Big cuts and feel fine?

[[An...]]

On feb. 17 I dropped from 2 mg Ativan to 1 and 3/4.... Not good with math. I took 1 mg am and 3/4 of a 1 mg pm. I Felt not bad except for my usual interdose withdrawal.  On feb 24 I switched over to clonazepam 3/4 of a .5 mg tablet in am and .25 in the pm so to be equivalent I believe I cut 1/4 pill off my evening dose and 1/4 pill from my morning dose.  I feel better since switching to the clonazepam and feel I can drop even more. I was thinking of dropping my morning dose of 3/4 .5 mg to 1/2 in 4 or 5 days. Is this too much and going to catch up on me? Or should I continue to follow my symptoms?

[[JO...]]

Woah Annie,

That is quite a quick change . Are you familiar with crossing over to a longer acting benzo? Please check the Ashton manual it is critical to do this slowly and let your body adjust to the absence of one drug and the presence of another. This could possibly set you up for a nasty ride and yes it may very well catch up with you.

[[An...]]

Thanks Johan, 

 

I think I may be getting ahead of myself. I just want off this stuff so bad. How long do you think I should at this dose? Of course my doc told me to mskev25 % cuts every two weeks, but I don't feel i can trust him on that.

[[sw...]]

Hey Annie,

 

Congratulations on making your first cut!  There are three things that come to mind to explain your lack of side effects so far.

 

The first is that your cut of .25mg was a 12.5% reduction in dose, which is only a little higher than the recommended 10% size in reductions, however, if you cut by .25mg again it will be a much high percentage of your current dose and odds are you will feel it much, much more unpleasantly, next time.

 

Another thing that could account for it is that it appears that that was your first cut.  The very first time people cut their dose is often the easiest cut, because the more cuts you make the more your body is still missing that original dose level.  I hope that your additional cuts go every bit as smoothly as this one did, but I think it would pay to be cautious in not plowing forward too quickly.

 

And the last and most ideal explanation is that it could be that you are one of the lucky people who do not experience serious withdrawal in getting off benzos.  I really hope that that is the case for you!  However, I would still suggest caution in the way you proceed.  Even the people who don't have the same level of problems in getting off as the people who came here to seek support through the process aren't completely immune and still benefit from coming off slowly.

 

I strongly suggest taking your time in getting off.  There is absolutely no hurry.  A lot of times people start getting off and see the withdrawal effects and it freaks them out into a rush to get off, but the issue is actually that it is the *not* taking it that makes you sick, not the *taking* it.

 

Best wishes.

 

[[Au...]]

Be careful ... I made 25% cuts (AND I was only on a small dose for a short time)...was feeling ok, not perfect, but I felt I could handle the cuts...

 

Day 6 after my last dose, it all caught up to me and all hell broke loose.

I am now 11 months out and not healed yet.  Much better, but not healed, and it was a very rough ride.

 

I'm not saying this will happen to you...as you know, everyone is different...but it is a possibility...

 

slow and steady wins the race... there's no rush... your brain needs to adjust to not having the drug, but it needs to adjust to it slowly...

 

 

[[An...]]

Sweet G, I should know better...... I tried to make big cuts with Ativan and went to hell and back. I could not seem to make cuts easily with the Ativan. I DO need to slow down I feel like I obsess over how much I take, when the next cut will be, and when I could potentially be off. I think I should switch to the titration....then I can feel like I am making cuts ever day. .  I hate, hate, hate the fact that I am dependent. I know the day will come too that am off.

[[Kl...]]

Dear annie,

 

Listen to sweet g.  Her advice is golden and has saved my rear many a time!

 

I totally get what you are feeling!  When I started becoming more knowledgeable about benzos, I was freaked out that I had been taking what seemed to be a benign drug for 11 or so years.  I wanted off. . . fast!  But I quickly found out that slow and steady was the only way to go.

 

You will get off of benzos!  Many hundreds and thousands before us have done so!  The thing that helped me to taper off was knowledge, support, and a huge dose of patience.  The same 3 ingredients help me soldier on 1 day at a time. 

 

For the majority of users there is absolutely no rush to get off.  This is a process and one in which we learn how to live life on life's terms without a drug. 

 

Let us know how we can help to support you in your decision to become benzo free.  Many Hugs, KL

[[pr...]]

Annie, sounds like you're getting great advice and I just want to chime in and "ditto" it.

 

I think you already know the answer really.

 

Yes, benzo cuts can (almost always do) have a lag time and yes they are cumulative.

 

I've seen quite a few people say that one of the things they like about titrating is that they are making smaller cuts more often so they get to feel like they're making cuts and that's psychologically just easier for them.

 

I don't know, because that's the only way I've ever done it.  I know I get really frustrated  with how slow it's all going anyway.

 

Sigh...

[[JO...]]

Very good advise from all the posters. I think we get tired of the process i know i have. It gets old real quick the cutting the symptoms the waiting to stabilize . The worry of what the next cut will bring . Point is we just have to get through it . i struggle with the I am so close just want to get it over with everyday!! One thing that has helped me is to look back and reflect where i was a year a go and how far i have come. it makes the taper not quite so unbearable . You just cannot speed this up it is what it is . The consequences for going to fast can be very unforgiving .Hang in there Annie and please heed everyone's advise.