Hello again Beverly, I am glad to hear you are feeling better. If you google the "Ashton Protocol" you will see why people generally use valium to taper. Basically because it has a longer half life you will not feel the effects so much of the reduction. Also valium is available in 10 mg, 5 mg, 2mg and drop forms which makes it easier to make precise reductions giving you the best chance of a smoother, easier taper. However, whilst this is generally understood in the UK thanks to some fantastic campaigners and support groups, i have have had a lot of problems trying to explain this in France. Generally they will suggest tapering on xanax or seresta and they do not understand the reasoning behind valium and generally dont like it when i say "In England we do it this way" but maybe the Spanish will be more open minded. It would be good if you do find a supportive doctor to help you. Dont worry, you can do this and you will feel better but it may take you a few months. I dont know the benzo you are taking and its equivalence to Valium but i do have contacts i could ask.
Bless you Pat - you take care too and I look forward to seeing how we go on here.
Hi Sarah, thanks for the info on this protocol. I will read it with great interest and now see why valium is far easier to use for the taper. I can totally appreciate the problems you are facing in France. I am not sure what I will encounter here but from friends experience it is not the practice here to question what a Dr says to you! But it is my body so I will do my best and hope I get a Dr who is prepared to work with me. I just got upset today to think that I now have two quite potent drugs to deal with. The benzo is Lormetazepam (Noctamid) and is usually given as a sleeping tablet although I was taking it during the day. The Dr said he gave it to me because it has a short half life. Thankyou Sarah you have been so helpful when I was really struggling today. i wish you well.
You are welcome. Dont worry - you are not alone in this. And you will soon free your body from these drugs. I think you said earlier in the discussipn that you have found an English doctor? If not the Ashton Protocol exists in many languages so you can print it in Spanish and take it to ypir doctor. I think some times Drs get confused over half lives as they tbink the shorter the better but in fact the shorter the half life the more addictive the benzo. Again i wish to stress that i dont know this particular molecule and its equivalence in valium. May be somebody else on the forum may know but tomorrow i can ask for more info from a much respected contact in the "Battle against benzos" and hopefully you will be able to taper quickly. I wish you well too.
Sorry Pat I missed this post last night in all the turmoil! I can see you did take it very slowly which is how I think I will need to do it. You have done so well on the the diazepam reduction too. It's such a shame that after all this you are struggling after reducing the cit from 10mgs. Let me know how you are doing and what you decide to do.
I have read the Ashton Protocol this morning which makes so much sense. I also found an Equivalence Table for Benzo's also based on research from Prof Ashton. I will take all this with me to the Dr. He is Spanish but has some English so hopefully we can communicate. At the moment I am just trying to keep going taking the drugs as have so many debilitating effects. Thank you once again.
Hi Beverley47094, I hope you are feeling better today? I am glad you found the Ashton Protocol useful and I hope your doctor will listen to you and your wishes. For now, the best thing you can do is find the level of Noctamid that you feel stable at, firstly for your body to stabelize but also so that eventually you will know the amount of valium you need to cross over to. I hope it goes well.
Hi Sarah
Well, I am feeling a bit better since taking the noctamid that's for sure. Yes, you are so right in saying I need to get stablelized on a certain dose so I know how much valium I'll need. I hadn't thought of that. There is a lot to it isn't there? I thank you so much - you are a star! I'll be watching out for you and posting on here what's happening. xxx
Actually I havent really been on here very much. I did a taper about 10 years ago and there was a very supportive forum group founded by Ray Nimmo I believe, all based on the Ashton Protocol. But they closed as they got oversubscribed!! There is another forum which you will probably find if you search. I used to be more active in the other forum, but for the last 10 years I have been occupied by my children. They have all left home now, although I am looking forward to seeing them at Christmas! So now I have been looking at these forums again as I have the time to try to help other people, but from a quick look today it looks as though Pat and probably others are well placed to advised. The good news is that I managed to complete my first taper from about 15 mgs and stay off benzos for 5 years! But as a result of lots of different issues I ended up back on them again at a higher dose. I know what I have to do. So far I havent really felt any side effects from reductions other than an overwhelming thirst, especially when I eat. But it could be much worse! I was up around 40 mg when I started and am now at 22. Am just going to take my time and even stay put if I need to for a while. I hope that by the end of next year I will be benzo free again. In case you havent done so already, it may be a good idea to show the Ashton Protocol to your husband. It will reassure him and allow him to understand. It sounds as though he is very supportive. You may want to share with close friends as well so they can support you. But be warned - many people will not understand what you are doing, especially when you mention valium. I have certain friends who mean very well, but they still do not understand that I am actually taking the valium to wean myself off another drug and think I am taking it simply because of the issues over the last years. I think this is because I am in France. There is a lot of work to be done here - there doesn't appear to be much awareness of the Benzo problem . Drs dish them out like sweets and seem to be particularly partial to the really addictive ones. I often stand behind people in chemists who are collecting prescriptions and I want to follow them out and issue warnings!! This is not meant to frighten you. You will be fine, you sound sensible and determined and you havent been taking it for too long. Yes, I will come back from time to time to see how you are getting on, but I think you are in good hands here! xx
This story is so common, but it feels like your in Hell, I understand fully. Yes tappering way to fast, most GPs would reduce you in a week, I went back dont no how i got there and he saw how i was and slowed it down but im still not good at all so saw his again and went a little slower, I now see him every week and he says now when i leave, ill see you thursday unless all the wheels fall off before. Im no taking advantage but it makes you feel better to know they have you back.
Feelig your pain, find a doc who truley cares and all the best Pat. Im here for you.
Hi Beverly,
I live n Australia, very stick laws just starting after they handed all benzos out like lollie, I've neer heard of noctamid ill look it up just wondering.
Thanks. Nicola