Carry on Weekly or Daily?

[[Sp...]]

I have been taking Diazepam for 18 days but over a 2 month period.

 

I haven't taken them for more than 3 days in a row.

 

Last time was Wednesday.

 

Since just over the 2 week period I was averaging around 15mg per week for about 2.5 weeks.

 

To taper off I am going to take 10mg this coming week and then 5mg the week after.

 

Do I take the 10mg in a day or do I break it down into like 2.5mg pieces and have it for four days?

 

The only problem is I have never taken it for more than 3 days in a row but want to try and taper down as best as possible. 

 

I know I haven't taken for a long time but I have severe anxiety and do not want to deal with severe withdrawal symptoms

[[Sp...]]

Does anyone reply on here???

[[Pa...]]

I think your plan sounds good and even if you feel some symptoms, your best bet is to get off of the drug sooner than later.  If you feel some mild symptoms, just accept that this is normal when stopping the drug.  Your only other option will be to take them everyday, get a real dependence on them set in place, then taper slowly off of them.  No one really wants to see you do that.

 

I'm not sure how you should take your dose, if you don't feel the need for it, I'm kind of wondering if you should take it.

 

[[Sp...]]

Thank you for replying Pamster.

 

Like I mentioned before....someone said I need to start taking everyday to taper off but because I havent done that before, I didnt want to start now.

[[Pa...]]

Absolutely, why create a problem you might not have at the moment!  Have you decided if you're going to just skip your dose?  It might be a good way to find out if your body has developed a dependence.  No time like the present to put your fear to rest, all of your concerns may have been for nothing if you're in the clear. 

[[Sp...]]

Thanks for your help Pamster!

 

What do you mean skip the dose. Ive taken them about 3 times a week for the last few weeks for a total of 18 days.

 

Shall I just try and reduce the dosages each week for a couple of weeks?

[[Pa...]]

Yep, I'm thinking it might be time to see if you're going to be one of us and suffer with symptoms, or if you're going to be one of the lucky ones and not fall victim to it.  From what I know, not everyone who takes this drug will go through what we do here, and you just might be one of them.  If you skip your dose and feel unbearable symptoms then we'll know for sure you're one of us.  If you don't feel awful symptoms and just some mild discomfort or nothing at all, then we'll know for sure and you can live happily ever after knowing you escaped our fate.

 

What do you think?

[[Sp...]]

Thanks Pamster...

 

Yes im willing to give that a try. What would be the solution if I did start to suffer symptoms? I wouldn't have to resort to taking it daily would I?

[[Pa...]]

I think it depends on the severity of your symptoms.  If it's something you can push through in order to be completely free from this nasty drug, then I feel this would be your best course of action.  If the symptoms are too much for you, then I'm afraid that your body has become dependent and it would be wise to go on a small daily dose in order to stabilize and then begin a taper. 

 

I fervently hope the first scenario will be what you experience, if I can see one person escape this nightmare, I'll be happy.

[[Sp...]]

Wow I didn’t realise the damage this can cause.

 

 

And can this happen even when taken infrequently as in not daily and for just over 2 weeks

[[Pa...]]

I've seen dependence to this drug form in someone who only used it for 6 days, I don't underestimate it's power.  The brain adapts to the presence of the drug, it actually makes structural changes to accommodate it, do you feel good about the perfection of the human brain being rearranged by a chemical you put into your mouth?  Once the drug is removed, your brain has to rebuild the pathways the drug disrupted, it takes time for this rebuilding to take place. This is why it takes so long and hurts so much, the brain is doing it's best to get the signals it sends to just about every part of your body right. 

[[Sp...]]

Oh wow.

 

If they cause so much damage to the brain. Why are they allowed to be given to people? Surely they would take them off the market.

 

No I dont want my brain being rearranged by chemicals.

[[Pa...]]

I don't want this either, its a scary thing to think about, something we all should have looked into before we ingested it.  They came up with this drug, tested it on people for

30 days, loved the results and said its good to go.

 

Its a great medication for a one time use, or perhaps a few times a year, but to leave people on these drugs for decades is just wrong.  If you have some time on your hands, you might want to check out this link to see just what the scientific community doesn't know about benzo's.