Replacing Oxazepam by Diazepam?

[[jo...]]

At the moment I’m on 15 mg of Oxazepam; 3 x 5 mg. I came from 20 mg. but I began to feel interdose withdrawal, so my only option seemed to taper. First week went allright , but last week, the second week, has been difficult. It comes in waves, intense muscle tension in neck and shoulders and adrenaline rushing through my body, feeling so tired.

Would replace the Oxazepam with Diazepam help at this point? What are your experiences with replacing one drug with another? I’m afraid of what will happen than. On the other hand, these days are terrible. How long will this last? I still have a longway to go to 0.

Please help!

[[jo...]]

At the moment I’m on 15 mg of Oxazepam; 3 x 5 mg. I came from 20 mg. but I began to feel interdose withdrawal, so my only option seemed to taper. First week went allright , but last week, the second week, has been difficult. It comes in waves, intense muscle tension in neck and shoulders and adrenaline rushing through my body, feeling so tired.

Would replace the Oxazepam with Diazepam help at this point? What are your experiences with replacing one drug with another? I’m afraid of what will happen than. On the other hand, these days are terrible. How long will this last? I still have a longway to go to 0.

Please help!

[[Pa...]]

Hi jokkio,

 

I'm sorry you're feeling it, it's miserable I know.  Oxazepam has such a short half life, it's tough to keep a steady blood levels steady but this sound more like general withdrawal awfulness in general.

 

Switching over to Valium is an option, but each drug comes with it's own set of issues.  Some people hate the sedation and depression which seems to be a hallmark of the drug, but the long half life does make thing go a little smoother.  But a benzo is a benzo and they all hurt to get off of.

 

We can't say how long this will last, the only thing we can do is tell you to go slower, make smaller cuts, hold them for longer if you need to, I'm sorry.

[[Pa...]]

Hi again,

 

I merged your two threads together since I'm talking to you on both.  Do you have a Dr who would be willing to cross you over to Valium, many aren't willing to do this.

[[CA...]]

All I can say is when I dropped 5 mg on the oxazepam, I totally fell apart and four days later, I had to updose back to 30 mg, holding for 11 days and then I began the DLMT.  I've had lots of waves and lots of windows for the past 14 months. 

 

I once tried the valium, but I couldn't handle it.  You could try it and see if it does well for you.  If it's any consolation, I have felt better the last two weeks than I've felt in ages.  I still have a ways to go, but my symptoms have been very minor. Maybe it's just a long wave, I don't know, but I'll take it. You will get there, too. 

 

Truthfully, though, I surely wouldn't cut 5 mg. That's a killer!  Have you thought about trying the daily taper, either dry or liquid?  I'm doing the liquid and for me, it's a godsend.  Here's the link.  Be sure to click on the ReadMe tab at the bottom right corner.

 

http://benzo.alwaysdata.net/

 

"A slow and steady benzodiazepine withdrawal with you in control is nearly always successful." H. Ashton

 

 

[[jo...]]

@[Pa...]

 

Thanks so much for listening to me. I think I did indeed quite a big jump with 5 mg a day tapering from 20 - 15 mg. I'm really afraid of going back to 20 mg again. So my plan is to wait till things settle down  at 3 x 5 mg of Oxazepam. I hear several people who had trouble with Diazepam too....

After I find rest with the 15 mg. (I hope soon... eventually it will, I think) I only will take babysteps with tapering. I have a precision scale, so little bits off will be possible.

Thanks you both for thinking with me and supporting me. Not many people in my network who understand what I’m going through. You do.  :smitten:

[[Pa...]]

We know well how little those in our lives understand what we're going through, they actually seem to resist even trying, it's very disheartening isn't it?  It sounds like you have a good way forward, I'm so glad CAgirl jumped in with her experience, peer support is crucial to this process.

[[CA...]]

@Pamster and @CAgirl,

 

Thanks so much for listening to me. I think I did indeed quite a big jump with 5 mg a day tapering from 20 - 15 mg. I'm really afraid of going back to 20 mg again. So my plan is to wait till things settle down  at 3 x 5 mg of Oxazepam. I hear several people who had trouble with Diazepam too....

After I find rest with the 15 mg. (I hope soon... eventually it will, I think) I only will take babysteps with tapering. I have a precision scale, so little bits off will be possible.

Thanks you both for thinking with me and supporting me. Not many people in my network who understand what I’m going through. You do.  :smitten:

 

Yes, we certainly care and we understand.  I think it's difficult for others who don't have the dependence to even have a clue and when they hear about tapering, cutting, liquid, etc., they're totally clueless.  I could never have gotten this far without BB!