I'm being pursued by some medical officers to reduce my Diazepam.
What is the recommended tapering dosage of Diazepam?? I guess 2.5mg every 4 weeks??
I have been on Diazepam over 20 years. With 10 years of 20mg prescribed and 10years of 60mg Daily. I reduced from 60mg down to 20mg, but, even when in hospital I couldn't cope with less than 20mg. And when I did reduce I was an inpatient so it should've been easier than reducing in the outside world.
Can I request 1mg/4weeks?? They are available in 2mg tablets so reducing by 1mg is possible.
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BilboBaggins16
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It recommends reducing 1–2 mg every 2–4 weeks so 1mg every 4 weeks would be within the range, just.
The second article has some interesting comments too:
"If the person is unwilling to stop taking a benzodiazepine ... Do not pressurize them to stop if they are not motivated to do so ... Reassure the person that they will be in control of the drug withdrawal and that they can proceed at a rate that suits them."
I'm not a doctor but this all sounds like good sense. Pressuring people to make lifestyle changes doesn't really work because they won't feel motivated enough. In the case of prescription drugs people are going to get more anxious if there is an implied threat to stop prescribing, and anxiety is just the thing that will make withdrawal difficult.
h suchi I would agree wholeheartedly with your statement.Im in that particular position,this new Gp has no concern for my feelings,and thought hed weaned me off 2mg Diazapam --had been om 5mg (onrepeat prescription.Im in uk)and had to virtually beg)we have really only spoken over the phone-saw him twice.....its a very bad situation and the diazepam only gives me a very short reprieve then I feel my nerve endings painful etc never really experienced such feelings before---it will be a year on April since this nightmare began!have been on benzos for 30odd yrs .sorry to have went on,just glad to explain.DrC.Weeks bk has kept me sane!
Well don't stay on Benzo's too long as they are both physically and mentally addictive; so you would withdraw like your were on heroin. I started taking Benzo's 20 years ago after 3 months I suggested to my Psychiatrist that I transfer onto a low dosage of an anti-psychotic. I was told 1. You're already addicted 2. Your GP is prepared to prescribe them and 3. They are the best drug for it. So I was on 20mg for 10 years and 60mg for 10 years. I reduced on advise of the doctors and I was able to reduce to 20mg but even in a hospital without having any of the day to day problems I couldn't reduce further.
I started on 5 X 2 mg tablets but found that I was taking 5-10mg in a dose, I returned with the empty blister pack and stated what I was doing; and then my GP was my family doctor so he advised to take 1-4 X 5 mg doses so max 20 mg daily. Then he asked do you want them to be prescribed either weekly or monthly. That was a test and I correctly answered that I would take them weekly, so to avoid getting large quantities and taking them all. Then I offered to return any unused diazepam tablets to the pharmacy. I did that for awhile but stopped returning the unused. Now I am reliant on a 5mg morning Dosage and a 15mg evening dosage.
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