1 year to taper and recover, which would you choose?

[[Ob...]]

 

Across 1 year, would it be better to:

A) Do a long taper that takes 1 year to get to 0, but likely need additional time to recover from both post-taper symptoms and underlying conditions?
or
B) Go to a rehab center to taper in less time to use remaining time in the year to recover from post-taper symptoms and underlying conditions?

 

Which would be better and why? If there are flaws in either scenario, please explain.  Thank you.

Dose and tapering:
Currently at 3.125mg/day of Ativan, dry cutting 0.125mg every 2 weeks (will hold, if needed)
Total 5 years of daily use at 2mg/day (1mg, 2x/day).  Upped in Nov 2023 to 3.5mg/day at the start of current medical crisis (dysphagia).  In Jan 2024, advised by psych to cut by 0.25mg every 3-4 weeks to taper off Ativan.  Cut to 3.25mg was fine but cutting to 3mg caused a massive headache and went back to 3.25mg.
Tried daily water taper, 0.01mg cut daily but the method was causing heartburn so switched back to dry cutting.

Context:
My wife needs to taper off Ativan but finding it difficult as she has other underlying conditions outside of the withdrawal symptoms and these conditions may not be resolved until she is off Ativan, which we project could take well over a year with her current taper schedule.  One condition that is causing great distress is dysphagia, which she developed when going through tolerance withdrawal - confirmed by her psych, who also says that the dysphagia might very well not go away until off Ativan - this has brought depression into the mix.  Without going into all the specifics, just know she can’t take helper meds, SSRIs, or any other medications due to most of these underlying conditions, nor switching to a longer half-life benzo (at least for now) so she’s basically having to raw dog this withdrawal on top of everything else going on (her words).

Going by the hell she has been through thus far since Sept 2023, I’m convinced every day in this taper and some time after is going to be difficult with little to no relief.  We’ve added numerous specialists for each underlying condition in hopes maybe something will give and help relieve something, especially a dysphagia coach but they’re booked solid and she doesn’t see them until April - she has seen a speech coach who offered some exercises as he noticed her neck muscles being tight and try to relieve them but it’s the same result when trying to swallow solid food, so we referred out to a dysphagia program.

With everything else planned out with specialists, I’m focused a lot more on the taper as it’s a big topic of discussion each day as she doubts the taper each time she feels a sensation that is likely due to withdrawal.  We’ve both wondered about rehab centers, especially if there are any inside of a hospital - she would feel safe if in a hospital - and by my logic, wouldn’t it be better to get off the Ativan as soon as safely possible so that the majority of the time over the next year could be focused on whatever symptoms come post-taper.  My logic is largely based on the idea that once off the Ativan, symptoms from the underlying conditions could begin to improve or go away, like the dysphagia.  Also, many people on this site and others speak about how progressively better they get once off the benzo.

But my logic is flawed considering I’ve never been through withdrawal nor used benzos, and wanted to pose the question above to the group.

 

Any response or feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
 

 

[[Ma...]]

I can’t really advise other than say not only Ashton but The Benzo Information Coalition, Colorado Consortium, Benzo Alliance for Better Practices ,CO HEAL, probably every coach and probably most here would absolutely advise against any form of a detox center even, or especially, within a hospital.

Unless they are 100% geared specifically towards benzo withdrawal maybe with fluzamil (sp? You can google) or NAD. I believe there is a clinic in Texas specifically for benzo cessation and I believe a member here went. Perhaps the Cleveland Clinic as well. 
 

I’d also suggest you research, research and do the work with the sites I mentioned above + and YouTube. I recall 1 video of a woman going through unimaginable horrors in w/d so she reinstated for a short period than here dr. put her on a/d’s and a lot of Gabapentin and she was fine. I believe this is an outlier yet everyone, every DNA is different. You’ll have to decide what risks you’re willing to take.

The majority consensus, you will find though, is that there are really no shortcuts. If there were this site would not exist.

 I’m sure it’s frustrating that you can’t address the underlying conditions that sound dreadful but all research and experience specifically states that a steady taper, patient led, is absolutely the best way to go. Her body is slowly healing, especially her gaba receptors, and hopefully she’ll just walk off without w/d post taper.

I’m sure other members will respond to share their views and experiences that can help you moving forward.

Edited February 25 by [Ma...]

[[Re...]]

Hello @[Ob...], welcome to BenzoBuddies!

I am sorry for the difficulties your wife is going through. 

Given the time she has been on the medication, it is likely that a long taper would benefit her the most. She developed dependence, a detox center or anything like this would only shock her already sensitized central nervous system. 

I know some people react badly to benzos, even without tapering. But risking the nervous system damage she would go through after a detox is simply not worth it. Even taking the medication again after such an action would most likely not correct this mistake, and she would face serious kindling. 

It is just too much uncertainty with the detox scenario. I know she feels bad on the benzos and I believe you, but at least you know this spectrum of discomfort.

I hope others will way in. This is only how I see it. 

I wish you all the best! I hope your wife gets better soon! 

[[Br...]]

Hello @[Ob...] and welcome to BenzoBuddies!

You've gotten really good feedback and I echo what's been said already.  The detox model works well for some substances but it is a very bad fit for benzo tapering and withdrawal.  In most situations it is way too harsh on the central nervous system to rapid taper off benzos.  Typically an individual is rapid tapered and sent home to contend with the result which is difficult, often severe, withdrawal symptoms.  The approach we support at BB is a cautious, slow, flexible taper to keep withdrawal symptoms to a minimum so individuals are able to function as well as possible during the taper and recovery after the taper.  

We're glad you found us!

 

[[Th...]]

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

Across 1 year, would it be better to:

A) Do a long taper that takes 1 year to get to 0, but likely need additional time to recover from both post-taper symptoms and underlying conditions?
or
B) Go to a rehab center to taper in less time to use remaining time in the year to recover from post-taper symptoms and underlying conditions?

Which would be better and why? If there are flaws in either scenario, please explain.  Thank you.

Dose and tapering:
Currently at 3.125mg/day of Ativan, dry cutting 0.125mg every 2 weeks (will hold, if needed)
Total 5 years of daily use at 2mg/day (1mg, 2x/day).  Upped in Nov 2023 to 3.5mg/day at the start of current medical crisis (dysphagia).  In Jan 2024, advised by psych to cut by 0.25mg every 3-4 weeks to taper off Ativan.  Cut to 3.25mg was fine but cutting to 3mg caused a massive headache and went back to 3.25mg.
Tried daily water taper, 0.01mg cut daily but the method was causing heartburn so switched back to dry cutting.

Context:
My wife needs to taper off Ativan but finding it difficult as she has other underlying conditions outside of the withdrawal symptoms and these conditions may not be resolved until she is off Ativan, which we project could take well over a year with her current taper schedule.  One condition that is causing great distress is dysphagia, which she developed when going through tolerance withdrawal - confirmed by her psych, who also says that the dysphagia might very well not go away until off Ativan - this has brought depression into the mix.  Without going into all the specifics, just know she can’t take helper meds, SSRIs, or any other medications due to most of these underlying conditions, nor switching to a longer half-life benzo (at least for now) so she’s basically having to raw dog this withdrawal on top of everything else going on (her words).

Going by the hell she has been through thus far since Sept 2023, I’m convinced every day in this taper and some time after is going to be difficult with little to no relief.  We’ve added numerous specialists for each underlying condition in hopes maybe something will give and help relieve something, especially a dysphagia coach but they’re booked solid and she doesn’t see them until April - she has seen a speech coach who offered some exercises as he noticed her neck muscles being tight and try to relieve them but it’s the same result when trying to swallow solid food, so we referred out to a dysphagia program.

With everything else planned out with specialists, I’m focused a lot more on the taper as it’s a big topic of discussion each day as she doubts the taper each time she feels a sensation that is likely due to withdrawal.  We’ve both wondered about rehab centers, especially if there are any inside of a hospital - she would feel safe if in a hospital - and by my logic, wouldn’t it be better to get off the Ativan as soon as safely possible so that the majority of the time over the next year could be focused on whatever symptoms come post-taper.  My logic is largely based on the idea that once off the Ativan, symptoms from the underlying conditions could begin to improve or go away, like the dysphagia.  Also, many people on this site and others speak about how progressively better they get once off the benzo.

But my logic is flawed considering I’ve never been through withdrawal nor used benzos, and wanted to pose the question above to the group.

Any response or feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
 

However bad she feels now she’ll feel infinitely worse if she goes too fast, slow and steady is the safest way. If just tapering too fast can make people feel terrible imagine how stopping over a few weeks or a month or two would feel.

[[...]]

Ditto, taper at home, practice distraction. Learn coping skills. You will always have the option to move faster if and when you feel strong enough.

You could use a blender on the food for a while. Plus baby foods and ensure type drinks. Sucks, but it would be best to minimize the fear of choking on food.

Hope it works out for you guys.