Switching from Clonazepam to Diazepam??

[[Buddie]]

Hello there! I have taken clonazepam 0.5mg three times a day (1.5mg Total per day) for the last 20 years or so. I want to get off the benzos totally and my family doctor wants me to substitute 10mg of diazepam 3 times a day for the next two weeks. She says if that goes well I can then taper off using an approach close to the Ashton manual. I did show her the Ashton Manual for my specific daily dosage of clonazepam. She looked at it and said she didn't like the idea of adding a new benzo with the clonazepam so she came up with the plan to switch straight to diazepam.

Just wondering if this can work to get of benzos all together? I started the substitution of diazepam 2 evenings ago. I am basically taking it like I would my clonazepam, so it is 10mg diazepam morning, noon and evening. I feel about the same as I did before so I am wondering if it is a good plan or should I expect to feel worse in a few days?

I have been a member here for about 2 years but didn't want to start my taper journey until this year. I had other surgeries and stuff happen in the last two years and am now ready to try and get off the benzos!

Thanks for any input.

 

[[Buddie]]

I have questions [...] and hoping you’ll come back so we can talk.  Clonazepam users will often say it takes about 3 days to begin to feel the loss of the drug, it can Valium quite some time to build up because its so slow acting, how are you feeling?

[[Buddie]]

Hello [...]!

I am actually feeling pretty much the same as if I was taking the clonazepam, is that weird or am I weird? Only thing is I feel slightly more tired but otherwise I am feeling okay so far. I think I am able to sleep better since switching from clonazepam to diazepam. I hope I can just remain steady with the switch. I probably should be on diazepam for some time before trying to taper it down? I know 30mg/day is a pretty high dose but it compares pretty much to the 1.5mg of clonazepam I was taking, eh?

I am pretty consistent with keeping my time schedule for 3 times a day. 4am/12pm/8pm. Some days the times are off by 30 minutes or so but close to same daily.

[[Buddie]]

I’m pleased you’re doing okay, I’ve seen members experience severe symptoms before the Valium has had a chance to kick in so you’re lucky. 

I am concerned about the dose though, there is a range that is suggested when it comes to equivalencies, this is because we all react differently so if you’re doing this well, I’d pay attention and adjust your dose down from 30 mgs.  Remember, a symptom based taper is best as is a symptom based crossover.

[[Buddie]]

Thanks for the reply and insight. I appreciate it. Yeah I am feeling okay so far. I was prescribed clonazepam and baclofen over 20 years go to help with my cervical dystonia and it seems since then the clonazepam has given me more anxiety than I ever had. It will be good to be off the benzos in time. I am giving myself lots of time to figure out the next steps for this diazepam taper. I am going to make sure my doctor sees and hopefully will help me go by the Ashton manual taper plan. I think it should work nicely.

I will try and keep this thread updated. I figured out how to turn notifications on for it!! I haven't used the boards here in over 2 years! LOL. It is good to be back and read others stories. I just don't want to read too much as it can make me worry and question my own plans.

[...] (aka Clay) 

[[Buddie]]

I’m glad you’re going to take your time and remember, even the Ashton method needs to be adjusted for your individual needs.  Some members say they’ve had to slow it down towards the end. 

I hear you about anxiety caused by the benzo, I never had it until I became dependent, I initially took it for sleep.  And totally understand how reading too much here can cause stress, take what you need and leave the rest. 

I wanted to provide this tool so you can see the suggested equivalencies.  https://clincalc.com/Benzodiazepine/

[[Buddie]]

[...] thanks again! Yeah my family doc actually used that calculator to come up with the 10mg of diazepam....too funny how docs even have to resort to googling stuff! She honestly thought I was on a low dose of clonazepam and thought valium (diazepam) was stronger than clonazepam!!!!!!! I said no clonazepam is at least 10 times stronger almost like 20 times!! Insane!! I have to be my own doc!! It is crazy!

Thanks again and I will take it slow and see how things go. I will post again soonish! Hehehe!

Have a great rest of the week! Take care! Same goes for anyone reading this! Nice to have a place to share and be heard plus try and help others! I love it!!

Clay aka [...] 

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...]!

Just seeing how you doing now? are you holding at 30 mg diazapam?
do you dose the V 3/day like the clonazepam?

I also take clonazepam 05/ 3 x/day and plan to start an Ashton taper next week if all goes well I'm finding the current dose isn't working anymore for me. How were you feeling when you made the switch from C to V? 

Look forward to hearing back. Seems were in a similar spot!

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...]!

Just seeing how you doing now? are you holding at 30 mg diazapam?
do you dose the V 3/day like the clonazepam?

I also take clonazepam 05/ 3 x/day and plan to start an Ashton taper next week if all goes well I'm finding the current dose isn't working anymore for me. How were you feeling when you made the switch from C to V? 

Look forward to hearing back. Seems were in a similar spot!

Hello Cali,
I am doing good so far. I have been holding at the 30mg/day diazepam. I dose 10mg - 3 times per day. I guess I got lucky so far with the direct swap from clonazepam to diazepam. Today I am starting to taper the diazepam according to the Ashton Manual. Today I will dose 10mg Morning/8mg Midday/10mg Evening. (28mg Total for day) I will do this for 2 weeks and see how I feel. Then move on to next stage until I get to the point of dosing only twice per day. I have an appointment to see my family doctor just before that stage. I am glad my family doc is willing to help taper me slowly and not cut dosage drastically. Fingers crossed for success.

I hope you are doing ok and if you start the taper maybe you should try and do it more according to Ashton Manual. My doc at first didn't feel comfortable with me being on 2 different benzos at one time but that was just her not knowing anything about the best way to transition from one drug to the other. I just got lucky or am built different! LOL. We all are different.

I posted some stuff in the Withdrawal Support section too. I know this forum is confusing for many. So many categories and stuff.

[...] 

[[Buddie]]

[...],

Just checking in to see how you are doing? 
We have a somewhat similar situation.

My doctor ( yesterday!)  and I decided to slowly switch to Valium from Clonanapam too. I am same dosage 0.5 CL 3 x/day

We went with step One:

0.5 CL am
0.5 CL afternoon
3.75 CL. and % mg Valium at bedtime

Cl does come in 0.25 and .125 dosages in the US.

Have you still been feeling okay?