BillDz Need help to stabilize my diazepam intake and start tapering

[BillDz]

On 11/10/2023 at 3:36 AM, Altostrata said:

If you are taking a benzo to control symptoms from paroxetine withdrawal, why are you decreasing the benzo?

 

You have been taking a benzo daily since at May 2003. You have been physiologically dependent on benzos for 20 years.

 

@Altostrata

 

I have been taking benzos since October 2018.

[BillDz]

I take 15 mg of my benzo at 7 a.m. and 05 mg at noon. I noticed that the tightness in the throat is more pronounced around 11 a.m. and sometimes in the evening. It's a constant feeling of pain in the throat and sometimes strange sensations on the tongue and it's very distressing. Do you think my dosage is wrong (benzo taking times and dose volume)?

 

I would like to point out that a year ago (December 2022) I stopped paroxetine CT (tapering over 4 months). I had almost no physical symptoms until I switched to diazepam in July 2023 (which I stopped after a few days).

I really don't know what I should do. I really want to wean off the benzo but I'm afraid of making things worse (I no longer feel any therapeutic effect).

 

Any advice or reassurance please ?

 

[LotusRising]

@BillDz 

 

You have this in your signature - "Prazepam (Benzo) : 15 mg/Day : Mai 2003- July 2023" - is Mai 2003 a typo? Could you please correct if it is.

[BillDz]

5 minutes ago, LotusRising said:

@BillDz 

 

You have this in your signature - "Prazepam (Benzo) : 15 mg/Day : Mai 2003- July 2023" - is Mai 2003 a typo? Could you please correct if it is.

Sorry. It's a typo. Corrected.

[LotusRising]

I'm not as familiar with prazepam as I am with other benzos - is there a reason you take it twice daily? Prazepam appears to have a long half-life.

 

6 hours ago, BillDz said:

Do you think my dosage is wrong (benzo taking times and dose volume)?

 

Did you have any of your current symptoms prior to starting your benzo taper? Unfortunately, It's difficult to know if your symptoms are from your paroxetine CT or from switching around your benzo. 

 

I can't say for sure, but you may be more comfortable if the doses were even and more spaced out. This would prevent fluctuations in drug plasma levels. Since you're dosing twice a day, you could try 7am and 7pm. If you make any changes, please only do one at a time. You could slowly move your noon dose to 7pm by one hour each day to see if it helps?

 

 

[BillDz]

12 hours ago, LotusRising said:

I'm not as familiar with prazepam as I am with other benzos - is there a reason you take it twice daily? Prazepam appears to have a long half-life.

 

 

Did you have any of your current symptoms prior to starting your benzo taper? Unfortunately, It's difficult to know if your symptoms are from your paroxetine CT or from switching around your benzo. 

 

I can't say for sure, but you may be more comfortable if the doses were even and more spaced out. This would prevent fluctuations in drug plasma levels. Since you're dosing twice a day, you could try 7am and 7pm. If you make any changes, please only do one at a time. You could slowly move your noon dose to 7pm by one hour each day to see if it helps?

 

 

 

Ok. I'll do that. Thank you @LotusRising

[BillDz]

@brassmonkey @Shep @Altostrata @LotusRising

 

 

I would like to point out that my sleep has been disturbed since I weaned CT from Paroxetine a year ago. I only slept 5 hours a night and woke up several times.

I could never take a nap even though I needed one so badly. However, I am starting to have a slight improvement since I increased my intake of prazepam (benzo): I have fewer nighttime awakenings and I can take short naps from time to time.

On the bad side, I have become very agoraphobic since my failed crossover to diazepam in July 2023.

I can no longer drive the car very far at the risk of having major panic attacks. Also, I am very anxious in the morning when I wake up, a feeling of apocalypse.

I hope this is a sign of improvement. I can't wait to start benzo withdrawal, but I'm waiting for my CNS to stabilize before I do anything.

 

[LotusRising]

13 hours ago, BillDz said:

However, I am starting to have a slight improvement since I increased my intake of prazepam (benzo): I have fewer nighttime awakenings and I can take short naps from time to time.

 

This is great @BillDz! It sounds like you may be starting to stabilize. 

 

13 hours ago, BillDz said:

I have become very agoraphobic since my failed crossover to diazepam in July 2023.

 

Unfortunately, this is not uncommon, even if you've never had anxiety or issues with agoraphobia in the past. I had this to a certain degree for a little bit too. I got through by pushing myself to continue with little trips here and there, and then gradually building up to longer ones. 

 

13 hours ago, BillDz said:

I can no longer drive the car very far at the risk of having major panic attacks.

 

Also me. Do you listen to music? I found that if I had the right song playing, I could focus on that, or sing along, to prevent the panic from building. Have you read through our topic on dealing with panic? 

 

 

There are some useful breathing exercises in this one:

 

 

13 hours ago, BillDz said:

I'm waiting for my CNS to stabilize before I do anything.

 

This sounds like a good idea. Please let us know how you're going.

[BillDz]

The Gemini 20 balance is not available on Amazon. Is there another balance you advise me please ?

[getofflex]

Please search this thread for scale recommendations: 

 

Using a Scale to Weigh and Measure Doses

[BillDz]

Hello;

I finally got the Gemini 20 scale and I plan to start a gradual withdrawal from my benzodizepine (BrassMonkey slide method). At present, my main symptoms are agoraphobia, which prevents me from driving alone. I have panic attacks from time to time. But my main worry is a choking sensation in my throat, which adds to my distress. 

Do you think it's possible for me to start tapering off now?

If so, can I use a coffee grinder to grind my tablets?

 

[LotusRising]

 

2 hours ago, BillDz said:

Do you think it's possible for me to start tapering off now?

I think you could answer this question for yourself by reading through these two threads. Lots of good info.

 

[BillDz]

I intend to start my benzodiazepine taper very soon using the Brassmonekey Slide method with a monthly reduction rate of no more than 5% (1.25% each week for 4 weeks + 2 additional weeks of stabilization).

 

The only symptom that bothers me the most now is a throat that's too tight to the point of pain and swallowing problems.

 

The second symptom is a certain agraphobia to the extent that I have to be accompanied when I drive to work. 

 

I don't think these two symptoms are going to go away any time soon. At the same time, I can't wait to get rid of the benzo. I want to start the withdrawal at least to get a psychological boost in the sense that I'll be getting rid of a poison. I want to test the waters and see if I can continue.

I bought a Gemini 20 scale and 0 size caps. 

 

Wish me good luck.

 

[LotusRising]

Good luck @BillDz!

 

Please remember to listen to your body and hold when you need to hold. Rooting for you!