Benzos Current Dosage and tolerance

[Barry big tits]

Hi there Bluelighters.

So i have been on 10mg Diazepam (2, 5mg tabs) PD for around 4 months now. This was part of a treatment started by my Psychiatrist, along with 300mg Venlafaxine PD.

Treatment is going really well. Better than i had ever expected. My psychiatrist had initially indicated that after the 4 month mark we would begin a taper. But after my recent review. He was so pleased with the progress i have made in my life (losing weight, socialising, reconnecting with family and friends, anxiety and panic attacks under control) that he felt there was still a lot of therapeutic value in continuing the diazepam until at least next April at my current dose.

This man has done more to help me than any other psychiatrist or psychologist or neurologist or any Doctor for that matter. So I was devastated to learn that he is moving post in a few weeks.

So, having been on 10mg pd for four months do you think it reasonable to ask him if he would increase my dosage to 15mg PD. Whilst he is still my Psych and i still have the chance. Because tolerance is surely kicked in by now. I can feel it. And since he said that long term treatment with diazepam is possible for someone like me. Is it ok to ask to go up to 15mg PD?

Also what would you guys consider a high daily dosage of Diazepam. Interested to know.

Advice is much appreciated.

Thanks :D

 

[thisismylife]

Why are you wanting to go up if everything is going fine with what you're doing? Not judging, just wondering. I am currently on .5mg. ER Xanax twice a day, and it is just barely keeping me functioning. I can't say I'm doing any of the things you are doing, well, except losing weight. And I'm losing it for the wrong reasons - anxiety takes my appetite away. We just relocated across country and the anxiety is constant, but as long as I stay in our apartment, I can live with it; in other words, I'm not really living. But I'm waiting for some referrals to come in for a new psychiatrist and therapist here, although my team back in my previous home are willing to continue treating me until I get settled with new people.

To me, a high dose is anything more than you need to function and live life, and that could vary based on each individual person and how their bodies metabolize drugs. I hear people mention getting a 'high' from benzos. I can say I've never experienced that, and that is why I feel like I'm not an addict. Am I dependent? Yes. But I'm not looking to get high. I just want to function more than I am right now. Last month when I was inpatient, I did a cheek swab test through GeneSight to determine what psychotropic medications are metabolized well and which aren't. It doesn't tell you if they'll work or not, only how well the body metabolizes them. Xanax is actually one that shows up high in my serum levels, so I don't need as much as the next person. It also explains why, for most of my life, taking .25mg has always dealt with the anxiety and panic attacks. Some other drugs, such as Inderal (a beta blocker used for high blood pressure, which can also be used for anxiety) shows up low in my serum levels, so I need a little bit more, although I was taken off it a couple of weeks ago. I suspect when I find a new psychiatrist, they might add it back in.

 

[AlphaMethylPhenyl]

I would stay as low as possible. You're not really supposed to feel the drug so much as have your anxiety lowered. Don't go the route of chasing that first, clearly noticeable effect of the first several weeks.

If you can function well with your dose, there's no reasl reason to increase it.

Strange that he put you on diazepam, though. I've heard that dose to equal ~2mg of klonopin, but estimates vary.

You feel the absence of mood boost, likely, especially considering diazepam. That one is a liability for abuse.

 

[Barry big tits]

No 10mg of diazepam is equal to 0.5mg of Klonopin. I would have to be on the maximum therapeutic dose of 40mg diazepam PD to equal 2mg kpin buddy.

Also with regards to the other poster. Perhaps i should have chosen my words more carefully. Things have been going very well. But the anxiety and panic are starting to creep back in so things are not fine as they were. I am not a drug abuser. I take my medication as prescribed. Sometimes i have gone a pill or 2 higher in a particularly stressful day. But who hasn't? also i told my psychiatrist about this.

Also i'm not chasing any sort of high with diazepam. I just don't want things to go back to the way they were before where i literally could not function. Never went out. Never socialised, couldn't even take care of myself, Constant fight or flight fear mode. Terrible panic attacks.

Also the psychiatrist said my dose would need to be increased when i feel tolerance to my current dosage set in. So why would i not ask him to increase my dosage? I don't mean to be rude. But i don't think you guys have a very good understanding of how quickly diazepam tolerance builds. Most people have become tolerant to it after 3 - 4 weeks of use. So consider 4 months of daily use. Obviously you'r going to need to increase your dosage if you want to function well.

Basicly once you reach that 4 month mark. You either continue treatment at a higher dose due to tolerance. or start to taper with the aim of getting off the benzo. He chose the middle route. Which i found a little strange. But since he is the most helpful Doctor i have ever met. I thought i would ask to increase to 15mg PD. I don't know. Maybe he will say no or maybe he will increase it by 2mg PD.

As this is primarily a harm reduction section of the forums i understand your cautious, responsible reply's. However. I am only doing What i feel is in my best interests. 40mg PD is the max therapeutic dose. I am nowhere near that. Perhaps i will need to increase my dosage once to stabilize. Then have all this extra time of productivity. Gives me more time to learn how to function again, to reconnect with people. Then start a taper in spring with my new psychiatrist. (i pray to god he's a decent one).

Opinions?

 

[Speed King]

No 10mg of diazepam is equal to 0.5mg of Klonopin. I would have to be on the maximum therapeutic dose of 40mg diazepam PD to equal 2mg kpin buddy.

Also with regards to the other poster. Perhaps i should have chosen my words more carefully. Things have been going very well. But the anxiety and panic are starting to creep back in so things are not fine as they were. I am not a drug abuser. I take my medication as prescribed. Sometimes i have gone a pill or 2 higher in a particularly stressful day. But who hasn't? also i told my psychiatrist about this.

Also i'm not chasing any sort of high with diazepam. I just don't want things to go back to the way they were before where i literally could not function. Never went out. Never socialised, couldn't even take care of myself, Constant fight or flight fear mode. Terrible panic attacks.

Also the psychiatrist said my dose would need to be increased when i feel tolerance to my current dosage set in. So why would i not ask him to increase my dosage? I don't mean to be rude. But i don't think you guys have a very good understanding of how quickly diazepam tolerance builds. Most people have become tolerant to it after 3 - 4 weeks of use. So consider 4 months of daily use. Obviously you'r going to need to increase your dosage if you want to function well.

Basicly once you reach that 4 month mark. You either continue treatment at a higher dose due to tolerance. or start to taper with the aim of getting off the benzo. He chose the middle route. Which i found a little strange. But since he is the most helpful Doctor i have ever met. I thought i would ask to increase to 15mg PD. I don't know. Maybe he will say no or maybe he will increase it by 2mg PD.

As this is primarily a harm reduction section of the forums i understand your cautious, responsible reply's. However. I am only doing What i feel is in my best interests. 40mg PD is the max therapeutic dose. I am nowhere near that. Perhaps i will need to increase my dosage once to stabilize. Then have all this extra time of productivity. Gives me more time to learn how to function again, to reconnect with people. Then start a taper in spring with my new psychiatrist. (i pray to god he's a decent one).

Opinions?

I have one. Watch your tone with moderators! We're here helping you.

Diazepam effects people differently. Here is one for you. Diazepam has metabolites that tend to build in your body, increasing blood levels and potential effects the longer you take it. Just because the top of the general dosing range is higher then where you are currently at, does not mean that is where it works the best.

We cannot give you any dosing advice. You will have to discuss this medication with your doctor.
You need to convey to him how the medicine is effecting you. Why it helped you for 4 months then isn't as effective all the sudden is odd. You need to let him know this.

Closed

 

[Lorne???]

I?m gonna go out on a limb and reopen this UNTIL I get Speedkings input

And he was right, be careful, and respectful to moderators

Open -Lorne

 

[Barry big tits]

Hi Lorne???. I have since pm'd both moderators involved in this thread to apologise for my arrogant tone and i think we all be cool now.

Wasn't meaning to come off that way but i realise i did.

Treat mods with respect. As speed king said to me "lesson learned"

So for anyone else who lurks or posts in this thread i would just like to clarify that these mods are cool and trying to help, and i was being a bit of a plum.

The issue with my dosage has since been resolved with my psychiatrist and he's such a great bloke.

But if this stays open i suppose the question that remains is - What do you guys consider to be a high dosage of diazepam?. Or even If anyone here takes diazepam. What dose are they on and do they feel that it is helpful to them.

Thanks Guys.

Mutch respect. Barry.