I need help tonight if possible

[[no...]]

I have been on benzos about 30 years. I started a taper about 6 months ago. I went from 2mg of klonopin down to 7/8 of a mg in about 2 and 1/2 months. I think I pushed myself into protracted withdrawal syndrome. I have been holding at 7/8 of a mg for about 4 months. To try to stabalize.

My symptoms have included headaches, insomnia has passed not really a problem anymore, pretty severe anxiety but not intolerable, blurred vision, some pain in feet and legs but not a big issue, bad tinnitus, some intrusive thoughts, memory problems, trouble thinking clearly at times, de-realization.

Probably my worst symptoms have been depression, lack of motivation and feeling wiped out. Also agitation with some anger outbursts. I lay on the couch and can't feel comfortable inside my body, I feel like this may be related to agitation and possibly related to what you guys call akadesia (spelling) but I do not have the need to pace or move or walk.

Severity comes and goes. I can't afford to lose my job by not being able to get along with people so here is the thing. I am on the fence trying to decide if I should make a cut tomorrow of 1/8 mg. It would take about 3 days for it to leave my system and symptoms to begin. I am off Friday for 6 days, I am thinking that I could make it through the first week of a 2 week acute withdrawal at home away from people at work. I have no idea how bad it will be or if it could initiate worsened post acute withdrawal symptoms. Maybe someone could help me make up my mind on a good decision. 

 

[[Br...]]

Hi @[no...]-  In my opinion it would be a mistake to make a 1/8mg cut.  I understand your reasoning but I think you will be inviting more severe symptoms.We typically advise making cuts of no more than 5-10% every 14 day or longer. The cut you are proposing is slightly more than 14%.   It appears to me that you have tapered with cuts that are too big.  I wouldn't characterize your previous cuts as pushing you into protracted withdrawal syndrome but I do think you probably taped with cuts that were too big over too short a period and that the result was severe symptoms that might have been avoided with a more cautious taper.  It seems to me that your system has made it loud and clear that it needs a slower taper with smaller cuts.  

Have you considered using a jeweler's scale to weigh your doses?  This could make it considerably easier for you to make smaller cuts with greater accuracy.  Here's an example of a scale that many members use: https://www.amazon.com/AWS-Portable-Precision-Digital-Milligram/dp/B0012TDNAM?th=1

 

[[Ho...]]

Yes, please go slower! I knows counter-intuitive, but overall you'll be much less miserable.

[[no...]]

1 hour ago, [[B...] said:

Hi @[no...]-  In my opinion it would be a mistake to make a 1/8mg cut.  I understand your reasoning but I think you will be inviting more severe symptoms.We typically advise making cuts of no more than 5-10% every 14 day or longer. The cut you are proposing is slightly more than 14%.   It appears to me that you have tapered with cuts that are too big.  I wouldn't characterize your previous cuts as pushing you into protracted withdrawal syndrome but I do think you probably taped with cuts that were too big over too short a period and that the result was severe symptoms that might have been avoided with a more cautious taper.  It seems to me that your system has made it loud and clear that it needs a slower taper with smaller cuts.  

Have you considered using a jeweler's scale to weigh your doses?  This could make it considerably easier for you to make smaller cuts with greater accuracy.  Here's an example of a scale that many members use: https://www.amazon.com/AWS-Portable-Precision-Digital-Milligram/dp/B0012TDNAM?th=1

I don't see how this could work. According to my unit converter 0.125 which is 1/8 of a mg converts to 0.000125 gram....thats three zeros in front....these scales only have two zeros in front

[[An...]]

How have you been making the 1/8 mg cuts? Are you simply taking scored .5 mg tablets and cutting them into 1/4's? You could probably take 1/4 and cut it in half again with a razor w/o too much crumble. I personally think all these tapering methods have some degree of inaccuracy.

I am able to cut my 5 mg valium tabs into 8 pieces altho I am unsure about the active ingredient distribution.

[[no...]]

14 hours ago, [[B...] said:

Hi @[no...]-  In my opinion it would be a mistake to make a 1/8mg cut.  I understand your reasoning but I think you will be inviting more severe symptoms.We typically advise making cuts of no more than 5-10% every 14 day or longer. The cut you are proposing is slightly more than 14%.   It appears to me that you have tapered with cuts that are too big.  I wouldn't characterize your previous cuts as pushing you into protracted withdrawal syndrome but I do think you probably taped with cuts that were too big over too short a period and that the result was severe symptoms that might have been avoided with a more cautious taper.  It seems to me that your system has made it loud and clear that it needs a slower taper with smaller cuts.  

Have you considered using a jeweler's scale to weigh your doses?  This could make it considerably easier for you to make smaller cuts with greater accuracy.  Here's an example of a scale that many members use: https://www.amazon.com/AWS-Portable-Precision-Digital-Milligram/dp/B0012TDNAM?th=1

I bought the scale 

[[Br...]]

@[no...] - please let us know if you have questions about using it. 

[[no...]]

17 hours ago, [[A...] said:

How have you been making the 1/8 mg cuts? Are you simply taking scored .5 mg tablets and cutting them into 1/4's? You could probably take 1/4 and cut it in half again with a razor w/o too much crumble. I personally think all these tapering methods have some degree of inaccuracy.

I am able to cut my 5 mg valium tabs into 8 pieces altho I am unsure about the active ingredient distribution.

I have some .5 mg that are scored that I have been breaking in half and cutting in half the halves. However when I asked my doctor to prescribe me 1 mg tabs and the rest as .5 mg tabs (he does not know I am tapering) he said he couldn't because it would throw up some kind of a red flag with the pharmacy. So I tried practicing with cutting a 1mg tab into 1/8 and it didn't go so well