Drop a dose

[[Ka...]]

Way back, when on lorazepam I was told by a psychiatrist to drop a dose. This meant 3x per day reduced to 2x per day effectively a 33% sudden reduction. I didn’t know any better, compliant so I did. I also shortly afterwards was told to double venlafaxine. I became very unwell. 

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Yet on my journey to come off diazepam I was told to take it on alternative days. I didn’t. (I had had a terrible time taking z drug zopiclone on alternate days - guided by a doctor). 

Changing frequency of a particular dose is not tapering or safe deprescribing. Curious how many buddies have been guided/instructed to do so - when it’s about reducing an actual tablet/liquid at a gentle pace.

Edited March 5 by [Ka...]

[[Bu...]]

Hey @[Ka...].

I was told something very similar by my well-meaning, but very clueless doctor.  When I told him that I wanted to get off my 20-year-long prescription of clonazepam which I had been taking at .25mg in the morning and at night, he said "just cut out the morning dose and see how you feel".

Thankfully, I knew enough to not just cut my dose by 50%, but regretfully, I didn't know enough to not cut it by 25%, which is what I did.  (I cut the morning dose in half.) 

Anyway, water under the bridge for me now, at least, but I do cringe and get a little shiver up my spine every time I hear about this kind of advice being given to someone.

 

[[Ka...]]

Thank you @[Bu...] it beggars belief that this dosing advice is casually give out.
On the face of it, your average pill taker may think as I did “oh - ok so I’m reducing - dropped that lunchtime one, next I’ll tackle the morning or evening” ….. what a terrible way to attempt to reduce from what are strong meds! 

[[Bu...]]

@[Ka...], agreed!  There does seem to be a wide, gaping hole in knowledge in the medical community when it comes to knowing how low a dose should be before dropping it completely.  And knowing the differences among meds regarding half life and how that factors in, too.