Not even a day exchanging K for Valium

[Guest [wi...]]

Last night i took my firs dose, dr isn't doing a c/o just direct, and the equivalency is about .5 less than in ashton. Today, not even a full 24 hours later i'm super jittery and shaky. wtf? I almost had a panic attack in the bath. Am I paradoxil to valium perhaps? Cuz withdrawal from k has never been like this. it's weird.

[Guest [Pf...]]

I would think that you simply do not have enough benzo in your system as the dosage exchange is not enough.

 

You may not have the best doctor for this.  Cross-over is always recommended so as to ease the transition and get the right dose.  Also, Valium takes some time to build up in your system.  It is quite a week drug.  So, although it has a long half-life, it quickly falls below its therapeutic level after time unless you take it for some period of time.  The K is in your system, but that will start to leave.

 

Many doctors think of valium as a short acting drug.  The reason, it is often given to somebody in an accute situation.  So if you give someone, who hasn't been on valium, a dose, that may calm them down.  But that single dose will wear off fairly quickly, and if the underlying agitation is there, the person will quickly go back to their original state, maybe within a couple of hours.  With Klonopin, even the single dose tends to have therepeutic value over quite a while.

 

But, if someone takes valium, day in and day out, all those half-lives build up.  After taking it regularly for a couple of weeks, one usually can take it only twice a day, or even once, as you get a smooth amount in your system.

 

I'm not trying to scare you, but it is importnat that you allow the valium to build up and that you have a correct level in your system before you start dropping the K, else you will get unnecessary withdrawal.  A doctor who is well-versed in withdrawal will appreciate this, and realize that one reason that people fail is that they taper too rapidly or do an incorrect cross-over.

 

One thing to watch out for with a doctor is one that tells you that the symptoms are purely psychological because you are afraid of the valium.  A doctor of that mindset will not be sufficiently attuned to your symptoms to evaluate whether you are going to quickly etc.  And a doctor of that mindset may then start to try to prescribe other medications to deal with your symptoms, not realizing that it is withdrawal. 

 

The bottom line, is that in most cases what people feel from this is withdrawal -- it is not paradoxical reactions, it is not depression, it is not bi-polar, it is withdrawal.  If a doctor knows that he is in the best position to address your problem. 

[[Re...]]

HI!

 

So my understanding is that you are on .25 mg of Klonopin 3 times a day. That would work out to 15 mg of valium. Is your Dr crossing you over to 5 mg  of valium 3 times a day? It takes about a month for the Valium to get into your system and stabilize. I crossed over over an 8 week period ( i am very med sensitive). I crossed over .125mg =2.5 mg about every 2 weeks. You are going to feel the withdrawal of Klonopin likely within 24 hours as the half life is about 18 hours and the half life for valium is about 200 hours. I would strongly urge you to talk with your physician about a slow crossover ( at least he/she was ok with the crossover)  but not all at once !

I agree with Pfeff.

 

Recover

[[JO...]]

Hi Wicked ,

I totally agree with the other posters who offered their views. I Crossed from 1.5 mgs of K to 30 mgs of V. Remember the doctor works for you and you should be in charge of your cross and taper.Have you thought about printing up the cross and taper schedule via the Ashton manual. Take this in to your doctor and explain that you will be following this with necessary holds as needed. The majority of doctors just don't have a clue and just because they are in the position they are in doesn't make them right. I can tell you my doctor was very happy to follow my instructions and it has made the taper much more bearable.It is critical to do the cross slow and hold to let the Valium build up to the correct levels. Good luck and congrats for moving forward and getting off the benzos.

[Guest [wi...]]

Well after intensifying anxiety i think she would be willing to do that.  I hope. Scary stuff and no the valium is not strog at all and her having 5 mg to .5. I think is off but its higher than what i was on according to her.  So adding the rqual in her mind to .5 k would nt be an option.  I ended up taking my .25 k after 2.5 x 2 v inmorning and feel much better. its sucky.

[[JO...]]

Wicked ,

Your doctor is incorrect with the .5 equals 5mgs theory. .5 mgs of K is equal to 10 mgs of valium . Please think about printing out the schedule and try and see your doctor ASAP. This isn't something you want to play around with. I am not trying to scare you but am concerned .