Stepping-Off

~ the step-by-step approach to becoming benzo-free!

The Stepping-Off table is offered as convenient way of planning a taper off benzodiazepines. Although it may not offer the flexibility needed by some, for many all that is required is a sensible taper plan - we hope that Stepping-Off proves useful to you. It is also intended to offer a shorthand way for members to compare and understand where others are at in their taper, irrespective of individual tablet dosage, or the particular benzo taken. Generally, within benzodiazepine support circles, a reduction of 10% of your dosage every one to two weeks is recommended, and is probably achievable by the majority. However, this is only a rule-of-thumb; we vary enormously. You should always talk to your doctor about your intension to quit benzos, and perhaps ask about the experiences of others from our forum.

We have kept the suggested reductions in dosage to 10% or less, until it becomes impossible to split the benzo tablets into small enough fractions. However, when on a low dose, the fact that cuts will account for larger percentages than 10% should not be too much of problem for most. If it should prove to be otherwise, there are other options available to you at that stage, such as Titration and Compounding.

So, how to the use the Stepping-Off table? First look at the central yellow column. Locate the number of tablets you take per day. The suggested new daily dose is the number of tablets indicated in the yellow box immediately above. It is that simple!

It is helpful to understand what a particular cut is in percentage terms. By comparing the percentage reduction in medication with previous reductions, this will give the best indicator of how tough a particular cut might be for you. For example, if you are taking six tablets per day, the table suggests that your new daily dose should be five-and-a-half tablets per day. If you look to the turquoise box immediately to the right of 5 1/2 tablets, it indicates that you have made a cut of 8.33% in your medication.

The left blue column is intended for BenzoBuddies forum members, so that we can readily understand where others are at in our respective tapers. Simply by stating the Stepping-Off number that is next to the number of tablets we take per day, it easier for us all to understand at what stage fellow Buddies are at in their taper, and how many steps away we are from being benzo-free!

All should be able to split their tablets in half, and most should be able to split their tables into quarters, so we use these values and steps, within the Stepping-Off table. A few, however, manage to split their tablets into eighths, so we have also included those potential cuts too. We refer to these as "half-steps". They are indicated as such by step 3.5, 2.5, etc., and are in the grey boxes. If you are making use of these half-steps, the double percentage figures (12.5/14.3% for example) represent a 12.5% cut from the previous full-step, and a 14.3% cut to the next full step.

You will also need to obtain the smallest dose tablet available in your benzo. This will allow you take make smaller cuts; this becomes important when you get to smaller dosages. If you are getting to the stage where you can no longer make cuts of 10% or less, then it's time to obtain those small dose tablets. They can make all the difference!

We wish you every success with your benzodiazepine withdrawal.