tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14391563.post153797821241271978..comments2023-10-25T07:20:23.858-07:00Comments on Vicarious Therapy: Benzodiazepines and MeAquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230285017033299419noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14391563.post-63009908016293324492009-01-10T03:05:00.000-08:002009-01-10T03:05:00.000-08:00My name is Paul Harris and i would like to show yo...My name is Paul Harris and i would like to show you my personal experience with Valium.<BR/><BR/>I am 55 years old. Have been on Valium for 20 days now. I decided to get off of all benzos after much reading and having a friend who was abusing Xanax kill himself (may have been other issues, too). I was taking about 4 mg of Klonopin daily. I read a lot of the reseach on benzos by Dr. Heather Ashton, one of the world's leading authorities on benzos. I was shocked to see her equivalency table for Klonopin and Xanax. 1 mg of Klonopin or Xanax is equel to 20 mg of Valium. That's right, 20!! Plus, Klonopin and Xanax have nasty side effects. That did it for me. No more benzos!! Because Valium has the longest half-life of any benzo and the least side effects, I'm using it and water-titration to get off Klonopin, a method widly used in Europe. 10% reduction every 10-14 days. So far so good.<BR/><BR/>I have experienced some of these side effects -<BR/>Headache, drowsiness in the morning. Hard time getting my Dr. to prescribe and go along with treatment program. Valium supposedly is far less addicting than some other benzos, with far fewer side effects. I hope that turns-out to be true.<BR/><BR/>I hope this information will be useful to others,<BR/>Paul HarrisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14391563.post-23618888155287250332008-06-16T08:03:00.000-07:002008-06-16T08:03:00.000-07:00Aqua--This is such a tough call to make, isn't it?...Aqua--<BR/>This is such a tough call to make, isn't it? I think that if you are comfortable with your ability to come off of the valium when you need/want to, then I would say if it's helping you, go for it. You do have to weigh quality of life issues against perceived stigma.Jazzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733411405712601399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14391563.post-21238150772718079612008-06-15T10:11:00.000-07:002008-06-15T10:11:00.000-07:00Hi Annie: Thanksfor the supportive comment...I th...Hi Annie: Thanksfor the supportive comment...I think you are right. That feeling was partly why I wrote the post...to show my struggle between my fears and desires to do the "right" thing, and my struggle to trut that my pdoc is knowledgeable and caring and that I should trust his opinion.<BR/><BR/>Anon: Your advice is good. My pdoc told me to reduce 10% a week until I reached the 1/2 way point and then to reduce 10% every three weeks after that. He was expressing concern over how quickly I was reducing. I am the kind of person that just wants all the side effects to go away NOW...and often reduce too fast thinking "better to be short and painful, than long and drawn out". I did go off Valium very quickly last summer and ended up in a really protracted hypomanic state...so I should know better. Plus the whole idea of going off was mine. My pdoc supports my decisions and my autonomy when it comes to these things, which I believe is VERY important...but I could see he was relieved when I decided to stick to my regular regimeAquahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16230285017033299419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14391563.post-11927559157854164192008-06-15T03:55:00.000-07:002008-06-15T03:55:00.000-07:00Hi Aqua,Have you read Mind.org.uk It states you r...Hi Aqua,<BR/><BR/>Have you read Mind.org.uk It states you reduce 10% of current dose every 3 to 5 weeks or longer if need be. Your Psych Dr. suggested the 10% over one week. Now wonder you relapsed. 2 years ago, I reduced Lithium very quickly and hence went into a very hyper state.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14391563.post-8518841701836716542008-06-14T18:48:00.000-07:002008-06-14T18:48:00.000-07:00Aqua, I worry about the meds I am on at times but ...Aqua, I worry about the meds I am on at times but I trust my pdoc and that is the best plan I can have for now. It sounds like you trust Dr.X and working with him seems to be helpful. Other folks will have strong opinions but it is less confusing to ultimately trust the relationship with your pdoc. Take care! AnnieAnniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815378187752067230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14391563.post-58798830968186485132008-06-14T13:16:00.000-07:002008-06-14T13:16:00.000-07:00Just to clarify, I am FAR more afraid of losing my...Just to clarify, I am FAR more afraid of losing my pdoc for reasons of attachment than I am for losing access to Valium. This pot just happens to be about ho Valium helps me despite so much bad press and my fears the bad press is right.<BR/><BR/>I have gone off Valium successfully numerous times and for log periods of time. It has always been difficult to go off them, but I do not find myself craving them when off them necessarily. I find myself craving alcohol when my anxiety returns (sometimes after being anxiety free a while)...and then I usually begin taking Valium, either instead of drinking, or to stop the anxiety, that leads to the drinking (self-medication)Aquahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16230285017033299419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14391563.post-87901969679248730162008-06-14T12:44:00.000-07:002008-06-14T12:44:00.000-07:00Hi there - I have been reading your blog for a bit...Hi there - I have been reading your blog for a bit now and wanted to say that until March of 2008 I had been on Clonazepam for the last 8 years. It helped me with many of the same things that you write Valium is helping you with. I was on a pretty low dose and I had a terrible 6 week experience weaning off of it. <BR/><BR/>I completely agree with your doctor it is a situation to weight carefully but if you need it to function and if Dr.X is verifying this for you, I personally would continue to take it as warranted for your situation.<BR/><BR/>One solution to the fear of Dr. X ever leaving might be to find a back up doc now - someone who can talk and get your history from Dr. X and you...it is a scary process to think about changing pdocs...I need to start thinking about it too - after 8 years of going to the same pdoc who is not on my insurance, I simply cannot afford it for much longer. Luckily I only see her every three months, but still she has the most history of me.michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04855783044541779178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14391563.post-43985885080395246142008-06-14T11:45:00.000-07:002008-06-14T11:45:00.000-07:00But rather than a link to yourself, allow me to gi...But rather than a link to yourself, allow me to give you the right one for Gianna! :P<BR/><BR/>http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2008/06/13/the-possible-perils-of-benzodiazepine-use/Cocohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004403495497903448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14391563.post-30799394025150307662008-06-14T11:43:00.000-07:002008-06-14T11:43:00.000-07:00Hi Aqua, I really don't know the issues you're dea...Hi Aqua, I really don't know the issues you're dealing with, other than from the perspective of having a sister who has been on benzos long-term. I don't see her dealing with it favorably. I don't want to appear pushy, or like I know what's best for you, but if you have any questions in regards to benzo withdrawal or any of the issues laid out in your post I know that Gianna at Beyond Meds is willing to talk to you abou them http://vicarioustherapy.blogspot.com/2008/06/benzodiazepines-and-me.html<BR/>Best of luck in this. <BR/><BR/>I also get feelings of panic at the idea of something happening to my pdoc. Mine isn't meds related, more attachment issues I guess you could say. ~cocoCocohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004403495497903448noreply@blogger.com