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I use a 20 ml syringe and a 100 ml container. Both were very inexpensive. I experimented -- 5 syringefuls into the 100 ml container gives me a little more than 100 ml but it's close enough. I figure if I use the same equipment every time, the mistake will be uniform over every use. So I don't worry about it.

 

I think this is what drew is saying.

 

When we're working with syringes and dumping them into a marked container (two different measuring systems), I don't think anything can be exact. I think consistency is the key.

 

I hope.

 

Okatz

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Hi everyone,

 

I will come on board also. After 22 years of klonopin use I tapered over a 7 month period. It was a nasty battle. I was put on Valium the day I jumped to help make the w/d more manageable. I had a lot to learn. The biggest thing I learned was to slow it down. With the help of the many supportive people at BB I am finally at a place where I am not sick. My overly long wait for my scale seems to be drawing to an end as it has been shipped. I will start Bart's taper when I get it and am hoping for a more peaceful time. We will see. The one thing that I understand is that much of what happens to us through all of this depends on attitude. This is not easy and I would not want to repeat it again. I was very bitter when I realized how backed up to the wall I was when I first was in w/d. I have become a patient person. I was very angry also. That was harder for me to temper. At the one year mark I took a huge breathe in and exhaled. I can do this. I will get to the finish line. I look forward to better days and happy endings.

 

Feeling ok in Colorado :thumbsup:

 

So good to hear you are feeling better! Here's to slow tapering.

Warmly,

Carita

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Thanks Eliz and Okatz! Some good points. I'll do my syringes into the cylinder. If it reads above I'll just drop the water a little (which would effectively be a teeny tiny updose in the short term). If it reads below I'll stick with it or add the extra water and hold to compensate the slight cut. From then on I'll be consistent with using the cylinder and no more time wasted drawing up 9.9syringes for each of my glass jars  :thumbsup:
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I use a 10ml syringe to actually measure out my daily dose, but here's a little tip I picked up when I first started tapering. My kitchen scale measures in mls (which is actually the same as grams). I've tested it quite a few times with the 10ml syringe and it is very accurate.

 

So now when I want to make a new batch, I just put my glass bottle on the scale, calibrate it to zero, put in the 1ml of the liquid valium then fill the bottle to 100ml. I use a small measuring cup with a pourer, because that's an easier way of getting the water in without spilling it. I usually fill it up to around 95ml and then I finish off with the 10ml syringe very slowly so it doesn't go over 100ml.

 

I figure that even if it's just slightly off, it will be slightly off each time I do it, so I still have the consistancy thing covered. People tell me I'm organised, but I'm really just very lazy, and this is the lazy way of doing it...lol...

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So just a little logistics question:

Drawing up 99mls using a syringe is irritating me.

I can buy a science grade (albeit school level) glass 100ml measuring cylinder for $5.45.

Is the accuracy with a measuring cylinder really going to be that far off a syringe?

 

Yes, it would be off by quite a lot... I forget the rough figure... it is why I do not use a cylinder... unless you fill the cylinder with the syringe as a one off and then mark it with a permanent pen...

 

It's amazing how accurate we have to be in this isn't it?

 

 

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I am grateful for the information and support I received on the previous thread. Two months after completing a slow Xanax taper I started on Valium reduction. I was in deep trouble and I needed help...I found it here. I will be reading and asking as I slowly move toward benzo freedom. I am glad to be here.

Warmly,

Carita

 

You are doing great on that taper there Carita, well done.

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So just a little logistics question:

Drawing up 99mls using a syringe is irritating me.

I can buy a science grade (albeit school level) glass 100ml measuring cylinder for $5.45.

Is the accuracy with a measuring cylinder really going to be that far off a syringe?

s

 

I have a cylinder,  and 1 mg, 10 mg, and 60 mg syringes.  I compare my syringe measurement to my cylinder, and they are always perfect match.

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Hi all,

 

Just chiming in here. You can see my history, I had a few weeks of pure hell before I found BB and stabilized on valium. I was oddly fortunate enough to have a former addict sister who had learned a lot about benzos after doing a c/t from 6 mgs of Klonopin in order to get into rehab. She survived and is doing fine now. She directed me to this site. It actually brought us much closer as she probably saved my life, I was very suicidal at the time. Then I found the right crowd here and am currently daily tapering .01mg with no symptoms to speak of. I am so grateful. esp to DP who help me learn micro titration. I am 100%+ functional, working and taking care of my 9 and 5 year old kids, planning to resume working on my master's degree in speech language pathology in the spring. So happy to know you all.

 

-Workin

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Hi,

I have not been on the former thread for a few days and when I checked now I realized that a new thread has started. I joined the former thread recently in November when I crossed over from .75 Ativan to Valium as I was having a lot of inter-dose withdrawal. This group has been extremely helpful in getting me through the crossover period and in teaching me how to micro taper daily. I had to up dose to 8mg of Valium during the crossover period and just in this last week I finally felt that my blood levels were more stable and that I had completed the crossover to Valium only successfully. I began tapering at 0.025 daily a few days ago and so far so good. If I am non symptomatic, I will move to .03 daily next week and hope to be at 7.5mg  in about 2 weeks and continue from there.

 

As I am sensitive to lactose and the prescription medication has them in the fillers, I have had doses of 2mg, 1mg and .5mg compounded into capsules and so I can experiment with amounts and different times of day. I am now taking around 2.5mg at 10am, and then later in the afternoon around 3-4pm. As I work late, I sometimes need to take an extra 1mg at 7pm to tide me over to my bedtime dose. I am reducing a .5mg capsule daily at night by .025 by dissolving it into liquid in addition to my evening total daily dose.

 

So far so good. I am sure I will keep adjusting this method and perhaps once I get the hang of this I will start reducing a 1mg capsule daily and use the spreadsheets mentioned. For now, I have calculated them myself and written them down manually at least for the next few weeks to get me down to 7.5mg which would be around the equivalent dose to where I was on Ativan.

 

This is a very helpful, positive and supportive thread and filled with lots of useful information as eventually everyone has to find the method of tapering that works best for them. I work full time, my goal is to go slow and steady and to be as non symptomatic as possible throughout the taper so it does not take over my life. I tried going to quickly when I first started tapering off of Ativan last year and I really suffered. The ashton method of 10% cuts was too much for my body and even 5% cuts all at once was too much. I like the idea of daily small cuts and monitoring the symptoms along the way to avoid problems later.

 

I have come to the conclusion that as time moves on my body will naturally adjust to the amount of my doses and times of day that work best for me as long as I make the same daily reductions and make sure I do not exceed the total daily dose for that day. I started at 4 times a day and I can feel I am slowly moving to 3 times a day and perhaps eventually twice a day. As I have small amounts pre made in capsules I can always add a small amount between doses if I am getting symptomatic to tide me over and that seems to work well for me so far.

 

I wan thank all of the different people who have helped me get this far along and to feel like I have a handle on it. I feel so much better then when I first came on so being patient, finding the right method and time can make a huge difference in the healing process.

 

Concerned

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Hi Concerned

 

It's great to hear that you've got everything under control. It gives you such a sense of power doesn't it?  I'm sure you're going to do really well.

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Hi there,

 

I might have missed it, but is anyone taking the liquid diazepam prescribed by their GP?

My GP has just told me that he will prescribe the liquid now that I am down past 5mg. I am at 3mg tablets [cut and hold] at present and holding until after Christmas. 

 

I don't think I have seen many posts re the prescription liquid and have wondered why. Your comments would be appreciated

 

Many thanks

 

 

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Hey Dorothy

 

Quite a few of us are on the prescription liquid - myself, Diazpam, builder (I think).

Did you have any specific questions? What country are you at because different ones are available in different countries.

 

Peace

Smiff

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Hi Smiff,

 

I am in the UK.  I haven't changed to liquid yet, will do so in the New Year. Am not really sure about reduction. Am currently taking all my dose at night, which stops me thinking about it during day. [3mg currently].

Looking on this site it does seem that very small daily reductions seem to suit most people.  I don't really want to overthink as it makes me anxious.  I imagine so many ml = so many mg.  Would appreciate it if you could give me any pointers.

 

Many thanks

Dorothy

 

 

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[14...]

Thanks so much Diaz for starting this thread. :smitten:

 

It will be great for others who don't visit Buddie Blogs to chime in now.

 

I'm almost 6 months free now and feeling good. Sporadic fatigue and body pain, but not bothersome...so that's good. I think the winter cold has a lot to do with this...well, at least for me.

 

I wish all on this thread a smooth taper to benzo freedom. Plus tons of windows. You can do this! I'll stop by again.

 

Cheers and all the best.

 

Hugs,

 

Danni

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Hi there,

 

I might have missed it, but is anyone taking the liquid diazepam prescribed by their GP?

My GP has just told me that he will prescribe the liquid now that I am down past 5mg. I am at 3mg tablets [cut and hold] at present and holding until after Christmas. 

 

I don't think I have seen many posts re the prescription liquid and have wondered why. Your comments would be appreciated

 

Many thanks

 

I have been using pharma-grade liquid plus tablets for over a year.  I had reached a point where cut-and-hold just didn't work.  As you can see from my siggy, daily tapering with liquid and tablets has gone very well.

 

IMO, if your doc will give you a scrip, it is the simplest way to do a daily taper.

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Hi Everyone,

Checking in and hoping all is well.

 

I caught some new introductions yesterday who are on valium and looking for help to taper off and directed them to this thread.  Hopefully they will join us.

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Hi everyone! My, how things can change when I don't check in often enough, lol. This thread has moved, I see, which coincides nicely with my own "real life" move. Both moves seem to be very good "reorganizational" steps. I have been AWOL a bit while packing up my house. The movers are here right NOW loading a moving van of furniture to be taken to storage. Next week, between ice storms, I do the final move to my new home in another state.

 

Recapping for newcomers:  a mere 6 months ago, I was near death, seriously.  Following a lung infection last fall, I was diagnosed with diastolic heart disfunction in December and was prescribed Ativan in late January. I took only .5 mg once a day in the evening to quell what we later learned was high cortisol levels in the evening. From January to March I developed horrible symptoms and central nervous system failures including oxygen desaturation and had to carry supplemental oxygen with me everywhere. I lost weight down to 77 pounds with a body mass index of 14. I was seen by many specialists, treated at multiple specialty clinics including the Mayo Clinic, and was hospitalized twice for grueling rounds of diagnostic tests. The last hospital released me without pinpointing a cause but clearly expected me to not survive at my weight and with my terrible symptoms and horrible pain. No one could figure out my rapidly failing health.

 

Returning home, I finally googled "Ativan", which lead to "benzodiazepine", which lead to Benzo Buddies, thank heavens!!!  As I read info here at BB, I finally came to realize that the symptoms that were killing me were actually due to the Ativan 1xday.  By that time I had reduced to .25 mg once a day without having a clue that cutting my dose in half could cause so many problems.

 

With the help of the angels here at BB and a physician who was very agreeable, I did a rapid crossover to Valium which GREATLY relieved my CNS instability and I was able to quit using the supplemental oxygen tank. Practically rabid to get off the benzos, I then reduced from 5 mg to 2.12 mg at warp speed, with some crazy dosing mistakes thrown in along the way. At 2.12 I found myself in the ER. Eventually updosing back to 3 mg and with a LOT of help from Etown, Diaz-Pam, Bart, Braban, and others who shared freely of their knowledge and experience, I learned to slow down and do a nice daily micro taper.

 

For those finding this thread for the first time, I very highly recommend trying the daily micro taper. It removed so many of my worst symptoms it's almost unbelievable. My gastro issues are 80-90% better and I've gained back weight and am now blessedly out of the "cardiac arrest danger zone" of being severely underweight. I sleep well now, am exercising again, and feel that my CNS is healing at the rate of my withdrawal. This week, while packing my house all day every day to move, I was able to continue tapering at .01 a day until I hit 2.64 mg and some of my old symptoms increased.  I simply held my dose for 2 days, symptoms resolved, and I will continued with my taper starting tonight, even though we drive a moving van a long distance tomorrow, something I could never have dreamed of a few months ago when I was bedridden and in severe pain.

 

Now I have the comfort of knowing that if symptoms arise again, all I have to do is hold another night or so and all is well once more. No more being in too deep a hole to function or to dig my way out. Even on my "bad" days, I am still functional. I finally believe I WILL recover and have a fulfilling life ahead.  And this from a person who was so ill a few months ago that I was advised to put my personal, financial, and legal affairs in order. (And I did).

 

Welcome to this thread. It is a lifesaver!  As Eliz pointed out, there are many great folks here with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and they are very generous with support and sharing. I would not be here today to write this if not for these great folks and for Danni, who started this thread many moons ago with the desire to help others. Thank you all from the depths of my heart.

 

Here's to good healing and a bright future for us all!    :smitten: ~OneLove  :smitten:

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OneLove - good to hear from you!

 

So happy you found us in our new "home".  Well it seems like all the initial work for the move is done, and now you will get out on the open road and head to your new digs.  I hope this move ends up being a good one for you and your family, you have come a loooonnnngggg way Lady!

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Dear Onelove,

  What a great story of recovery. So glad you are better. I'm listening to you seasoned V taperers and waiting for stability...it will come.

Love,

Carita

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Hi Carita,

I had a tough time at 1mg too.  For some reason this does end up being a tough hurdle for some of us.  Once I broke through though, things started to get much better.

 

I hope you get there quickly!

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Hi Smiff,

 

I am in the UK.  I haven't changed to liquid yet, will do so in the New Year. Am not really sure about reduction. Am currently taking all my dose at night, which stops me thinking about it during day. [3mg currently].

Looking on this site it does seem that very small daily reductions seem to suit most people.  I don't really want to overthink as it makes me anxious.  I imagine so many ml = so many mg.  Would appreciate it if you could give me any pointers.

 

Many thanks

Dorothy

 

Heya Dorothy

 

Don't worry. Microtapering seems confusing at first but it comes together after just a few days of doing it. Eventually it is a no-brainer.

At 3mgs I agree small daily reductions is the way to go. You haven't got far to go so could take it so slow you barely notice if that is what you want.

 

I use DP's liquid method of reduction. The link to it is here. I've found it suits me well. Any questions just say.

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=66185.msg1029233#msg1029233

 

Hope that helps

Peace

Smiff

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