Lorazepam to Valium

[[mo...]]

Did you switch when you got low enough cutting tablets was difficult or earlier on? I’d like to ask my doctor at follow up to switch too. 

[[Pa...]]

3 hours ago, [[m...] said:

@[Pa...] I’ve been off Xyrem and xywav for long periods of time in the past and adjusted and did ok. Sleep still was a problem but I got by. Xyrem, I was only on for 4 months before we realized the unbearable anxiety was being caused by it. The xywav I’ve been on fairly regularly for about 6 months. But, guess it makes sense to not cut both at the same time. If I do start with the 10% cut, say twice in a row and do ok, could I try 20% next cut? The depression and exhaustion from the Valium is hard to get over. 

Most members have to slow their tapers down when they get lower in dose, I don't think you can count on doing this.  

 

[[mo...]]

29 minutes ago, [[P...] said:

Most members have to slow their tapers down when they get lower in dose, I don't think you can count on doing this.  

So I might need to cut less than 10% as I get lower? This is going to take forever, isn’t it? 

Edited August 21 by [mo...]

[[Ro...]]

2 hours ago, [[m...] said:

@[Ro...]

Thanks! I just worry about throwing another wrench in the works. I’ve seen some post that they had some pretty bad withdrawal symptoms coming off of it. Did you experience any loss of appetite while on it? I haven’t had any hunger cues or appetite since a few weeks after I started. 

Yes, I understand--you don't need any more "wrenches in the works." I don't remember having any loss of appetite due to buspirone, but it did occasionally cause some indigestion.

[[mo...]]

@[Ro...]How did you taper? I’m on 10,5, and 5. 

Edited August 22 by [mo...]

[[Ro...]]

22 minutes ago, [[m...] said:

@[Ro...]How did you taper? I’m on 10,5, and 5. 

I tapered off 1 mg of clonazepam, averaging 7.5% reduction per cut.  If you want to see the particulars, you can check out my taper schedule on the About Me tab of my Profile.

[[mo...]]

@[Ro...]Thanks! I meant. How did you taper off the buspirone? Also, did you do the buspirone taper at the same time as the benzo taper?

Edited August 22 by [mo...]

[[Ro...]]

5 minutes ago, [[m...] said:

@[Ro...]Thanks! I meant. How did you taper off the buspirone? Also, did you do the buspirone taper at the same time as the benzo taper?

Oh, okay, sorry.  I was taking 10 mg, 2X day, and tapered off by reducing the dosage by 5 mg per cut and holding for 2 days. I had been taking it for around half a year, before I was put on a benzo.

[[Pa...]]

On 21/08/2024 at 14:09, [[m...] said:

So I might need to cut less than 10% as I get lower? This is going to take forever, isn’t it? 

When you're in pain, it can feel like its taking forever, I'm so sorry to keep throwing cold water on your hopes but its important you know what to expect.  My hope is you don't encounter any difficulties but we won't know until you begin. 

[[mo...]]

41 minutes ago, [[P...] said:

When you're in pain, it can feel like its taking forever, I'm so sorry to keep throwing cold water on your hopes but its important you know what to expect.  My hope is you don't encounter any difficulties but we won't know until you begin. 

Sorry, I’m just frustrated. I can’t tell if the anxiety is from the xywav, the benzos, the tumor, or the issues I’m having from accepting what surgery did to me. I’m most, scared, and tired of the panic attacks. 

[[mo...]]

@[Pa...] @[or...] @[Do...]I’m still having anxiety throughout the day with crying spells. Could I be tolerance already with the Valium after 3 weeks or is it because I didn’t go to 15 mg but 12.5 to start? Doctor changed it to 15 but we decided to stay up with the 12.5 since, as stated before, most of my doses were 1.25 of lorazepam with occasionally 1.5 and a just few times with the breast cancer scare, more. I need to stick it out right? I have my first follow up on the 28th. My husband swears it’s the pituitary tumor causing it as it can cause anxiety and depression. 

Edited August 23 by [mo...]

[[or...]]

@[mo...] I never had anxiety or crying spells on my valium so I can't speak to that. Maybe others will chime in. I suppose you could go up to 15 mgs and see if that helps. Or just, as you say, stick it out. I wonder, too, if the anxiety and the crying spells may not be caused  by the valium itself but by your psychological/emotional state being at the beginning of your taper. We're all upset then. I don't know, @[mo...]. I hope you feel better.

Katz

[[mo...]]

@[or...] I’d rather stick it out and not updose. I keep hoping Pete is right and it is the tumor and that when treatments begins, it will alleviate this craziness. Still have 12 days until my specialist appointment. Thank you. 

Edited August 23 by [mo...]

[[or...]]

@[mo...] fingers crossed for you! 

Best,

Katz

[[mo...]]

@[or...] I decided to take 2 mg pill instead of the 2.5 for my 1 pm  dose. So, a 4% cut. Think that’s a stupid move? 

[[or...]]

@[mo...] I think you're jumping the gun with a taper . . .even a mini-taper. I thought you were going to wait? But see how it goes. How you feel is the only measure of success or failure. I know you're eager to get off the valium, but just making a random cut is not something I would have done.  

K

[[mo...]]

@[or...] I guess I’m just desperate. So you think I should add back in the .5? I was going to wait until next week after my follow up appointment with the doctor but felt that 4% wasn’t much? Would I feel symptoms rather quickly or could it take the few days? 

Edited August 23 by [mo...]

[[or...]]

@[mo...] I get it that you're desperate. But now that you've reduced by .5, I would stick with it. See how you feel. Record it (in that journal you're keeping, right?). But for heaven's sake plan a taper and stick to your plan. Your body will tell you if you're cutting too big/too fast and if you have to adjust your taper schedule. However . . . your body is not going to appreciate random cuts. I have no idea how fast/slowly you'll feel cuts. We're all different. Good luck.

K

[[mo...]]

@[or...] I do definitely know better than to do random cuts! 🙂 Should I have cut at 5% and then stick with that or do I need to now stay at 4% of each new dose the whole time? Maybe I should have tried 10% as I originally planned and see how I felt. I’m sorry if I’m being a pain. Yes, I have the journal printed out and will be using it. 

[[or...]]

Everyone here is different, pretty much, when it comes to how much they should taper.  It's suggested "only" to do between 5% and 10%, but that will also vary with length of time, and amount of doses the person is taking.

I go by how I feel, each time I taper again.  I have a plan but it is completely reliant on how my body adjusts, or doesn't adjust to a taper.  I have to try a taper, then see how I do, and I am free to adjust it either to "less of a taper" or if I do very good, then I can up it some. 

I always wait at least a week to decide.  I recently taper 5% and only help for 10 days.  The next time I tapered 5% again, and I held that dose 31 days, so it varies for me, oregonlady ~ Denise

[[or...]]

@[mo...] if it were me, I would stick to the "new" amount . . . 5%. Cut for however long you planned to cut, note how you feel, and then carry on. However, you can do whatever you think is best. Good luck.

K

[[or...]]

2 minutes ago, [[o...] said:

@[mo...] if it were me, I would stick to the "new" amount . . . 5%. Cut for however long you planned to cut, note how you feel, and then carry on. However, you can do whatever you think is best. Good luck.

K

I had to do this exact thing after I'd cut 11% when I first joined BB.  It was suggested I hold on, so that I would not have to "buy the same property twice".  I loved that from a long-time taperer, and darn, can't think of his name right now, but he was so right!  I didn't have to chance any adverse effects, I had enough already, and I struggled through until I became stable, or functioning way better!  It worked! 

[[mo...]]

@[or...]

 

It’s actually a 4% cut. I couldn’t figure out how to cut pills for a 5%. Since I only did one day so far maybe I can try to do 10% at 1.25 mg which is 1/4 my 5 mg pill.  I can add in the .5 I didn’t take at 1 with my pm dose at 6 and start the 10% tomorrow. 

[[or...]]

I used a jewelry scale I bought off Amazon to taper.  I also use a single edge razor-blade to slice or shave the tablets.  What I first do is I weight a handful of tablets to get an average weight.  My average weight of a Teva brand Clonazepam is .170g on my mg scale for example.  If I need to taper 5%, I do this little calculation I was taught:  .170 g X .95% = .161, so the .161 is my next tablet dose to weigh out on my scale.

I know you have way more to deal with than one tablet right now, but I think it's most important for me to get an accurate weight of dose.  Numbers, weighing, and calculating is not my strong point by far, but people here always help me if I need help with calculating but I have to decide what how much I should taper. 

It's also important to start, or change my taper "only" if I am at a stable point.  If I feel badly, I don't make another taper until I get through the last one, oregonlady

PS  A slow, micro taper is what I do, and when I started, I was breaking the pills with crappy cutters, and/fingernails which was so unreliable. You can also see my "Taper History for Oregonlady" of taper here, and look at @[Ro...] as well.  I can't recommend more, you make one for yourself as well.  We can help each other much better and also, I print mine out for my doctor, it helps them as well.

Edited August 23 by [or...]

[[mo...]]

@[or...] @[or...] @[Ro...]@[Pa...] @[Do...]

 

Hope it isn’t too much tagging each of you? If so, let l know.
 

Today is day 4 of the .5 mg reduction in Valium (4% cut from 12.5 to 12). I’m doing ok. Just feeling the depression still which I still think is from the Valium vs when I was taking Ativan so crying spells throughout the day. Going to give it a full week then try another small cut on the 31st. I have my first follow up with my doctor on the 28th. Still not feeling comfortable with his lack of giving a taper schedule so think I’m going to have to figure that part out on my own and know some have offered to hello come up with a plan. I almost wish I had tried the 10% but might have really regretted it. 

My pituitary doctor appointment  was moved from the 13th to the 3rd so am happy about that. Still can’t believe I have a tumor but remain hopeful he will have a good plan to get this under control. He is one of the best and deals with these a lot. If only it had been discovered months ago I would have probably avoided even having to start a benzo. Such is life! 

Edited August 26 by [mo...]