maybe u guys can help me here. I have been taking oxazepam for about 6 months, but not every day. I was given them at first to help me go AF, and I had a lot left, so i have been using them on and off for anxiety and sleeplesness. I didnt realise they were at all addictive and also could be bad with AL. So I continued to take them when I went back on AL, not as often, but very often after a drink to help me sleep, or if i wake up in the middle of the night.

Now I cant sleep without them. I have just realised I am addicted, if I dont take a tablet before I go to sleep, i wake up at 3-4 am with terrible anxiety and have to take one.

I have just looked up the dosage on the web, and the dose I am on, is far too high. I was told to take 10mg whenever anxious 25mg at tea time and then 50mg aft bed time. From what I have read that is far too high. I stopped taking them during the day a few months ago, apart from occasionally for a trip to the dentist, or a flight etc. JUST STOPPED!! Maybe this is why my anxiety got worse?

Now I am only taking them at night mainly 50mg, but recently tried to stop and was having a hellish time sleeping and it is probably not surprising that now i am trying not to go from 50 mg to nothing. I not struggling getting to sleep cos now i am drinking, but i am waking in the middle of the night with terrible anxiety, now i take 25mg at this time and eventually get some sleep.

Maybe i shoudl take it before i go to sleep and taper it down, ie 40mg for two weeks then 30mg, etc.

However how will that "hinder" my TSM progres. Very confusing.

Any advice would be very helpful.

Years ago when I tapered down from 4 mg. of Xanax along with other meds the good doctors perscribed I was in hospital. I am not sure what it is that you are taking but I am asuming its a benzo of some sort. The taper has to be very slow and no, you will not be able to sleep and that is part of the process and the tough part. I was roaming the halls of the hospital for three weeks without more than an hour or so of sleep a night. Maybe if you intend to go off of these you could check with a very good therapist to put you on a program to help with the withdrawal from these drugs. Good luck, I know it is not easy but it can be done! I had been on the Xanax for 20 yrs.

Sorry, I didnt say, the benzo is oxazepam.

Wow, these benzos are scary little things, aren't they? I've always been averse to treating my intermittent episodes of depression/anxiety with prescription medications. One time I did take Prozac for a few weeks, and hated the feeling of being on it. I switched over to St. John's Wort, Gingo Biloba, and Kava - and within a week or two was feeling much more like my old self. (This in spite of some amazingly stressful issues in my life at that time.) The Kava was especially helpful at enabling me deal with specific stress situations, but it needs to be purchased from the primary Hawaian farm to be safe. Less expensive formulas use the bark of the plant, which is toxic to the liver. The pure root formula has not proven to have this side effect. You also cannot heat Kava, as that destroys the active ingredient. Here is a link to a reliable Kava farm: http://www.konakavafarm.com/.

A friend's mother-in-law was drinking a ton of wine every day when she had to be placed in an assisted living facility. The Dr. insisted she quit drinking, and she naturally became very anxious and depressed as a result. I told my friend about what I was doing, and they tried just the St. John's Wort for her - with excellent results.

I used to have a script for Ambien, as I had difficulty sleeping (a major understatement) when on the road - and I worked on the road nearly half time. Then I discovered melatonin. I am careful not to be on the computer late at night, or under bright lights (candles are best). Too much light in the eyes reduces the natural production of melatonin. If I do have a problem sleeping - rare, these days - I take a 3mg. tablet of melatonin with a cup of warm milk. It never fails to send me into la-la land!

I don't want to minimize the problems of weaning off benzos. I'm sure it will be a challenge, according to all I've read. But some of these alternative medicines might help in the process. I know they've been a God send for me.

G4M - what was your choice of the kava? Did you get pills? What dose did you use to assist sleep? Thanks again for sharing this info.

All of this sounds very good indeed. I have been on St. John's wort in the past but that excentuates anxiety as does Prozac, same thing. The bad part about the benzo's is if you are on a high dosage you could have seizures going off along with side affects too numerous to mention. I wanted to check myself out of the hospital because it was truly a terrible experience but because of the chance of seizure I stuck it out. All depends on the dosage. I am rather a pro at this so at .50mg of klonipin I know from the hospital taper that going down to .25mg for a week and just monitering the anxiety will be safe. If you are on high dosages and I am not familiar with the genaric you are speaking of or the dosage criteria, you might want to check with a pharmacy or your physician before tapering! Be safe.

Dear Sober, I just googled oxozepam aka serax. It is used for anxiety disorder and alcohol withdrawal. It is suggested that one check with their health care provider before tapering. The withdrawal affects are significant. If you google go to the section on withdrawal symptoms. It is mentioned that it would be dangerous to do so without supervision if the dosage is significant.

Hi ART. I love the Kava. It mellows me out, and at the same time sharpens my ability to focus. There's no hypnotic or intoxicating effect. I bought the chai drink, and the paste. I've also used the straight root powder and fixed it in a blender with cranberry juice. It has a pungent flavor, but not unpleasant to me. Be sure if you make your own drink from powder that you strain it very thoroughly - otherwise you'll be making the loo your best friend for an hour or so.

Come to think of it, the last time I drank it was my last AF day. . .!!!