Dr. Heather Ashton - How to Taper Off Benzodiazepines

[sahta007]

I tapered from 3x0.5 xanax a day for 14 months to 0.18mg every 3 days and I can not go lower or quit. Trying to switch to valium. Crap.

[gabbis]

Bullshit!

I was on Serax (oxazepam) for almost 4 years and had no withdral.

Explain that!

[nickyd1177]

@gabbis because oxazepam Is such a short acting drug eg-(2-4 hours) effect and half life It wasn't in your body long enough for you to build up a tollerance and then withdrawl symptoms from it. If It had been Nitrazepam or just about any other drug than oxazepam you would definetly have known about it. This Is due to what I just said ''your oxazepam effects wore off so quick, your body didn't even recognise It's presence and therfore did not require the drug) so u were lucky being given a short1

[centerrightpunk]

by the way, i started of at about 2, maybe 3 at the beginning of those 2-3 weeks, but i gradually need more for some reason, especially after one night where i was having some medical problems that were really scaring me.

[centerrightpunk]

of any withdraw symptoms). and would CBTherapy help the process at all? thanks.

[centerrightpunk]

hey everyone. is 2-3 weeks of overmedicating myself on lorazepam (ativan) and feeling some dependency bad? would it take long to withdraw? ive been taking up to 5-6 mgs per day. i tried to reduce my dosage a few day ago, and it seemed to not work (maybe even made things worse). not its hard for me to sleep, and sometimes i wake up in a panic, and i get more panic attacks a day than normal (not sure if thats b/c...

[usarmy86]

my mother takes restoril because she has insomnia, it makes her funny at night like this one time i went to the kitchen and found a cup of water with dog treats inside of it because she thought she was making coffee. i laughed my ass off and helped her safely to her bed. you got watch out for these people on this shit its no joke

[d829d]

Saint Heather

[WranglerYJ91]

Docs. are CLUELESS about this problem... As long as they can make commission off of them they are going to keep giving them

[pwg1126]

Where are treatment centers that use this taper technique? I agree this is the way to go for any of the top 10 addictive prescription medicines per the FDA. I am looking for a treatment center that is using this technique of tapering. I have seen where most treatment centers sucess rate is 5-20% for 1 year. This can be a diseases that reoccurs for life. God bless.

[randy109]

I have a relative who went from 6mg Valium a day to ZERO! How he survived the first 3 weeks is beyond me but he did it. Angry and having weird dreams. He was VERY irritable. I convinced him to just take 1/2mg when he "couldn't stand it". That seemed to do the trick. Now he uses between 1/2mg and 2mg per day and is fully functional and in control. His mood swings virtually stopped when he knew the 1/2mg was available for emergency use if needed. He had a Benzo habit for over 5 years.

[snoopycool1]

Get support free benzowithdrawal com

[BerryCinnamon76]

I'm trying to ween myself off of Xanax but finding it nearly impossible. Clearly, I'm not alone but I can't really explain the effect not taking it has on me. I become extremely spaced out to the point where I can hardly stand up straight. It's almost like when you get off a boat after a really long period of time only times a thousand. No feeling I've never experienced even remotely compares to how awful this is. Does anyone else know what i'm talking about?

[BaileyLush]

Yeah. I am withdrawing Klonopin, and I have the aformentioned vertigo you speak of. My heart is also freaking the hell out. it takes time for your GABA receptors to up regulate or whatever. Go as slow as possible, and do the valium substitution if you need 2. Good luck, and god speed:)

[BerryCinnamon76]

They recently switched me to klonopin but it makes me very dizzy. The withdrawal is still there, although it isn't nearly as bad. Now they want to put me back on a low dosage of xanax (.25mg) to taper off of it. What are you doing in regards to tapering off of klonopin?

[BaileyLush]

Nothing to special- Just a straight taper which I am having trouble with (lack of sleep mainly). But I plan to start titration soon. I like the idea of very precise dose cuts. Also I am doing everything I can to naturally negate the withdrawl- meditation, eating extremly clean, doing light exercise, yoga, etc etc. Bi neuaral beats are also helpng for the insomnia. I can't wait to be off of this crud.

[BerryCinnamon76]

Oh, well thanks...I may try some of that myself.

[3202hill]

Dear Doctor Ashton,

Who were you lecturing to junior college drug counselors? I have had anxiety disorder since my adolescence and am now 58 years old. During this time I have been on both methadone and valium/or klonopin since my twenties except for a period of 11.5 years clean during my 30's. This is off all drugs. Now I could figure out gradual step-down off medications myself. It does not take a rocket scientist to know titration at lower doses must be smaller.

[loldimebagdied]

I <3 XaNaX :)

[akuma4u]

good for you, i hope you get hooked and then try to come off, then tell me how much you love it

[BaileyLush]

Why would you wish that on anybody? Think before you type.

[akuma4u]

no why dont you read before you type, i was replying to a jackass who was being stupid! why dont you read his comment!

[BaileyLush]

I *saw* the comment. He said I <3 Xanax. I don't think that entitles you to such an obscene comment:/ But whatever. Have a nice night.

[akuma4u]

that comment was made so long ago i dont even know if thats that comment you have mentioned is even the one i was replying to. but in any case, how could anyone love such an evil drug that does more harm than good? thats like me making a comment and saying "I <3 guns"

[PDS12]

It should also be noted i have been using consistantly for about 6 months, and i have taperd myself down already from 6mg of xanax a day now im at 1mg as i said previously. My symptoms of benzo withdrawl include, Dillusion, hot and cold flashes, no appetite/nausea/vommiting(feel­s like there's a huge bubble in my stomache),diarrhea, no sleep, constantly uncomfortable, back and leg pain, twitching,restlessness. Once again any advice is appreciated. Thanks

[PDS12]

unfortunatly i have to get mine on the street as i have no insurance any more and can't afford to see a doctor, my dealer is out and i have 4.5 xanax left, ive taperd for the last maybe two weeks using 1 mg a day, now i will try to pull down to .25 mg, which should make 4.5 2mg xanax last 18 days but i dont kno that this is enough time, i tried to rapid detox off of one mg this weekend and only made it until around 6:00pm on day 2. Any advice for someone in my situation would help alot.Thanks

[15879604]

This is a extremely safe and smart method if one has an addiction to Benzo's they wish to end I did it quicker than this but was a little uncomfortable and had anxiety for a while but I just wanted to get off them. Take this women's advice if you want to get off Bnzo's in the safest most comfortabe manner. Withdrawal from Benzo's is a lot worse than Opiates and can kill you,, no joke.

[snoopycool1]

If you have issues with benzodiazepines there is online support. For free online support benzowithdrawal com They helped many.

[randy109]

I've taken Xanax and/or Ativan for years. I make a point to NEVER take them two days in a row, regardless of anxiety, panic attack, etc... I find that by only using them three or four days a week I've never built up a tolerance and 1 mg. still works quite well. By the way I am an alcoholic and understand addiction quite well. MODERATION PEOPLE!!

[akuma4u]

yea but when psychs and docs prescribe them, they give you orders to take them 2 or 3 times everyday not "as needed" so they basically create the dependency.

[mynthon11]

@akuma4u

And people act like robots....And anyway , in my "Pill Jar" reads , if needed.. i dunno...sorry bad english, and benzos are devil!

[enzyme20056]

@akuma4u not really in australia you have to fight tooth and nail to get prescribed them, most benzodiazepines are schedule four but doctors treat them as if they were street drugs , people dont get addicted to them they just get accustomed to not feeling anxious and when they stop them the original symptoms come back

[akuma4u]

@enzyme20056 yes and no, the original symptoms plus a whole slew of new symptoms (acute withdrawal) with a worsening of original symptoms (level 2 panic attack would now be level 8), cause the user to become physically dependent / addicted. Then comes tolerance and protracted withdrawal. These pills really are hell. Not everyone has this addiction/withdrawal problem, but many do. Down regulation of gaba is what these pills cause in end, which is a horrible thing for anxiety/panic sufferers.

[enzyme20056]

@akuma4u basically i agree with that, because the brain must adapt to the presence of this foreign chemical and try and reach homoeostasis, BUT i really dont think they should be treated on the same as substances which are used by people to get high or abandon reality for what ever reason, this class of drugs is being taken away and really nothing is replacing it except perhaps lyrica and now they are using low does anti psychotics instead, that isnt a good idea.

[kwanthony187]

lets say u only abused them(2mg xanax)for 6 months but u took 2-5 a day and went cold turkey. can u still die from withdraws a little later on?

[kashmic]

of course not:)

[methoxymetopon]

yes, there is always a possibility since everybody is different

[akuma4u]

everyone is different, xanax is the most potent, stopping abruptly can give you seizures and you can die from that.

[athlon4800]

nonbenzodiazepines org uk is another good forum for benzo issues

[snoopycool1]

Online support for benzo issues Benzowithdrawal com