Lorazepam to Valium

I had read the Ashton manual about substitution tapering and asked my doctor.  She switched me to Valium 5mg for each Lorazepam 1mg.  She did not do any stepwise substitution just straight off the one to the other. I had a terrible reaction as if I was in immediate withdrawal. It didn't feel like the Valium was doing anything.  I switched back to Lorazepam.  Is this a common problem? 

Your Dr didn't do you any favors, the tables we use show that 1 mg of Lorazepam is equal to 10 mgs of Valium and because Valium takes a lot longer to build up in our body it must be added slowly while withdrawing the Ativan.  If you do it too quickly it's like going cold turkey, here is an example of a slow crossover and withdrawal schedule and the equivalency table. 

 

https://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm#s8

 

https://www.benzo.org.uk/bzequiv.htm

 

I see you're looking to tapering directly from Ativan now since you've posted on another thread.

Thank you, I had the page from the manual and I kept asking wasn't it 10 mg Valium and she insisted on 5 and plus there was no time given for substitution, so yeah it was like immediate withdrawal from Ativan. It was utter misery but I only put up with it for about 2 weeks.  I am hoping a direct taper from Ativan will be possible.  I know it is short acting and can be worse. Thanks for your input.