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Need to start taper now.....please help


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SG, Sharkey, anyone

Please help me get started now. I think I'm as stable as I'm

going to get as long as I'm on this drug. Days of stability and

then BOOM the anger hits. I just think that's the way it's going

to be until I'm free!!

 

I'm ready for the vodka/water taper. But can it be a daily micro

taper? Or is it going to be like a "cut and hold" type but with liquid

instead?

 

The 1ml syringe is so hard to read but I will get some help. Is 2%

safe to start to taper from? And what amount is that on the syringe?

Where to I go to on the syringe to pull the right amount out??

 

Sorry for all of the questions. I need help.

Sue 

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You can taper any way you want, but my recommendation is a daily MT.  This way you don't remove the drug until your body is ready for it.

 

I'd suggest beginning at a .0015mg cut and go from there.  Establish that as a good cut and build on it.  I forget how you are making the liquid.  Was it 1mg into 100ml or 200ml?  I forget.

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I now have the 0.5mg tabs of k and that's my daily dose.

So I dissolve 1 pill in 3 mls vodka, let dissolve and add

97 mls of water.

 

Sorry but where is the .0015 on the 1ml syringe?

Thanks SG

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Okay, .5mg in 100ml.  That is a .005mg/ml strength.  That means the full 1ml syringe contains .005mg K and each 1/10th on the barrel contains .0005mg.  So 3/10ths will be .0015mg.  You'd reduce by .3ml each day.
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Ok, so do I "suck out" an additional .3ml each day to reduce?

 

Sorry, are you banging your head against the wall?

 

Sorry, but I am so sad and so confused and am losing HOPE

of ever succeeding and being well again! :(

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OK, SG!

Thank You so much!

 

Can I keep you posted on how it's going?

 

Do you think I can get well?

 

I'm scared.

 

It's been 24 years.

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Sorry...one more thing....

 

if I stay at that rate (I guess we have to see how I'm doing, etc)

anyway, how long at that rate would it take me to be free of the 0.5mgs?

 

It helps my brain to have a goal in mind!!

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Sure, I'm around. :)  And if you really want to ease into it just begin even lower, like at .001mg (.2ml).  You want to establish a symptom-free cut and build on it.  If you cut below the amount your body can keep up with it will have no problem taking care of the cut each day.  Just stay below your limit.  That is a key to tapering and feeling well.
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Sorry...one more thing....

 

if I stay at that rate (I guess we have to see how I'm doing, etc)

anyway, how long at that rate would it take me to be free of the 0.5mgs?

 

It helps my brain to have a goal in mind!!

 

If you stay at .0015mg/day it would take 333 days, but that is not a meaningful number as at the beginning you will likely be able to go faster and at the end you will undoubtedly need to go slower.  As you drop your cut size also drops.  I'd generally expect a 6-18 month window from .5mg K, but it takes what it takes.  I will say though that once you find your highest cut that will give a much better predictor of how long your taper will last.

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Thanks SG!

 

How long should I go to see how I'm tolerating that cut?

 

And if I'm doing okay, will you let me know the next amount

to go to?

 

My family is scared and doesn't want me to begin tapering

but I have to. I will never be well on this poison.

 

Just hoping I can remain mostly stable throughout. Am on two

other meds that are helping so and will worry about them after

the benzo. Make sense??

 

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Yeah, definitely don't taper more than one at a time.

 

Test out each cut for at least two weeks.  I just nudge up .0005mg at a time with K.  So it might go .0015, .002, .0025, .003...  like that.  Testing each one for at least 14 days to make sure it is below your limit.

 

If you are really scared or just want to reduce the drama you could just cut .001mg and run that cut all the way to zero.  It would be a 500 day taper, which is 16 months.  Not bad, right?  And good for your brain too IMO.  You may need to decrease it a little at the end.

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Thanks for the smile by saying "16 months....

not bad, right?"  :)

 

AND it's not bad, IF I'm living, surviving and doing

somewhat okay all the way down.

 

The rage that I've had recently has just been so

bad that I'm scared and sad because I have flipped

out on family, etc. Some of it rightfully so, but the degree

of my anger is unreal!!

 

I have been in touch with Barry Haslam from the UK. Have

you heard of him??

 

He has been with me for almost 3 years on this, trying to help

guide me through this. He has compaigned for 30 years now

against these drugs after what he went through during 1976-

1986.

 

Anyway, he believes I might be in tolerance withdraw now even

though not tapering yet. Do you agree? Have you said much about

tolerance withdraw?

 

I'm glad for you that it sounds like you did it right the first time and

didn't go through a totally horrific time getting off?

Thank You,

Sue

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I wish.  I found out too late how to taper right.  So I gutted it out and still am to a degree.

 

I've never heard of Barry Haslam.  Who is he?  I thought I knew the cast of characters. :laugh:

 

I don't know what tolerance withdrawal is or what people mean when they say it so I mostly ignore it.  It seems like a vague concept that no one can explain, yet we are supposed to accept that it happens.  So I tend to think most withdrawal is plain old withdrawal, although I don't doubt there are other ways these drugs can go wrong.  It would just be nice to hear a plausible explanation for tolerance withdrawal.  I've never heard one.

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I'm sorry....Barry is not on BB. His story is on benzo.org.uk

He has been campaigning for years against benzos and the

damage they do after his own experience and what it did

to him.

 

I'm also sorry that you did have a very hard time getting off

this poison. I was under the impression you took it slow the

first time, did it right and cut your suffering way down by

doing that.

 

I'll try not to "focus" on the terms, etc. (tolerance wd, kindling)

They just add to my angst and it's not good.

 

Again, thank you for you're help.

 

I will start with the .3ml and think I will be okay. But thanks for

suggesting the .1ml as an option.

Sue 

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Hi, SG

Yes, I have been in touch with him, couple of times by phone but mostly emails.

He has remained a CONSTANT friend and I'm thankful. His story goes back to

1976-1986 when he was on Ativan. He has helped many over the years struggling

to get off these drugs in both the UK and the U.S.

 

He is not aware of some of the methods you know on BB like the daily MT so I am

really thankful to be doing this with your help as my fourth attempt to be free.

 

Which leads to a question :).......I just started to taper only two nights ago at the .3ml

and today I feel fine but have some tinnitus in my ears. (which I've had before) Is that

a sign do you think that maybe I should go to the .1ml and reduce by that amount

every day for awhile instead of the .3ml? Or continue at the .3 ml rate and see how I feel in

a week, or two?

 

Thank You!!

Sue

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You told me your cut in mls and I forget the strength so I can't tell what your cut is.  But you need to get used to reading your symptoms.  That will come as you taper.  All I can say is if symptoms are increasing or new ones appear that is a sign you need to take action and hold.  Don't allow them to get started or take hold.  You'll get good at judging when you need to hold.
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I take 0.5mg pill of k and dissolve in 3mls vodka then add

97 mls water.

 

I was reducing by .3 on a one ml syringe. You said if I really

want to that I could go alittle slower and reduce .001 (.2ml)

instead. (I hope I wrote all of that right) :)

 

So I'm thinking maybe I should do that since I'm experiencing

tinnitus after two nights of reducing so far?

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Ah yes, now I remember.  Better to error with caution, so if you are in doubt go with the .2ml.  Ease into it for a few weeks.  To give you some bearings, the .3ml cut (.0015mg) would be 9% after a month while the .2ml (.001mg) would be 6% after a month.
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Hi, SG

Thank you so much! I was hoping to hear from you

because I was just getting ready to take my nightly

dose and wasn't sure what to do. Think I'll be safe

and do the .2ml for now. Thanks!

 

You're not in the U.S. are you? Not sure where you're

from but I thought I remembered something mentioned

that you might be somewhere other then here. :)

 

 

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Haven't been on most this last week.  Just wanted to chime in and say Congratz on getting started with you titration!!!

 

How has Barry done with his campaigning against these drugs?  I was hoping to help with this at some point.

 

Stay strong!

sharkey

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Thanks, Sharkey!!

 

Although I'm having bodyaches and some benzo anger (which is pretty bad sometimes)

I'm really glad to be doing the daily MT. I think this time I will really get free of this

garbage. (this is my FOURTH attempt)

 

Barry has fought long and hard for 30 years now in the UK and it seems they are just

starting to win some battles there. He is being honored sometime this month because

of his fight against these drugs. One younger man recently in the UK and sued and

won because of what benzos have done to him. I sometimes wish I could do the same

Even if I didn't win....to make a stand for all of us here that have suffered. Barry

has been helping people from all over the world, a lot from the U.S. because we

have no help here. (except for good people like yourself, SG and others who help

people like us to learn a micro taper)

 

He might not mind if I give you his email address if you'd like.

Thanks again,

Sue

ps-are you in the U.S.?   

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Thanks, Sharkey!!

 

Although I'm having bodyaches and some benzo anger (which is pretty bad sometimes)

I'm really glad to be doing the daily MT. I think this time I will really get free of this

garbage. (this is my FOURTH attempt)

 

Barry has fought long and hard for 30 years now in the UK and it seems they are just

starting to win some battles there. He is being honored sometime this month because

of his fight against these drugs. One younger man recently in the UK and sued and

won because of what benzos have done to him. I sometimes wish I could do the same

Even if I didn't win....to make a stand for all of us here that have suffered. Barry

has been helping people from all over the world, a lot from the U.S. because we

have no help here. (except for good people like yourself, SG and others who help

people like us to learn a micro taper)

 

He might not mind if I give you his email address if you'd like.

Thanks again,

Sue

ps-are you in the U.S.? 

 

Yes Sue,  I am in the US.  I'm gonna message you my email.  If you think he won't mind email me his address.  I am very curious about the progress in the UK.  I'm hoping to one day be part of the charge here in the USA.

 

Thanks an good luck with your taper!  If I can do it, you can too!!

 

Stay strong!

Sharkey

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