no idea if that makes sense or not but from reading the posts above, it's way too quick. I started taking 1.25 mg Sept 30 and didn't sleep too well last night. But the restlessness from akathisia keeps me wired during the day.

Dr. also told my to try melatonin but 3mg a night backfired and I never rested. I felt better when i quit but then started 1.25mg a few days after stopping that. I didn't sleep well last night at all.

Should I slow down the taper and take 6 months instead?

 

It might be prudent to show your doctor what a 10% per two weeks taper looks like.  Take a spreadsheet with you to show him/her how long it takes to get to a point where you can jump (usually under 0.05mg).  It's easy math to do.  fwiw - I get 64-66 weeks to get to 0.05 doing 10%, bi-weekly cuts.

[[Gr...]]

I went to my Dr. Aug 25 and she told me to taper from 1.5 mg to 0 in 3 months. I have no idea if that makes sense or not but from reading the posts above, it's way too quick. I started taking 1.25 mg Sept 30 and didn't sleep too well last night. But the restlessness from akathisia keeps me wired during the day.

Dr. also told my to try melatonin but 3mg a night backfired and I never rested. I felt better when i quit but then started 1.25mg a few days after stopping that. I didn't sleep well last night at all.

Should I slow down the taper and take 6 months instead?

 

YES!!! 

[[Pa...]]

"I think one holds until they are 'stable'."  that happens to me a lot i'm doing that right now... trying to hard to wait until 4 or 5pm which is soon, but im scared and alone right now

[[Ol...]]

Paulos you're never alone with Benzo Buddies! Hang in there, we are all here for you. It's so hard, I know.

[[ma...]]

I'm sorry, Paulos. How are you feeling now?

[[Ja...]]

...I think one holds until they are 'stable'.  To me, 'stable' means that you are can cope with whatever symptoms you're experiencing...

 

I'm pretty new to this tapering thing but Badsocref's advice is the one that seems to be serving me the best. 

My biggest issue is headaches/migraines -- keeping a log seems to be the easiest way for me to visualize when I've "stabilized."  For me, it seems to take me between 20 & 30 days to stabilize, with my worst sx coming a week or so after a cut.  Lowering the cut percentage definitely helps.

 

Paulos:  Sending you virtual hugs...

[[Gr...]]

...I think one holds until they are 'stable'.  To me, 'stable' means that you are can cope with whatever symptoms you're experiencing...

 

I'm pretty new to this tapering thing but Badsocref's advice is the one that seems to be serving me the best. 

My biggest issue is headaches/migraines -- keeping a log seems to be the easiest way for me to visualize when I've "stabilized."  For me, it seems to take me between 20 & 30 days to stabilize, with my worst sx coming a week or so after a cut.  Lowering the cut percentage definitely helps.

 

Paulos:  Sending you virtual hugs...

 

Janna- I have been getting migraines and headaches too.  They are so painful at times. 

[[Si...]]

I don't know what's worse. Sheer utter exhaustion from no rest/sleep or migraines. It all sucks! I have to scale up tonight for bedtime dosage to .75 mg then 1 mg when I wake around 5am. I had some serious anxiety last night and even took 200 mg valerian. I was thinking of taking 1 mg tonight to make sure I sleep since I have to work and driving with no sleep is not good. I don't want to end up back where I was. I hate backtracking to 2 mg/day and starting all over again but if I must.......

I'm exhausted and rambling now. I'm glad to have this forum since I am alone in this also.

 

I have finally made an appt with a counselor. I should have gotten to one years ago since I'm alone with depression.

 

Paulos let us hear from you. Hope you are ok.