Valium/Diazepam Support Group

[[Ju...]]

Hi Rick,

Instead of 1 mg cut then hold for a month, you could try 0.5 mg cut (quarter of 2mg tablet) and hold two weeks. It would get you to the same place possibly more comfortably.

JKS

[[ed...]]

Hey guys!

I want to join the Valium support group. To be honest with you Valium is a life saver for me. I do not complain about its depressive symptoms when I started the switch from ativan in February. I am OK on this medication. I still have some sleeping problems and bad days as I withdraw from my afternoon dose. Anyway, the question is about tapering my 10 mg bedtime dose which I need to start next month. The doctor wants me to reduce Valium down to 9 mg and hold for a month as soon I reach 5 mg I'll be tapering by 0.5 mg. My afternoon dose is 2.5 mg at the moment (reduced from 5 mg).

 

Do you think I can succeed with this type of schedule? I have some doubs because of my sleeping problems. Anyone in the same situation please just let me know how you deal with your tapering.

 

I am on a strict supervision of the doctor. No rescue doses, no updoses when I feel bad.

I am not free to do tapering on my own schedule.

 

I would begin looking for a new doctor now while you are still comfortable. A taper should be done on OUR schedule depending on how WE feel. My take is that so long as we have a spreadsheet or something that tracks your dosage AND it shows a downward trend in dosage taken, we should be able to taper at our own pace. Just my 2 cents.

 

--Edzo

[[Ri...]]

Hi Edzo!

I totally agree with you about our own pace of tapering. Once again, I was sent to this doctor from ER,

and I consider myself lucky to obtain Valium after my failed attempt to get off ativan.

Well, you folks in the U.S. cannot imagine that we in Canada have no choice to find another doctor.

Have you been reading posts from Toronto Gal? She has no supportive doctor and been o her own with her clonazepam tapering. I do feel really sorry for her. We have no choice like you folks in America, so

my advice to American friends is please do not complain about your private health care system.

Come to Canada and try to find a right doctor and you'll be so disappointed...

 

Edzo, ir you are still online I'm gonna wait for your input in that above matter.

Take care,

 

Rick

[[Sh...]]

This medical system here in Australia must be completely different to the U.S and Canada. During my taper Ive gone to about 4 different doctors and told them Im tapering and need valium and all of them have filled the prescription for me. (This is not a good thing, and part of the problem). I havent even needed a referral to see a Pdoc for the scrips. These are just walk in doctors (general practioners). Its really slack here and seems so easy to fool doctors. In the past I have walked in a couple of times and said I have a migraine can I have some oxycodone and the docs have done that script as well.

[[ed...]]

Hi Edzo!

I totally agree with you about our own pace of tapering. Once again, I was sent to this doctor from ER,

and I consider myself lucky to obtain Valium after my failed attempt to get off ativan.

Well, you folks in the U.S. cannot imagine that we in Canada have no choice to find another doctor.

Have you been reading posts from Toronto Gal? She has no supportive doctor and been o her own with her clonazepam tapering. I do feel really sorry for her. We have no choice like you folks in America, so

my advice to American friends is please do not complain about your private health care system.

Come to Canada and try to find a right doctor and you'll be so disappointed...

 

Edzo, ir you are still online I'm gonna wait for your input in that above matter.

Take care,

 

Rick

 

What can I say?  I didn't realize that's how things are in Canada. Is there not the option to seek out a private doc outside of the national system?  That's rough; I have 3 or 4 different docs willing to write me scripts.  The only thing I complain about is my premium payment which has gone up 40% each of the past two years. It's tough on business owners for sure.  As they say, "The grass is greener...my azz."

 

Based on what you've told me, I can only wish you the best of luck.  Forgive my ignorance, but are you able to come down to the States and work with a doctor down here?

 

--Ed

[[Ri...]]

This medical system here in Australia must be completely different to the U.S and Canada. During my taper Ive gone to about 4 different doctors and told them Im tapering and need valium and all of them have filled the prescription for me. (This is not a good thing, and part of the problem). I havent even needed a referral to see a Pdoc for the scrips. These are just walk in doctors (general practioners). Its really slack here and seems so easy to fool doctors. In the past I have walked in a couple of times and said I have a migraine can I have some oxycodone and the docs have done that script as well.

 

You are lucky, my man!

That's why I am so maaaad at this corrupted canadian health care system.

Alright I'm gonna move to Australia right away .

What time is in Australia right now? I guess it is 9 in the morning, eh?

[[ed...]]

Hi Rick,

 

I shot you a reply on the previous page. How close are you to the US border? Maybe you could establish a relationship with a doc down here?

 

Also, maybe if you get the chance, update your signature so we can all root you on!

 

Best,

Edzo

[[Ri...]]

Hey Ed!

I would love to come to America, but I have no family and friends there. So as I have said you folks in the U.S. can only complain about the cost of your healthcare. Canada is a socialist country, run by liberals at the moment. The president Barack Obama is also socialist, but I am sorry this is off topic right now...

 

And yes, I am so lucky to have a doctor who has been giving me Valium scripts. The other ones prefere 

Clonazepam...

Thanks Ed for being a voice of reason .

 

Rick

[[ed...]]

Hey Ed!

I would love to come to America, but I have no family and friends there. So as I have said you folks in the U.S. can only complain about the cost of your healthcare. Canada is a socialist country, run by liberals at the moment. The president Barack Obama is also socialist, but I am sorry this is off topic right now...

 

And yes, I am so lucky to have a doctor who has been giving me Valium scripts. The other ones prefere 

Clonazepam...

Thanks Ed for being a voice of reason .

 

Rick

 

Well, I'm happy you at least have access to V for a period of time. Like you mentioned earlier, some people are much, much worse off than you or I.

 

Looking forward to your progress,

Ed

[[so...]]

Thank you to everyone who posted info about muscle tension and spasms! I'm considerably better today. I think it was absolutely a combo of being more prone to injury during a taper + an actual injury. All my pure WD symptoms have had a certain feeling to them... I can't explain it but you just KNOW intuitively that it's WD. This feels like a real injury, likely exacerbated by the WD. I took the day off and took it easy. No other symptoms so far. I've been lucky. Going into day 5 now.

 

Hey guys!

I want to join the Valium support group. To be honest with you Valium is a life saver for me. I do not complain about its depressive symptoms when I started the switch from ativan in February. I am OK on this medication. I still have some sleeping problems and bad days as I withdraw from my afternoon dose. Anyway, the question is about tapering my 10 mg bedtime dose which I need to start next month. The doctor wants me to reduce Valium down to 9 mg and hold for a month as soon I reach 5 mg I'll be tapering by 0.5 mg. My afternoon dose is 2.5 mg at the moment (reduced from 5 mg).

 

Do you think I can succeed with this type of schedule? I have some doubs because of my sleeping problems. Anyone in the same situation please just let me know how you deal with your tapering.

 

I am on a strict supervision of the doctor. No rescue doses, no updoses when I feel bad.

I am not free to do tapering on my own schedule.

 

Same situation here! Are you also on 10 mg daily total or is that just your bedtime dose? I was originally on Ativan and switched to Valium when it got too difficult. Doc was originally OK with a 1 mg per month taper but now says "they're cracking down on it" and he's got me doing 2 mg per month. He thinks I'm doing it all in one go but I'm doing 1 mg every two weeks. I'm only five days in. I can switch docs or see a psychiatrist if I can't do this, but I'm giving it the old college try (is that still a phrase people use? Lol). Best wishes to you in this journey!

[[Ri...]]

 

Same situation here! Are you also on 10 mg daily total or is that just your bedtime dose? I was originally on Ativan and switched to Valium when it got too difficult. Doc was originally OK with a 1 mg per month taper but now says "they're cracking down on it" and he's got me doing 2 mg per month. He thinks I'm doing it all in one go but I'm doing 1 mg every two weeks. I'm only five days in. I can switch docs or see a psychiatrist if I can't do this, but I'm giving it the old college try (is that still a phrase people use? Lol). Best wishes to you in this journey!

 

Hi solaceandspace!

 

Yes, we are in the same boat, I guess. I am indeed on 10 mg V before bedtime plus 2.5 mg in the afternoon. If you are in the U.S. you can swich the doctors, but here in Toronto I can't do anything.

I'll try my best not to be forced into a quick taper, as next month I am supposed to start reducing my bedtime dose. I even wonder sometimes how I managed to be sent to a doctor ( from ER) who supports V not Clonazepam. I was "punished" last year in November for refusing taking Clonazepam, Citalopram plus Seroquel by a CAMH doctor. She cancelled my appointment with her. Good luck with yoir tapering.

 

Rick

 

[[Ki...]]

I recently crossed from xanax/ambien to valium over a 14 or so week period, and held at 11 mg v for a week to go on a trip. While it wasn't always easy, it was GOOD - I got to scatter my Moms ashes at sea and I went on a HELICOPTER ( and Im scared of heights)! I even got caught in a few cancellations/delays on return and fared ok.  So imagine my disappointment to come home and SCREW UP a dose. Not huge, but probably instead of 11 I got like 10.5 on Tues- no idea why I made yet another obvious mistake. Since then Ive had headaches, not slept right, jelly legs, and just generally feeling nasty. I got right back on track on my sort of microtaper of about 1% a day. Im a very rapid metabolizer so I dont know if that makes me more sensitive or not. But I know what y'all are talking about- you just don't know where, when or what might cause things to rear their ugly heads... Rick, good luck. Seems everyone tapers differently and you have to find what works. I think Im going to be in the massively microtapering group....

[[so...]]

Hi solaceandspace!

 

Yes, we are in the same boat, I guess. I am indeed on 10 mg V before bedtime plus 2.5 mg in the afternoon. If you are in the U.S. you can swich the doctors, but here in Toronto I can't do anything.

I'll try my best not to be forced into a quick taper, as next month I am supposed to start reducing my bedtime dose. I even wonder sometimes how I managed to be sent to a doctor ( from ER) who supports V not Clonazepam. I was "punished" last year in November for refusing taking Clonazepam, Citalopram plus Seroquel by a CAMH doctor. She cancelled my appointment with her. Good luck with yoir tapering.

 

Rick

 

Thank you, Rick. I understand the stress of not being able to switch docs even though I technically can... I had a mini-meltdown over the fact that I can't consult with a new doc according to my insurance. I have to just name a new primary doc out of thin air and hope that they're cool with everything I need. I was so freaked out because my previous doc wasn't ok with the Valium amount that I needed to cross over to. Randomly, he wasn't there one day and they had me see another doctor in the same building. Of course I had major anxiety over that too! But he was great and I've stayed with him. Just got lucky.

 

I may change my tune on that if this quick-ish taper goes south, but it's at least in line with the Ashton schedule, so I'm trying to brave it out. So far, I'm actually feeling better instead of worse. More energy. A couple of minor panic attacks but I was having those anyway, so no difference there. Forgive me if I've said this already, my memory is still shot and I'm guessing it will be for a while!

 

I'm proud of all of us. Look at what we're doing. Come hell or high water, we are going to get free of this dependency on these stupid little tablets. And we'll be better and stronger for it.

[[Ke...]]

Hi guys..  day 10 since my jump!  Feeling better.. Things are definitely lightening up. There's hope that it doesn't have to be terrible post jump.

Hope all are having as good as day possible.

K

[[He...]]

Solaceandpeace and Keeka, so glad you're feeling better!

 

My empathy for you Canadians. I'm under the impression that you don't have to pay for medical care and otherwise we hear that it's pretty good; is that true? Still it sucks on the benzo taper issue.

 

Here in California they are "cracking down" big time on Rx of benzos and opiates. Which is fantastic on the front end but people like us are getting the short end of the stick. I get so mad being treated like an Rx drug abuser and it's expensive and time-consuming making extra appointments and trips to "pain management" docs and psychiatric docs just to get the Rx filled. I'm on a super tight budget now. If a person is making money and/or on a good medical plan, I think they have more latitude. You can always find an independent doc here who will Rx but they have to be careful with the opiates (I know it's a side issue but true for me and it irritates me MORE because I think Big Pharma is hiding the poison benzo behind the opiate scare). Oh well enough ranting. I'll see my psych nurse prac tomorrow. I have the spreadsheet ready for her, will begin June 15 and be liquid tapering about .5 mg per month. Hopefully I won't be bullied tomorrow. If this person can't be civil I may just pay an independent doc and have them fill my Rx, do it myself. Too bad because I hope to help her learn from my process. Aloha, HM

[[ed...]]

Hi guys..  day 10 since my jump!  Feeling better.. Things are definitely lightening up. There's hope that it doesn't have to be terrible post jump.

Hope all are having as good as day possible.

K

 

Great job Keeka! Happy healing!

 

All the Best,

Ed

[[Ki...]]

My sympathies to those of you in Canada with no choices. I have had 2 relatives with Leukemia and both went to MD Anderson where there were some rich Canadians who said their options in Canada were so limiting and gave them basically no chance. They said their system is far behind ours, which is very sad. Ours seems to be headed in that direction though so it seems our goal of getting off these evil pills is REALLY important. I cant understand doctors telling you how long you " should" take to get off something. Our brains heal at different rates. Is it not natural that we should taper at that same rate? Hell I just started my taper and dont see how I could go any slower and Im already nervous. Good luck to all of you needing other resources. Its just not right how they prescribe us these pills then wont help us get off...

[[Ri...]]

Thanks for your understanding our situation when it comes to look for any kind of doctor. Also the waiting time is also ridiculous. There is actually another thread about finding a doctor in Canada and U.S. Many folks from the United States say they do not need any referral or any long waiting time to see a specialist. Also because you don't pay these doctors from your own pocket they treat you like dirt, but there is no point to write about it here. It is off topic stuff in the Valium Support group.

[[so...]]

Hi guys..  day 10 since my jump!  Feeling better.. Things are definitely lightening up. There's hope that it doesn't have to be terrible post jump.

Hope all are having as good as day possible.

K

 

Keeka, it makes me so happy to hear this! Congratulations! 

 

Day six of the beginning of my taper and so far so good! I know the beginning is easier (or it was for me on A anyway), but I'm still shocked that this is going so smoothly. Please, please, please let the rest go just as well.

[[Ke...]]

Thanks for your support...  Day 11... 7 more after this.

Today I am feeling iffy.. Not sure if it's a cold coming on or sxs or the heat

 

I don't know if at this point with me being on the downside after half life, whether I should start feeling better or whether it ramps up sxs.  I guess I will soon see.

 

Weird how even now I am scared of what this drug can do.

 

K

[[Ca...]]

Hi All,

I'm sure this has been asked before. Is anyone tapering using Liquid Valium? Can you use it the same way as a liquid titration? That is, making smaller cuts over the course of a week or two, instead of cut/hold method. I'm thinking of asking my pdoc to switch me over to liquid V, if that is the case. Also, anyone has used Liquid Valium or Titration did you find it easier on your sxs's? Thanks

[[ed...]]

Hi All,

I'm sure this has been asked before. Is anyone tapering using Liquid Valium? Can you use it the same way as a liquid titration? That is, making smaller cuts over the course of a week or two, instead of cut/hold method. I'm thinking of asking my pdoc to switch me over to liquid V, if that is the case. Also, anyone has used Liquid Valium or Titration did you find it easier on your sxs's? Thanks

 

I now use a combination of pills and a liquid valium compound.  Yes, I make small cuts almost nightly with the liquid portion of my dose.  I was able to do cut and hold until about 7 or 8mg. After that, it got too intense. Now I take small reductions and sx are easier. Not easy, but EASIER.

[[ba...]]

There are other's with much more experience liquid/pill daily tapering, but like Edzo , I HAD to switch from cut & hold. It was a bit scary at first, but with advice from the gurus on here, I had good info; so far, after a coupla months its been going okay.

 

I'm going very slowly, to minimize sxs; I just hope the 'functional' sweet spot I've found lasts, altho' I'll no doubt have to tweak things at some point; valium, the gift that keeps on giving, and likes to surprise you at the worst times  !!

 

Good luck with whatever you decide !

[[Ca...]]

Thank you. That was very helpful.

[[...]]

Hi All,

I'm sure this has been asked before. Is anyone tapering using Liquid Valium? Can you use it the same way as a liquid titration? That is, making smaller cuts over the course of a week or two, instead of cut/hold method. I'm thinking of asking my pdoc to switch me over to liquid V, if that is the case. Also, anyone has used Liquid Valium or Titration did you find it easier on your sxs's? Thanks

 

Hi I was using liquid diazepam from 3mg to present because my stomach react with milk or vodka, i have no problem with liquid diaz it it easy to make the solution just add water and no bubles.

 

regrds, mcm