Very slow tapering in Germany

[[De...]]

 

Hi,

I have a very serious addiction – 10 mg alprazolam per day. It has been developing for seven years. In my country, they don't know anything about such an addiction, so they immediately got rid of me from the drugs, as a result I had an epileptic seizure.

When the war started and I came to Germany, I immediately went to a psychiatrist who specializes in addictions. He transferred me to lorazepam 2.5 mg per day for 1 week, then 1 mg per day for 2 weeks, and then he decided that he had done his job. When I objected that I had cognitive paralysis, he said that such a thing does not happen, said that I'm a liar, I wanted to use him as a drug dealer and kicked me out.

Then I signed up for an addiction treatment clinic. But there was the same thing. I was there for 4 weeks, they first gave me 40 mg of diazepam, and then reduced it by 10 mg every week.

So I am forced to... you know.

How can I find a doctor in Germany who will understand my long-standing problem and develop a normal scheme, but not this nonsense? Are there any specialists in Germany who work under the Ashton manual or similar?

Thanks in advance for your answer. ❤️

 

 

[[...]]

Hi, @[De...], and welcome to BenzoBuddies! What a tough experience of quitting alprazolam you had all three times. So really sorry. I'm sure folks here will help you to find a benzo wise doctor in Germany or give some tips how to go about it. There is also always the possibility of just searching for a doctor willing to prescribe you benzo for coming off it and get good advice on how to do the tapering properly here on BenzoBuddies.

Good luck to you!)

 

[[De...]]

Thank you for your kind words, Kate.

> There is also always the possibility of just searching for a doctor willing to prescribe you benzo for coming off

Please explain how this is possible. After all, I have to ask for the prescription for diazepam (conditionally) for a long time. Does a doctor have the right to write long-term prescriptions?

[[...]]

25 minutes ago, [[D...] said:

Thank you for your kind words, Kate.

> There is also always the possibility of just searching for a doctor willing to prescribe you benzo for coming off

Please explain how this is possible. After all, I have to ask for the prescription for diazepam (conditionally) for a long time. Does a doctor have the right to write long-term prescriptions?

You're welcome:)

I think it depends on a place where we live. Different countries and thus different rules. I'm not sure about Germany. Hope ppl who live there or know anything useful about it will clarify the issue for you.

[[De...]]

Are there any volunteers in your community who live in Germany and could offer advice?

[[...]]

@[De...], hi again)

I do know there are folks who live in Germany here and hope they'll be able to help you.  

 

[[Re...]]

Hello @[De...], 

I am so sorry for what is happening to you. Although I do not have the answer to this specific question, it occurred to me I have heard about a German speaking Forum, PsyAb -  https://www.psyab.net/. It is way less active than BenzoBuddies, the they might offer you some specific answers. 

Whenever you are facing medical issues abroad, especially if you have a language barrier, it is wise to have official documentation about previous therapy decisions and medical history. It is also smart and recommended to have these documents officially translated to the language of the country in question. I know, this is not cheap, but it is worth it. I think the chances you finding help are much higher this way.

I wish you well @[De...],

RR   

[[Ar...]]

I dont know in which part of Germany you are, but I would try to contact

Dr Rüdiger Holzbach

https://www.zis-hamburg.de/mitarbeiter/holzbach/

I did read an article where he talked about the Ashton manual. 

I am trying to find the article, will post the link if I can find it again.

 

[[or...]]

You've really been through it Derek, I sure don't need to tell you that.  I just read, again, that there are doctors online that can prescribe, but I don't know a specific one for sure.  I know nothing about this, even if it's true, but maybe someone can come forward here and direct you.  I think @[Li...] would know best about this so I'll flag them here on your thread.

Also, hoping @[Ar...] finds the info she read, where you might be close enough to see a doctor in person, especially if you need to use insurance.  As far as I have read, at least some online providers don't take insurance.

Stay with us, as I'm sure others will have experience with being literally cut off much needed time to taper off benzos, oregonlady ~ denise

[[Ar...]]

I dont know in which part of Germany you are, but I would try to contact

Dr Rüdiger Holzbach

https://www.zis-hamburg.de/mitarbeiter/holzbach/

I did read an article where he talked about the Ashton manual. 

I am trying to find the article, will post the link if I can find it again.

Edit

Found another promising resource for you.

https://psychiatrie-psychotherapie.charite.de/fuer_patienten/ambulanzen/psychiatrische_institutsambulanz_pia/spezialsprechstunden/

Begleitetes Absetzen von Psychopharmaka

Terminvereinbarung

+49 30 450 617 123

Leitung der Sprechstunde:
PD Dr. med. C. Müller, Dr. med. C. Volkmann

 

[[De...]]

On 12/09/2024 at 15:37, [[A...] said:

I dont know in which part of Germany you are, but I would try to contact

Dr Rüdiger Holzbach

https://www.zis-hamburg.de/mitarbeiter/holzbach/

I did read an article where he talked about the Ashton manual. 

I am trying to find the article, will post the link if I can find it again.

Thank you, I wrote to the doctor.

[[De...]]

On 12/09/2024 at 22:33, [[A...] said:

Found another promising resource for you.

https://psychiatrie-psychotherapie.charite.de/fuer_patienten/ambulanzen/psychiatrische_institutsambulanz_pia/spezialsprechstunden/

Begleitetes Absetzen von Psychopharmaka

Terminvereinbarung

+49 30 450 617 123

Leitung der Sprechstunde:
PD Dr. med. C. Müller, Dr. med. C. Volkmann

Why do you recommend this clinic? Do they declare a very smooth reduction somewhere?

[[De...]]

On 12/09/2024 at 16:16, [[o...] said:

You've really been through it Derek, I sure don't need to tell you that.  I just read, again, that there are doctors online that can prescribe, but I don't know a specific one for sure.  I know nothing about this, even if it's true, but maybe someone can come forward here and direct you.  I think @[Li...] would know best about this so I'll flag them here on your thread.

Also, hoping @[Ar...] finds the info she read, where you might be close enough to see a doctor in person, especially if you need to use insurance.  As far as I have read, at least some online providers don't take insurance.

Stay with us, as I'm sure others will have experience with being literally cut off much needed time to taper off benzos, oregonlady ~ denise

Thanks a lot!

[[Ar...]]

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

Why do you recommend this clinic? Do they declare a very smooth reduction somewhere?

 

https://die-psychopharmaka-falle.de/ueber-psychopharmaka/ueber-benzodiazepine

The author underwent a 2 year outpatient  treatment  at this establishment.

Note - I have no personal experience with any clinics or doctors in Germany. I simply speak german.

[[De...]]

On 12/09/2024 at 22:33, [[A...] said:

I dont know in which part of Germany you are, but I would try to contact

Dr Rüdiger Holzbach

I've contacted him. He doesn't work with diazepam and long-term tapering of benzo.

[[De...]]

45 minutes ago, [[A...] said:

https://die-psychopharmaka-falle.de/ueber-psychopharmaka/ueber-benzodiazepine

The author underwent a 2 year outpatient  treatment  at this establishment.

Note - I have no personal experience with any clinics or doctors in Germany. I simply speak german.

Thank you Arianna, I'll try to contact them.

[[Ar...]]

33 minutes ago, [[D...] said:

I've contacted him. He doesn't work with diazepam and long-term tapering of benzo.

That surprises me considering the information that is available about his work online. Did he specifically exclude Diazepam?

Anyway try to contact the Charité in Berlin.

Let us know how you are getting on.

[[De...]]

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

That surprises me considering the information that is available about his work online. Did he specifically exclude Diazepam?

 

Yes, he said that diazepam is "unfavorable" because of long half-life, and he thinks long-term withdrawal to be wrong. If I understood his words correctly. But you better ask yourself if it is important to you, I will not quote the entire message for ethical reasons.

 

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

Anyway try to contact the Charité in Berlin.

Let us know how you are getting on.

Yes, ofc.

Edited September 17 by [De...]
style

[[Ar...]]

That's ok, its not important to me personally. I was just taken aback.

Good to know for others who might need future help in Germany.

I hope that you have better luck in Berlin.

[[De...]]

I haven't contacted Charité yet.

 

Would any psychiatrist write a long-term prescription? At least the equivalent of 4-5 mg of Xanax, but with a long half-life. Because I need a constant concentration of the drug in my blood. All my breakdowns are due to the fact that I only have access to fast-acting drugs. The alprazolam causes my brain to fluctuate.