posted
4/6/10, i took 5mg of vilium, at 5:30am this morning and fell out, BUT SLEPT FOR 3 HRS, on and off i would fall back to sleep...i was glad....but i think i am not doing the withdrawal quite right,
i was on the forum for withdrawals of benzos, but there are not anyone on..maybe 4 people, i have made a post, from this morning, and i havent got a reply as yet... this is the protcol for withdrawal from the drug i am on
cfs, hhv6, mycobacterium, hsv1, cmv, pirovirus, and Epstein Barr virus.... digestive system
GOD GIVE IT, AND GOD CAN TAKE IT AWAY Posts: 655 | From new york | Registered: Dec 2009
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
Benzo withdrawl takes about 4-8 weeks for those who go slowly.
You simply cut the dose in half initially, then you wait 1-2 weeks and cut it in 1/4th or half again (depending how you respond). Then you begin cutting it into 1/4ths from then on, and finally slow it down until it's nothing.
Withdrawl from Steroids (long term) is pretty much the same.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
cfs, hhv6, mycobacterium, hsv1, cmv, pirovirus, and Epstein Barr virus.... digestive system
GOD GIVE IT, AND GOD CAN TAKE IT AWAY Posts: 655 | From new york | Registered: Dec 2009
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
I was on benzo's for 5 years, year ago and was able to stop w/o problem.
My son was on them 2 years throughout treatment and cut back 1/4 of a tablet each week, then when down to the last 1/4 he took it every other night and was able to stop without any adverse effects.
posted
Yes, the Ashton Manual is what is typically followed in Benzo. w/d/, but there are variations.
The time it will take to sucessfully taper off depends on a number of different factors; * your own body chemistry * how long you have been on * what dosage you were on * support system * other medications you take * other pre-existing medical conditions
Typically people will hold a taper for up to 2 weeks before cutting their dose. Depends on your starting, but it typically will be 10% of your prior dose - again depends on your starting dosage.
Some people recommend a 5 mg. drop but if you are already down to 10 mg, then that is too much, so you need to go with the 10% rule.
Get a pill cutter so that you can make the cuts as accurate as possible.
Some people taper all the way down to .5mgs or even less and some people are fine after stoping at 1mg.
The concern of tapering too fast is something called "Protrated Withdrawal Syndrome" whereby your body will stay in a state of w/d for an extended period of time. So it is always advisable to go slow with this. It will make your w/d much more comfortable.
It can take the body and brain a long time to get the GABA receptors functioning again so be very careful with going back once you are off.
If you are having troubles or questions it is best to consult with a doctor who is familiar with benzo. w/d.
Also, there is some research out there that cetain abx.'s interfer with the w/d proocess - Levaquin. I believe that Ashton talks about that.
Posts: 376 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
i started with 5mg two nights ago with valium, i was on temezpam 30mg and climbing i was up to taking 80mg a night because the 30mg stop puting me to sleep. this started last week...i started taking ambien april of last year, which didnt last long, by june or july i started taking temepam 30mg till now, so its about 9 months on temezpam and 2 months on ambien.
i am on my own right now, i email my chronic fatigue drs. with copy of the crossover website, to taper off., he hasnt responded to my email, he usually does, but not this time. have you have experience in this, anyone willing to guide me some what till i get it right. you can PM me, i would appreicate it, if you have or no someone with experience.
i should be on a higher dose, like 15mg..of vilum or temezpam, im so confused with no help. i get very little sleep with the 5mg of vilum that i crossover and started taking..any thoughts.
Street129 -- I agree with what Trigal posted above to hold a taper for up to 2 weeks before cutting the dose. As you near the final smaller doses, the % of cut may vary, but it typically will be 10% of your prior dose.
If you follow the other advice and do 50% cuts it may backfire on you. It may even be very hard to do 10% cuts.
If that gets too difficult and you REALLY can't withstand, then go slower. Just try not to increase your dose once you've made a cut.
I also suggest that you get a very strong support group and let them know what you are doing. Find a withdrawal site and print out some of the peoples stories on what w/d was like and give it to your support team.
They need to understand better what you are going through. I would suggest that the doctor who put you on those drugs, is not the doctor that should be helping you get off of them.
You need to find someone who is familiar with w/d and those meds - a doctor that has been putting you on increasing doses like that is not.
It can take years for some people to recover from certain drugs. The withdrawal process is a lot more involved than looking up the half-life in the PDR and waiting for that time to lapse.
Like Trigal said, tapering too rapidly can cause a lot of problems. Your sleep will probably get worse as you taper. Just go with it.
Don't worry about not getting enough sleep. When you are tired and can fall asleep, then sleep. If you can't sleep then get out of bed and do something else like watch TV, talk on phone, or online support group.
Posts: 42 | From Lymeland USA | Registered: Mar 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- If you can't sleep, it's still best to lie in the dark and rest with gentle music but nothing more stimulating.
Some experts suggest getting up but I think that is very destructive. It may be okay now and then for healthy people but NEVER for a lyme patient. Dr. B. discusses how important it is to even force rest when necessary.
For people with serious adrenal dysfunction (as all lyme patients), serious attention to calm is required. It is a medical emergency.
Patients in adrenal failure are to be in dark rooms and even conversation is limited. I think many of us do a huge disservice to our bodies by busying ourselves at night.
We need to train our brains that that time between, say, 10 pm to 6 am - or 11 pm and 7 am - is QUIET time. And that includes our thought process, too. Meditation is good, brewing is not.
OUR BRAIN NEEDS DARK. Our brains need stillness. Sometimes, we have to force this as if a parent is tending to a child's welfare and education regarding learning good sleep hygiene skills.
Even a few hours before bedtime, it's good to turn down the lights, turn on gentle music, get off the computer and may read a book that offers some nice escape.
Light in our eyes will just kill the process needed for our brains to retrain. ANY activity will just kill the process of re-education.
It's "Lights Out" - sleep or not - but quiet, dark and calm are key. Absolutely key. Discipline is not easy but it's the only we will have a chance. Even if sleep eludes us, a quiet meditative rest is better than activity that further teaches our brains all the wrong things at the wrong time.
Circadian rhythm is complex. But the more we work WITH it, the better chance we will have.
If pain or worries kidnap us in the wee hours, we still have some methods of escape while still lying still in the dark.
Of help: having a set of lullabies (some are even good for adults and some are lullabies from around the world that are not at all goofy) - even softly singing along - humming is excellent
- listen to the slower movements from classical symphonies (like Mozart for Meditation, Bach for Bedtime) - or ambient music (nothing with melodies or percussion)
- meditative or visualization audio CDs - travel journeys - audio books (but gentle topics only) . . . all these will help take our minds on a vacation.
We can see colors and nature in our minds and, even if that is as good as it gets, that is healing. Whether using our imaginations to travel the world or just swim in a turquoise pool amid red rocks . . . that is healing. -
[ 04-07-2010, 06:42 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Please talk to your doctor about withdrawal. It's not a good idea to do it without letting your doctor know. Let your doctor put you on a schedule, and let your doctor monitor your progress.
People here don't know what's best for you and you seem to be taking what people post on a thread as medical advice. Not a good idea.
Posts: 967 | From A deserted island without internet access | Registered: Sep 2009
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