Hello All...

[[Wi...]]

Hi i've been reading various forums on medication for a while now and i thought i would share my issues if they are anymore with you,

 

Basically i am a recovering alcoholic and have been sober now for a 18months, in my sobriety i have been taking the Benzo Librium and was on 15mgs a day for about 8 months, i have reduced from 15mgs to 10mgs and now my doctor wants me on 7.5mgs which i am struggling with, and then she wants me on 5mgs, i don't know how i will deal with this yet, so any advice would be great and that why i have joined..

[[Bi...]]

Wilfy1979,

 

 

Welcoming you to Benzo Buddies.

Congrats on your sobriety.

 

If you have any questions, let us know.

Others will be along to weigh in soon.

 

If you wish to add a signature: Signature

 

Billy.

 

 

[[Fl...]]

Hi Will,

 

First a HUGE congratulations on your sobriety!  That's no small thing and you should be very proud if yourself!

 

Librium is the very first benzo on the market and had been around for 50 years.  This doesn't make it safe.  Valium is usually preferred ( it's the second benzo ) because it has a longer half life.  Librium has a half life up to 30 hours while Valium is up to 100 hours.  Both have the same metabolite half life, up to 200 hours.

 

The ratio of Valium to Librium is 1:2.5.  So when you were taking 15 mg Librium, it was equivalent to 6 mg Valium.  7.5 Librium equals 3 mg Valium.

 

You may be OK staying on the Librium, but your reductions would be more comfortable if they did not exceed 5% every couple of weeks.  You've done a hard thing by quitting alcohol and the Librium has made your ride a little easier.  It is time to come off, but what's the hurry?  Your mental stability is vital here.  Perhaps your doctor would work with you on a slower reduction.

 

Best of luck!

Flip

[[La...]]

Congratulations on your sobriety.  When I started this journey the first substance I tackled was alcohol and I have been sober for over 3 yrs now. I am now working on the benzos, I stopped one in Dec and I am now working on the 2nd, I am thankful every day for life as I was treading a slippery slope drinking and taking benzos. You can do this , you have already beat one addiction. congratulation again Ladygrace

[[Wi...]]

Thanks for the replies that was really nice, Drinking has to be the worst thing ever for the sheer depth of despair it gets you in, really is on a par with heroin in my eyes, 8 years is a long time to be out of action and its really eye opening when you arise from the ashes so to speak from your first detox! but the poster is right it gets better i'm doing ok on the librium, and i've even passed a drugs and alcohol course training to be a counciller to help people in my position, i'm doing the next part of this 2 days a week till july mentoring the new students on the course, i agree with the poster above who mentioned about the rush, i really can't see it myself either, its strange how and why the GP'S here get you on something to have you thrown off, i'm also currently on Lexapro/Escitalopram and i'm doing a changeover to Cymbalta/Duloxetine this week so i've no idea how that will go.