Might I be in "tolerance"?

[[Buddie]]

Hi, [...].

Thank you for sharing the good news that you are feeling a bit better today.  I agree with you that the most likely culprit for your uptick in withdrawal symptoms was that last  ‘too large for you’ reduction in dose.

Re: your comment about not triggering a ‘not allowed’ from controlled substance regulators ...

Given the number of members who have used the tablet/oral solution combination over the years, I wouldn’t be overly concerned about this.  Their prescribers were able to write prescriptions for both so odds are yours will be able to as well.

PS Thanks for confirming you were not taking 300mg of diazepam.  That number definitely caught my attention.

[[Buddie]]

I'm glad you're better and I can see you're in a much better headspace! Sometimes it just helps to talk things through.

Yes, I figured 300mgs Valiums was probably a typo. But even though you didn't taper down from that number, you've still done an amazing job!

Please keep us updated on your doc appointment!

[[Buddie]]

Thank you, [...]!

I met with doc today- she was fine with prescribing both tablets and liquid but it see my pharmacy has only released the tablets to me 😕 Not sure what to do next, but I’m glad I’m not in a rush. The managing pharmacist is a neighbor/friend- perhaps if I speak with him and explain what I’m up to, he’d release both. Any tips?

Interesting : my doc emailed me after the appointment and asked if I would “share what I’ve found online in case she comes across the issue again”. I don’t know whether to feel complemented, furious at doctors ignorance, or both. Not to mention that my telling her of BB won’t teach everything I’ve learned (not that I’m through, either). I told her all about Ashton last year.

Ah well- I’m enjoying feeling better and taking more time to find some healing 🥰

Your support really helps,
Rascal

[[Buddie]]

Well, things seem to be going your way and working out for you! I'm so happy to see you in such good spirits.

How awesome you know the managing pharmacist. If it were me, I would just explain the situation to him as it seems there's been a mix-up and they misunderstood the prescription. They probably don't get a lot of patients tapering so I guess they were confused by tablets and liquids.

I understand your mixed feelings about your doctor and it's justified. For me, I've moved on to "I'll take any opportunity I get to educate a doctor". If a doctor shows interest and wants to learn, you have the potential to save someone else from this nightmare. How amazing is that!

You're making so much progress on your healing and on planning your next step. I can't believe it's such a big turnaround in such a short time! 

[[Buddie]]

Thank you for another good news update, [...].  You are definitely on a roll!

I wonder if the pharmacy didn’t have the diazepam oral solution in stock so had to order it before they could ‘release’ it?  Or, it could be they aren’t familiar with this particular dosage form so may want to double-check how to label and dispense it.

I agree with [...] that we should take any opportunity we get to educate prescribers.  You are indeed fortunate to have a doctor who is interested in learning more!   

I’ve included a link below to a document she might find of interest. It is evidence-based, current, and concise. It also has now been endorsed by the two major benzodiazepine advocacy groups in the US — the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition and the Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices.  (Don’t be dismayed by the words ‘Drug Abuse Prevention’ in the names of the primary organizational authors. The document makes it very clear that physiologic dependence is not synonymous with abuse/addiction.)

Link:

Benzodiazepine Deprescribing Guidance Document (target audience is prescribers)
https://corxconsortium.org/wp-content/uploads/Benzo-Deperscribing.pdf

[[Buddie]]

[...]-

I read the article you sent via a link- thank you. It was personally validating, relieved me of some frustration regarding lack of useful information for doctors, as well as summarized a number of things I have learned this past year (also a couple of things I didn't know such as "tapering strips" from Europe...hmmmmm  ). I found it to be clear, concise and up to date (as far as I know) as well as potentially helpful to whatever medical providers will read it.  I sent it to my provider (one of them).

I noticed it did not mention Benzobuddies.org, however, when speaking of peer support or other online resources. Do you know why? (I briefly looked at The Withdrawal Project (which was mentioned in the article), and it appears it's not online support, but rather a way for people to connect for potential in person engagements. Of course I didn't read a lot, so may not have that right.

I mention this because I have let my provider know about Benzobuddies and the assistance I have valued here, yet this article does not speak of it. To me this suggests that doctors utilizing the article wouldn't know of a valuable resource for their patients.

I realize BB might be embedded in another source mentioned in the article, or that the article can only tell of research based material (perhaps TWP is more empirically based?). Finally, it might be that there are competing online support communities and the writes did not want to jump into the mix.

Any thoughts?

thanks again,
Rascal

[[Buddie]]

Greetings, [...].

Thank you for your thoughtful analysis of the Colorado Deprescribing Guidance document. I agree with you that it has the potential to help prescribers better understand how to work in partnership with patients who wish to discontinue their benzodiazepines.  I’m delighted you shared it with your provider.

Your question about why BenzoBuddies is not mentioned as a peer support resource is an interesting one.  One possibility is that BenzoBuddies is already identified as a resource on the websites of BIC, the Alliance, and easing anxiety.

[[Buddie]]

[...],

That's a good point. Thanks for mentioning this.

I also realized the article links to something I didn't read regarding peer support. I will read that.

Rascal

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...] - I found again the mention of:  “see peer support document” but was not able to locate this in either the article or the reference material. So many mysteries 😝. (I’ll just have to be content that I’ve located BB peer support for myself).

Hope you’re doing well,
Rascal

[[Buddie]]

Hello again, [...].

Your desire to learn more about deprescribing (discontinuing) benzodiazepines is admirable!  I’ve included links below to the Benzodiazepine Peer Support Document as well as the landing page for the workgroup that developed it.

Links:

Benzodiazepine Peer Support Document
https://corxconsortium.org/wp-content/uploads/Benzo-Peer-Support.pdf

Benzodiazepine Action Workgroup
Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
https://corxconsortium.org/work-groups/benzodiazepine/