Questions! Alprazolam to Clonazepam Crossover

[[Se...]]

I’ve been tapering alprazolam for more than a year.  I’m at .24mg/day (LMT) dividing it  four times a day, every five hours.  I’m really sick more than likely because of inter dose withdrawal. I was dosing five times a day but that didn’t quell any of the symptoms. The longest stretch I go is overnight to the morning dose which is 8 hours.  I’m not sleeping those 8 hours...it’s just my dosing schedule. In between alprazolam doses, I am dividing 1mg clonazepam doses three times a day. Mornings are absolute hell even after the final clonazepam dose at 11::00 pm.  I am jolted awake by nausea, anxiety, paresthesia, looping thoughts and panic at 4:00 a.m.  My first alprazolam dose is at 5:30 a.m.  I get zero relief from symptoms after dosing. I’m sick all day, every day. 

 

I really can’t be sure it’s alprazolam and not clonazepam giving me symptoms other than I was nauseated before a failed clonazepam crossover in November.  At that time, I was probably still taking 2.5mg/day alprazolam and the moron psychiatrist thought a 1mg clonazepam dose was sufficient to crossover.  That’s how I ended up on two benzos at once.  On 9/10/19, I increased clonazepam from .72mg up to 1mg and dropped alprazolam dose by about 30%.  It wasn’t much worse than how I’ve been feeling.

 

See sig for dosages.  My questions are:  Increase clonazepam to 1.25mg and stop alprazolam.  Do I stop alprazolam the same day I increase clonazepam or give it a few days?  Or, lower the alprazolam dose over a few days before I stop?  I’m having a lot of balance/dizzy issues more than likely because of inter dose.

 

I’m very thin having lost more than 50 pounds and I’m 63 years old. My appetite is terrible because of nausea.  I can’t tolerate carbs due to blood sugar spikes. I never had that before benzo withdrawal. I’m not diabetic but very food sensitive now. Recent blood work was basically normal...a few red blood cell issues but not horribly out of the normal range.

 

It’s time to get off one of these benzos. I’m hoping the increase in clonazepam will cover the lack of alprazolam. 

 

I’m not getting any better tapering, holding, etc. It’s got to go.  I’m praying it will be relatively smooth with added clonazepam.  I can’t take much more!

 

Once I stabilize, I’ll begin clonazepam DLMT.

 

Please..I need input on this! 

 

Thanks.

 

💜

 

[[be...]]

Hi

 

 

I understand your frustration over the taper and what  is interdose  withdrawal. Over different spans I have been on both benzos. I will not put this on my resume. One wants to avoid updosing because you’ll have to taper it eventually and the biggie is it might not do anything or even worse backfire on you and make you sicker. It’s definitely hard to tell when you’re on two.

 

This is what I have done successfully. But remember everyone is different. That’s the mantra here besides the ever tiring word, time.

 

You can take that .24 mg Xanax and replace it with 5 mg Valium. Valium has a long half though some people will tell you it has a short duration of action. I didn’t find this to be true. So you can take 2.5 mg Valium as soon as you wake up and 2.5 mg at bed. I was on a large dose but once I got around 15 mg I took it all at bed. Or

 

You can take the 1 mg klonopin and replace it with 20 mg Valium. Some people found Valium to cause depression but not me. If you decide to go either route don’t drop the current benzo for about a week as it takes Valium that amount of time to fully get in your system. You may feel very sedated at first but hang tough and it will improve. If you decide to replace the Xanax and drop the klonopin at about .625 mg I did a dry micro taper which I can explain once you get there. It made things easier for me and very painless. I see you are doing a daily liquid taper which is fine if it works for you. I have never been a fan of it but that’s just me. Perhaps your dropping that too fast. Long time member builder can help you. I can’t give you tapering advice just what I did and support which we all need during this journey. Good luck 🍀👍 

[[Se...]]

Thanks for your response benzogirl. I’m not willing to do another crossover...especially to Valium.  I’m very drug sensitive and unfortunately have read too many bad experiences about Valium.  You’re right, everyone is different.  I’m sure there are many very successful results but I’m just not willing to gamble yet another unknown. 

 

I may just continue to taper alprazolam and hold clonazepam dose at 1mg.  Still mulling over my options. 

 

I’m really happy you were successful with your taper.  Congratulations! 

[[be...]]

Well then, good luck to you. As we agree, Valium is not for some people. It just really worked for me.....