Please advise on my 0.5mg Xanax - valium taper

I'm not sure whether or not substituting is best so will take all advice on board.

 

Current dose of Xanax is 0.5mg. It may seem small to many members but its been my comfort at night, weekends are hardest and I usually take more to knock myself out. Can't seem to get down from it for long.

 

Been everyday for 7 years.  Considering this taper.

 

Days Xanax Diazepan

7       0.5         0

14          0.375         3mg

30       0.25  4-5 mg

30       0.125         7.5 mg

14       0.075       7.5mg

14       0         7 mg

14       0         6 mg

14       0         5 mg

14       0       4 mg

14       0       3 mg

14       0       2 mg

14       0       1 mg

 

Will leave me clean by xmas. Thoughts appreciated friends.

I think you're making the right choice to substitute.

However, there are 2 problems with your plan:

 

1. The crossover seems way too slow.

2. It accounts only for part of your starting dose.

 

There is no actual withdrawal during the crossover provided

that you use an equivalent dose of Valium to cover for Xanax.

 

According to Ashton:

 

1. 0.5mg Xanax = 10mg Valium

2. You could switch at a rate of 5mg Valium per week.

3. You could reduce by 1mg every 2 weeks.

 

PS: You seem to have registered almost 2 years ago,

yet you didn't post anything until now...?

I think you're making the right choice to substitute.

However, there are 2 problems with your plan:

 

1. The crossover seems way too slow.

2. It accounts only for part of your starting dose.

 

There is no actual withdrawal during the crossover provided

that you use an equivalent dose of Valium to cover for Xanax.

 

According to Ashton:

 

1. 0.5mg Xanax = 10mg Valium

2. You could switch at a rate of 5mg Valium per week.

3. You could reduce by 1mg every 2 weeks.

 

PS: You seem to have registered almost 2 years ago,

yet you didn't post anything until now...?

 

Thanx so much for your reply Outis, Yep, registered 2 years ago and still thought I'd get off it alone...when the time was right blah blah. Alas 2 years later I'm still in the same boat. Time really flies esp when knocking yourself out each night with a Xanax.

 

I picked up the diazepam today, still deciding how to proceed. I have had no trouble cutting to 0.375 previously, So, ill start there for 2 weeks. then try a drop to 0.325 then to 0.25 and only add the diazepam if needed. Slow is good, I want this done once and for all and I don't want to have a freak out or bad day and up dose. I don't have anyone I can share this with to give me support or I'd go a little faster.

 

 

Actually Im confused about this:

 

2. You could switch at a rate of 5mg Valium per week.

3. You could reduce by 1mg every 2 weeks.

 

Can you copy my taper plan and post? cheers

 

 

Going from 0.5mg to 0.375mg is a 25% cut which is rather abrupt.

Anyway, here's the schedule you asked for.

 

Weeks  Xanax  Valium

  -    0.5mg    -

  1    0.25mg  5mg

  1      -    10mg

  2      -    9mg

  2      -    8mg

Going from 0.5mg to 0.375mg is a 25% cut which is rather abrupt.

Anyway, here's the schedule you asked for.

 

Weeks  Xanax  Valium

  -    0.5mg    -

  1    0.25mg  5mg

  1      -    10mg

  2      -    9mg

  2      -    8mg

 

Cheers Outis. I have decided to give it a go without the Diazepam. You have given me pause for thought, I have plenty of time to do this right so shouldn't jeopardize it by dropping too fast. I will adjust to 0.435 for 2 weeks then 0.375, 0.315, 0.25, 0.185, 0.12, 0.06.

 

 

Its a work in progress but taking the steps of joining and posting is helping me see the light and a workable plan come together.

Hi Lazycat Pardon if I hop on your thread. I am going to taper from 1 mg or less for 7 years soon. There seems to be a lot of folks saying just coming off Xanax alone may be risky but your dose is much lower than mine so maybe it is OK. I can't seem to get responses on my post so maybe since we are close to asking the same question maybe we might get more response. I am not sure if you, or I, understand what Outis is saying, but let me offer my understanding.

 

In your initial plan

 

Days    Xanax  Diazepan

7          0.5          0

14          0.375          3mg

 

Since 1 mg Valium equals .05, I am pretty sure. Then 3 mg diazapem equals .15 Xanax. Then if you add .15 to ,375 equals .525 which is actually slightly more than your initial starting dose of .5 and I believe Outis point is that you do not want to taper by actually going slightly above your initial dose. Maybe you understood this i am not sure the math can be kinda tricky.

 

Again I am no expert, but there seems to be a lot of advice that Xanax folks crossover. Maybe someone could answer whether  the initial crossover is a risky step or not. And whether you make that crossover effectively then you are solid and good to go on Valium tapering?

Hi Matt

 

Thanx for your input bro. I had decided to dry cut Xanax, but was advised by a pro to switch to diazepam last week. I am meeting another pro tomorrow to design a switch and taper. I think she can order from taperingstrip.org as she sent me the form to look at before we meet. Really hope so.

 

I'll update things as I go. I am planning to go as slow as I can go as I have a demanding job and am pretty much alone.

 

 

It has been hard to find people in a similar situation, so i look forward to hearing of your progress I have been on a higher dose (1 mg) for most of last couple of years, so I am likely in for a rougher ride. I do have somebody to live for though and i hope that can provide strength for me I already have breakthrough symptoms at current dose after going through months of heavy painkillers with the Xanax for a very large kidney stone. I am still looking for a practitioner to help It seems like most of the hep is in the de tox centers and ain't going there

I am still looking for a practitioner to help It seems like most of the hep is in the de tox centers and ain't going there

 

 

My Doc really didnt know much, I told him about the ashton manual and crossover method. So I made an appointment with an addiction counsellor and then he referred me to a psychiatrist who is a specialist in this area. It wasn't cheap but surely worth it to get the best advice and support for your taper. The detox centres may know the best people to help, just a thought.

 

Had my appointment with the psychiatrist, was a good chat about why I took it etc (initially for public speaking duties) and why I kept taking it (sweet sleep and stress). Anyway, She is unconcerned for now and asked me to cross over at my leisure to about half my current dose as the first half of a taper isn't usually problematic or has serious symptoms. Then we'll have another meeting where we can plan phase 2 in a month or so.

 

So I am taking 0.435 Xanax and plan to cut that to 0.375 in 3 days, instead ill go

 

0.31 X and 1.25 Diazepam 7 days

0.25 X and 2.5 D for 7 days

0.185 X and 3.75 D for 7 days

0.125 X and 4.35 D for 7 days

0.065 X and 5. D for 7 days

 

5mg Diazepan hold and meet to plan the next half of the taper.

 

Happy to hear any thoughts....Outis?

This schedule may seem gradual but there's some dosage reduction between stages.

 

Unless you are starting from very large doses, there is no need to aim for a reduction at this stage;

simply aim for an approximately equivalent dosage.

 

Here's how I'd do the crossover.

 

Week  Xanax    Valium

0    0.4375mg    -

1    0.1875mg  5mg

2        -      8.75mg

Thanx Outis

 

She asked me to crossover and reduce to half my original starting dose as its usually not problematic, hence the reduction to 5mg over a month. Its not Ashton but she does this for a living so I'll see how it goes. Its flexible and up to me. Its a gradual crossover as I am also concerned about the Valium effects and micro changes during crossover. Perhaps being overly cautious, but I have the time to...as most of us do, so I'll play it that way.

 

My plan is too hold on 5mg for a month after crossover.

Its not Ashton but she does this for a living so I'll see how it goes.

My plan is too hold on 5mg for a month after crossover.

 

The argument from authority is a fallacy.

Just because someone does something for a living doesn't mean they're good at it.

The doctors that brought many of us here are good counterexamples.

I know I also made an appeal to authority, but Ashton has proven herself with results.

If you go slowly enough, there's no need to hold after a crossover.

As always I appreciate your comments Outis. Really impressed with your thoroughness and you're kicking ass methodically with your taper, keep it up.

 

I'll just play it how my body and mood reacts. Will start introducing some valium tomorrow.

No more Xanax

 

Have successfully crossed and eliminated Xanax from my daily regimen. Woot!!

 

On Diazepam I have noticed being more lethargic and bit over stressed with external event. Appetite has decreased as has labido All just part of the process I hope. I also drank a few beers with friends (Im on holiday, was careful to have just 2-4 drinks) and really noticed it the next day, very depressed feeling whole day, didnt leave the apartment each time.

 

Psychologically I'm grateful to be off Xanax and feeling positive going forward. I will start tapering the diazepam .25mg a week soon (need to get smaller mg. pills next week) until 3mg, then seek advice.

 

And what dumbass I started smoking again (always do on holidays) I bought a vape and am limiting it until i get home next week. Where i seem to have little trouble stopping.

 

I'll post any pertinent info as it comes to light.