Moderator Frogie Posted March 20, 2022 Moderator Share Posted March 20, 2022 @FindPeace 1 mg Ativan is equal to 10 mg Diazepam. You would take 3/4 dose Ativan and 1/4 dose Diazepam for a week. Then 1/2 dose Ativan and 1/2 dose Diazepam for a week. Then 1/4 dose Ativan and 3/4 dose Diazepam for a week. Then all Diazepam. Diazepam will be easier to taper off of than Ativan also. PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist. Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form) ---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil. Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper. 19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020) I am not a medical professional. The suggestions I make are based on personal experience. Link to comment
FindPeace Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 @Frogie thank you, that makes sense. Is it reasonable to assume that the sooner I do that the more likely I will tolerate the cross over? [history of alcoholism, used benzo’s on and off in the past (experienced benzo withdrawal in 2012); 14 years on Effexor @ doses between 75mg and 150mg. Tapering by weighing: 75mg: 3/8/21 -> 67.5mg; 3/22/21 -> 56.7mg ; 5/12/21 -> 48.6mg; 6/8/21 -> 42.3mg; 7/1/22 -> 37.5mg; 7/15/21 -> 33.5mg; 8/20/21 -> 27.5mg; 1/5/22 -> 25mg; 1/13/22 take generic minitabs for one day - react badly - and go back to beads but counting instead of weighing -> 91 beads; 2/20/22 decide 91 beads doesn’t represent previous weight and go to 86 instead -> 86 beads. 3/4/22 -> anxiety, panic, stomach problems! 3/8/22 1mg Ativan prescribed] 3/22/22 updosed to 37.5 3/25/22 updose to 75mg Currently holding at 75mg [supplements being used from 1/1/22 to 3/4/22: magnesium bisglycinate 200mg 2/day, turmeric/curcumin 450mg 2/day, phosphatidylserine 100mg, vitamin d3 1000 UI, vitamin C 1000mg, Multivitamin, Nettle 435mg, Quercitin w/ bromelian 400mg, omega 3 fish oil, probiotic] [current supplements/drugs: caffeine, nicotine, and creatine] Link to comment
Moderator Frogie Posted March 20, 2022 Moderator Share Posted March 20, 2022 @FindPeace If you can do the crossover now, I think it would be a lot easier on you. PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist. Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form) ---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil. Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper. 19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020) I am not a medical professional. The suggestions I make are based on personal experience. Link to comment
FindPeace Posted March 21, 2022 Author Share Posted March 21, 2022 @Frogie should the diazepam also be taken twice a day? I’m think I’m getting interdose withdrawals with the ativan. yesterday I took 1mg at 10am and 1mg at 10pm. It was the first day were I felt functional and my first night of semi normal sleep in 5 days. However, I woke up at 7 with bad anxiety. I am a bit leery 1mg is too much. should I split the dose into 3 times a day (like every six hours) so 8am Effexor 10am 0.5mg ativan 4pm .25mg ativan 10pm 0.5mg ativan I updosed my Effexor this morning (3/21) by 1mg (4 beads) Im really frightened about my situation, and further guidance is much appreciated. [history of alcoholism, used benzo’s on and off in the past (experienced benzo withdrawal in 2012); 14 years on Effexor @ doses between 75mg and 150mg. Tapering by weighing: 75mg: 3/8/21 -> 67.5mg; 3/22/21 -> 56.7mg ; 5/12/21 -> 48.6mg; 6/8/21 -> 42.3mg; 7/1/22 -> 37.5mg; 7/15/21 -> 33.5mg; 8/20/21 -> 27.5mg; 1/5/22 -> 25mg; 1/13/22 take generic minitabs for one day - react badly - and go back to beads but counting instead of weighing -> 91 beads; 2/20/22 decide 91 beads doesn’t represent previous weight and go to 86 instead -> 86 beads. 3/4/22 -> anxiety, panic, stomach problems! 3/8/22 1mg Ativan prescribed] 3/22/22 updosed to 37.5 3/25/22 updose to 75mg Currently holding at 75mg [supplements being used from 1/1/22 to 3/4/22: magnesium bisglycinate 200mg 2/day, turmeric/curcumin 450mg 2/day, phosphatidylserine 100mg, vitamin d3 1000 UI, vitamin C 1000mg, Multivitamin, Nettle 435mg, Quercitin w/ bromelian 400mg, omega 3 fish oil, probiotic] [current supplements/drugs: caffeine, nicotine, and creatine] Link to comment
Moderator Frogie Posted March 21, 2022 Moderator Share Posted March 21, 2022 @FindPeace Yes, you can split the dose of Diazepam and take it twice a day just like the Ativan. PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist. Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form) ---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil. Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper. 19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020) I am not a medical professional. The suggestions I make are based on personal experience. Link to comment
FindPeace Posted May 10, 2022 Author Share Posted May 10, 2022 @Altostrata @Frogie Hey, thank you in advance for any help you can provide. It’s been a while since I checked in here. The reason is because I ended up going into acute care at the hospital on March 24th until the 5th of April. I was in a really bad place with panic, anxiety, and SI. There I was switched to Clonazepam and given seroquel 6.25mg for sleep and my Effexor was raised to 75mg (my original dosage. To recap: I spent the previous year getting my dosage of Effexor down from 75mg to 25mg, when things fell apart (anxiety, nausea, insomnia). When I got out, I stopped the seroquel on April 7th and started using melatonin time release 5mg. I was on the seroquel for 13 days total. I’ve been off benzos since April 2nd. My total length of use of the benzos was 24 days (from March 8 - April 2nd). So now I’ve been on 75mg of Effexor for about 6 weeks and nothing else besides the melatonin. Currently I don’t even take supplements. The anxiety has improved although I still have days when I can feel it in my chest and have some nausea/dry wretching. My worst symptom is a depressed mood. I am holding on and very loathe to change anything as I know I need time to stabilize, but I can’t seem to find joy in anything. I am very worried that aomehow my brain is broken now and I will never be happy again. The doctors are urging me to increase the Effexor dosage to 112.5mg. As I said, I am holding on. I was wondering what you guys would make of all this and if you could advise me how to proceed, because I really don’t trust the doctors at all. Thank you 🙏 [history of alcoholism, used benzo’s on and off in the past (experienced benzo withdrawal in 2012); 14 years on Effexor @ doses between 75mg and 150mg. Tapering by weighing: 75mg: 3/8/21 -> 67.5mg; 3/22/21 -> 56.7mg ; 5/12/21 -> 48.6mg; 6/8/21 -> 42.3mg; 7/1/22 -> 37.5mg; 7/15/21 -> 33.5mg; 8/20/21 -> 27.5mg; 1/5/22 -> 25mg; 1/13/22 take generic minitabs for one day - react badly - and go back to beads but counting instead of weighing -> 91 beads; 2/20/22 decide 91 beads doesn’t represent previous weight and go to 86 instead -> 86 beads. 3/4/22 -> anxiety, panic, stomach problems! 3/8/22 1mg Ativan prescribed] 3/22/22 updosed to 37.5 3/25/22 updose to 75mg Currently holding at 75mg [supplements being used from 1/1/22 to 3/4/22: magnesium bisglycinate 200mg 2/day, turmeric/curcumin 450mg 2/day, phosphatidylserine 100mg, vitamin d3 1000 UI, vitamin C 1000mg, Multivitamin, Nettle 435mg, Quercitin w/ bromelian 400mg, omega 3 fish oil, probiotic] [current supplements/drugs: caffeine, nicotine, and creatine] Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted May 12, 2022 Administrator Share Posted May 12, 2022 On 5/10/2022 at 7:31 PM, FindPeace said: my brain is broken now and I will never be happy again. If you believe this, it will undoubtedly be so. On 5/10/2022 at 7:31 PM, FindPeace said: The anxiety has improved although I still have days when I can feel it in my chest and have some nausea/dry wretching. My worst symptom is a depressed mood. This is what we would expect if someone had withdrawal syndrome and reinstated the drug. We would not advise careful tapering again until all withdrawal symptoms go away. It's very common that after someone has been taking an antidepressant for many years, they experience emotional anesthesia for a long time even if they go off. That's the effect of the drug. Not sure what else to add. It's your choice whether to take 75mg Effexor indefinitely. Please let us know if you want assistance tapering. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
FindPeace Posted May 13, 2022 Author Share Posted May 13, 2022 @Altostrata thanks for your reply Alto. It does scare the crap out of me though, too think that depression won’t lift no matter what I do. I never had this “emotional anesthesia’ before I crashed in my taper, so I’m not sure what to make of it. Looking back on my symptom log my mood was worsening and I had some SI before I was reinstated in hospital so my hope is that it will eventually resolve. I really wish they hadn’t raised my Effexor from 25mg to 75mg after I was committed, but I would very much like to try tapering again. I know it’s hard to say, but how long does it usually take to stabilize after such an upset? [history of alcoholism, used benzo’s on and off in the past (experienced benzo withdrawal in 2012); 14 years on Effexor @ doses between 75mg and 150mg. Tapering by weighing: 75mg: 3/8/21 -> 67.5mg; 3/22/21 -> 56.7mg ; 5/12/21 -> 48.6mg; 6/8/21 -> 42.3mg; 7/1/22 -> 37.5mg; 7/15/21 -> 33.5mg; 8/20/21 -> 27.5mg; 1/5/22 -> 25mg; 1/13/22 take generic minitabs for one day - react badly - and go back to beads but counting instead of weighing -> 91 beads; 2/20/22 decide 91 beads doesn’t represent previous weight and go to 86 instead -> 86 beads. 3/4/22 -> anxiety, panic, stomach problems! 3/8/22 1mg Ativan prescribed] 3/22/22 updosed to 37.5 3/25/22 updose to 75mg Currently holding at 75mg [supplements being used from 1/1/22 to 3/4/22: magnesium bisglycinate 200mg 2/day, turmeric/curcumin 450mg 2/day, phosphatidylserine 100mg, vitamin d3 1000 UI, vitamin C 1000mg, Multivitamin, Nettle 435mg, Quercitin w/ bromelian 400mg, omega 3 fish oil, probiotic] [current supplements/drugs: caffeine, nicotine, and creatine] Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted May 13, 2022 Administrator Share Posted May 13, 2022 20 hours ago, FindPeace said: It does scare the crap out of me though, too think that depression won’t lift no matter what I do. This is your belief about yourself. You might want to work with a psychotherapist to find out why you believe such things. If you go to the hospital saying you're thinking of suicide, you can count on coming out on a drug cocktail. It may take several months before you're back to a stable baseline. Please let us know when you feel up to tapering. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
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