Benzo switching question.

[marsnd]

So, I'll try not to bore you guys too much, but I feel like explaining my situation wil help people give me better solutions/answers. I have/had 2 doctors for the past 17+ years. One prescribed suboxone, and the other temazepam(30mg)b1 capsule, and clonazepam(.5mg) 3x a day. Now my clon doctor retired about a year ago, and my Suboxone doctor was willing to write the temazepam script, knowing about my sleep issues, bit not the anxiety medication (clonopin) too. So over the last year I've eeaned myself down to one .5mg tablet a day, taking it in quarters throughout the day. Most recently I got down to about .4mg a day total. I'm about to run out in a few days, and know how dangerous that can be, but also that im on subs, and have the temazepam ay night which helps elevate any withdrawal too. Now i have a bottle of about 50 10mg valiums that are about a decade old. Some in good condition, and some starting to crumble. I tried a piece of a Valium on my days off both days. On both days it felt off to me. Not sickly, but not great, or even good. Now I know that the ratio difference is 10mg of valiums to .5 clonopin, so I kept that in mind when I took it. I have a a few gabbapentin that can help a little as well. I guess what I wanted to know is if you think I should start taking the valiums ASAP, and mix in a small amount of clonopin as needed, or try ordering an RC benzo? I hear they're pretty popular, and work well. Although, I don't even know where to start with that. Any advise is welcomed on this.

 

[marsnd]

Nothing?

 

[ageingpartyfiend]

well you've got the temazepam so you should be ok withdrawal-wise no? And perhaps see this as an opportunity to cut down the benzo usage, 17 years is a long ass time

if you go down the RC benzo route the invitation would be to get that stuff labtested for sure

 

[BenzoCat]

Hey.

I’m lucky enough to have a stream of specific benzos for my needs xlnxan 2mg very good ciazer 1mg kicks ass of ksaol or rlam sedil 5mg my opinion best Valium I’ve had in 20 years and I get Etizolam same place good quality . I’ll order what I need and take when and as I need it …..also gets temazepam and lorazepam but i dont need them I do get zopiclone 20mg sometimes or 3 mg Eszopiclone if I have insomnia but thats it. I get prescribed codiene phosphate and occasionally get tapentdol 100mg tablets (very good opioid.) go easy be careful taper

Need me or advice message me brother

 

[marsnd]

well you've got the temazepam so you should be ok withdrawal-wise no? And perhaps see this as an opportunity to cut down the benzo usage, 17 years is a long ass time

if you go down the RC benzo route the invitation would be to get that stuff labtested for sure

I do have temazepam for sleep. So yeah, worst case it takes a small percentage of my withdrawal away before bed, but not enough to sleep. I've been taking pieces of the valiums and it's been working. And yes 16 years is a long time but I come to bluelight for advice, not to be judged

 

[sinner666]

I do have temazepam for sleep. So yeah, worst case it takes a small percentage of my withdrawal away before bed, but not enough to sleep. I've been taking pieces of the valiums and it's been working. And yes 16 years is a long time but I come to bluelight for advice, not to be judged

I would highly recommend a low dose of melatonin, since benzodiazepines are known to lower your melatonin levels and would help you to sleep better when you're tapering off. I've been prescribed both before and felt that my sleep quality was noticeably better with both and not just benzos. I also felt it worked better when I didn't take melatonin every night. Less melatonin works more effectively than high doses. I had 2.5mg prescribed with scorelines, I took 1.25mg, and on some occasions 2.5mg if I took melatonin on several nights.


"Adjuvant melatonin may also improve sleep disruption caused by drugs known to alter normal melatonin production (e.g., beta-blockers and benzodiazepines)."

Melatonin, Benzodiazepines

"It has been proven that low doses of melatonin are effective for treating insomnia in patients because they best mimic a normal circadian rhythm. Doses of 0.3 mg and 1 mg were observed to stimulate psychological levels like those in young adults during the night. A review of 16 studies conducted with adults over the age of 55 years concluded that higher doses of melatonin lead to higher levels in the body for a longer time, which leaves room for undesired effects such as daytime drowsiness [...] For optimal results, aim to take melatonin roughly 3–4 hours before your desired sleep time. Therefore, if you aim to be asleep by 10 or 11 PM, taking it around 6 or 7 PM would align with this recommendation."

Melatonin, dosage and timing

 

[headshrinker89]

Don't order RC benzos. NO. Take Valium on an as-needed basis at the lowest possible dose, and cut caffeine and stimulants down to a minimum or zero. If you have generalized anxiety, I would consider Pregabalin instead of benzos.

 

[marsnd]

I would highly recommend a low dose of melatonin, since benzodiazepines are known to lower your melatonin levels and would help you to sleep better when you're tapering off. I've been prescribed both before and felt that my sleep quality was noticeably better with both and not just benzos. I also felt it worked better when I didn't take melatonin every night. Less melatonin works more effectively than high doses. I had 2.5mg prescribed with scorelines, I took 1.25mg, and on some occasions 2.5mg if I took melatonin on several nights.


"Adjuvant melatonin may also improve sleep disruption caused by drugs known to alter normal melatonin production (e.g., beta-blockers and benzodiazepines)."

Melatonin, Benzodiazepines

"It has been proven that low doses of melatonin are effective for treating insomnia in patients because they best mimic a normal circadian rhythm. Doses of 0.3 mg and 1 mg were observed to stimulate psychological levels like those in young adults during the night. A review of 16 studies conducted with adults over the age of 55 years concluded that higher doses of melatonin lead to higher levels in the body for a longer time, which leaves room for undesired effects such as daytime drowsiness [...] For optimal results, aim to take melatonin roughly 3–4 hours before your desired sleep time. Therefore, if you aim to be asleep by 10 or 11 PM, taking it around 6 or 7 PM would align with this recommendation."

Melatonin, dosage and timing

I do have a whole sleep stack. Melatonin, trazadone, temazepam, and

I would highly recommend a low dose of melatonin, since benzodiazepines are known to lower your melatonin levels and would help you to sleep better when you're tapering off. I've been prescribed both before and felt that my sleep quality was noticeably better with both and not just benzos. I also felt it worked better when I didn't take melatonin every night. Less melatonin works more effectively than high doses. I had 2.5mg prescribed with scorelines, I took 1.25mg, and on some occasions 2.5mg if I took melatonin on several nights.


"Adjuvant melatonin may also improve sleep disruption caused by drugs known to alter normal melatonin production (e.g., beta-blockers and benzodiazepines)."

Melatonin, Benzodiazepines

"It has been proven that low doses of melatonin are effective for treating insomnia in patients because they best mimic a normal circadian rhythm. Doses of 0.3 mg and 1 mg were observed to stimulate psychological levels like those in young adults during the night. A review of 16 studies conducted with adults over the age of 55 years concluded that higher doses of melatonin lead to higher levels in the body for a longer time, which leaves room for undesired effects such as daytime drowsiness [...] For optimal results, aim to take melatonin roughly 3–4 hours before your desired sleep time. Therefore, if you aim to be asleep by 10 or 11 PM, taking it around 6 or 7 PM would align with this recommendation."

Melatonin, dosage and timing

I do have a sleep stack. Melatonin, temazepam, magnesium, trazadone, a routine bed time, strict caffeine rule, etc.. and about 4 sleep studies. Appreciate the feedback. Maybe I'll try a lower dose of melatonin again, instead of the high one I currently take