coming off diazepam

[joyeleee445]

hi is there any safe way to  reduce my diazepam ...i am on 2mg once a day was at doc yesterday and he wants me to reduce from 28 tablets to 14 tablets in a month ....what is the safest way to wean myself off them ....any help would be appreciated ....take them for anxiety and depression 

[Hidden]

Hello

I am surprised you Doctor did not tell you or advise you as it sounds like they want you to half the dose from what you have been on and should have told you the best way they felt you should do this 

I do take these myself even though not on a regular basis and they can be addictive which could be the reason your Doctor wants to start weaning you of them 

I think you could do it one of two ways 

Either take a 2mg tablet and cut it in half taking just half a day which would be 1 mg ( this might be tricky as they are small tablets trying to cut one in half but that way you would be on 1mg a day which would take you to the half dose of what you are on or 

You could take a 2mg every other day 

Both of these will result in the reduction of meds and I think it is which one you feel would be best for you 

Personally I might go for a 2mg every other day but that is just what I feel I would do 

At first you might feel slightly more anxious if you have been on these a long time but eventually your body will adjust 

Has your Doctor offered you any other anxiety meds or maybe you don't wish to go on any other ones but if you struggle could be worth talking to your Doctor about 

Take Care x

[joyeleee445 in reply to Hidden]

hi there than you for your reply ....no the doctor did not tell me how to go about cutting down or weaning me off them....i did thin of taing one every other day but how long do i do that for ....i am so confused which is maing me more anxious....i am on sertraline and olanzapine so would still have tablets for my anxiety and depression 

[Hidden in reply to joyeleee445]

Hello

Well the Doctor really should have advised you but I think I would go for one every other day and it is good that you are on other medication as this will help you

They should have said how long they wanted you to do this for and I know when we are anxious and sat there in front of them we can forget or do not think to ask these questions it is once we are home that they all come to mind but again if it was me I would do it for a month , make another appointment and then go back let them know I had done it for a month , how I felt and what they wanted me to do next 

Something I do now when I am going to the Doctors is I write myself a list of what I want to ask or what I want answered , you could start jotting these questions down ready for your next appointment 

Try not to feel anxious , I think anxiety blows situations up and is doing this with this situation at the moment but if you really cannot settle then phone your surgery and ask for a telephone call from your Doctor explain they have asked you to reduce your meds but did not explain how or how long they want you to do this for 

Let us know how you get on x 

[joyeleee445]

i phoned the on call doc at our practice but felt he was not much help ....he just said to make sure i reduced my dose ....i will make another appointment and go back and see what they say ....i usually take it at 4pm but have not taken tonights dose will take it tomorrow and go on that way ...