Valium tapering help

[[BU...]]

Hi new here. IN 2015 I was put on 12mg of valium for horrible vertigo. I was diagnosed with chronic BPPV.  It controlled it but I did not like the way I felt on it. I ended up in PT rehab for 3 months and when I got released, I was still on the Valium and dizzy. I found a doctor to help me get lower on my dose. I got down to 2mg in 2018 without a lot of issues. I also have Sarcoidosis and POTS that they give me steroids daily for. I have had very little success getting down under 2mg. I cut to 1.5mg and I am overwhelmed with vertigo and withdrawal symptoms. I always end up in the hospital back on 2mg. I want off this drug because I am still dizzy everyday with it. I cannot do a water taper. I want to try and dry cut my 2mg pills daily. I take 1mg in the morning and 1mg at night. If I take and cut the 1mg in half would that be 25% of my daily dose I cut? They say to only cut 10%. How can I do that with a 2mg pill, and would I be better off cutting the morning dose or night? I am 71 years old and cannot see why I should stay on a med that is not fixing my problem. Will be happy to get some advice from you all. 

[[Br...]]

Hello @[BU...] - welcome to BenzoBuddies!

I'm sorry you've gone through such a rough time.  Congratulations on getting down to 2mg of Valium.  When people get down to lower doses it's often necessary to slow down with smaller cuts and/or longer holds between cuts.  I understand you're wanting to get off the drug but rushing it will only backfire.  The cut of .5mg was clearly too big a cut at 25%.  We do typically suggest tapering with cuts of no more than 5-10% of your most recent daily dose every 10-14 days or longer.  Are your pills 1mg or 2mg?  Members who dry cut often use a jeweler's scale to help with the accuracy of cuts.  Do you have a scale?  

[[BU...]]

Been in the hospital. I just got a scale. Going to start again Jan 1st. I was put on this stuff for vertigo. Lets see how bad it gets when I come off. My pills are 2mg. Valium does not make a 1mg I was told. 

[[Br...]]

Hi @[BU...] - I hope whatever brought you to the hospital has been taken care of.  

Let us know if you need help with a taper plan for starting in January.  

As you think ahead to your taper, one thing to keep in mind is that with a 2mg Valium tablet, 2mg is the weight of the active ingredient.  The tablet has filler and probably a coating so each tablet will weigh more than 2mg.  It's a good idea to get an average weight of a tablet.  You can do this by weighing 10 tablets and dividing the total by 10.  When you make a cut, for example a 10% cut, you will be removing 10% from the total weight of the tablet.  

[[BU...]]

I just went to my PCP yesterday and she is willing to help me so I feel good about that. She seems to think it could take a year to get off 2mg. Seems a bit long to me but that 2mg pill is hard to cut so getting the 10% will be tuff. Thanks for the info. Looking forward to Jan. I suspect alot of my issues they cant label are really tolerance from the valium. Ugh. I will definitely need help. 

 

[[Br...]]

@[BU...] - I'm very glad to hear your PCP is supportive of a slow careful taper.  Please let us know how we can help and reach out for support when you need it.