Benzodiazepine withdrawal schedules [Archive]

rocksmokinmachine

18-01-2008, 15:24

Alot of people on the forum have asked how to successully withdraw from benzodiazepines. Here is a simple withdrawal schedule from 40mg of diazepam (each drop will be 1 week). One can adjust the schedule to meet thier own personal needs. I will be working on some more and posting withdrawal schedules for high dose alprazolam, lorazepam, nitrazepam, clonazepam aswell. Here is a thread on benzodiazepine equivelant doses, from The Ashton Manual. http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16708&highlight=benzodiazepine+chart. It is always best to convert to a diazepam substitution as it is much longer lasting than other benzos. e.g 20mg of temazepam is roughly equal to 10mg of diazepam.

Slow withdrawal from 40mg diazepam

morning dose|afternoon dose|total dose
20mg|20mg|40mg
18mg|20mg|38mg
18mg|18mg|36mg
16mg|18mg|34mg
16mg|16mg|32mg
14mg|16mg|30mg
14mg|14mg|28mg
12mg|14mg|26mg
12mg|12mg|24mg
10mg|12mg|22mg
10mg|10mg|20mg
8mg|10mg|18mg
8mg|8mg|16mg
6mg|8mg|14mg
5mg|8mg|13mg
4mg|8mg|12mg
3mg|8mg|11mg
2mg|8mg|10mg
1mg|8mg|9mg
-|8mg|8mg
-|7mg|7mg
-|6mg|6mg
-|5mg|5mg
-|4mg|4mg
-|3mg|3mg
-|2mg|2mg
-|1mg|1mg
-|-|-

Jatelka

18-01-2008, 18:40

Nice Job rocksmokin! Extremely useful to have it here (rather on the website that we can't link too because of the forums!)

Personally I'd add a 0.5mg stage (achievable with diazepam liquid) and possibley even a 0.25mg stage

rocksmokinmachine

18-01-2008, 19:34

Withdrawal from temazepam (30mg nightly)

Intermediate acting benzodiazepines such as temazepam may well be used by physicians as a cure for insomnia associated with anxiety. The diazepam substitution may be a little difficult to cope with at first but after time one will get used to it.

night time|diazepam equivalence|
30mg temazepam|15mg|
temazepam 15mg, diazepam 7.5mg|15mg
temazepam 7.5mg, diazepam 12mg|15.75mg
stop temazepam, diazepam 15mg|15mg
diazepam 14mg|14mg|
diazepam 13mg|13mg|
diazepam 12mg|12mg|
diazepam 11mg|11mg|
diazepam 10mg|10mg|
diazepam 9mg|9mg|
diazepam 8mg|8mg|
diazepam 7mg|7mg|
diazepam 6mg|6mg|
diazepam 5mg|5mg|
diazepam 4mg|4mg|
diazepam 3mg|3mg|
diazepam 2mg|2mg|
diazepam 1mg|1mg|
stop diazepam|-|

rocksmokinmachine

18-01-2008, 19:53

rocksmokinmachine

19-01-2008, 17:35

Wandering if anyone is using/planning on using these schedules or had any success with them in the past?

Micklemouse

19-01-2008, 18:12

Great work on tabulating these!

A Certain Mouse can certainly testify to the effectiveness of the Diazepam taper, having seen it used in clinical settings many times - it has often had a morning, afternoon & night dose though, rather than just morning & afternoon.

It is worth noting that although these regimes are essential for avoiding the more dangerous withdrawal symptoms, there may still be some "rebound" effects for some time after stopping - these can include anxiety, insomnia, craving for the crutch, amongst others. These symptoms are by no means guaranteed, but are a possibility. And they do pass.

rocksmokinmachine

19-01-2008, 18:19

Why thankyou!

Flumazenil (a benzodiazepine antangonist) has been known to alleiviate rebound effects. This is of interest as benzodiazepine receptor antagonists are neutral and have no clinical effects. The author of the study suggested that the most likely explanation is that past benzodiazepine use and subsequent tolerance had locked the conformation of the GABA-BZD receptor complex into an inverse agonist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse_agonist) conformation, and that the antagonist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antagonist) flumazenil resets benzodiazepine receptors to their original sensitivity.

EDIT: More withdrawal schedules will be added and tabulated, including high dose alprazolam. If anyone else needs a withdrawal schedule for a specific benzodiazepine, ask and it shall be done.

Psych0naut

20-01-2008, 01:27

The withdrawl schedule for chloordiazepoxide would be nice. I know it's hardly used anymore, but my doc has put me on old skool Librium(chloordiazepoxide) to taper down my benzodiazepine usage for insomnia and quit all together.

rocksmokinmachine

20-01-2008, 11:50

The withdrawl schedule for chloordiazepoxide would be nice. I know it's hardly used anymore, but my doc has put me on old skool Librium(chloordiazepoxide) to taper down my benzodiazepine usage for insomnia and quit all together.

Thanks Psych0naut, it is often used in the UK instead of diazepam for alcohol withdrawal. I will work on posting one up now.

Micklemouse

20-01-2008, 12:13

Thanks Psych0naut, it is often used in the UK instead of diazepam for alcohol withdrawal.

To the best of my knowledge Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) is the first line treatment for alcohol detox in Britain - A Certain Mouse has not come across a SSA (Sliding Scale Assessment) detox for alcohol done with diazepam, although he has seen it used as a short term measure. This may vary from area to area though.

rocksmokinmachine

20-01-2008, 12:56

Withdrawal from Librium (chlorodiazepoxide) 75mg daily

This is a withdrawal schedule for Librium (chlorodiazepoxide) each drop is (1-2 weeks). It is an old one, but it is still used in first line treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal (and it had been requested by a mod, so I could not refuse ;))

morning|midday|evening/night
25mg|25mg|25mg
25mg|20mg|25mg
20mg|20mg|25mg
20mg|20mg|20mg
25mg|5mg|25mg
25mg|stop chlorodiazepoxide|25mg
20mg|-|25mg
20mg|-|20mg
15mg|-|20mg
15mg|-|15mg
10mg|-|15mg
10mg|-|10mg
5mg|-|10mg
5mg|-|5mg
2.5mg(half tablet)|-|5mg
stop chlorodiazepoxide|-|2.5mg(half tablet)
-|-|stop chlorodiazepoxide

rocksmokinmachine

20-01-2008, 13:36

rocksmokinmachine

04-02-2008, 13:52

rocksmokinmachine

25-02-2008, 11:52

Micklemouse

26-02-2008, 10:14

Lorazepam (Ativan) please! Lorazepam is one of the most common benzo's used in British psychiatry (at least in the Trust where A Certain Mouse has experience), so a schedule for that would be most useful!

rocksmokinmachine

29-02-2008, 19:54

This was actually going to be the next one. A certain monkey can testify to how hard it is to withdraw from lorazepam. Will be up by tommorow. Thanks.

rocksmokinmachine

03-03-2008, 14:05

rocksmokinmachine

04-03-2008, 17:53

Jatelka

04-03-2008, 19:38

rocksmokin. Please post the above in Downers

roseenglish

27-05-2008, 08:52

No Offence but Horse Sh** to the “schedule"
It’s just NOT that black and white.
The half life of benzos is around 7 - 10 days...more depending on each person’s body chemistry.
Example:
I take a cut and it doesn’t “hit “me for 3 weeks. Then I’m in agony for around 1 week and I need a rest after that.

You need to seriously look into vitamins and nutrients that will support the nervous system and adrenal glands these are the only thing that helped me

I CT off one benzo in total ignorance ( Zolpidem not classed as a benzo but it acts on the same brain receptors so trust me it is! just another drug company trying to convince the doctors that this drugs is safer than benzos..And they always believe it)

And I was in HELL for 18 months I real mess...and again in ignorance I continued to cut from my diazepam. as I was going thru all of that too.

Life was awful...and still is I am unemployable and still addicted to 12.5mg of valium.
I stopped cutting when I developed systemic Candida (no doubt brought on by all the strain on the adrenal glands from long term tolerance and addiction to both diazepam and methadone)

I haven’t taken a street drug in 15 years...sad that the prescription drugs got me in the end.

I’m sorry if I seem angry but I had research this for 8 years and its never as straight forward as " following a calendar schedule" and not only that people are motivated by the light at the end of the tunnel...are cutting religiously according to the "bible" and before they know it all the cuts snow ball into one and knock them on their ass...but they "think" " well if I keep going I will be off them and all this pain will go away.."
But no...because they cut too fast and caused damage to their CNS and developed protracted withdraw symptoms that can last years...10 years I heard by one person.

LISTEN to your body...it’s the best schedule you can follow.

roseenglish added 13 Minutes and 6 Seconds later...

Oh and anyone who reads the Ashton Manual will see she fast tapered a bunch of people in a hospital one committed suicide and others were in hell...I would rather take advice from someone that’s actually " done " it not some nurse who did some experiments in 1980 or when ever it was

The UK are only JUST accepting the addiction issues of benzos.. if you need advice ring the Councillors for Involuntary Tranquiliser Addiction..they speak to thousands of people who are in this mess...
They believe in nutrition support (noni juice was one but I’m not sure that’s not just a business tactic now.. if anyone has used noni juice and found it beneficial I would be interested to hear first hand )
But it all amounts to the same thing...these drugs strip your body of all the nuts and bolts that make it a pain free relaxed body...you need to get your body fighting fight..
Calcium and Magnesium 3 times a day
Vit C 2 - 3 mgs
Essential Fatty Acids
Zinc
A GOOD Multi Vit and additional multi Mineral

Brands to look for are Bio Care off the net
Find a nutritionist who has experience of supporting addictions and with vitamins and nutrients and for Gods sake never assume any schedule is the holy grail of " how to get off benzos by X date "

We are all different.
The only time I took a benzo cut and didn’t notice it was when I was pumped with £100 of vitamins I was taking to treat the Candida.
It wasn’t a deliberate thing. I took a cut and I just didn’t notice it and I am very sensitive i.e.: if I took 5mg more than my normal dose one day I would have a WD period 3 weeks later.

Hope this helps some?

sweetsugar

03-07-2008, 14:55

Thanks for posting these are very helpful tables of benzo tapering. Swim would like to know what measures are taken if the patient is on 100mg of valium a day?
If you could post a table about this swim would be very greatfull as the drug sevices in britain are threatining to put swim in hospital for 6 months to reduce swims valium intake from 100mg to 40mg a day.
Swim has had problems with lots of diffrent drugs in the past such as the golden brown and a very large drink problem and swim has kicked these problems with the help of doctors and the drug services in th UK and a lot of self determination.
Never before have they said i need to go to hospital and if i do go to hospital i will lose my home so any advice on this matter will be greatly appreciated,

( posted by a friend of sweetsugar's)

sirdrugalot

23-08-2008, 02:41

Withdrawal from clonazepam 3mg (1mg 3 times daily)

This is a slow withdrawal schedule for withdrawal from cloanazepam as requested by a forum member in another thread. The switch to diazepam should not be too hard compared to other potent, shorter acting benzodiazepines such as lorazepam (Ativan), or alprazolam (Xanax). The small reduction (27.5mg to 27mg) between Stages 9 and 10 is to allow you to adjust to twice daily dose. Each stage is 1-2 weeks.

morning|midday/afternoon|evening/night
clonazepam 1mg|clonazepam 1mg|clonazepam 1mg
clonazepam 1mg|clonazepam 1mg|clonazepam 0.5mg diazepam 10mg
clonazepam 0.5mg, diazepam 10mg|clonazepam 1mg|clonazepam 0.5mg, diazepam 10mg
clonazepam 0.5mg, diazepam 10mg|clonazepam 0.5mg, diazepam 5mg|clonazepam 0.5mg, diazepam 10mg
clonazepam 0.5mg, diazepam 10mg|clonazepam 0.5mg diazepam 5mg|stop clonazepam, 15mg diazepam
clonazepam 0.25mg, diazepam 10mg|clonazepam 0.5mg, diazepam 5mg|diazepam 15mg
clonazepam 0.25mg, diazepam 10mg|clonazepam 0.25mg, 5mg| diazepam 15mg
diazepam 10mg|stop clonazepam, diazepam 5mg| diazepam 15mg
diazepam 10mg|diazpeam 2.5mg| diazepam 15mg
diazepam 12mg|stop diazepam| diazepam 15mg
diazepam 10mg|-| diazepam 15mg
diazepam 10mg|-| diazepam 14mg
diazepam 10mg|-| diazepam 12mg
diazepam 10mg|-| diazepam 10mg
diazepam 8mg|-| diazepam 10mg
diazepam 8mg|-| diazepam 8mg
diazepam 6mg|-| diazepam 8mg
diazepam 6mg|-| diazepam 6mg
diazepam 4mg|-| diazepam 6mg
diazepam 2mg|-| diazepam 4mg
diazepam 2mg|-| diazepam 2mg
Stop diazepam|-| diazepam 2mg
-|-| stop diazepam

is it necessary to switch over to diazepam when coming off clonazepam swims doctor has been tapering him from clonazepam with no mention of been switched over to diazepam. is this safe? swim kind of feels his doc knows not much about benzo tapers as swim cut himself down from 18-24mg a day which he had been taking for 9-10 months to 3mg per day.
when swim went to see his doc he said "try going cold turkey" (which swim was no way going to do) swim said "dont you think its a bit dangerous" he chewed it over for two weeks and then put swim on a straight clonazepam tapper. is this safe?

clint

29-08-2008, 19:40

Wandering if anyone is using/planning on using these schedules or had any success with them in the past?

Have used something similar. I have been a complete sucker for BZDs for a lot of years and have performed many withdrawals from many different ones. But out of the 38 benzos there are only now about nine or so that are still allowed to be prescribed in England; I can not speak for Scotland or Northern Ireland where he systems and the forms even are different from england and Wales.
WHY a diazepam substitution from zopiclone though? It is not even a benzo, though it acts on the same receptors. I'm no chemist or pharmacologist but it doesn't sound right to me. A straight reduction of a Z drugis probably better than complicating things by introducing benzos. The WD from hypnotics by diazepam substitution is also a bit of a 'bone of contention' with me. There should not be any problem getting used to diazepam if you are withdrawing off flunitrazepam or temazepam but not perhaps the others.
Over the years i have seen nearly all my favorite benzos go. I nearly cry when I think of bromzepam (Lexilium, Lexaurin, Lexotan, they all appear tostart with LEX) which is the best benzo of all for somone who suffers panic attack. It is so fast acting and it acts for about 4 hours giving you the most beautiful calmness of any drug available (in some places now anyway). Prazepam and nordazepam are away though they are still available in the Republic of Ireland. The brand in Ireland of prazepam is CENTRAX, a strange name, for almost anywhere else the drug is branded LYSANXIA and is good at 40mg dose tablets. The only flunitrazepam available in Ireland is the most expensive - Roche's ROHYPNOL. And the only alternative is to get another EU doctor to prescribe ROHYDORM and HYPNODORM because the only strength Roche make are their '542' green 'bullets' of 1mg, and the others are mostly prescribed in a more sensible dose of 2mg.
My point though is that all of theae schedules appear to be based heavily on the ashton Manual, the best guide for benzo addiction. I don't suppose I will ever get over benzos even after the somewhat failed rehab and detox offered by my Dutch insurance at a place in Scotland which is supposed to be the very best rehab in europe. They do not have time in their regular 6week program to address BZD addiction properly or even to complete a proper reduction. That takes at least 20 weeks and i agree with the poster who says that diazepam should be continued right down to 250mcg/day.
I wantyed to say that Lorazepam is the very worstof all BZDs to quit, followed by alprazolam and oxazepam. Don't know why, experience tells me. Wyeth make two strengths of their ATIVAN; 1mg and 2.5mg. In the elderly even a short course of the 1mg which do nothing for me can make life hell when they stop. Anyone know why? My normal dose of lorazepam is two tablets, that is 5mg. Very effective but never to be used like on a regular three/four times a day basis.
Anyway the answer s yes and the whole crux of the thing is the long wd schedule which is necessary since seizures and death are not unknown during BZD WD.
I apaologise for my english which I know is bad but I try.
clint (after Eastwood according to my mother) :vibes:

xxxSuSHixxx

30-08-2008, 11:44

So to kick Klonopin SwiPetFish should switch to valium? because of the longer half life right? Usually SwiPF runs out of klonopin in the first week, out of 150, then procedes to eat his mothers prescription ((only 60 0.5 's)) She gets quite angry =x SwiPF just blames it on his addiction/withdrawl and she shuts up =x ((she only uses for mild anxiety/mania like once a week... SwiPF Thinks his mom's Prescriber is TRIPPIN to be scripting an old lady Kpin for mild anxiety......

Anywhoo... SwiPF dont know if this is alot to ask but SwiPetFish could use a guideline ((and will probably have to pay someone to enforce that guideline)) on a tapering schedual to get off kpin permanentley, SwiPF knows that if he tells his prescriber he is switching to valium to get off kpin , she will say ok. SwiPF is used to eating roughley 5 to 20 mg kpin a day till it runs out and he becomes irate/depressed, also starting to get the shakes, cant wait to be rid of kpin and back to the loving arms of my mary jane...((the plant, not the chick))....

clint

24-09-2008, 00:17

Micklemouse

24-09-2008, 09:36

These schedules are I believe based on The Ashton Manual withdrawal regimes, & as such may reflect British prescribing more than anywhere else.

British medicine is a lot more wary of benzodiazepines it seems than American, & maximum prescribed doses may well be lower - lorazepam being a good example: Maximum dose in GB is now 4 mg/24 hours, in 1 mg tablets (BNF 56); I for one have never seen 2.5 mg prescribed or dispensed. Due to the likelihood of paradoxical reactions being high with lorazepam, as well as risking respiratory depression, it is generally felt to be pointless & dangerous going above this, unless treating status epilepticus, although the odd chart from A & E has been seen with doses higher than recommended.

As such the chart stands true, if slightly out of date with current recommended prescribing in Britain.

Can I make clear that the Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) reduction is not the same as an alcohol detox with Chlordiazepoxide, & should only be used to reduce from Chlordiazepoxide where there is no need to detox from alcohol.

clint

26-10-2008, 05:06

You're quite right about the prescribing habits of British doctors, which are different even from those in Ireland, with respect to BZDs. However 2mg is not a dosage of lorazepam available in either country, nor, to my knowledge, in any European country, where the normal dosage tablet is 2.5mg. And yes indeed it IS prescribed in that dose quite a lot. Wyeth's ATIVAN 2.5mg tablet is oval and yellow, as opposed to the 1mg which is blue. This is an oddity since most 2.5mg tablets in Europe are blue, which could cause confusion amongst some patients who are changed onto a generic from the Wyeth product. I myself prescribe 2.5mg tablets often; 1mg strength is, for some, too weak a dosage.
I will, however, testify to the fact that it is probably the hardest BZD to withdraw from and certainly has the worst withdrawal symptoms of any BZD I know of, with the possible exception of oxazepam, which is similarly difficult; the 30mg strength has been withdrawn in most countries, leaving the 15mg as the highest strength available for prescription. Oxazepam is only available as a generic in both UK and Ireland - SERENID and SERESTA were withdrawn from the list some time ago.

Yes, those tables are definitely drawn from the Ashton Manual; a most useful tool for calculating the WD schedule for many daily dosages of the most common BZDs, using diazepam substitution. However, one drug that is most difficult to use this substitution method with is alprazolam. That must be handled extremely carefully and the withdrawal should take place over a much longer period than most other benzodiazepines. The period where diazepam and alprazolam are being taken in tandem is a long stretch, but eventually a high-dose alprazolam habit can be broken using a modification of Prof Ashton's recommendations. It may take six months or more - the difficulties inherent in the change from one to the other are very noticeable in the patient. The maximum dose of alprazolam now recommended in the UK BNF is 3mg daily, though many patients are still taking up to 6mg. It has now been removed from NHS prescription, and is only available with a Private Prescription.
Chlordiazepoxide is rarely used now except in cases of acute alcohol withdrawal. The 25mg strength has not been available now for around four years, and the normal six or seven day WD regime starts off with 10mg t.d.s., falling rapidly to one 5mg capsule or tablet on the final day. It is highly unusual to find anybody who would need a withdrawal from high dosage Librium or Tropium now.
I have overseen many withdrawals from benzos, more now than ever before, and can not stress strongly enough that it must be carried out very slowly indeed. The Ashton method is an excellent reference point which can be tailored for the individual patient. I am originally from the USA, and in my time on this side of the water have noticed that diazepam is by far the most commonly abused BZD, probably because clonazepam is not licenced for anxiety and alprazolam is no longer available on the NHS, though many patients still use it on Private Prescription. Alprazolam tends to be used for much longer periods than other benzos, and thus presents problems similar to lorazepam in withdrawal.
An interesting thread here, and anyone who is self-medicating with BZDs, very common here, should read the Ashton Manual from cover to cover. It may not be absolute Gospel, but is certainly the best starting point for any withdrawal scheme.

H4U2C

26-10-2008, 21:59

Nice Job rocksmokin! Extremely useful to have it here (rather on the website that we can't link too because of the forums!)

Personally I'd add a 0.5mg stage (achievable with diazepam liquid) and possibley even a 0.25mg stage

Try reading the "ASHTON MANUAL" google "Dr heather Ashton, You will find very helpful withdrawal schedules by reading this book online:)

H4U2C added 11 Minutes and 10 Seconds later...

No Offence but Horse Sh** to the “schedule"
It’s just NOT that black and white.
The half life of benzos is around 7 - 10 days...more depending on each person’s body chemistry.
Example:
I take a cut and it doesn’t “hit “me for 3 weeks. Then I’m in agony for around 1 week and I need a rest after that.

You need to seriously look into vitamins and nutrients that will support the nervous system and adrenal glands these are the only thing that helped me

I CT off one benzo in total ignorance ( Zolpidem not classed as a benzo but it acts on the same brain receptors so trust me it is! just another drug company trying to convince the doctors that this drugs is safer than benzos..And they always believe it)

And I was in HELL for 18 months I real mess...and again in ignorance I continued to cut from my diazepam. as I was going thru all of that too.

Life was awful...and still is I am unemployable and still addicted to 12.5mg of valium.
I stopped cutting when I developed systemic Candida (no doubt brought on by all the strain on the adrenal glands from long term tolerance and addiction to both diazepam and methadone)

I haven’t taken a street drug in 15 years...sad that the prescription drugs got me in the end.

I’m sorry if I seem angry but I had research this for 8 years and its never as straight forward as " following a calendar schedule" and not only that people are motivated by the light at the end of the tunnel...are cutting religiously according to the "bible" and before they know it all the cuts snow ball into one and knock them on their ass...but they "think" " well if I keep going I will be off them and all this pain will go away.."
But no...because they cut too fast and caused damage to their CNS and developed protracted withdraw symptoms that can last years...10 years I heard by one person.

LISTEN to your body...it’s the best schedule you can follow.

roseenglish added 13 Minutes and 6 Seconds later...

Oh and anyone who reads the Ashton Manual will see she fast tapered a bunch of people in a hospital one committed suicide and others were in hell...I would rather take advice from someone that’s actually " done " it not some nurse who did some experiments in 1980 or when ever it was

The UK are only JUST accepting the addiction issues of benzos.. if you need advice ring the Councillors for Involuntary Tranquiliser Addiction..they speak to thousands of people who are in this mess...
They believe in nutrition support (noni juice was one but I’m not sure that’s not just a business tactic now.. if anyone has used noni juice and found it beneficial I would be interested to hear first hand )
But it all amounts to the same thing...these drugs strip your body of all the nuts and bolts that make it a pain free relaxed body...you need to get your body fighting fight..
Calcium and Magnesium 3 times a day
Vit C 2 - 3 mgs
Essential Fatty Acids
Zinc
A GOOD Multi Vit and additional multi Mineral

Brands to look for are Bio Care off the net
Find a nutritionist who has experience of supporting addictions and with vitamins and nutrients and for Gods sake never assume any schedule is the holy grail of " how to get off benzos by X date "

We are all different.
The only time I took a benzo cut and didn’t notice it was when I was pumped with £100 of vitamins I was taking to treat the Candida.
It wasn’t a deliberate thing. I took a cut and I just didn’t notice it and I am very sensitive i.e.: if I took 5mg more than my normal dose one day I would have a WD period 3 weeks later.

Hope this helps some?

WRONG! The only benzos that have half lives as long as 7-10days are DIAZEPAM, CLORAZEPATE, FLUNITRAZEPAM and maybe 1 more which i cant think of right now, the rest have either SHORT or MEDIUM half lives which dont stay in your body 7-10days:thumbsup:

H4U2C added 5 Minutes and 28 Seconds later...

And the "Z" drugs have even shorter half lives- Zopiclone 6hours, zolpidem 2-3hours and zaleplon 1hour respectively:crazy

clint

27-10-2008, 00:15

A couple more actually, all common BZDs: most importantly FLURAZEPAM, which has the longest of all at 250 hours; PRAZEPAM (Lysanxia, Centrax), and NORDAZEPAM (Calmday, Nordaz). In terms of strength, Lysanxia makes a 40mg tablet, whilst Centrax is only 10mg. Centrax Mono are 20mg. Calmday come in 5 and 10mg, Nordaz in 7.5 and 15mg. Nordazepam is one of the active metabolites of diazepam and several other BZDs with the same kind of half-life.
Flurazepam (Dalmane) is probably best known in the USA, but the other two are popular in Western Europe, and prazepam, in particular the 40mg Lysanxia brand are extremely useful for those with a severe anxiety problem - they are around two thirds of the strength of a 2mg Rivotril tablet but are more sedating in action. Nordazepam is very similar to both medazepam ( Nobrium, Rudotel, which I should have included here) and diazepam in effect and strength.
The surprise packet is flunitrazepam which is an hypnotic, which normally have very short half-lives. I think I have posted before that many people find it unnecessary to use an anxiolytic in the morning after using flunitrazepam as a sleep aid. All are extremely useful and I do not know why they are not available for prescription everywhere. Yes, every person's reaction to a certain drug is different, but the half-life is a definite indication of how long the substance will take to clear from the body, so it is wrong to say that 'all benzos clear in X days/hours'. All depends on the metabolisation of the particular drug and its active metabolite. As well, of course, as the individual patient's metabolism itself.

H4U2C

27-10-2008, 17:17

A couple more actually, all common BZDs: most importantly FLURAZEPAM, which has the longest of all at 250 hours; PRAZEPAM (Lysanxia, Centrax), and NORDAZEPAM (Calmday, Nordaz). In terms of strength, Lysanxia makes a 40mg tablet, whilst Centrax is only 10mg. Centrax Mono are 20mg. Calmday come in 5 and 10mg, Nordaz in 7.5 and 15mg. Nordazepam is one of the active metabolites of diazepam and several other BZDs with the same kind of half-life.
Flurazepam (Dalmane) is probably best known in the USA, but the other two are popular in Western Europe, and prazepam, in particular the 40mg Lysanxia brand are extremely useful for those with a severe anxiety problem - they are around two thirds of the strength of a 2mg Rivotril tablet but are more sedating in action. Nordazepam is very similar to both medazepam ( Nobrium, Rudotel, which I should have included here) and diazepam in effect and strength.
The surprise packet is flunitrazepam which is an hypnotic, which normally have very short half-lives. I think I have posted before that many people find it unnecessary to use an anxiolytic in the morning after using flunitrazepam as a sleep aid. All are extremely useful and I do not know why they are not available for prescription everywhere. Yes, every person's reaction to a certain drug is different, but the half-life is a definite indication of how long the substance will take to clear from the body, so it is wrong to say that 'all benzos clear in X days/hours'. All depends on the metabolisation of the particular drug and its active metabolite. As well, of course, as the individual patient's metabolism itself.

Thats correct Clint nice one, FLURAZEPAM{Dalmane} interestingly is the only BZD with partial antagonist properties.

clint

29-10-2008, 06:33

Thats correct Clint nice one, FLURAZEPAM{Dalmane} interestingly is the only BZD with partial antagonist properties.

And would you believe that my other favorite sleeper has the shortest half-life of all at only TWO hours? Guessed yet?

Triazolam (Halcion, 250mcg, though they do make a 125mcg tablet as well.) I don't have Prof Ashton's table in front of me, but I have an inkling that if you are saying zaleplon has a L/2 of one hour, you're reading a typo. I think it's nearer to five or six hours. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Clint

Jatelka

29-10-2008, 07:35

I don't have Prof Ashton's table in front of me, but I have an inkling that if you are saying zaleplon has a L/2 of one hour, you're reading a typo. I think it's nearer to five or six hours.

Actually, zaleplon DOES have an ultra short half life

Source:

"Benefit-risk assessment of zaleplon in the treatment of insomnia"
Drug Safety 2005;28(4):301-18

(among others)

clint

29-10-2008, 23:58

Thanks Jatelka, you beat me to it! I found my equivalence table and was going to post about that.
Having seen so many of your posts may I say that you are most knowledgeable and one of the greatest assets to this board, so far as I can see.
Keep up the good work, as somebody said a few posts back!

rocksmokinmachine

03-11-2008, 14:32

No Offence but Horse Sh** to the “schedule"
It’s just NOT that black and white.
The half life of benzos is around 7 - 10 days...more depending on each person’s body chemistry.
Example:
I take a cut and it doesn’t “hit “me for 3 weeks. Then I’m in agony for around 1 week and I need a rest after that.

You need to seriously look into vitamins and nutrients that will support the nervous system and adrenal glands these are the only thing that helped me

I CT off one benzo in total ignorance ( Zolpidem not classed as a benzo but it acts on the same brain receptors so trust me it is! just another drug company trying to convince the doctors that this drugs is safer than benzos..And they always believe it)

And I was in HELL for 18 months I real mess...and again in ignorance I continued to cut from my diazepam. as I was going thru all of that too.

Life was awful...and still is I am unemployable and still addicted to 12.5mg of valium.
I stopped cutting when I developed systemic Candida (no doubt brought on by all the strain on the adrenal glands from long term tolerance and addiction to both diazepam and methadone)

I haven’t taken a street drug in 15 years...sad that the prescription drugs got me in the end.

I’m sorry if I seem angry but I had research this for 8 years and its never as straight forward as " following a calendar schedule" and not only that people are motivated by the light at the end of the tunnel...are cutting religiously according to the "bible" and before they know it all the cuts snow ball into one and knock them on their ass...but they "think" " well if I keep going I will be off them and all this pain will go away.."
But no...because they cut too fast and caused damage to their CNS and developed protracted withdraw symptoms that can last years...10 years I heard by one person.

LISTEN to your body...it’s the best schedule you can follow.

roseenglish added 13 Minutes and 6 Seconds later...

Oh and anyone who reads the Ashton Manual will see she fast tapered a bunch of people in a hospital one committed suicide and others were in hell...I would rather take advice from someone that’s actually " done " it not some nurse who did some experiments in 1980 or when ever it was

The UK are only JUST accepting the addiction issues of benzos.. if you need advice ring the Councillors for Involuntary Tranquiliser Addiction..they speak to thousands of people who are in this mess...
They believe in nutrition support (noni juice was one but I’m not sure that’s not just a business tactic now.. if anyone has used noni juice and found it beneficial I would be interested to hear first hand )
But it all amounts to the same thing...these drugs strip your body of all the nuts and bolts that make it a pain free relaxed body...you need to get your body fighting fight..
Calcium and Magnesium 3 times a day
Vit C 2 - 3 mgs
Essential Fatty Acids
Zinc
A GOOD Multi Vit and additional multi Mineral

Brands to look for are Bio Care off the net
Find a nutritionist who has experience of supporting addictions and with vitamins and nutrients and for Gods sake never assume any schedule is the holy grail of " how to get off benzos by X date "

We are all different.
The only time I took a benzo cut and didn’t notice it was when I was pumped with £100 of vitamins I was taking to treat the Candida.
It wasn’t a deliberate thing. I took a cut and I just didn’t notice it and I am very sensitive i.e.: if I took 5mg more than my normal dose one day I would have a WD period 3 weeks later.

Hope this helps some?

If you can come up with something more productive than "horseshit", please let us know. Professor (not nurse) Ashton's work is very respected and is yet to be discredited. She is a leader in her field.

I do not know of a more effective way of withdrawing from benzodiazepines than a slow titration.

rocksmokinmachine added 5 Minutes and 24 Seconds later...

. However 2mg is not a dosage of lorazepam available in either country, nor, to my knowledge, in any European country, where the normal dosage tablet is 2.5mg.

2 x 1mg of lorazepam.

I can see you're point. Lorazepam being such as a short acting benzodiazepine, needs to be taken around 3 times a day. 7.5mg is a very high dose. The maximum I believe in UK practice at present being 6mg daily, which clinically is a very high dose. You see, these tables are based on that of the Ashton manual. If one is from North America it shouldn't be to hard to titrate down to 3 x 2mg daily doses.

Micklemouse

04-11-2008, 00:05

Indeed, the normal dosage in England is 1mg, up to 4mg/24hours (from the BNF - By mouth, anxiety, 1–4 mg daily in divided doses; elderly (or debilitated) half adult dose
Insomnia associated with anxiety, 1–2 mg at bedtime; child not recommended

rocksmokinmachine

06-11-2008, 11:41

Thanks for posting these are very helpful tables of benzo tapering. Swim would like to know what measures are taken if the patient is on 100mg of valium a day?
If you could post a table about this swim would be very greatfull as the drug sevices in britain are threatining to put swim in hospital for 6 months to reduce swims valium intake from 100mg to 40mg a day.
Swim has had problems with lots of diffrent drugs in the past such as the golden brown and a very large drink problem and swim has kicked these problems with the help of doctors and the drug services in th UK and a lot of self determination.
Never before have they said i need to go to hospital and if i do go to hospital i will lose my home so any advice on this matter will be greatly appreciated,

( posted by a friend of sweetsugar's)

SWIM's local drug service (The Junction in the UK), is part of the Primary Care Trusts need for specialist drug clinics. This is a new initiative which has only been set up over the last few years. It will be part of the local mental health trust. This service provides benzodiazepine detoxes, from people addicted (physically) to benzodiazepines. SWIY will be prescribed, on a daily pick up the dose he was taking before. SWIY would be started on 98mg and titrated downwards from there. If SWIY has access to 2mg tablets himself I can do a custom schedule if SWIY wishes?

rocksmokinmachine added 17 Minutes and 48 Seconds later...

is it necessary to switch over to diazepam when coming off clonazepam swims doctor has been tapering him from clonazepam with no mention of been switched over to diazepam. is this safe? swim kind of feels his doc knows not much about benzo tapers as swim cut himself down from 18-24mg a day which he had been taking for 9-10 months to 3mg per day.
when swim went to see his doc he said "try going cold turkey" (which swim was no way going to do) swim said "dont you think its a bit dangerous" he chewed it over for two weeks and then put swim on a straight clonazepam tapper. is this safe?

Try going cold turkey? I think SWIY should consider changing doctors, immediate withdrawal from that much clonazepam is extremely dangerous, as any physician should know. Switching to diazepam (not always immediately) is usually necessary, as it is one of the longer acting benzodiazepines and is easy to titrate from.

lorzapmail

06-11-2008, 12:42

Swim has not experienced valium withdrawal. With the long half life, it seems to swim it slowly leaves your system. Xanax, Lorazepam,etc. with short half life does merit careful withdrawal. Panic attacks, etc.

lorzapmail

10-11-2008, 19:12

Swim sees a newbie totally confused with these taper "guides" Just slowly cut back your doses over a couple weeks. Unless you want to pay thousands to a 'Clinic" to ride horses and look a pretty views. Just use some commom sense. One exception is cutting a legal deal. To stay out of jail. People will believe they need anything if told enough times. Swim thinks most poeple can figure our there own withdrawal sked.