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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mr.Scott on May 30, 2005, at 7:22:04
Has anyone here successfully tapered off of long-term benzodiazepine usage? If so are you willing to share your experiences with how you accomplished it and what it was like?
Scott
Posted by SLS on May 30, 2005, at 12:21:00
In reply to Benzodiazepine Taper Experiences, posted by Mr.Scott on May 30, 2005, at 7:22:04
> Has anyone here successfully tapered off of long-term benzodiazepine usage?
Which one(s) in particular?
> If so are you willing to share your experiences with how you accomplished it and what it was like?
The last 25% of the original dosage is the most difficult to reduce. Towards the end of the taper, I did it very much the way you did when using an SSRI as a PRN. I took very small doses throughout the day only when withdrawal symptoms emerged.For now, why don't you try reducing the dosage by 10% and see how your system reacts to that. It will give you an idea as to what to expect. You might be able to reduce the dosage more quickly, but you need to start somewhere.
Believe it or not, some older prescriptions for discontinuing a BZD that are still advocated in the literature is to make an initial reduction in dosage of 40% and 10% thereafter. Yeah, right.
I wish you luck. I'm sure you will be knowledgable enough and creative enough to discontinue your medication.
- Scott
Posted by Declan on May 31, 2005, at 18:12:36
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine Taper Experiences » Mr.Scott, posted by SLS on May 30, 2005, at 12:21:00
The last little bit will be the most difficult but I can't help you at all. In 30 years I never managed it, although once or twice I came close. I just try to take the bare minimum and try to find other ways of dealing with the horrors. Addiction at least casts your original problems in a benign light. But we didn't know all about that then.
Declan
Posted by Mr.Scott on June 2, 2005, at 10:40:13
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine Taper Experiences » Mr.Scott, posted by SLS on May 30, 2005, at 12:21:00
Thanks Scott! "Knowledgeable & creative"...You may be giving me too much credit! But thanks for sharing.Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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