Rough patch!!

[[al...]]

Hi all,  I've been tapering from Valium 20mg since September 2023 (5 months) and have gotten down to 13.5 mgs.  I've been tapering the last few months at 10% a month and was doing well. But the last 8 days I've hit a really bad wave.  Depression and very elevated anxiety.  Not sure how I can go months with being ok to getting slammed like this.  Is it some arbitrary wave , have my cuts caught up to me?  Should I hold or up dose?  Not sure what to do. Any insight or suggestions would be welcome

@[Wi...], @[Pa...], @[Li...]

Thanks in advance for any replies!!

[[Si...]]

Have you been on the 13.5mg just 8 days or longer?  I'm not so experienced as I destroyed my own taper, but I would hold a couple weeks.

Edited February 2 by [Si...]

[[al...]]

I've been on 13.5 mg. Now for 9 days.  I usually cut 2.5%  every 7 days

And thanks for your reply!!

Edited February 2 by [al...]

[[Bu...]]

Hey @[al...],

When I got down to the lower doses, it got harder for me, maybe that's what's going on with you too.  I think @[Si...] is right,  I think holding might be the best option for now and see if things improve a bit. 

[[Pa...]]

I agree with @[Si...] and @[Bu...], holding sounds like a good idea and after you stabilize, you might want to hold your reductions longer.

 Valium has such a long half life, you may be making your next reduction before your body has fully realized the last one.  I’ve read quite a few members mention this, the cuts seem to stack up and you get hit really hard when they do. 

[[al...]]

@[Pa...], did you happen to notice if they felt better on average with a longer hold and then slower reductions?

[Guest [...]]

Hi @[al...]

It’s difficult to pinpoint your potential factors without knowing exactly how you are tapering, so I’ll ask a question…

When you say you’ve been tapering at 10% the last few months… are you using scales for accuracy and a calculator to re-calculate that 10% from each new lower dose… otherwise the percentage of each new cut is climbing.

You would be better off cutting 5% or lower every 10-14 days rather than 2.5% every 7 days. I know I don’t experience any improvement until day 9 or 10 of my reductions, so as others above have suggested, your reductions are probably piling up. I agree… just hold and rethink your taper strategy. 

Edited February 3 by Guest

[[al...]]

@[Wi...] , yes , I use a scale and base my cuts on weight . Each 2.5% cut I base off the last weight.  I figured at 2.5% a week would be easier than making a whole 5% cut at once and I would be able to attain 10% a month reductions. It's been for the most part going well with the occasional wave but this last wave has really been rough.  I guess I just gotta hold and slow it down.  I really didn't want to have to taper this crap for the next 2-3 years.  But what can one do, I can't make my brain and nervous system bend to my will..  just frustrating.  But I appreciate your input @[Wi...]!!

[[TH...]]

@[al...]

Hi pal.

I started my taper at 20mg last march 2023. Currently down to 5mg and holding. I'm dropping 0.5mg every 2 weeks but sometimes my body tells me to hold for another week or so. So sometimes I could be holding a dose for 3 weeks. 

Definitely worth holding till your body is somewhat content. I agree with the others on this thread for sure. 

[[Pa...]]

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

I really didn't want to have to taper this crap for the next 2-3 years.  But what can one do, I can't make my brain and nervous system bend to my will..  just frustrating.

Truer words…..