why 10%?

[[Da...]]

Hi,

 

Anyone knows why decreasing a percentage from the current amount works better than decreasing the same amount each time?

 

Lets say my original dose was 10 mg. Then I remove 1 mg, which is 10%, and the WS are tolerable. Why, if I'll continue to taper 1 mg each time, would I have worse WS  on lower dosages? I mean...I'm reducing the same amount. One can even think it should become easier, since at that time the brain will be dependent on less benzo than before and that the Gaba receptors are better regulated.

 

It just doesn't make any sense to me.

[[si...]]

Hi Dan,

 

My understanding is a 10% cut every 10-14 days is merely a suggested starting rate that's worked for many people.  On the other hand, Ashton's schedule suggests incremental reductions of a more static amount each cut.  There really is no one way and one method is not better than any other.  Some people go much slower, some much faster.  Some do much smaller daily reductions and some do reductions every other week, and so on...

 

What's really important, is you need to listen to your body once you begin tapering and decide for yourself what's tolerable, then adjust accordingly.  We're all different and we all tolerate sxs differently.  My point is, there is no single answer.  All folks here can offer are suggestions.  You must decide for yourself.

 

Hope this helps. 

 

xo,

sierra 

 

 

[[Fo...]]

Absolutely must read DR Heather Ashton manual -easy on google before you go any further-then adapt as you feel fit.

Dick

 

 

[[mo...]]

Hi Dan, that is the suggested amount but if you follow a symptom based taper you may be totally fine with more than 10%. Personally I think some remain on this drug for too long because they will only reduce 10% at a time. Because of what they’ve read or fear of symptoms when the fear may not be based on previous experience. On the other hand 10% may be too fast for some. Personally I did well over 10% and sometimes reducing once a week until my body told me to slow down. Now I’m reducing .001 a day as that’s what I can handle these last few days as it’s gotten harder. Just do what feels right and makes sense to you. Hope this helps.

[[Li...]]

Hi DanSnow,

 

If you cut 1 mg each time, then that is a huge percentage toward the end. You drop 1 mg from a starting dose of 10 mg, and that's 10% dropped to start with. You get down to 2 mg and drop 1 mg as always, then that's a 50% drop.

 

I was cutting pills in half. At .5, the half pill was .25 or a 50% cut as I mentioned. Dropping a dose in half versus cutting 10% or whatever percent of the previous amount is brutal or it was for me.

 

I went back to .5 and waited to stabilize after that 50% cut and then cold turkey and then up/down. Then I began liquid titration. I was thinking to cut 5% every 10-14 days, but I've been able to slowly cut a bit every four days or so for about a 10% cut per 8 days. I'm early in the taper, so I may speed up or may slow down or may hold. It depends on how I feel. The ability to control the percentage of the cut is a blessing.

[[Fo...]]

It’s quite simple.

Starting with ten (though 5 might suit better)

 

10 to 9 for two weeks

Then

9 minus 0.9 = 8.1 for two weeks

8.1 minus 0.81= 7.2 approx and so on. But cutting pills is an art.

That’s why lots of folk use liquid taper of a certain strength and reduce by ten percent as  they wish.

Go to the liquid taper part of the site for help.

I don’t always stick to the 10% rule.

Doing Diazepam at 20% for two weeks and holding. Seroquel at 50 percent and stopping.

You need to ask for help in the fright forums area really BUT PLEASE fill in your signature in profile so folk can advise. Thanks

Good wishes

Dick

[[de...]]

I was going to say what Lilyann, said.  💕

 

Think of it this way...

 

If you got down to 2mgs Valium, then dropped by 1mg, you would be reducing your dose by 50%, not 10%.  That's how I read it, at any rate. 

 

I have an irrational fear of maths, and didn't have the confidence to say, and part reason why I still count on my fingers. 

 

I am maths genius. 

 

Dee

💕

 

[[Ca...]]

Hi,

 

Anyone knows why decreasing a percentage from the current amount works better than decreasing the same amount each time?

 

Lets say my original dose was 10 mg. Then I remove 1 mg, which is 10%, and the WS are tolerable. Why, if I'll continue to taper 1 mg each time, would I have worse WS  on lower dosages? I mean...I'm reducing the same amount. One can even think it should become easier, since at that time the brain will be dependent on less benzo than before and that the Gaba receptors are better regulated.

 

It just doesn't make any sense to me.

Yeah, I have wondered too...?? Why the %, not the size so much...?? I can only realy relate it to the actual change itself being atleast part of the issue...

 

[[de...]]

Did I fail maths again, Cant? 

 

Thought it was too good to be true. 

 

Dee

 

 

[[Ca...]]

Did I fail maths again, Cant? 

 

Thought it was too good to be true. 

 

Dee

Hey Mate, I have realy been meaning to catch up... -Sorry..

-Keeping half an eye on you though, -more insperation... Congrats on getting there..!!

 

Lol, we are just looking at two different aspects of it as far as I can tell.. -You guys the reality, me more the "why" theory.. -maybe..??

 

 

[[de...]]

Right, I get it now.  .  The 'why', not the 'is'. 

 

Fair dinkum Cant, every time anything to do with maths comes up, I go into shock.  There's a whole section in Google that deals with 'maths phobia'.  I should be in it as a case study. 

 

So happy to report that last 3 days I have shown real improvement, and can hardly believe it.  Hope it continues.  It's hell, hey?   

 

I've been 'off' 57 days. 

 

DP/DR dropped away, markedly.  Heaps other good stuff, too. 

 

This morning, at 4am, I went outside and could see the 'depth' of the trees, heard the birds waking, and started crying.  Me, and the birds.  DP/DR is so lonely, so isolating.  The whole bloody thing, is. 

 

Strangely, I had a return of a long past symptom, with sense of smell and taste being effected.  Got frightened last night when I detected a strong smell of petrol.  Thought of fire.  It was really compelling, but no, it was distortion of my sense of smell. 

 

Just my luck.  I don't get Chanel No 5, I get bloody petroleum. 

 

Hope your travelling well, Cant.  This journey has been horrendous, but out of it all I have learned much.  Even divide by 2.   

 

Dee 🐨

 

*  Apologies so many emoticons.  Just so excited about change happening. Bloody bonza, cob. 

 

[[Ca...]]

Not to Jinx, but your doing great Dee... 

 

Now pull my finger and see if you smell petrol..!!

 

-ooops, sorry DanSnow..

[[si...]]

Regardless of how true one is to a given percentage, the last cut to zero is always going to be 100%, no matter how low you go. 

 

xo,

sierra 

[[Tr...]]

Sierra7 said it right. I'm at .001 mg K and my next move may be to reduce to .0005 before stepping off. It's microscopic but it's still a 50% cut. If I step off from where I am it's a 100% cut. I wondered the same thing. Will I feel so much worse because of such a huge cut?

 

I could tell that the lower I went the smaller the cuts had to be so I fear my last reduction or jump. I've found that there are no real hard rules with benzo withdrawal and tapering though. Much of what works for me I found through trial and error and may not work for you or anyone else. You can always try and do some larger cuts and see how you react. If it's bad, you can hold until stable and then try a little less next time and repeat if necessary and find your optimal percentage.

[[mo...]]

Right, I get it now.  .  The 'why', not the 'is'. 

 

Fair dinkum Cant, every time anything to do with maths comes up, I go into shock.  There's a whole section in Google that deals with 'maths phobia'.  I should be in it as a case study. 

 

So happy to report that last 3 days I have shown real improvement, and can hardly believe it.  Hope it continues.  It's hell, hey?   

 

I've been 'off' 57 days. 

 

DP/DR dropped away, markedly.  Heaps other good stuff, too. 

 

This morning, at 4am, I went outside and could see the 'depth' of the trees, heard the birds waking, and started crying.  Me, and the birds.  DP/DR is so lonely, so isolating.  The whole bloody thing, is. 

 

Strangely, I had a return of a long past symptom, with sense of smell and taste being effected.  Got frightened last night when I detected a strong smell of petrol.  Thought of fire.  It was really compelling, but no, it was distortion of my sense of smell. 

 

Just my luck.  I don't get Chanel No 5, I get bloody petroleum. 

 

Hope your travelling well, Cant.  This journey has been horrendous, but out of it all I have learned much.  Even divide by 2.   

 

Dee 🐨

 

*  Apologies so many emoticons.  Just so excited about change happening. Bloody bonza, cob. 

 

Deadwood I love your posts. I wish you weren’t here due to the circumstance that led you but I’m glad you’re here. Channel no. 5 vs. petroleum cracked me up. ❤️

[[de...]]

Mountain 💕

 

Thanks for remembering my history....

 

My love to you. 

 

Dee