Hoping to be free from benzos

[Guest [Ac...]]

I sincerely want out of the benzo trap, just like everyone else who comes here.

 

I currently am crossing over from 1 mg clonazepam per day to 20 mg diazepam, loosely following the Ashton Manual but also applying a liquid cross-taper using almond milk (4% fat).  I am doing this very, very slowly. 

 

I never used to have any real side effects, until I burned out from my very physical job over a year and a half ago.  Prior to using benzos (as Rxed), If I overworked, I could recover.  I believe dependency and the adverse effect of constant the benzo presence in my body has compromised this ability.  Nothing really works to overcome it, apart from as a temporary bandaid (Chinese herbs, properly Rxed, used to work wonders, until this lovely saga).  Anyhow, I am currently 35% crossed over on to diazepam after about 9 weeks of slow cross-tapering, figuring out a rate that doesn't make me feel worse. So far, I have found that I can switch .0125 mg clonazepam for .25 diazepam every 5 days or so (1/80th of my original clonazepam dose) without major aggravations. At this rate or something close to it, I would hope to be solely on diazepam by about the fall or next winter...and then the true tapering will begin.  I'm here to check out the various ways people are managing with tapering diazepam from the 20 mg.  I would love to go at the Ashton speed, but something tells me that it may be too quick for me.  It really is true, that most people have no clue what this can be like, and how benzos can truly take your life and turn it inside out, upside down and leave you in disbelief that you are in a relentless nightmare.  I do hang on to my belief that I will somehow get through...though I chalk that up to have been raised with a faith (I will of course keep that personal, as it is just that - personal).

 

I hope this wasn't too long or wordy of an introduction! 

 

[[pi...]]

Hello Acucanuk,

 

Welcome to Benzo Buddies!  You are among many people who feel the same way, they wish to be out of the benzo trap. It is indeed a trap. Benzos work, that is,  until they don't. When tolerance is reached the only alternative besides updosing is to taper off.  Truly, the recommended time usage for benzos is 2-3 weeks, although many of us were given prescriptions for much longer.

 

It sounds like you have a good plan in place.  You are doing a gradual crossover and planning to taper slowly.  Some people do find the Ashton method to be too fast.  In actuality, this is your taper and you should direct it in a way that is the most tolerable.

 

I'll give you a link to the Planning your Withdrawal Board.  You can post any questions you might have about your plan or comment on other threads. 

 

A higher fat content is usually suggested when preparing a liquid formula. Many people use full fat milk.

 

Yes, this can be a nightmare and turn your life inside out. However, in my opinion, going through the taper and recovery process is well worth the effort. Being benzo free and healed is pretty amazing.

 

We look forward to hearing more from you, let us know how we can help.

 

Planning Your Withdrawal (Taper Plans)

 

pianogirl 

[Guest [Ac...]]

Thank you for your message pianogirl,

There is a lot more to the story as to how I ended up on clonazepam in 2014, which I didn't want to take anywhere near as much or as long as I had to from a neuroexcitotoxic reaction I experienced that year.    I just long for the sun to come out, get off the benzos and hopefully regain a reasonable amount of energy.  Doing this amount of time feels like a prison sentence!  Thank you again for taking the time to welcome me.

[[pi...]]

Thank you for your message pianogirl,

There is a lot more to the story as to how I ended up on clonazepam in 2014, which I didn't want to take anywhere near as much or as long as I had to from a neuroexcitotoxic reaction I experienced that year.    I just long for the sun to come out, get off the benzos and hopefully regain a reasonable amount of energy.  Doing this amount of time feels like a prison sentence!  Thank you again for taking the time to welcome me.

 

Hello again,

 

I'm not a spring chicken, but my energy levels and zest for life was very strong, perhaps strong then before benzos, once I recovered. Perhaps this is because I have a better appreciation for life and living. There is light at the end of the tunnel. There may be twists and turns along the way, but it's there.

 

PG