Valium crossover from ativan and lunesta

Hi

I haven’t been able to steer around this forum yet. Not sure if I’m doing this right but I need some help please.

I am in tolerance wd from lunesta. I believe I have been for a few years, not realizing it at the time which led to lexapro and Ativan. I am down to 4.3 mg from 10 of lex which I haven’t tapered in a few months. I take 1.5 mg of Ativan spread out over  5 x a day. I am down to 1.88 mg of lunesta from 2 mg. That’s as far as I got in 8 wks.

I sleep only a few hours a night, interrupted. I suffer all day anxiety, nausea, headache, dp/dr, body pain, gut ache, brain pressure, as well as eye and ear pressure etc etc

Please I need advice getting off these drugs, especially the lunesta asap. I have been reading and reading but am not sure how to proceed.

I am considering a Valium crossover but again, with brain fog, am not sure how to go about this. Would a crossover substitute for both the lunesta as well as the Ativan, which is now starting to poop out on me??

I have had little life for the last couple years, the last 12 months being especially brutal with daily symptoms.

Please I need some advice.

Thank you, lilgma

The fact that you ended up taking Ativan 5 times a day combined with

the short half-life of Lunesta makes me think that Valium is your best bet.

Would a crossover substitute for both the lunesta as well as the Ativan?

Yes. Z-drugs are basically benzos with hypnotic profiles.

I am considering a Valium crossover but not sure how to go about this.

Short answer: Gradually.

I'd be happy to give you the long answer but I'd need your schedule.

Do you divide Ativan evenly or somewhat like (0.25x4+0.5)mg?

Do you take the night dose of Ativan with Lunesta or earlier?

Thank you very much.

That is exactly how I take my ativan. And I take .5 with the lunesta at night 9:30.

I should say I’m also in protected wd from lexapro, I think. It may as well be all interdose wd. from  Lunesta. I had these exact symptoms before I ever went on lexapro in 2015. Lex took the edge off for awhile. I started tapering lex last June. Ended up inpatient in August. That’s when the Ativan was added as I had complete insomnia and akathasia for 2 mo.

I’ve had a couple partial windows, never a full day. But symptoms are getting worse each day.

Thank you. Lilgma

The fact that you ended up taking Ativan 5 times a day combined with

the short half-life of Lunesta makes me think that Valium is your best bet.

 

Would a crossover substitute for both the lunesta as well as the Ativan?

 

Yes. Z-drugs are basically benzos with hypnotic profiles.

 

I am considering a Valium crossover but not sure how to go about this.

 

Short answer: Gradually.

I'd be happy to give you the long answer but I'd need your schedule.

Do you divide Ativan evenly or somewhat like (0.25x4+0.5)mg?

Do you take the night dose of Ativan with Lunesta or earlier?

I don't know what to make of Lexapro.

Sometimes it's better to taper the benzo first, other times the antidepressant.

Below is a schedule showcasing how I'd go about this.

          Morning  Midday  Afternoon  Evening  Night

Stage 01  0.25A  0.25A    0.25A    0.25A  0.25A+1L+5V

Stage 02  0.25A  0.25A    2.5V      0.25A  0.25A+1L+5V

Stage 03  2.5V    0.25A    2.5V      0.25A  0.25A+1L+5V

Stage 04  2.5V    0.25A    2.5V      0.25A    10V

Stage 05  2.5V    0.25A    2.5V      2.5V    10V

Stage 06  2.5V    2.5V    2.5V      2.5V    10V

Stage 07    2V      2V        2V        2V      10V

Stage 08    2V      2V        -        2V      10V

Stage 09    2V      1V        -        2V      10V

Stage 10    2V      -        -        2V      10V

Stage 11    2V      -        -        1V      10V

Stage 12    1V      -        -        1V      10V

Stage 13    1V      -        -        -      10V

Stage 14    -      -        -        -      10V

Notes:

1. A, L and V stand for Ativan, Lunesta and Valium respectively.

2. 1mg Ativan = 10mg Valium = 3mg Lunesta according to Ashton.

3. Some dosage reduction occurs during the switchover.

4. Stages 1-6 could be taken at weekly intervals.

5. Later stages could be taken in 2 week intervals.

6. After Stage 14 continue reducing Valium by 1mg.

For the best advice, I'd suggest you post your question in this section:

Substitution Taper Plans

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?board=61.0

Someone knowledgeable from there will be able to help you out.

Good luck. 

I don't know what to make of Lexapro.

Sometimes it's better to taper the benzo first, other times the antidepressant.

Below is a schedule showcasing how I'd go about this.

 

          Morning  Midday  Afternoon  Evening  Night

Stage 01  0.25A  0.25A    0.25A    0.25A  0.25A+1L+5V

Stage 02  0.25A  0.25A    2.5V      0.25A  0.25A+1L+5V

Stage 03  2.5V    0.25A    2.5V      0.25A  0.25A+1L+5V

Stage 04  2.5V    0.25A    2.5V      0.25A    10V

Stage 05  2.5V    0.25A    2.5V      2.5V    10V

Stage 06  2.5V    2.5V    2.5V      2.5V    10V

Stage 07    2V      2V        2V        2V      10V

Stage 08    2V      2V        -        2V      10V

Stage 09    2V      1V        -        2V      10V

Stage 10    2V      -        -        2V      10V

Stage 11    2V      -        -        1V      10V

Stage 12    1V      -        -        1V      10V

Stage 13    1V      -        -        -      10V

Stage 14    -      -        -        -      10V

 

Notes:

1. A, L and V stand for Ativan, Lunesta and Valium respectively.

2. 1mg Ativan = 10mg Valium = 3mg Lunesta according to Ashton.

3. Some dosage reduction occurs during the switchover.

4. Stages 1-6 could be taken at weekly intervals.

5. Later stages could be taken in 2 week intervals.

6. After Stage 14 continue reducing Valium by 1mg.

Thanks Outis

I think I understand the schedule you’ve posted. So, for the first 3 wks, I take 1 mg of lunesta at night?along with the .25 A and 5 mg V?

The thing that scares me about that is the fact that I cut my lunesta a couple times by 25% and I was dry retching all night. Do you think the added V will help with that side effect? I know everybody is different and you don’t know how my body will react. I’m just scared.

I will run this taper schedule by my dr and see if he will agree to the crossover.

You’ve gone above and beyond for me. I appreciate it so much. I’m sure I’ll have many more questions. I just want to make sure I have this schedule right in my very foggy brain.  TY, LG

@[...]

Thank you!!

So, for the first 3 wks, I take 1 mg of lunesta at night?along with the .25 A and 5 mg V?

The thing that scares me about that is the fact that I cut my lunesta a couple times by 25% and I was dry retching all night.

Do you think the added V will help with that side effect?

Correct. That's the point.

It's not an actual cut but a substitution with an approximately equivalent amount of Valium.