Comfyquilt: Hello - issues with Benzos and new med

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogie sounds good. Getting the liquid this week 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

Sounds great!

[Comfyquilt]

Hi @Frogie - I only have a few tablets left and now have the compound. I cannot get more tablets. I think I have enough for a week cross over. Incredibly shaky today. Ughh - it looks like I’ll have to switch over to the liquid faster than recommended. How should I proceed? 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

Can you take 1/2 for a week and 1/4 for a week of the tablets?

 

That would be better than just a cold switch.

[Comfyquilt]

@frogie yes I think I have enough to do this! Is it normal to be so shaky? I’m not sure where this is coming from. I haven’t reduced my dose or anything! 

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogie - so I was thinking I would do 1.25 in tablet and 1.25 in liquid for my day doses. Then my night doses I could do 7.5 in tablet and 2.5 in liquid to start? Would this work? 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

I think you could try that and see how it goes.

 

Keep me posted.😊

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogiegreat! Thanks for being my sounding board, I feel very alone and shaky. 
 

I now have moved the doses (by the hour as you said) to 10am, 4pm and 10pm! So no more moving to be done. Still feeling a bit low but did go out for a walk and groceries this morning. Yesterday was the first day I didn’t cry in 3 months. 

[Comfyquilt]

Hi @Frogie - going good switching over to my old liquid!! I think that’s what my body is used to, slept better last night but my doctor wants me to start reducing next week. He would like me to cut 0.25mgs, which is less than 2% (I think) so that’s something. He would like me to follow this every two weeks but can slow down if I need to. I just wonder which dose I remove the 0.25 from? Thank you. 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

.25 mg is quite a jump even from Valium. Is there anyway he would let you go a little slower starting out? Even 1/2 that much and monthly? That’s really pushing it.

 

Since you’re doing well with the night dose I would take it from the dose you are moving at the present time.

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogie I am no longer moving any doses they are constant now. I dose at 10, 4 and 10. 
 

I feel like I’m building tolerance as I kinda feel like I’m always in a cut (I remember this feeling from my last taper). My body is really telling me it’s time. It’s been a month off mirt now and the Valium helps with sleep but that’s about it! Not feeling too great. I did really well last time with 0.25mgs cuts every two weeks. I feel like my body is revolting. I also don’t really have an option as this is the taper that my doctor allowed, he said it was too slow so I had to ask for even slower - he wanted the exact Ashton taper which would have had me remove a full mg right off the top! Yikes! I don’t know if he would let me do it once a month, but maybe I could do it daily (a small amount?) I am kinda outta options as he would like me off. Rock and a hard place 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

I understand. That's just a huge taper. If you can talk him into a smaller one, I would do what you can.

 

Keep me posted.

 

 

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogie thanks! I think this is my only option unfortunately. I don’t see him for another 6 weeks and if I am not tapering he won’t be thrilled. So I’ve gotta do it. 
 

he even said 10% monthly which would have me cut 0.75mgs this month alone so at least I got him down to 0.25 every two weeks. I will go by 5-10% monthly once my doses are lower and if he will permit it. For now I am going to have to begin with the 0.25. Should I take this from the am dose? Or break it between the am and mid day doses? 0.25 is less than 2% if my math is correct so that’s something.  Thank you! 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

I would try to split the .25 mg across all three doses so it is split evenly, or as evenly as possible.

 

If he sees you tapering, maybe he will allow you to go a little slower later.

 

Keep me posted.

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogiethank you! I will take it from the three doses. I guess at this point the only way out is through. Will wait to remove these doses once I am switched over to liquid fully. I guess I should look for some brightness in this as he’s not cutting me off cold Turkey or forcing some inhumane 3 month taper. He’s semi reasonable and will let me at least go a little “slow” - gotta work with what I’ve got and can’t risk getting cut off if im not making progress. 
 

I think the first two weeks off the mirt were the worst but that seems to have passed. Can keep food down and no more dry heaving. I’ll take what I can get! 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

I guess you have to take the good with the bad. Just see if he will let you go a bit slower the lower you get or I'm afraid you will have some problems.

 

I'm glad you are feeling better! That good news.

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogietotally!! Willl keep ya posted should anything funky arise xx

[Comfyquilt]

Hi @Frogie - just spoke with the doctor and he would like me to get working on the mid day dose and then the am dose, leaving the night time dose for last. He said to remove 0.25mgs (1.6% of my total daily dose) and then wait 10-14 days and then do the same with the am dose. He then said we will calculate the decreases around 10% a month if I am able to or can continue doing cut and hold. I am not feeling well on Valium and have lost my deep sleep. Do you think there is anyway to go faster as I’ve only been on the increased 15mg for one month? I have symptom of anxiety about 1-2 hours after taking the day time doses and overall know my body needs off this med. Do you think I could taper more rapidly? Probably not but worth an ask! 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

I would stick with the middle dose if that is what he wants you to do first. You don't want him upset and take it all away from you.

 

You could try micro-dosing and see if that works better for you.

 

Micro-taper instead of 10% or 5% decreases

 

Hopefully he will let you go slow from this point on.

 

Keep me posted.

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogie - he thinks the 0.25 drop is not fast enough! I am doing it tomorrow with the mid day dose then will wait 10-14 days and do it again. Not feeling well on Valium but I know going faster would be worse. I did manage well with 0.25mgs cuts my entire last taper so I’m crossing my fingers my brain has some muscle memory from that

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

I hope you do alright. If not, please talk to the dr. You are your own best advocate. Dr.'s don't know how to taper off these meds and can put into a bigger mess than you are now.

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogie - lots of other groups say to cut 1mg per 2 weeks down to 10mg and then start with the smaller reductions. I have so much information coming in! I guess I just have to decide how to best do this for myself. I just know Valium is really affecting me and I finally seem to have a small window at the end of the day before I take the 10mg’s. So many different ways to taper and so many different ideas. Going to start small and see how I do. 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

You have to do what is right for you then. 

 

We have just had so many members take the dr's and/or other website information and it turned into a huge mess for them.

 

Please let me know if I can help any further.

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogie - thank you so much. I’ve made quite a mess of things so just hoping with removing a small amount I can get back to some kind of baseline.

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogie - sorry one more question! I am now one month free from mirt! Am I out of the woods with this one? No more upset stomach or lack of appetite. Can I assume the w/d’s have passed from this? 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

No I wouldn't say you are out of the woods just yet. You can still have wd symptoms sneak up on you. It takes quite a while for the body to heal.

 

But sounds like you are in a good place right now.

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogiethanks! I start my Valium taper today. Wish me luck. Thank you 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

I wish you all the luck!

 

Just don't try to go to fast please.

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogie nope! No going fast here I removed 0.25mgs from my 4pm dose. That is 1.67% of my daily dose. Being very cautious as this is my second taper. Will hold now for 14 days then assess 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

That's good. I'm glad you are being rational about your taper.

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogiei was lamenting sooo much about it. Fast, slow, Ashton etc. I’m finally sleeping well and am stable from what I’ve read on the guides here. Not perfect but nothing is changing. I am going to work on these day doses and take it two weeks at a time. I won’t be going quickly, I am going to let my body lead me. I figured a small cut to test the waters is better than a huge cut and having to updose. 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

That sounds like you have a good plan.

 

Keep me posted.

[Comfyquilt]

@Frogie - so for a few weeks I’ve been having this issue where I take my dose and feel horrid for 5-6 hours after then I feel normal. I then have to dose again and feel horrid for 5-6 hours then normal. When I wake up I have the cortisol rush which I get though with tea and calm distracting. Im  sure why I’m getting this? It’s like once the Valium dose wears off I’m ok (well not wears off but the peak plasma is down) - any ideas? I beginning to think here my body is saying no more. 
 

 No change since the cut I made 3 days ago.  Thank you 

[Comfyquilt]

Hi @Frogie any ideas about the above? It’s still happening. I made my cut 6 days ago, no major changes apart from getting very bad after taking Valium doses. I’m not sure what to make of it! 

[Comfyquilt]

Hi @Frogie 8 days since my cut, nothing different or notable to report. I continue to have the same issue as reported above, it’s like with every dose it gets worse. I wonder about rapid tapering the Valium as it is causing me such issues. I have one window between 8-10pm when it seems my day doses have worn off. Any ideas? 

[Frogie]

@Comfyquilt

 

I'm sorry you are having problems. Valium can stay in your system up to 200 hours, so that could be some of the problem.

 

I would not advise on making big tapers as you will encounter big wd symptoms I'm afraid.

 

You could try micro-tapering and see how that goes.

 

 

Let me know what you would like to do after reading about micro-tapering.

 

Take care.