Making Most of Isolation

I've decided to make the most out of a rather inconvenient situation, to say the least!

Tapering is tough when working, taking kids to school events , socialising etc.

I had to cancel my trip to Scotland, from Thailand. Now, I've had to cancel my trip to the beach here.

I've taken time off work and cutting faster than suggested.

Cut from 7.5 to 7 for 5 days, then 6.5 for 6 days. Now first day on 6 and only occasional muscle twitches and minor fear(I never used the word anxiety).

Please tell me if you think I'm going to fast.

 

I'm not sure if I can really comment because I'm on a different benzo. But, that seems like a pretty fast taper. I'm only a few months into this thing but for me, it seems better to only do a cut once a month. That way, my body can heal, I can keep a list of side effects and I sort of know what to expect. I seem to feel worse the first two weeks and then it slowly improves after that. I don't know if tapering that fast will catch up with you or not. I hope some other people will weigh in. Good luck!

2 1/2 mgs zanax daily for 14 years.

December 2019 cut 1/2 mg

Jan 2020 cut .25

Feb 20 cut .25

March 22 cut .125

Current dose (I literally can't do the math) Slightly over 1 and .25 per day plus 100 mgs gabapentin

Thanks for the reply!

 

Does gabapentin help?

 

I take melatonin gummies to help sleep.

Could you tell that amount of  melatonin u take.

10 mg

I'm glad to see you're making the most of your isolation, but tapering faster than your body can handle might not be the best idea.  Listen to the signals your body is telling you and remember that getting off the drug quickly just increases your pain it doesn't make you heal faster.  We can't rush this process, our brain is in charge and it takes what it takes for it to recover from the damage done by the drug.

 

I'd avoid Gabapentin, it's another medication that must be tapered, but of course, this decision should be made in consultation with a medical professional.

It’s def more comfortable to taper without added responsibilities of work etc.  However, it doesn’t change the fact that a safe successful taper needs time.  I’ve been home an entire year due to workplace injury.  It still has taken the same amount of time as if I hadn’t had that privacy.  It’s not to be rushed.  I believe you’re going too fast.  A few days isn’t long enough to know what symptoms may hit you at a few weeks after a cut.  I’m tapering clonazepam, which has a long half life.  I was never in more than .5 once a day.  And I take a month between cuts to be sure my brain has rested well enough. 

 

I take gabapentin prescribed 300 mgs once daily.  I do not recommend this.  I’ll have to taper this after I’m off the benzo. 

 

Take your time and appreciate that you can have some space to rest as you go.

Thanks for the replies.

I had some confusion after 2 days, forgot I had an appointment. Otherwise bearable and glad I did it now.

After 9 days, I feel I can continue to cut, so now at 5.5 mg.

I take 1 mg of melatonin about a half hour before bed. I asked my doc and he said to take the smallest amount that works. I cut a 2 mg gummy in half.

I take 1 mg of melatonin about a half hour before bed. I asked my doc and he said to take the smallest amount that works. I cut a 2 mg gummy in half.

Interesting, I take 2 x 5mg gummies.

Do you think it is addictive?

Jimmy

 

Thc can be addicting in its own way.  It can also backfire.  I used to have no problem with thc.  Then suddenly, it caused serious panic attacks.  I know it was the thc because I was not on benzos at that time.  I hadn’t been for 6 years.  Was the worst panic attack of my life actually.  I was hospitalized and hit up with Ativan.  That kindled further panic attacks and boom.  I was back on benzos.  Now I’m finally tapering and close to free.  Added a couple more years of benzo use to my life.  I realize now I can’t take thc or cbd.  Those days are over.  As for melatonin, more isn’t better.  Naturopath and dr both explained to me that higher doses can contradict sleep cycles eventually.  A good dose is about 1.5 mgs to 3. 

I decided to start tapering when the lock down began. It's been a double-edged sword. On the one hand I have the time to taper and try and handle the effects outside of work which would be pretty impossible. On the other hand the lack of socialising and keeping busy at work has increased my anxiety. As I taper and go out less I seem to be slipping into a reluctance to go out. I know I'm going to have to force myself out each day so I don't slip into avoidance habits and a growing feeling of agoraphobia.

Melatonin isn’t exactly addictive.  But more isn’t better.  At higher doses, your brain doesn’t know what to do with all the extra.  Not sure why it’s sold in 10 mg doses.  My naturopath says 1.5 mgs is enough.  It can actually backfire at higher doses.  Try less in a glass of unsweetened tart cherry juice, 6 ounces.  Tart cherry has natural melatonin and is much more easily absorbed and used by your brain. 

i feel the same way about taking advantage of this time. im working from home and am taking advantage of this time to deal with withdrawal. as pam said, its a bit fast and the faster the more brutal it is to deal with.

i feel the same way about taking advantage of this time. im working from home and am taking advantage of this time to deal with withdrawal. as pam said, its a bit fast and the faster the more brutal it is to deal with.

 

I see you are free -  well done !!!

I take 1 mg of melatonin about a half hour before bed. I asked my doc and he said to take the smallest amount that works. I cut a 2 mg gummy in half.

Interesting, I take 2 x 5mg gummies.

Do you think it is addictive?

 

It’s not that it’s addictive, taking any exogenous hormone, or biological compound that’s made naturally by the body/brain can stop normal endogenous production. Benzos are a perfect example. The same can be applied to any other substance taken to a lesser or greater degree. It’s always better to take the most natural precursor to the element you want to increase, i.e if you want to increase melatonin take a high quality Tryptophan or 5htp supplement or better yet get it from foods high in natural melatonin, serotonin, or tryptophan. Natural process goes tryptophan—> 5htp—> serotonin—> Melatonin. This closely mimics the bodies proper formulation of melatonin from natural sources/diet. Again same can be applied to others.