Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So it's Day 12 on 1,1 and seems ok. Wondering if I should do 3 weeks here (down from 1,2) or step down again in a few days. Well I don't have to decide today.
Appreciate the support here!
Go slowly. It's worthwhile. Lorazepam withdrawal for me was extremely painful. I did it independently, and think I rushed it.
Anonymous wrote:So it's Day 12 on 1,1 and seems ok. Wondering if I should do 3 weeks here (down from 1,2) or step down again in a few days. Well I don't have to decide today.
Appreciate the support here!
Anonymous wrote:Good luck!! I was on Xanax for over 10 years and came to a similar realization as you did — most of my side effects were from withdrawal when I would delay a dose. I would be terrified about having a last-minute change of plans unless I had my medication. I only took it at night for sleep, but my (elderly) psychiatrist continued to prescribe me higher and higher doses. I started at .25 and ended up at 2mg. If I delayed my dose by 1-2 hours I would display legit addict behaviors. That, plus the mental fog and dementia risks, scared me. I titrated down over the course of a year and a half.
A word of warning that I wish I had known before hand — even though I did a long taper schedule, when I actually finished my last dose ever, my brain was still seeking the dopamine /gaba, and I began drinking a lot more alcohol. I was never previously a big drinker, and didn’t realize how much my drinking had increased. I also started making unhealthy food choices — could not stop the sugar temptations. I no longer drink but encourage you to be mindful of the possibility. I honestly wish I had don’t some kind of inpatient detox or at least started therapy when I was titrating down.
Also, one thing that was immensely helpful during my titration off the benzos was to take a weed gummy at night. If you’re not comfortable with the weed Gummies, just take CBD and CBG. I have been off all benzos for 21 months, and while I’m still struggling with sleep and brain fog, I have zero regrets!
Best of luck to you! Although I wish I’d never been prescribed benzos, I tell myself I did the best I could with the knowledge I had at the time, and learned to not dwell on what has happened in the past. You’ve got this OP 💕
Anonymous wrote:Good luck!! I was on Xanax for over 10 years and came to a similar realization as you did — most of my side effects were from withdrawal when I would delay a dose. I would be terrified about having a last-minute change of plans unless I had my medication. I only took it at night for sleep, but my (elderly) psychiatrist continued to prescribe me higher and higher doses. I started at .25 and ended up at 2mg. If I delayed my dose by 1-2 hours I would display legit addict behaviors. That, plus the mental fog and dementia risks, scared me. I titrated down over the course of a year and a half.
A word of warning that I wish I had known before hand — even though I did a long taper schedule, when I actually finished my last dose ever, my brain was still seeking the dopamine /gaba, and I began drinking a lot more alcohol. I was never previously a big drinker, and didn’t realize how much my drinking had increased. I also started making unhealthy food choices — could not stop the sugar temptations. I no longer drink but encourage you to be mindful of the possibility. I honestly wish I had don’t some kind of inpatient detox or at least started therapy when I was titrating down.
Also, one thing that was immensely helpful during my titration off the benzos was to take a weed gummy at night. If you’re not comfortable with the weed Gummies, just take CBD and CBG. I have been off all benzos for 21 months, and while I’m still struggling with sleep and brain fog, I have zero regrets!
Best of luck to you! Although I wish I’d never been prescribed benzos, I tell myself I did the best I could with the knowledge I had at the time, and learned to not dwell on what has happened in the past. You’ve got this OP 💕
Anonymous wrote:Cheering you on! I tapered earlier this year, after about 6 years of taking 1mg/day. You have further to go, but you can do it! I cannot recommend the liquid enough. I tapered 10% every 2 weeks using the liquid. I am now completely off the drug. Earlier, I had tried to taper 25% at a time by cutting pills, and I couldn't do it.