Valium/Diazepam Support Group

[[St...]]

This is a good tool for giving you a range of equivalencies.  https://clincalc.com/Benzodiazepine/

 

 

Wow thank you for this! Ok so I had 0 idea that you can do both pills and liquid at the same time. Thats great to know! So i'll message her about all of this because the liquid is

This calculator tool says 1 mg of ativan is 8 mg of valium. I will emphasize that this is not right. The only table that is accurate is in the Ashton manual which says it's 10 mg of valium per 1 mg of ativan.

 

How did you get from your 7mg V to your jump at 0.5? What was your process? Cut and hold? Daily Micro?

I seriously am so tempted to either just jump, do a big cut and stabilize, or go to a 30 day detox. I think the ativan should be well out my system now and if I can just medically monitor this heart rate fluxuations and make sure that doesn't go crazytown i've been through the w/d feelings already i'm ready to feel em and get it over with. I had a full heart workup and its structurally normal and healthy so i'm convinced my tachycardia is all from these benzos This isn't getting easier for me and I have kids and life to get back to. This sucks that such short term use can do this to people ugh!! I swear when i'm done with this i'm gonna dedicate my life to benzo awareness and helping others in this area and mental health in general. This has been quite an experience.

 

I'm sorry, I wrote a long reply to you before but suddenly had to do something else and never finished the post. My signature is more of a remembrance for me of how the first year of my taper went. It went real bad and I didn't make any progress as my cross over wasn't going properly. This was because my psychiatrist at that time did not want to prescribe more than 7 mg of valium per 1 mg of ativan. He also let me taper in steps of quarters and halves of an ativan tablet. This had me laying on the floor due to the extreme uncomfortable physical feeling I was experiencing. It was pure torture every day for months as I suffered from inner akathisia. With this psychiatrist I was never able to come off the ativan or valium and I was stuck with him as I was living in a psychiatric living facility and he was my assigned psychiatrist and I was not allowed to go under the care of any other prescriber of benzos. I later managed to move away from the facility to a different place, and was able to get under the care of a benzo specialist. One of the few in my country. He prescribed me 24 mg of valium as equivalent of 3 mg of ativan. He knew the Ashton manual, unlike the psychiatrist. This specialist was not perfect either, and rushed my cross over from ativan to valium. I was only able to successfully cross over due to spare valium I had collected over the months. I ordered illegal 10 mg valium pills online before too. After a missed dose of just one evening dose of valium and risperidone, I was thrown in acute withdrawal suffering from intense inner akathisia. I had to updose to 28 or 30 mg of valium (I forgot which amount it exactly was but one of these two) and taper slowly from there on.

 

This was successful.

 

So my journey went from this.

 

Started on 3 mg ativan.

Failed cross overs to valium due to too low prescribed equivalent by uneducated psychiatrist, only 5 to 7 mg valium per 1 mg of ativan.

Successful cross over to 24 mg of valium.

Huge setback, back in acute withdrawal inner akathisia, updosed to 28-30 mg of valium.

 

Successfully tapered 1 mg drops per 2 weeks from 28-30 mg starting dose of valium till I reached 5 mg of valium daily.

 

From 5 mg valium to 0 mg I tapered 0.5 mg of valium drops per 2 weeks.

 

This whole thing took 2 years. It could've lasted just 1 year but due to incompetent psychiatrist it took a year extra, with suffering inner akathisia for months.

 

The last 5-6 months went extraordinarily well without any severe symptoms just mild flare ups of chemical anxiety at times and feeling weird, and erectile dysfunction and memory loss. The jump to 0 didn't feel much different than any other cut I've made. Now about 2.5 weeks later having pain sensations in brain some days and feeling weird. But overall it's doable for now.

 

Thank you for this! I think i'm suffering for the exact same reason , direct cross from a little under 1mg ativan and wrong dosage. I'm now at 5.6mg valium and i'm suffering. The mental suffering is the most and I can't sleep nor walk its making my muscles so so weak. I couldn't imagine updosing i'd be bedwridden for sure. This liquid valium from the pharmacy is not reacting well with me I don't think. Idk what else to do but jump and see what happens. I'm also having akathisia and can feel when my body needs the next dose. I thought this would be easier than then ativan 😭 I can barely eat these days and I have to really contemplate my walks to the bathroom. This is no way to be at all ugh.

 

Hi-  I personally wouldn’t jump off of that dose.  I too had problems with liquid until I found the right compound pharmacy to do the right formula for me and I do a combo of pill’s and liquid.  It works really well.  I went through a lot of trial and error, but finally found something that worked, so try and hang in there. 

 

Marie

 

Thank you for this advice! So I need to ask my psych to coordinate this compound pharmacy prescription? And Ask her for pills as well ?

 

Hi Strong - Just a suggestion.  You do what ever feels right for you and if your doctor is on board.  For me, it worked out the best, and saved me.  The cut and hold was just absolutely NOT working and liquid alone wasn’t working (cut and hold too).  Plus I had to try different formulations of the liquid.  My compound pharmacist found one that I hold under the tongue and it also has a longer shelf life and doesn’t have to be refrigerated.

For many the standard liquid brand works just fine too.

 

I find that the pill’s work better (I don’t know why? Maybe it’s in my head) and the liquid at this point is the smaller portion and has been for a long while of my taper, and allowed me to do a daily without weighing/ and shaving pill’s.  So it’s just been so much easier and hasn’t affected my wean or side effects so much.  Something I have shared is that keeping your brand of pill’s the same is important because they “could”change your wean/sx. Per the FDA each company only has to be with in 10-15% of the main (active/benzo) ingredient and you can see where this could cause some problems.  My benzo doctor explained this to me, when we figured out what was going wrong with me a while back, when my RX got changed (generic).  So I make sure to stay with same generic brand.

 

The rule of thumb around here is to try and not do more than 5-10% every 2-4weeks, and to also if possible stick to a symptom based taper.  Personally that is more where I am at these days.  I try to stay with my symptoms more than anything.  I shoot for a % but it’s just a guess.  Being functional is so much more important than being bedridden.  I also feel like I am healing at the same time instead of in the spiral I was before. 

 

Obviously we all just want this to be over with and sometime we just feel like jumping and thinking that it will just work itself out…..for some it does.  However, I have seen so many stories that people who have jumped or been forced off, find themselves in BIG BIG trouble and reinstated and sometimes at a larger dose, and then taking even longer to stabilize and then have to start from scratch.  I have also read stories of people jumping and making it, but suffering but still getting through….so it’s just a personal choice.

 

I hope you can decide what will work best for you.  There are so many great people here to cheer you along and to offer great advice.  Plus loads and loads of information on so many old threads. 

 

Marie

 

Omg thank you so much for this! I had no idea I can do pills and liquid ! And hopefully the pills are less potent 😭 I am also gonna ask about compound pharmacy cause yes like you I cannot do cut and hold ! Just doesn't work for my body nor my life. I haveeee to get out of this bed! I am at 3 doses a day of 1.8mg 1.9mg and 1.9mg and I think doing pills and liquid will be perfect for this ! I have to learn more about compound pharmacies I have no idea what they do lol but yes i've been trying to drip drop based on my symptoms as well and the bedridden thing came out of nowhere with the liquid and I just cannot. So I gotta pivot and hope this works better! 🙌🏾🙏🏾 Blessings to tou and everyone else on here helping me and everybody going through this!

[[be...]]

I just want a little rant, why does everyone keeps saying to me it's just diazepam, just stop. My doctor, my psychiatrist, my family.

 

I wish it was that easy I wouldn't be here would I. Such a long lonely journey with no support.

 

Hope you're all as well as you can be. If anyone can give me some moral support that all the things that are wrong with me are because of this drug that would be helpful.

 

 

[[...]]

I just want a little rant, why does everyone keeps saying to me it's just diazepam, just stop. My doctor, my psychiatrist, my family.

 

I wish it was that easy I wouldn't be here would I. Such a long lonely journey with no support.

 

Hope you're all as well as you can be. If anyone can give me some moral support that all the things that are wrong with me are because of this drug that would be helpful.

I’m sorry your suffering benqb1, I feel your pain. I get similar comments since no one understands what we are going thru. Not knowing the details it’s hard to comment on specifically what the drug is causing for you. Do you think some of your symptoms are not from the diazepam? I’ll say from my experience with doctors I get the opposite, in that they want to write off some symptoms as underlying conditions when we know ourselves well enough to know it’s benzo wd. Sometimes my family does the same.

I do get the “just stop taking it” comments too.

We’ll get thru this, it’s dam crazy hard, but unfortunately it’s going to take time

Prayers and healing your way

Joeb

 

 

 

[[ho...]]

I just want a little rant, why does everyone keeps saying to me it's just diazepam, just stop. My doctor, my psychiatrist, my family.

 

I wish it was that easy I wouldn't be here would I. Such a long lonely journey with no support.

 

Hope you're all as well as you can be. If anyone can give me some moral support that all the things that are wrong with me are because of this drug that would be helpful.

 

HI!!  OMG…They have no IDEA.  Perhaps print out some information from here.  Some of the links, and even some of the stories people have shared that would be like YOU!  One of my doctor’s now refers patients to this site because of what I have shared, she has learned so much from me.  Thankfully my main doctor is a benzo wise doctor and I don’t have to explain anything, he knows.  That leads me to this….Have you thought about trying to find a new doctor?  There are wonderful benzo savvy doctors now; even on-line that you can Face-time (may or may not be covered my Insurance) and pain clinics that offer these services with doc’s and PA’s or NP’S (well in the USA).

 

I’m sorry you don’t have the support of your family, I truly am.  That would be very hard.  Are there any type of support groups you could go to in your area? Even if they aren’t necessarily for benzo, maybe for emotional support….just a thought.  If they don’t have any benzo support groups in your area, maybe you could start one….just a thought 

 

We all get it!!!  This is so very hard.  You have done a great job.  Look how much you have already reduced..YAY!  You are over half way, so pat yourself on the back.  It is better to go at a pace that allows you to function and allows for healing at the same time, that is my personal opinion and what I have found is working best for me.  Let your family know that you are doing your very best, and in time you will be off, it’s not a race.

 

Again, there is really good material (links) to what is happening to us during this process.  Your family and “doctor(s)” should read this.

 

Hang in there 

 

Marie

[[...]]

I just want a little rant, why does everyone keeps saying to me it's just diazepam, just stop. My doctor, my psychiatrist, my family.

 

I wish it was that easy I wouldn't be here would I. Such a long lonely journey with no support.

 

Hope you're all as well as you can be. If anyone can give me some moral support that all the things that are wrong with me are because of this drug that would be helpful.

hi I just remembered another member in the UK  Livefree22 who uses a free charity service called postscript360. They offer a shoulder to lean on and can talk to you about your taper programme and provide a taper to suit you. You'll find them easy enough on the web. I hope you get the support you need.

[[St...]]

Hey guys quick question: with Valium do you guys find it better to dose less times a day? I am at 3 times a day and it's slowly killing my muscular system. I have only been at 3x day for a week now. How do I get back to only 2?

[[ho...]]

This is a good tool for giving you a range of equivalencies.  https://clincalc.com/Benzodiazepine/

 

 

Wow thank you for this! Ok so I had 0 idea that you can do both pills and liquid at the same time. Thats great to know! So i'll message her about all of this because the liquid is

This calculator tool says 1 mg of ativan is 8 mg of valium. I will emphasize that this is not right. The only table that is accurate is in the Ashton manual which says it's 10 mg of valium per 1 mg of ativan.

 

How did you get from your 7mg V to your jump at 0.5? What was your process? Cut and hold? Daily Micro?

I seriously am so tempted to either just jump, do a big cut and stabilize, or go to a 30 day detox. I think the ativan should be well out my system now and if I can just medically monitor this heart rate fluxuations and make sure that doesn't go crazytown i've been through the w/d feelings already i'm ready to feel em and get it over with. I had a full heart workup and its structurally normal and healthy so i'm convinced my tachycardia is all from these benzos This isn't getting easier for me and I have kids and life to get back to. This sucks that such short term use can do this to people ugh!! I swear when i'm done with this i'm gonna dedicate my life to benzo awareness and helping others in this area and mental health in general. This has been quite an experience.

 

I'm sorry, I wrote a long reply to you before but suddenly had to do something else and never finished the post. My signature is more of a remembrance for me of how the first year of my taper went. It went real bad and I didn't make any progress as my cross over wasn't going properly. This was because my psychiatrist at that time did not want to prescribe more than 7 mg of valium per 1 mg of ativan. He also let me taper in steps of quarters and halves of an ativan tablet. This had me laying on the floor due to the extreme uncomfortable physical feeling I was experiencing. It was pure torture every day for months as I suffered from inner akathisia. With this psychiatrist I was never able to come off the ativan or valium and I was stuck with him as I was living in a psychiatric living facility and he was my assigned psychiatrist and I was not allowed to go under the care of any other prescriber of benzos. I later managed to move away from the facility to a different place, and was able to get under the care of a benzo specialist. One of the few in my country. He prescribed me 24 mg of valium as equivalent of 3 mg of ativan. He knew the Ashton manual, unlike the psychiatrist. This specialist was not perfect either, and rushed my cross over from ativan to valium. I was only able to successfully cross over due to spare valium I had collected over the months. I ordered illegal 10 mg valium pills online before too. After a missed dose of just one evening dose of valium and risperidone, I was thrown in acute withdrawal suffering from intense inner akathisia. I had to updose to 28 or 30 mg of valium (I forgot which amount it exactly was but one of these two) and taper slowly from there on.

 

This was successful.

 

So my journey went from this.

 

Started on 3 mg ativan.

Failed cross overs to valium due to too low prescribed equivalent by uneducated psychiatrist, only 5 to 7 mg valium per 1 mg of ativan.

Successful cross over to 24 mg of valium.

Huge setback, back in acute withdrawal inner akathisia, updosed to 28-30 mg of valium.

 

Successfully tapered 1 mg drops per 2 weeks from 28-30 mg starting dose of valium till I reached 5 mg of valium daily.

 

From 5 mg valium to 0 mg I tapered 0.5 mg of valium drops per 2 weeks.

 

This whole thing took 2 years. It could've lasted just 1 year but due to incompetent psychiatrist it took a year extra, with suffering inner akathisia for months.

 

The last 5-6 months went extraordinarily well without any severe symptoms just mild flare ups of chemical anxiety at times and feeling weird, and erectile dysfunction and memory loss. The jump to 0 didn't feel much different than any other cut I've made. Now about 2.5 weeks later having pain sensations in brain some days and feeling weird. But overall it's doable for now.

 

Thank you for this! I think i'm suffering for the exact same reason , direct cross from a little under 1mg ativan and wrong dosage. I'm now at 5.6mg valium and i'm suffering. The mental suffering is the most and I can't sleep nor walk its making my muscles so so weak. I couldn't imagine updosing i'd be bedwridden for sure. This liquid valium from the pharmacy is not reacting well with me I don't think. Idk what else to do but jump and see what happens. I'm also having akathisia and can feel when my body needs the next dose. I thought this would be easier than then ativan 😭 I can barely eat these days and I have to really contemplate my walks to the bathroom. This is no way to be at all ugh.

 

Hi-  I personally wouldn’t jump off of that dose.  I too had problems with liquid until I found the right compound pharmacy to do the right formula for me and I do a combo of pill’s and liquid.  It works really well.  I went through a lot of trial and error, but finally found something that worked, so try and hang in there. 

 

Marie

 

Thank you for this advice! So I need to ask my psych to coordinate this compound pharmacy prescription? And Ask her for pills as well ?

 

Hi Strong - Just a suggestion.  You do what ever feels right for you and if your doctor is on board.  For me, it worked out the best, and saved me.  The cut and hold was just absolutely NOT working and liquid alone wasn’t working (cut and hold too).  Plus I had to try different formulations of the liquid.  My compound pharmacist found one that I hold under the tongue and it also has a longer shelf life and doesn’t have to be refrigerated.

For many the standard liquid brand works just fine too.

 

I find that the pill’s work better (I don’t know why? Maybe it’s in my head) and the liquid at this point is the smaller portion and has been for a long while of my taper, and allowed me to do a daily without weighing/ and shaving pill’s.  So it’s just been so much easier and hasn’t affected my wean or side effects so much.  Something I have shared is that keeping your brand of pill’s the same is important because they “could”change your wean/sx. Per the FDA each company only has to be with in 10-15% of the main (active/benzo) ingredient and you can see where this could cause some problems.  My benzo doctor explained this to me, when we figured out what was going wrong with me a while back, when my RX got changed (generic).  So I make sure to stay with same generic brand.

 

The rule of thumb around here is to try and not do more than 5-10% every 2-4weeks, and to also if possible stick to a symptom based taper.  Personally that is more where I am at these days.  I try to stay with my symptoms more than anything.  I shoot for a % but it’s just a guess.  Being functional is so much more important than being bedridden.  I also feel like I am healing at the same time instead of in the spiral I was before. 

 

Obviously we all just want this to be over with and sometime we just feel like jumping and thinking that it will just work itself out…..for some it does.  However, I have seen so many stories that people who have jumped or been forced off, find themselves in BIG BIG trouble and reinstated and sometimes at a larger dose, and then taking even longer to stabilize and then have to start from scratch.  I have also read stories of people jumping and making it, but suffering but still getting through….so it’s just a personal choice.

 

I hope you can decide what will work best for you.  There are so many great people here to cheer you along and to offer great advice.  Plus loads and loads of information on so many old threads. 

 

Marie

 

Omg thank you so much for this! I had no idea I can do pills and liquid ! And hopefully the pills are less potent 😭 I am also gonna ask about compound pharmacy cause yes like you I cannot do cut and hold ! Just doesn't work for my body nor my life. I haveeee to get out of this bed! I am at 3 doses a day of 1.8mg 1.9mg and 1.9mg and I think doing pills and liquid will be perfect for this ! I have to learn more about compound pharmacies I have no idea what they do lol but yes i've been trying to drip drop based on my symptoms as well and the bedridden thing came out of nowhere with the liquid and I just cannot. So I gotta pivot and hope this works better! 🙌🏾🙏🏾 Blessings to tou and everyone else on here helping me and everybody going through this!

 

Strong- Did the liquid put you in bed because of sx ?

 

Compounding pharmacies are all around in the USA (not sure where you are at).  So I don’t know how many different ways there are to do formula’s for liquid, but I had two before this one.  Like I said, it is one that is sublingual.  So I hold it under my tongue for 2 min and then swallow.  Also unlike the others it doesn’t have to go in the refrigerator and last longer too.  I would imagine the base (diazapam’s) there are only so many they can get, and I did make sure that they order the same one for mine at all times.

 

Hopefully on Monday you can find out if compounding might be an option for you. (Plus pill’s) 

 

Marie

[[ho...]]

Strong -

 

I was going to mention your dosing -  I would try and and get it to at least two.  I only dose once, at night.  However, there are lot’s of people that do do a couple times a day.  Because it is so long acting, you should be able to just move the dose over with out much of an effect…or maybe just move 1/2 of it over slowly over a couple weeks, then the other 1/2 over a couple weeks later. 

 

When I first started I did an AM dose but per the Ashton method, I did reduce my AM dose first.  I just stuck with that, and it seemed to work for me….so that was that.  Early on people talked about how sleepy they were, and I didn’t realize how sleepy I was too, until I got to lower doses, and got less sleepy.  So I was glad I got rid of the AM dose too, because that I am sure would contribute to tiredness, when I am already tired just from w/d sx.

 

Hopefully others will jump in with more experience on multiple dosing…..

 

Marie

[[Ca...]]

I need to taper 38 mgs of valium. I went to rehab in 2015 and was tapered in ten days. I suffered horribly until i reinstated.

 

The liquid taper is too complicated for me. I am currently tapering Klonapin down from a half tab with the gram weight scale. I also made a huge drop in other klonapin and ativan which threw me into acute withdrawal.  Is there some reason why that will not work with the valium?

[[...]]

Hey guys quick question: with Valium do you guys find it better to dose less times a day? I am at 3 times a day and it's slowly killing my muscular system. I have only been at 3x day for a week now. How do I get back to only 2?

Strong what do you mean dosing 3 times a day —-by killing your muscular system???

I was on 3 doses then as I tapered I eliminated the daytime doses. I Agree with Marie Valium is long acting so you can try moving to 2 doses but I wud suggest doing it gradually. I.e. moving part of midday to night, wait a week then move the rest to either morning or night

Joeb

 

[[ho...]]

I need to taper 38 mgs of valium. I went to rehab in 2015 and was tapered in ten days. I suffered horribly until i reinstated.

 

The liquid taper is too complicated for me. I am currently tapering Klonapin down from a half tab with the gram weight scale. I also made a huge drop in other klonapin and ativan which threw me into acute withdrawal.  Is there some reason why that will not work with the valium?

 

Hi Carol-

 

I would love to be support for you, but I am not following your question. You mention needing to taper 38mg of Valium but also say you are currently tapering klonopin and Ativan that put you in acute?  What size tabs?  What is your dose?  Are you wanting to do a crossover to Valium ?

 

You can get liquid Valium from the pharmacy so you don’t have to make it, that way it is very easy to do.  Just and FYI. 

 

Marie

[[be...]]

I just want a little rant, why does everyone keeps saying to me it's just diazepam, just stop. My doctor, my psychiatrist, my family.

 

I wish it was that easy I wouldn't be here would I. Such a long lonely journey with no support.

 

Hope you're all as well as you can be. If anyone can give me some moral support that all the things that are wrong with me are because of this drug that would be helpful.

I’m sorry your suffering benqb1, I feel your pain. I get similar comments since no one understands what we are going thru. Not knowing the details it’s hard to comment on specifically what the drug is causing for you. Do you think some of your symptoms are not from the diazepam? I’ll say from my experience with doctors I get the opposite, in that they want to write off some symptoms as underlying conditions when we know ourselves well enough to know it’s benzo wd. Sometimes my family does the same.

I do get the “just stop taking it” comments too.

We’ll get thru this, it’s dam crazy hard, but unfortunately it’s going to take time

Prayers and healing your way

Joeb

 

Hi thanks for your reply I've been to the doctors and had blood tests and an ECG. Everything is normal apart from my cholesterol which I've managed to get down after losing 28 pounds.

 

I'm just not stable on my dose which is currently 7mg, I used to be able to take Pregabalin a few times a week and it helped, but I've had to stop that because it made me constipated.

 

I currently suffer from Anxiety, depression, muscle pain, sleep issues, waking up early in a panic or sleeping to much. I've no interest in sex a all and hate being touched. Internal vibrations, tinnitus in mainly my left ear.

 

The anadonia is awful, I just feel like a waking sack of nothing, I'm forgetful, I easily mess things up.

I do have the odd window where I'm just ok, once a week maybe, and stress sends me into I suppose is a wave of symptoms.

 

Wish I never took this poison in the first place.

 

[[be...]]

I just want a little rant, why does everyone keeps saying to me it's just diazepam, just stop. My doctor, my psychiatrist, my family.

 

I wish it was that easy I wouldn't be here would I. Such a long lonely journey with no support.

 

Hope you're all as well as you can be. If anyone can give me some moral support that all the things that are wrong with me are because of this drug that would be helpful.

 

HI!!  OMG…They have no IDEA.  Perhaps print out some information from here.  Some of the links, and even some of the stories people have shared that would be like YOU!  One of my doctor’s now refers patients to this site because of what I have shared, she has learned so much from me.  Thankfully my main doctor is a benzo wise doctor and I don’t have to explain anything, he knows.  That leads me to this….Have you thought about trying to find a new doctor?  There are wonderful benzo savvy doctors now; even on-line that you can Face-time (may or may not be covered my Insurance) and pain clinics that offer these services with doc’s and PA’s or NP’S (well in the USA).

 

I’m sorry you don’t have the support of your family, I truly am.  That would be very hard.  Are there any type of support groups you could go to in your area? Even if they aren’t necessarily for benzo, maybe for emotional support….just a thought.  If they don’t have any benzo support groups in your area, maybe you could start one….just a thought 

 

We all get it!!!  This is so very hard.  You have done a great job.  Look how much you have already reduced..YAY!  You are over half way, so pat yourself on the back.  It is better to go at a pace that allows you to function and allows for healing at the same time, that is my personal opinion and what I have found is working best for me.  Let your family know that you are doing your very best, and in time you will be off, it’s not a race.

 

Again, there is really good material (links) to what is happening to us during this process.  Your family and “doctor(s)” should read this.

 

Hang in there 

 

Marie

 

Hi thanks for your reply, unfortunately the UK doesn't have much in the way of support groups, I'd dearly love to speak to another benzo user who is going through the same, unfortunately I've found nothing in my area.

 

UK doctors mostly seem dumb when you mention benzo withdrawal and just offer some other drug, the last one I spoke with wanted me on zoplicone!! Which I refused.

 

The said try Zoloft/sertaline but it sent me completely of the rail's and I stopped it after 6weeks.  I have an appointment with a counselor lady next week to see if she can help.

 

Thanks again for your help

 

 

 

 

[[jo...]]

I need to taper 38 mgs of valium. I went to rehab in 2015 and was tapered in ten days. I suffered horribly until i reinstated.

 

The liquid taper is too complicated for me. I am currently tapering Klonapin down from a half tab with the gram weight scale. I also made a huge drop in other klonapin and ativan which threw me into acute withdrawal.  Is there some reason why that will not work with the valium?

Sorry to hear you suffered so much.

So you are now on 38mgs valium, is that corect?

It is not clear which meds you are on, sorry, please can you clarify.

I thought liquid tapers were complicated, but they, very rapidly, become, second nature.

A spiral bound notebook is invaluable showing the following,

Date

Dose before cut

Dose after cut

Current cut

Comments and anything else you need to put in.

All you need is measuring syringes, a supply jar, dose jars (amount depends on how many doses a day you have) and measured syringes.

For diazepam and klonopin, homogenised milk is the solvent.

Vodka also works for diazepam, but I am unsure if it dissolves klonopin.

Feel free to reply with quote to me here, or pm me, and I will be happy to help further.

 

[[Ca...]]

To clarify

I was taking Ativan in unknown quantities and 40 mgs valium and klonapin I had. I abruptly stopped the ativan and hid the rest of it somewhere. I took one .05 klonapin and started dry cut tapering that pill and am about halfway through.  The valium has stayed the same.  I am also unfortunately on subutec a form of suboxone which I will have to deal with.  When I went to rehab in 2016 they took me off of both in ten days and for the next almost three years I was a vegetable.  Then I relapsed and was fine for a few years.

 

So my question really was since the valium comes in 2 mgs can't you dry taper all the way down or switch to pharmaceutical liquid?

 

I may have to go to rehab.  These drugs have affected my kidneys. And I am in severe tolerance withdrawal now. Even if I am able to obtain these drugs for long enough and the subutec is questionable, I dont want to end up on dialysis. My potassium is running above normal and I have to eat a low potassium diet.  I doubt though any rehab will accommodate those needs.

 

Thanks very much

 

 

[[Li...]]

So my question really was since the valium comes in 2 mgs can't you dry taper all the way down or switch to pharmaceutical liquid?

 

Yes, we have members who have dry tapered Valium/diazepam via techniques such as pill-splitting, pill-shaving/weighing, and pill-powder/weighing.

 

We also have members who have used what you have referred to as a pharmaceutical liquid (i.e., a professionally formulated, commercially manufactured oral diazepam solution). 

 

[[ho...]]

To clarify

I was taking Ativan in unknown quantities and 40 mgs valium and klonapin I had. I abruptly stopped the ativan and hid the rest of it somewhere. I took one .05 klonapin and started dry cut tapering that pill and am about halfway through.  The valium has stayed the same.  I am also unfortunately on subutec a form of suboxone which I will have to deal with.  When I went to rehab in 2016 they took me off of both in ten days and for the next almost three years I was a vegetable.  Then I relapsed and was fine for a few years.

 

So my question really was since the valium comes in 2 mgs can't you dry taper all the way down or switch to pharmaceutical liquid?

 

I may have to go to rehab.  These drugs have affected my kidneys. And I am in severe tolerance withdrawal now. Even if I am able to obtain these drugs for long enough and the subutec is questionable, I dont want to end up on dialysis. My potassium is running above normal and I have to eat a low potassium diet.  I doubt though any rehab will accommodate those needs.

 

Thanks very much

 

You already received good answers.  I just wanted to jump in and express my concern about the rehab. You mentioned you have been before  and they took you off in 10 days and you were a vegetable for 3 years.  That was obviously do to the rapid detox from benzo’s.  Generally not a good idea. My benzo doctor doesn’t believe in the “benzo” detox centers, but that is “his” opinion and I am just sharing it.  Perhaps going that route again and you being at 40 mg of V would result in a similar experience.  I understand you are in a tough situation and for that I am genuinely sorry.

 

I do a hybrid wean of pill’s and liquid and wean down about .10mg a week or so, and have been doing a symptom based taper.  So much better than the cut and hold method. 

 

Hopefully you will come to the right decision for you, and we will be here to support you. 

 

Marie

[[jo...]]

To clarify

I was taking Ativan in unknown quantities and 40 mgs valium and klonapin I had. I abruptly stopped the ativan and hid the rest of it somewhere. I took one .05 klonapin and started dry cut tapering that pill and am about halfway through.  The valium has stayed the same.  I am also unfortunately on subutec a form of suboxone which I will have to deal with.  When I went to rehab in 2016 they took me off of both in ten days and for the next almost three years I was a vegetable.  Then I relapsed and was fine for a few years.

 

So my question really was since the valium comes in 2 mgs can't you dry taper all the way down or switch to pharmaceutical liquid?

 

I may have to go to rehab.  These drugs have affected my kidneys. And I am in severe tolerance withdrawal now. Even if I am able to obtain these drugs for long enough and the subutec is questionable, I dont want to end up on dialysis. My potassium is running above normal and I have to eat a low potassium diet.  I doubt though any rehab will accommodate those needs.

 

Thanks very much

Hi there-oh dear, sorry you were a vegetable for 3 years. hugs.

Rehabs are ok for getting off alcohol and heroin, but benzos are a different animal and need to be tapered slowly.

 

So, if you are on the klonopin and valium, you need to be on all one benzo.

Given that 1mg klonopin = 20mg valium, convert what you are on to valium and I would pause a little on the "all valium".

 

I know subutex, it is used here in the uk. As far as I know it should not affect your taper. To the best of my knowledge, it does not act on GABA, the receptors involved in benzos.

 

Dry tapering all the way down using 2mg valium pills will hurt at the end, as the cuts are supposed to be 5-50% of the dose you are cutting from.

 

I would stay away from rehab.

 

Are you saying you are having trouble with supply of the valium?

 

 

[[Li...]]

Dry tapering all the way down using 2mg valium pills will hurt at the end, as the cuts are supposed to be 5-50% of the dose you are cutting from.

 

journey: Might I encourage you to learn more about dry tapering techniques?  There are several options for making ‘small enough’ reductions in dose.

 

Edit: fixed quote

[[jo...]]

[quote author=journey link=topic=96753.msg3368726#msg3368726 date=1650906515

Dry tapering all the way down using 2mg valium pills will hurt at the end, as the cuts are supposed to be 5-50% of the dose you are cutting from.

 

journey: Might I encourage you to learn more about dry tapering techniques?  There are several options for making ‘small enough’ reductions in dose.

I'm dry cutting myself, personal preference, 2mg is too much to jump off.

[[Li...]]

Dry tapering all the way down using 2mg valium pills will hurt at the end, as the cuts are supposed to be 5-50% of the dose you are cutting from.

 

journey: Might I encourage you to learn more about dry tapering techniques?  There are several options for making ‘small enough’ reductions in dose.

 

I'm dry cutting myself, personal preference, 2mg is too much to jump off.

 

Options for making reductions from 2mg of diazepam include compounded capsules or mini-tabs (e.g. Tapering Strips, see link below), pill-shaving/weighing, pill-powder/weighing, and Bob7’s Benzo Dry Taper method (see link below). 

 

Links:

Tapering strip

https://www.taperingstrip.com/

 

Benzo Dry Taper

https://benzodrytapermath.com/

[[ho...]]

Always such great advice on here and good links. 

 

BB’s is so awesome

 

Marie

[[jo...]]

Dry tapering all the way down using 2mg valium pills will hurt at the end, as the cuts are supposed to be 5-50% of the dose you are cutting from.

 

journey: Might I encourage you to learn more about dry tapering techniques?  There are several options for making ‘small enough’ reductions in dose.

 

I'm dry cutting myself, personal preference, 2mg is too much to jump off.

 

Options for making reductions from 2mg of diazepam include compounded capsules or mini-tabs (e.g. Tapering Strips, see link below), pill-shaving/weighing, pill-powder/weighing, and Bob7’s Benzo Dry Taper method (see link below). 

 

Links:

Tapering strip

https://www.taperingstrip.com/

 

Benzo Dry Taper

https://benzodrytapermath.com/

Thanks I will look at these.

[Guest [bl...]]

I take compounded liquid and have no issues with it. It’s a 1mg/1ml compounded liquid, makes cutting really easy. I always get it made by the same place! I’ve learned that liquid Valium should always be stored in dark glass bottles as it can be affected by light and if it’s in plastic can absorb into the plastic. Happy to answer any liquid questions

[[St...]]

Hey gang, anybody know if I can change my dosing times based on my symptoms or should they really stay the same? For example right now they are 8am 4pm 11pm but the stretch to the 4pm one I struggle symptom wise so I wonder do I suffer symptoms until allotted time? Or do I just take it whenever i'm feeling withdrawal set in? Cause like sometimes I can go until 8:30am before taking my morning dose so I play it by ear. If i'm not struggling I wait longer to take it. Is this ok to do? Because its seeming the valium is not evening out in my system like I expected. I started valium april 9th and I feel like it hasn't built up at all for this to be smoother ride.