Am on diazepam 7mgs for 10 years.Have reached tolerance and they are making anxiety worse over the last 3 years.l take them for sleep however they now make me so agitated and anxious and during the day l feel as though I am going through withdrawal.Any advice would be great.l have read so many horror stories l am nearly beaten before I begin.
I had same problem but with 8mg a day. I seen my doctor and got prescription taken up to 10mg and that has worked a treat for me.
Thank you but I think it is time to come off.Can not wait to be off them.
Hi Marleen, my suggestion is to visit your GP and explain that you want to come off the meds and agree a long taper regime, may be something else for sleep on a very short term basis.
Thank you probably will have to do that.
Hi Marleen,
Talk to your doctor about a slow taper. Look online for the Ashton manual, that was very helpful for me.
I had developed a physical addiction to the ativan and was in tolerance withdrawls.
It was difficult getting off but Ive been off over two years. With the support of God, friends, family and great forums like this I made it.
I think your making a wise decision to get off the drug and not just keep increasing when you hit tolerance. Good luck and let us know how you do!
Lynne
Thank you Lynne I can't believe I got myself into this situation.Anyway under no circumstances will l be increasing.l will be going very slowly as l want to adjust between tapers.As long as l am going down l will be happy.
Give yourself as much time as you need. Even if its a year Next summer you' ll be free of the drugs!!!!
Thank you l will fingers crossed
Hi Marlton, how is your taper going? SHANE
Hi Shane l am on 6.5mgs started on 7.5mgs am tapering very slowly.Anxiety sky high and very agitated.l have stopped googling as all the horror stories are making me worse.Just going to listen to my body and gradually reduce.Thank you for asking.
Good Luck! I started a 5mg now down to 1mg for the last couple of weeks. Next week I will cut to .50mg for a week or so then off. It has not been easy but is doable if you are determined. You are smart to take it slow. There is no reason to rush. You can do This!
Thank you Shane.l hope you get off ok.l think slow is definitely the best way to go although it is frustrating.l find l obsess about it a bit too much.l just want to give myself time to do it properly.l don't want to rush and have to updose.Only time will tell.
Hi Marleen, how are things Going? I am down to .50 mg not sure how long to stay before jumping off completely. Feeling mostly okay just some minor gut issues and a bit of morning anxiety. Don't want to jump off into withdrawal symptons though...
Hi Shane am on 6 mgs at the minute.Having a lot of muscle tension and increased anxiety.Nothing l can't handle.l tend to drop half a mg and sit on it for about 3 weeks.Why don't you sit on that dose for a while then miss a dose for one day.The following week 2 days . Continue like that until you are off completely.Let me know how it goes
Thanks Marleen, I will try that. Good idea, I was trying to figure out how to cut a 1/4 of a tablet Lol! Not possible!
Good luck to you! You can do this!
Shane
You can do this too.I will be giving it my best shot.Lets face it couldn't be any worse than giving birth lol.Let me know how it goes and don't over think it.
Very True! Yes let's please stay in touch as we get thru this!
Been on 30mg diazepam 10mg nitrazepam 10yrs unfortunately they bind so strong to the benzo receptors that they almost have to be taken otherwise functioning for me would be impossible rather stay on them its TORTURE MATE
No problem Shane we can do this let's face it we have no alternative.l know in the long run we will feel so much better for it.