Dr. Heather Ashton - How to Taper Off Benzodiazepines

Dr. C. Heather Ashton is the leading expert on benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine withdrawal. In this clip, Dr. Ashton discusses her method of tapering off benzodiazepines.

To order the DVD, visit PMAG's website:

http://www.psychmedaware.org

Dr. Ashton, DR, FRCP, is an Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psycho-pharmacology at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Dr. Ashton is an expert researcher and clinician in the area of addictive psychotropic drugs. She was the director of a benzodiazepine withdrawal clinic for 12 years and has developed the "gold standard" protocol for withdrawal from benzodiazepines and sleeping pills. She has written over 250 academic papers in professional journals and books, and is a frequent international lecturer on benzodiazepines and sleeping pills. For many years she has taught medical and pharmacology students, physicians, nurses and other health care workers about benzodiazepines and their effects, including the clinical management of withdrawal.

In March and April 2006, Dr. Ashton gave lectures on Benzodiazepine Dependence and Withdrawal Methods to heath care providers in Victoria and Vancouver, B.C. She also addressed physicians at an addictions conference at Parksville, B.C.

The Psychiatric Medication Awareness Group (PMAG) produced a 90-minute DVD of Dr. Ashton's April 4, 2006, Vancouver lecture. Dr. Ashton spoke on: * how benzodiazepines and hypnotics (i.e., tranquillizers and sleeping pills) affect the brain and body * symptoms of dependence * the personal/social costs of benzodiazepine dependence * benzodiazepine use and other substances such as street drugs * withdrawal * effective tapering plans * outcomes and longer-term symptoms * best practices


The DVD is a useful educational tool for benzodiazepine users, those withdrawing from benzodiazepines, physicians and other health care professionals, and non-profit organizations.
It provides an excellent overview of Dr. Ashton's protocol, expertise and wisdom.

Dr. Ashton's Manual for withdrawing from benzodiazepines safely and effectively:
http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm

For online support from a knowledgeable and sympathetic community (they've been there and done that!), check out the Yahoo Benzo Group:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/benzo/

Benzoisland - another excellent and knowledgeable online support forum:
http://benzoisland.org/index.html

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• Heather
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• benzodiazepines
• benzos
• withdrawal
• valium
• xanax
• ativan
• tranquilizers

[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.

[methoxymetopon]

yes, there is always a possibility since everybody is different

[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.

[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 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

[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.

[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