Help with Ativan crossover to Valium

[[Buddie]]

So glad to hear [...]---we will make it, I came back here to update my taper plan, but I also post on the general buddy blog. So keep up the good work!

[...]

[[Buddie]]

Still holding steady here - how's it going for you?

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...] and good luck.  I too will be watching to see you make it.
I've been on Lorazepam/Ativan 2mg mornings for 2 years, but foolishly increased it to 3mg mornings and 2mg evenings, when my relationship broke up five weeks ago. This freaked me out and I got really worried, even started to develop sociophobia, which I've never had. 
Anyways, last Friday my pdoc gave me some Diazepam to taper, and hopefully I'll be joing your progression.
[...]

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...]

[[Buddie]]

Hi

Hello and thanks for being here.

Started on benzos 18 months ago ([...] 08) to contain a horrific reaction to Singulair: panic, wild moods, suicidal depression etc. Identified Singulair as problem and stopped it late May 08, back to work by August, but still using benzos now 10 months later. Chronic insomnia issues and several depressions earlier in my life.  75 Mirtazepine working for the depression.  Eat well, meditate, do yoga, cognitive therapy, exercise, trying to hold to minimal to no caffiene or alcohol, etc.  My psychiatrist has been flexible and we've tried lots of benzo combinations to keep me functioning.

At this point I want to work toward getting free of the benzos.  I had reintroduced Clonazepam 1.0 for sleep early June and have just crossed over to Valium for sleep.  Rocky crossover - too fast and too low on the Valium - now at 6 Valium hs (too low?).  Meanwhile my 'as needed' Ativan has creeped up to 1.5 daily from 1.0, more on very bad days.  There have been a few.

My wife thinks I need to get on a stable daily dose of one benzo and taper slowly from there.

I am unsure how to crossover the Ativan to Valium.  (Clonazapam is not good for me - ugly, terrible angry/despondant mood swings even with small dose reductions.)  I am worried about sedation.  I know Ashton equivalency of my 6 Valium hs and 1.5 Ativan daily would be 21 mg Valium/day.  I fear I'd be falling down and slurring my speech.

Suggestions??? 

 

[[Buddie]]

hi

Hello and thanks for being here.

Started on benzos 18 months ago ([...] 08) to contain a horrific reaction to Singulair: panic, wild moods, suicidal depression etc. Identified Singulair as problem and stopped it late May 08, back to work by August, but still using benzos now 10 months later. Chronic insomnia issues and several depressions earlier in my life.  75 Mirtazepine working for the depression.  Eat well, meditate, do yoga, cognitive therapy, exercise, trying to hold to minimal to no caffiene or alcohol, etc.  My psychiatrist has been flexible and we've tried lots of benzo combinations to keep me functioning.

At this point I want to work toward getting free of the benzos.  I had reintroduced Clonazepam 1.0 for sleep early June and have just crossed over to Valium for sleep.  Rocky crossover - too fast and too low on the Valium - now at 6 Valium hs (too low?).  Meanwhile my 'as needed' Ativan has creeped up to 1.5 daily from 1.0, more on very bad days.  There have been a few.

My wife thinks I need to get on a stable daily dose of one benzo and taper slowly from there.

I am unsure how to crossover the Ativan to Valium.  (Clonazapam is not good for me - ugly, terrible angry/despondant mood swings even with small dose reductions.)  I am worried about sedation.  I know Ashton equivalency of my 6 Valium hs and 1.5 Ativan daily would be 21 mg Valium/day.  I fear I'd be falling down and slurring my speech.

Suggestions??? 

 

Hi

Hello and thanks for being here.

Started on benzos 18 months ago ([...] 08) to contain a horrific reaction to Singulair: panic, wild moods, suicidal depression etc. Identified Singulair as problem and stopped it late May 08, back to work by August, but still using benzos now 10 months later. Chronic insomnia issues and several depressions earlier in my life.  75 Mirtazepine working for the depression.  Eat well, meditate, do yoga, cognitive therapy, exercise, trying to hold to minimal to no caffiene or alcohol, etc.  My psychiatrist has been flexible and we've tried lots of benzo combinations to keep me functioning.

At this point I want to work toward getting free of the benzos.  I had reintroduced Clonazepam 1.0 for sleep early June and have just crossed over to Valium for sleep.  Rocky crossover - too fast and too low on the Valium - now at 6 Valium hs (too low?).  Meanwhile my 'as needed' Ativan has creeped up to 1.5 daily from 1.0, more on very bad days.  There have been a few.

My wife thinks I need to get on a stable daily dose of one benzo and taper slowly from there.

I am unsure how to crossover the Ativan to Valium.  (Clonazapam is not good for me - ugly, terrible angry/despondant mood swings even with small dose reductions.)  I am worried about sedation.  I know Ashton equivalency of my 6 Valium hs and 1.5 Ativan daily would be 21 mg Valium/day.  I fear I'd be falling down and slurring my speech.

Suggestions??? 

 

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...] -

It looks like you're having a bit of trouble posting to this thread. You don't have to use the quote feature if it is confusing for you. Just click on the REPLY tab at the bottom of a post to type something until you get used to posting on this forum. It's sometimes difficult to negotiate when you're having benzo fog! 

PPJ