Bob -- it's not the time that matters. It's using a schedule that allows you to lose the benzo without side effects. That is critical to avoid post-benzo syndrome. That's why at benzodetoxrecovery.com, it's called a dual titration method. One part is the protocol; the other part is to adjust the cuts up or down according to your body's unique ability to resume making GABA on its own. Ironically, the process often is faster than conventional taper schedules. For those of us losing benzo AND alcohol, the process will of course be a bit slower. But slow and steady wins the race.

Lena - Just because I have decided to "detox" off of my Valium, does not mean that I have made a rash decision. I am well aware of the risks. My psychiatrist is involved; I tell him everything. The post I made regarding a 6 week withdrawal was made in haste and I have since done more research, talked to my shrink, and adjusted the schedule to 10 - 20 weeks depending on withdrawal symptoms.

My doctor understands the serious nature if Benzo "detox", but he also knows I am doing this so I can complete TSM and get off of alcohol. The alcohol keeps screwing up the rest of my meds, so he is in favor of anything that will get me off alcohol. He is much less concerned about Valium, which is a simple drug with a long half-life and performs the required function for my mental malady. He also understands that even though I don't like Valium, it works very well for my condition, but if it inhibits my alcohol withdrawal, then he supports my decision to get off of Valium. Once off alcohol I can resume my Valium regimen.

I don't see anything wrong with this plan. I have not deviated from TSM for almost 12 weeks, but I have been disappointed by the surprise post by Roy Eskapa that Benzos hamper TSM. Thus, my required Benzo withdrawal.

I trust that this makes my plan clear and that I am not going into the future blindly.

Bob

Hey you -- You're probably the last person on this board I would assume is making a rash decision. Just trying to share info for support.

Lena - I guess my last post came across a little too strong. That was completely unintentional. I just wanted to ensure you and everyone else that I am not making a rash decision and by by way of inference that others do not do so also.

You, of all people, are most supportive.

Bob

Hi Bob, My heart goes out to you. I am unwittingly in the same situation as you. I went to my doctor in France last summer to ask her to help me quit Al. She gave me antabuse and oxazepam (benzo), and told me to take 10mg am, 10mg lunch, 25mg tea time and 50mg bed time (on looking at benzo.org - this is a huge dose), I took this for about 6 weeks and then naturally started to taper some of my meds off, cutting out some of the day time ones. In the meantime I had some lifestyle problems and had to go back to the UK for 3 months, she gave me a 3 month prescription (I have now read i should never have been on these drugs form more than 2 weeks) so I took them whenever my anxiety got bad ad hoc on and off. I was never told I should taper, (well she said as you feel you dont need them you can cut the pills out one by one). I also started drinking again at this time, not knowing the possible reactions of AL with benzos.

When I came back home, I decided that I felt better and my life was fine, so I cut out all the benzos apart from the night time one. Just like that one day I thought, no I dont need these anymore. Anyhow after a week or so, I got the worst anxiety ever, palpatations, panic attacks etc. I assumed it was because of my lifestyle problems, never for one minute thought it was because of the tablets. I only realised this when I read on here. I still have a lot of the tablets left because she gave me a three month supply and I didnt use them all the time. Now I tried to stop the night time one, but cannot sleep, wake up in the middle of the night with terrible anxiety. I thought it was the AL, but now I realise it is the benzo withdrawal.

I have looked at the schedule on benzo.org, but I do not want to go back to my GP, who put me in this position to begin with. I have told her I am only drinking moderately at the moment, because I am applying for jobs and I dont want alcohol dependency on my record. She clearly should not have given me so many of the drugs, because now I have two addictions instead of one.

My question now is how do I taper of the 50mg I take at night. All the schedules start from a 3 times a day point, ,but I dont know whether I should go back to more times a day and reduce the amount or just slowly reduce the night time amount.

My anxiety is a lot better, but only occurs in the middle of the night if I dont take the benzo and/or I drink too much AL.

Any help please?

Soberwithin, please, please go to benzodetoxrecovery.com and read Jena's post on benzo detox and a few of the others. There are people there who will help you with all of this. They are in the same boat. I am currently taking .50mg of klonipin daily for anxiety and thought it was a small dose and compared to most it is but still not good. I was going to cut that dose in half for a taper and was advised not to do so. The decrease must be very gradual to avoid a benzo syndrome. Many things are affected by these drugs, moods, anxiety, stomach problems, muscle problems, memory you name it and it could be caused by them. The very conditions that they were claimed to cure are the conditions that they actually cause. I know I am on a soap box but I detoxed before and thought this tiny little bit was ok and now realize I have not only an alcohol problem but now a drug problem as well. I am not trying to scare you, please go there and read and I pray that others will too. These drugs CAUSE MENTAL DIAGNOSIS!!!! I am totally convinced of that. LENA you may have just saved the rest of my life if I can get through all of this! The depressions, even the drinking may have been caused by the benzo's themselves. When I started drinking again it was when I started on this dam klonipin. I had been sober for 13 years!!!!!! So soberwithin, please check out this most important forum with people in our same situation you will get info and help there!

Well, I had a nice planned AF day yesterday. No issues. No cravings. Of course, I had planned for success by having no alcohol in my house and that helped.

It's amazing how much time there is to fill when you're sober. So much life to live. I liked someone's recent post regarding the "age regression" feeling. That we are reverting back to what we once were (and will be again). Interests from our past that we gave up long ago are becoming interesting again. I am finding these interests (pre-2004, in my case) are creeping back into my thoughts and I couldn't be happier about it.

Oh, another point of interest; I found that although I had less drinking sessions this week, my alcohol consumption per session increased. Perhaps it is my brain's last gasp at trying to get that pleasant drinking euphoria it once had, but now has only become a slow decline into drunkenness and sleep with each session due to the Naltrexone.

Wishing everyone well.

Bob

Gee Bob, I am SO jealous. All those AF's. . .I've only had two so far (tho my overall consumption is way down). Yesterday I could have easily gone AF, had no cravings whatsoever. But Jake and I spent the whole day smoking some Memphis style ribs for a cookout/party we attended last night, so we dutifully took our Naltrexone and had a couple of drinks. BUT. Just a couple. Today I'm going AF. Definitely.

I almost went for another AF, especially since I couldn't find my drink-of-choice for a while. I eventually finally found some, but strangely, it was a 6 pack of 11.2 oz. bottles. I drank all of them by 8PM. Fortunately, I didn't drink any more than 6, since I didn't have anymore anyway, so that worked out perfectly!

Thanks, WTE and G4M!

I haven't read your progress report for yesterday, G4M... I hope you had your AF day.

Bob

Nah. . .I didn't make it. In fact, it was one of the worst days I've had since starting.

*sigh*