Tapering off Diazepam - never had stable dosage

[[Pa...]]

Most of our members give up trying to educate others, it’s just too stressful.  I’m sorry you’re so miserable right now but trying to figure out what is causing this may only be adding to your distress.

Can you do anything to distract, what do you use to calm yourself, what tools? 

[[Ni...]]

I cant do much because Im so dizzy all the time.

The slightest movement makes it worse.

All I can do is lay is in bed, on my back, propped up and listen to the telly. 

Occasionally going on my phone and thats it.

 

It's difficult to follow much because Im so dizzy, along with flucuating brainfog and stressed about it all.

[[Pa...]]

What a miserable state you’re being forced to live in, with no way to distract, I’m so sorry.  I hope it lightens soon. 

[[Ni...]]

I hope so too.

I just want to get a bit better so I know that I will get better. And not be left like this forever.

But I just keep getting worse.

[[Ni...]]

Have I broken my brain coming off Diazepam wrong?

Am I getting worse because of that?

Will things start to get better ever?

[[Ni...]]

Just had a phonecall from pharmacist to check on my coming off the diazepam.

 

She said its been 10 days and I was on 1mg for 2 weeks, I shouldn't be feeling any withdrawal at all, let alone after 10 days.

Said that whatever Im feeling isnt connected to the diazepam.

Said it doesn't matter I was taking 2-4mg on and off for 7 years.

 

Said it will all be out of my system by now.

 

 

Everything Iv read says the opposite but she is a pharmacist.

 

What do I believe?

[[Pa...]]

Diazepam is slow to exit the body, I don’t agree its out of your system by now, I’d say at 3 weeks you’ll be clear of the drug.  This estimate isn’t based on any scientific material, this is what I’ve seen here.

You aren’t dealing with the drug being in your system, you’re dealing with the changes it made to your brain and those changes have to be reversed and they are, but this takes time.

There are ways of getting off of these drugs that are more preferred than others in terms of functionality while withdrawing but there is no wrong way.

I quit cold turkey from a huge dose for 5 years and while I suffered more intensely in the beginning than those who taper, I recovered in the normal time frame so no, you haven’t broken your brain. 

[[Ni...]]

I started to cut the 2mg-4mg doses down on 12 August. Not done right though.

I started 1mg on 6 September.

Stopped on 26 September.

 

I guess there should have been some improvement during that time. That my brain should have begun to adjust to lower doses during that time. But Ive just got worse and worse.

The dizziness and tinnitus is worse than its ever been.

 

Maybe its because Diazepam is an Ototoxic drug and it did permanent damage.

 

I dont know why I got abit better 17-20 September.

Edited October 5, 2023 by [Ni...]

[[Pa...]]

https://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/

Professor Ashton talks about the waxing and waning of symptoms, I found this to be true in my case. 

[[Ni...]]

Ive read about that too.

But I haven't waxed and waned I just felt abit better for those few days and Ive just got worse and worse in the 2 weeks since.

 

I thought maybe the Loperamide was making things worse.

But Im just grabbing at straws.

 

I appreciate you trying to help.

But I think Im past that. 

Im so incapacitated now.

Edited October 5, 2023 by [Ni...]