DiazepamCrossover

[[Jo...]]

Hello,

 

I originally was prescribed Ativan and Seroquel for Panic Attacks. As 14 years have past I only took Ativan because the Seroquel was giving me irregular heart rate. I crossed over from Ativan to Diazepam to get off of Ativan that was mixing with my other meds and raising my Blood Pressure over 200/100 and killing me. I made the switch on August 02 of 2022 but now the Diazepam is giving me insomnia and I haver not even began tapering yet. I get sleep about 4 to 5 hours. Originally, I switched from 1.75MG Ativan to 12.5 Diazepam and it nearly killed me with seizures for 2 days and on the 5th day I made it. I decided to drop to 10mg of Diazepam on the 6th day and stayed there for 5 days and then dropped again to 8.75mg of Diazepam. I stayed at 8.75mg for 8 Days and then dropped to 7.5mg and then had shakes had no sleep, anger, irritability, depression, rage, and muscle twitching. My MD said I dropped too FAST and to go to 8mg! She was  sure that I tapered too fast. She also said to try Trazodone which she did not prescribe and that my former MD who got me Dependent on Ativan prescribed to me. I tried the Trazodone for 2 days and became worse and was having mania and the EMT came and a online ER Doctor gave me 10mg of GEODON and I slept for 1.5 days. I was told by my new MD do not take any Geodon.  I am NOT going to take Trazodone either! I am Hyper Manic NOT depressed and antidepressants have NEVER worked and I told my new MD that and she blew it off! She said  she did not think it was the Trazodone. However, I know it was because my former MD's have tried antidepressants and they did the same thing to me! She then told me to go to 10mg of Diazepam for 14 days!?!?! Is it common to have insomnia while on Diazepam? I want to taper after 14 days but will this be possible when at dose equal to the Ativan I am having insomnia? Thanks in advance for any information. I can't find the information while taking Diazepam and getting insomnia without tapering or I just do not understand how this works!

 

The Trazodone made me have thoughts of  doing myself in, Rage, Depression, anger, extreme irritability, and caused on the second day epigastric pain. Emergency Services  (EMT's) and the Sheriff were called and they gave me 10mg of Geodon. My current MD does not want me on Geodon. She also did NOT prescribe me the Trazodone either; but wanted me to try the old prescription of/from my former MD who got me hooked on Ativan? I do believe this is not Lawful as my wife is a BSN RN? Also, I have and was told that I have to use Nexium for life? I stopped the Nexium because of the interaction with Diazepam. I had to stop ALL PPI's that included the option of use of Pantoprazole which will react with my Hydralazine and Simvastatin and cause nerve damage and so I stay away from carbs and meat except fish and salad as much as possible to reduce the cholesterol. I do not have a Gall Bladder. Funny thing though? I had gastritis while on the Nexium for the last 18 years and I have less symptom s now than when on it. I read somewhere chronic use of PPI's to reduce acid GERD or Hiatal Hernias with GERD can cause Gastritis, Gastroenteritis, and Esophagitis? The article also said if PPI's are over used then they must be reduced... by reduction of the PPI's my symptoms have almost disappeared and the medical article seems very true. Additionally, Ativan is Colo-genic and IT was DEFINITELY contributing to Gastritis as well. My Blood Pressure is NOW in the 140/99 some times or 130/89-90 and when on both Diazepam and Hydralazine in the 125/80's! My problem will be insomnia while getting off this Diazepam stuff!! I have no plans and have no idea or medical knowledge on detoxification on Diazepam. Worse the Diazepam impairs Cognitive Function and decisions can't be made by me. Today, I have had sleep of 7 hours after moving my middle dose closer to my morning dose! That is why I can write at all. I am simply terrified. 6 to 8 months of no sleep and then insomnia again after getting off of the Diazepam seems impossible.

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I took Nexium with the Diazepam and this put me to sleep and I got chills. It says in interactions that it increases the plasma levels and interacts with Diazepam. Should I be worried?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

[[Pa...]]

I can see a couple of issues that set you up for this distress, the first is your crossover, if it was done all at once, meaning you withdrew the Ativan completely while adding in the Diazepam, that's pretty much was a cold turkey because it takes awhile for the Diazepam to build up. The crossover is supposed to be done gradually to allow the Diazepam to become fully effective before withdrawing the Ativan completely.

 

Second, a stabilization period is preferable after making the cross, any change to our dose, the time we take it or a substitution means our body needs more time to acclimate. 

 

I don't know anything about the other medications you're taking but I do agree with your doctor that going up in dose and holding until you're stable is necessary.  Becoming benzo free is just the first step in this process, next comes recovery and that can take as long or longer than the taper so using the drug to minimize your symptoms while you taper is the goal because once you're benzo free, you'll be at their mercy.

[Guest [...]]

Hi John1254,

 

In my experience the diazepam doesn’t cause insomnia, which brings me back to your previous thread. I would suggest that reason you are experiencing insomnia is because it’s a withdrawal symptom. You are destabilised. It will decrease if you allow yourself the time to stabilise. You say you want to cut every 14 days, but you have to allow yourself to stabilise before you do another cut. Sometimes we don’t get to dictate how our taper should go, we have to allow our symptoms to guide us. Please give yourself time to stabilise. If you do, your insomnia will decrease and you will be sleeping again. Please don’t force yourself to keep a schedule your brain and body can’t keep up with.

 

WS

[[Jo...]]

Thanks. I have been on 10mg with 4 at 7:00AM, 2mg at 12:00PM and 4mg at 6:00PM since the 15th of September. I took Geodon 3 times  and spaced it out. I know that Geodon is addictive so I limit how much I use. I have noticed when I use Nexium at 40mg and Hydralazine that I can sleep but it may be my body adjusting and I am playing around with my other meds too much. On Drugs.com it says that Nexium:

 

Esomeprazole may increase the blood levels and effects of diazepam. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. Contact your doctor if your condition changes or you experience increased side effects. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

 

Coadministration with esomeprazole may increase the plasma concentrations and the risk of adverse effects of drugs that are substrates of CYP450 2C19. The proposed mechanism is decreased clearance due to esomeprazole-mediated inhibition of CYP450 2C19. In a study involving epileptic patients, use of esomeprazole (40 mg) resulted in a 13% increase in trough plasma levels of phenytoin. Dose adjustments were not required in this study.

 

 

So I am at a loss if to take Nexium or just stick with Geodon to keep from going in to Psychosis from a lack of sleep?

 

Thanks yo in advance.

[[Jo...]]

Not sleeping at night and not being able to work in these times to help my family is getting me both depressed. I know it is the Diazepam and the try out of the two days of Trazodone made it REAL bad. Geodon gave a me a day of rest and stabilized me about 4 weeks ago. Used Geodon on Sept. 22nd and Sept. 20th. Then I fell asleep without effort for 5 hours on Sept 23rd. Slept well on theSept24th and 25th. Used Nexium 40mg and Hydralazine 25mg on those days. Tonight could not fall asleep and did not used Nexium until 9:59PM and got the CHILLS and my house was 82F and my wife complained. I have never felt so emotional before. I feel alone. I hop I make it. I used Ativan and I read it is short acting and the most deadly to get off of, especially after 14 years!!!! I am losing hope.

 

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[[Jo...]]

I think I have developed "Relative Withdrawal symptoms"? I have been on Ativan for 14 years.

 

As per Colin. "If you experience no relief after stabilizing your dose for some time, you have probably developed Relative Withdrawal symptoms. In this unfortunate situation, all you can do is continue to taper off at a reasonable and tolerable rate"  :'(

[[Pa...]]

Not sleeping at night and not being able to work in these times to help my family is getting me both depressed. I know it is the Diazepam and the try out of the two days of Trazodone made it REAL bad. Geodon gave a me a day of rest and stabilized me about 4 weeks ago. Used Geodon on Sept. 22nd and Sept. 20th. Then I fell asleep without effort for 5 hours on Sept 23rd. Slept well on theSept24th and 25th. Used Nexium 40mg and Hydralazine 25mg on those days. Tonight could not fall asleep and did not used Nexium until 9:59PM and got the CHILLS and my house was 82F and my wife complained. I have never felt so emotional before. I feel alone. I hop I make it. I used Ativan and I read it is short acting and the most deadly to get off of, especially after 14 years!!!! I am losing hope.

 

Edit: Content

 

I'm not sure where you're getting your information but Ativan isn't deadly to get off of, this sounds like a scare tactic to me and you have enough to worry about without reading things like that.  Yes, its a challenge as every benzodiazepine is but its possible if you go slowly.  My suggestion would be to stay away from Dr Google for a little while and work on finding ways to distract yourself from your fear.  We all need to develop coping skills to get through this and the great part is we can use them when we're drug free instead of reaching for a pill.

 

What do you do to calm yourself down, do you meditate, do breathing exercises, puzzles, what is your go to coping tool?

[[Jo...]]

While on Ativan my BP was over 200/100. When I switched to Diazepam it is now 140/90 at most. Ativan was doing something to me so I can not go back. I may have been allergic to it. I do not know.

[[Jo...]]

Can I still taper off Diazepam while taking Nexium?