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  • TDS Moderators: AlphaMethylPhenyl | paranoid android

Diazepam - should I just stop cold turkey?

Sweet P

Sweet P

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Mar 25, 2009
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I've been using benzos daily for 7 years. At my peak, I was on 6mg's of clonazepam a day. Now I've tapered off the clonazepam and I've switched to diazepam, which I'm also slowly tapering down (I'm currently down to 19mg's). I want to quit benzos, but at the rate I'm going it will be almost a year before I'm completely off the diazepam.

I don't think I can cope with the withdrawals for that long... I'm on a slow taper to avoid seizures, but I'm still having a lot of nausea, headaches, muscle cramps, depression, rebound anxiety, and so on. I'm now wondering if I should just stop cold turkey. I know that'll definitely cause seizures, but part of me thinks that will be better than having almost a year of suffering as I taper down (I presume the withdrawals from stopping cold turkey will last less than a year). Any advice? Anyone in the same situation?
 
No hun, it's way too dangerous to stop cold turkey. I really can understand your desperation and why you just want it all to be over sooner! But it's too risky to just stop now. Withdrawals are horrible but seizures can actually kill you, so it's not worth the risk.

Hang in there sweetheart <3
Can you talk to your doctor about possibly altering your taper schedule so it ends a bit sooner?
 
Never been in that position with benzo's. Been in a similar one with GBL and Alcohol though.

Why not taper faster, try dropping down to 15 for a month, 10 the month after, then 5 and finally go cold turkey in twelve weeks or so?

Edit: N3o got there before me.
 
n3ophy7e said:
Can you talk to your doctor about possibly altering your taper schedule so it ends a bit sooner?
Click to expand...

jude101 said:
Why not taper faster, try dropping down to 15 for a month, 10 the month after, then 5 and finally go cold turkey in twelve weeks or so?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I can't really speed up the process... I've tried doing that in the past and had seizures even from that. So I'm kinda stuck on the schedule I'm on now, hence my desperation. :(
 
Dont do it! I was on I think 20mg a day split into 2/3 doses for 4 weeks and I thought it was a good idea to go gold turkey. It was the most horrible thing I have experienced and if its true that benzo w/d's can be just as bad if not worse then heroin w/d's what I experienced was fucked. Crazy fucking moodswings, couldnt sleep, extreme anxiety and panic attacks, really bad depression, felt like shit etc. It was really bad for around a week then it slowly got better and after around a month life was bearable.
 
Yeah I wouldn't do it Sweet P, the seizure risk is too great and could potentially be fatal. I sympathize that it's a tough situation though.
 
I've reached the 1.25mg point of my taper and I'm *still* finding it difficult to stop THAT. Please try your best to stretch out the taper as long as possible.
 
Have you considered asking your doctor for an anticonvulsant to take while tapering? I find Gabapentin or Pregabalin to be lifesavers in that regard.
 
Never stop anything GABA-ergic cold turkey. That includes all benzos, GHB, even alcohol (if you're chronic). Always taper.

Diazepam is usually the one u get switched to for taper because of its long action. U can easily get along day to day slowly tapering diazepam. Doesn't matter that you're still on it. Just NEVER stop cold turkey - unless, and I stress this, it's only a short term problem you've had.
 
There is a chance that abrupt cessation of diazepam can induce a protracted withdrawal syndrome. You could be in withdrawal for the same amount of time that tapering would take, and possibly even more. However, the withdrawal would be much more painful and dangerous as well. You might be nonfunctional as well during a cold-turkey. Maybe you can slow down your taper a tad until you stabilize before you continue? Are you taking any other drugs while tapering? I don't mean to sound preachy, but it is always wise to maintain abstinence while you are coming off a benzo, because your mind and body is already off it's equilibrium.

You'll get through this. Just remember, that it is temporary, and that you have it in you.
 
Yeah i wouldnt quit cold turkey. Ive been on 4-6mg's of clonazepam for 5 years and i have only had to go without them once. I know i was having some withdrawals but i was sick due to opiate withdrawals and pneumonia as well. I wouldnt want to do that again thats for sure cause i felt kinda nuts towards the end and felt very fucked up.

Id say stick with the taper plan and maybe add gabapentin or pregabalin to help with it. Some people say it helps but i couldnt really tell. Going off benzos cold turkey after being on them that long at that high of a dose is too dangerous thats for sure.
 
I never really thought of benzo withdrawals to be that bad (with being an opiate user and all). I think you may find the same applies with your crystal habit. That said, it is still not a good idea to go cold turkey when you have a choice.
 
anon1235 said:
Never stop anything GABA-ergic cold turkey. That includes all benzos, GHB, even alcohol (if you're chronic). Always taper.

Diazepam is usually the one u get switched to for taper because of its long action. U can easily get along day to day slowly tapering diazepam. Doesn't matter that you're still on it. Just NEVER stop cold turkey - unless, and I stress this, it's only a short term problem you've had.
Click to expand...

This is true, and until someone publishes a updated Ashton manual, it'l pobaly stay the prefered method by Drs that know about it. But, I'm starting to see klonpin becoming just as popular on a lot of the newer benzo sites. SweetP,if I had to do it over agin, I'd recommend getting something that will prevent seizures, just knowing you've covered that is going to provide a strong sense of security and wellbeing. I know that tappering is different for everyone and the only common aspect is that it sucks. It sounds like your benzo wd is going much like mine, even though I went slow, I still experienced some wds. Unfotunately the thought of a posibe seizure haunted me the entire time..Seriously, let your Dr know that your aware of the seizure potential and get somthing for it. It'll allow you to SAFELY pick up the pace a little bit. I noticed when I wasn't bothered by the rate of my taper, I had far more good windows.
But I wouldn't cold turkey as everyone has mentioned. That would truly suck and ony cause you uneccesary pain.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies. According to Wikipedia, abrupt discontinuation of benzos can lead to:

* Convulsions, which may result in death
* Catatonia, which may result in death
* Coma (rare)
* Suicide
* Attempted suicide
* Suicidal ideation
* Self harm
* Hyperthermia
* Delusions
* Homicide ideations
* Urges to shout, throw, break things or to harm someone
* Violence
* Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
* Organic brain syndrome
* Psychosis
* Confusion
* Mania
* Neuroleptic malignant syndrome like event (rare)
* Delirium tremens
Click to expand...

So I guess I'll continue the taper! Like some of you suggested, I might ask my doc for an anti-convulsant to prevent seizures if I want to speed up the taper process. I've been on sodium valproate and carbamazepine in the past as mood stabilisers.
 
^ Hmm... these (valproate and carbamazepine) OUGHT to curb seizures. Are you taking meth during your withdrawals, if you don't mind me asking?
 
^ I've been off meth for roughly a month, though I'm using dextro-amphetamines (in minimal doses - just enough to maintain) most days to help with the withdrawals. I seem to be suffering from major dopamine depletion from the meth abuse, so it helps to have some level of amphetamines in my system.
 
you should seek medical help. you are on a very high dose and stopping cold turkey can kill you and if it doesnt kill you then you will experience the worst kinds of withdraws known to man. maybe a detox center might be a good way to go. but if it not a choice then keep tapering down. try going down 1mg a week. that should bring you down with no discomfort.
 
^ Thanks... I think I'll just continue the taper and see how things go. I'm being monitored by my doctor, my drug counsellor, a drug & alcohol nurse, and a psychiatrist, so I've already got quite a good support network. :)
 
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