I have switched fow xanax 1 mg to diazapam10 mg in the hopes of getting off benzos I have tried a lower doseI use this for sleep only,Ihave been on the diazepam since 1/26/16. First at a lower dose 5 mg but was awake so I switched to 10 and am trying to stabalize on that dose and then plan to reduce at 5%. My problem is while I sleep well my days are bad, off balance sometimes dizzy.I also get sort of a buzzy zappy feeling in my head like when you come off of psych meds.Anyone else had this? Is it the d or wd from the x?
That zappy feeling is horrible. I am on xanax .02
.025mg of xanax. computer not working
After being prescribed temazapam (15 mg. 25+ yrs.) I can reassure you what you're feeling is normal while tapering. I'll spare you the dreadful details of my continuing circumstances, but suffice to say after 4 months of tapering and 6 months of holding at 2 mg. diazapam and 7.5 of temazapam the dizzyness waxes and wanes along with other side effects. It's important to remember healing from benzos is not linear. The GABA receptors that have been supressed are being released at different rates. I doubt it matters whether your withdrawing from D or X. It's been 10 months for me and while I see progress, I have to look at it in terms of months, not days or even weeks. I suggest you taper as slowly as possible to avoid severe side effects. Try to stay at your current dosage until you feel "stabilized".
At 70 years of age, I've been able to convince my doctors to allow me to stay at my current dosage. At the rate I've been going I would need another 2 to 3 years or longer to completely come off this drug due to the length of time I've been on. I'm not willing at this time in my life to sacrifice the time it will take to find normalcy once again. I'm not suggesting anyone stay on their current dosage as I have chosen. Each must find their own way to cope and/or heal.
Hi Carol
That zappy feeling your getting is completely normal, it's just very uncomfortable especially switching between benzo's. Are you taking 10mg once a day or split into doses? that will make a hugh difference too that Zappy feeling. Speak with your Dr about spliting the dose. Diazepam has a very long half life of active metabolites (up to 200hours) then you get a cumlative effect, same as alcohol. Also Diaz has muscle relaxant qualities (xanax does not) which will give that dizzy (not real "feeling"
1mg of X is a big dose, so it will take several months to "normalize" then start reducing your Diaz. Importantly though, go SLOWLY it takes as long as it takes. If you stopped taking X abruptly and straight on to Diaz that will Defo give the symptoms your describing. Side note 1mg of xanax is approx equal to 20mg of diaz so your already taking half of your normal dose, again this will DEFO give you those symptoms. Ask about taking 4x5mg diaz every 4 hours. Hope this helps. Let me know how you get on 
My stupid DR told me it was 10mg to 1mg I actually thought she gave me 20 mg Good God no wonder I am in wd this same dr. told me diazepam does not come in 2mg doses is she trying to kill me? I have made an appointment with anew dr.I take it at night for sleep. 5 mg does not work for this.I did do an abrupt switch but had no directions.
Hiya
You need a new DR (im not a DR btw) Diaz comes in 2mg and are white, 5mg and are yellow and 10mg are blue. NO WAY should your DR have you come off a big dose of xanax.without tapering down to at least .5mg X first .5mg = 10mg Diaz. Tapering is an uncomfortable expierence, expect a few sleepless nights. Diaz is a very useful medication, but it can take time to adjust. If your using them for sleep only (no anxiety) I would take 5mg about an hour before bed then another 5mg before you turn the lights out. DR may even put you back on xanax on a reduction plan (good idea I think) Did your DR put you straight onto 5mg diaz without trying zolpiderm or zopiclone first AKA the Z drugs? Thats irresponsible in my opinion. I would print this thread out and take to your new DR see what they have to say.Don't be afraid to ask questions
Craig
They are called brain zaps. And normal for withdrawal. Carol, are you in the US or UK? I am in the US, but have found tons of info from the UK on Benzo withdrawal, I first found the Ashton Manual, and very little from the US. And am trying to do research on my own becuase I, too, was rapidly tapered from Xanax to Valium and a terrified the Dr. is going to take me off of the little Valium I am on before I can even out. I do want to get off this crap, but safely and in a way in which I can function. I've read here and in the Ashton Manual the recomendation of first a cross over from X to V, then an equivelent amount of V, then a 10% taper on your own timetable as your withdrawal subsides. However, In the US, the DSM5 suggests a cross over to an equivelent anount of valium and then a 25% taper every 2 weeks. WOW. I didn't get the cross over, but got more than a 25% taper and am in deep withdrawal including being so dizzy I can no longer drive. I think Craig is right, it is the Valium, but also the withdrawal. If it was days and not months later, I would jump at the opportunity to go back and taper slowly. But it is too late, I am never going back and I hope that one day I wont take a benzo and the withdrawal symptoms will go away.
I decided on my own that I needed to do this as I was becoming tolerant pf the x and it did not always work so I upped the dose when needed the dr was aware of this and had given me scripts fo 1mg they would las t about 2 months some nights I didn't take them at all. then i noticed that taking as needed was a problem.So I researched the Ashton method tried to explain it to her got no where. she gave me the diazepam 20 10mg and 10 x I really didn't realize the diference in strength stupid me I thought they were 20 mg so I took half a pill to start. Then no sleep and I went to 10mg. slept very well but after afew days started feeling dizzy and off balance not to mention strung out feeling.the last Dr. I went to last year gave me 60 ativan and said take these instead when i said my anxiety was worse he gave me mirtazapine and citalopram. I was a mess. I was in constant pain at the time from what I found out was pmr.when I told him I felt much worse he congratulated me on being off x. You can find a dr to give these to you but not one to get you off and it is a money maker..Sonow I don'know what to do go back tothe x ?I have been on the d since the end of january.
Iam in the US
I am in the US
By the way I was aware she was lying to me about the two mg I even called her on it. She had the nerve to pull out some book out of her pocket and pretend to look it up.
Hey there
Ativan (lorazepam) is most often prescribed as an "inbetween" benzo because it's effects start twice as fast but last half as long. Mirtazipine (which i'm on) is an antidepressant that has seditive effects. Citalopram is the current "flavour" of the month. Is it just sleep your having trouble with??? if so I would question why your on benzo anyway, when the Z meds would be the obvious place to start. Zopiclone is ok but it taste bad (i mean bad) lol. Zolpiderm (ambien) is much easierly toleratored and has less side effects (restless leg syndrome, night sweats ect ect. Mirtazipine gave me horriffic nightmare mares but DR and I decided to halve the dose of Mitazipine 15mg and double my Sertraline to 100mg. Bang no more nightmares and guess what I! was on Citalopram. What I'm getting at Carol is that. It's not a 1 size fits all situation, and it sounds like your old DR is just trying to fob you off ( and go help someone she thinks she can help can rather than investigate what could be causing your symptoms). Hopefully your new DR will take the time to do a little investigating. Print this thread out and highlight the questions you have. I personally think you should'nt even of been on benzo's in the 1st place, especially since there is no anxiety or panic attack issuses. Defo see your new DR asap. Your much more likely to suceed taking a divided dose either 3x5mg diaz or even 5x2mg diaz. You'll get there it just takes some experimention
Actually Craig I had severe anxiety issues that impacted my sleep severly. ambien didn't even work this was three years ago.I was given Ambien and alternated withe the x. I went 2 months feeling awful went to drs even a cardiologist no answers. Then one day I woke up and was so depressed I cried non stop. I started researching Ambien side efects there it all was eveyrhing I had been going through. Out of desperation I took a prozac and within 30 minutes the depression lifted and we all know it does't work like that but it did. I have tried just about every ssri you can name but I have severe reactions chills stiff muscles balance issues' I at one time took Effexor now if I take it I get freezing chills and stiff muscles.I would love to be able to take these drugs but I just can not
I tried splitting the 10mg dose lasr night I slept well but 30 minutes after I got up me as major diizzy I took 1/4 of a pill now Iam just tiered and off balance.I have been on this d since the end of jan. and have yet to stabilize so I can reduce.I am thinking of going back to x and finding another drug to help me get off of this. I know no one will agree but I can not continue this course
Hey there again
sorry to hear you had a bit of a rough day, it won't be the last one unfortunately, but we can get there.
I actually agree with you, I think going back too xanax (maybe at .75mg) on too the 1mg bars. Are you taking the prescription for at least 2 weeks?? (it takes at least that long for a theraputic level of the active metabolites to build up. I was actually going to enquire about Venlafaxine (effexor) but the brain zaps on those (especially if you miss a dose) are horrendous. Trust me I did a year long taper as I was on Venlafaxine for nearly 6 years.
It doesn't make any sense to increase Diaz as you all ready have an aversion to them. I'm sure your aware of the placebo effect. I think this my apply (at least a little) in your case. I eveident this with the fact you said you took a fluexetine (prozac) and 30 min later felt better. That would suggest to me you are expecting that the pill will make you feel better, therefore it would have a stronger effect even though it's only a phsychosomatic one. Unfortunately the reverse is also true.
IF you have a negative impression of the results of the pills your taking, it will have an effect on there efficacy. That's not to say they're not working, but your expecting them not too work. So again the placebo effect in reverse seems to play at least a small part of it. SSRI, are only 1 family of anti D's there's snri, tricylic, nri, tetracylic, sms and then you got mood stablizers. Hope fully your new DR will be a bit more understanding and actually ask questions. I would suggest you print this out and highlight the parts you have questions about. Hang in the kiddo
Craig
Looking forward, have you heard of Chlordizpoxide (librium) normally used for alcohol withdrawall (it's like a baby benzo lol) fyi 25mg Chlor=10mg diaz= .5 xanax it has a long half life up too 200 hours and (when your ready) introduce it AFTER you have tapered down too at least .5mg. xanax. When was the last time you had blood tests done? There is a combination of medicines that will combine together to work, it just takes awhile to find it sometimes.
Hi Craig thanks for your reply yesterday was awful it was suggested that I take half of the at bedtime and spread the rest throughout the day.didn't work just awful. so back to 10 at night I still almost fell getting out of bed.I know I am in wd but from what? Ithink the d I have some of the x but am afraid to do anymore tinkering.Yes venlafaxine is bad to get off of I went to 1/16 of a pill. I hope I make it to the dr today as saturday someone had to drive me to work. Wish me luck please and i really appreciate all the support.
Hey there Carol
I think with everything we have spoken about your Dr will be fairly well informed on your condition. Did you take in this print out?? either way I hope i've helped in some small part, and more importantly this DR wont just script you off. Don't take what a DR says as gospel, they quite often make mistakes, this is part of being a human. Let me know what the (fingers grossed) your shiny new DR says lol.
Craig
I have made my list of all the meds I am on or have been on in the last 4 years so he can have a quick read and then I can answer any questions he may have. Iknow the script drill very well. They love to do that as many people feel they have to get script or he is not doing his job. ex. antibiotics drs will give a script sometimes just to get them out of the office happy.Well let me tell you I am not one of those and will question just about everything.You better believe it after the hell I have been through. I raised the subject of addiction with the pill pusher many times about my addiction fears her reply was oh no not on this dose. I knew it was not true but I was hooked.Thank you for the crossed fingers.Will let you know how it goes.Have a very blessed day my friend!
Ilike my shiney new doc he is putting me on I think he said triazine should have wriiten it down he said continue the d for 2 weeks along with the new drug then stop rhe d and take new one then we will wean off of that may have the drug name wrong .he did spend ahour with me and heard the whole story.He explained that it works on the same receptors as benzos but also blocks them