SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information - View Single Post - XANAX, ATIVAN, KLONOPIN, VALIUM, great info here

woops · 02-19-2007, 11:05 AM

Great news to hear you are going ahead and so well with your taper.
Yep - I have now read your previous posts to remind me - and believe me I know how that all felt. Altho I was not ever on xanax (thank God) I was prescribed ativan and my introduction to this whole sorry mess was when I went c/t. Oh - it was so bad. 2 days into c/t I was sitting at the computer - shaking so hard.............. dreadful nausea, headaches, sweats............. och - you know. Luckily I found help on the internet that evening - and got the best advice and support from someone who literally carried me psychologically thro the next few days until I was "strong" enough to get my head together enough to transfer to valium and get on a taper. I was told to get to my doctor first thing the next morning and get re-instated fast on the ativan. Which I did. (The threat of seizures worked!!) Luckily I had a really informed doc who took out her BNF and suggested the transfer to valium and taper by 10% every 10 days. And the rest they say - is history!! I will be forever grateful to that man I met on the internet that night.
So - taper was fine for me................... OK - not without some problems - but overall fine.
Like you (I think) - I found the valium was "kind" and the long half life put a stop to all the interdose withdrawal symptoms that I have been having with ativan. I began to sleep well, eat well and altho very "fatigued" I managed to continue with my job and with family life........... So - all those horror stories are not necessarily the whole picture - yep - some people have horrific withdrawals - but lots of us have a very manageable taper. And I have a feeling that there is a huge psychological element to the whole thing. I think Windysan will agree with that. Dont dwell on it - just get on with it - and get on with life. Altho I do recognise that for a minority it is sheer hell. But you sound much more like me and I am sure you will do just fine.
Great that you got a doc to prescribe valium - I understand that is not always easy in the US. So - everything looking good - steady as she goes!
Eyes on the prize!!
Woops

My pics are not in your class at all!
but perhaps this will give you a wry smile?

02-19-2007, 11:05 AM	#455 (permalink)
woops Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: middle earth Posts: 1,040	Tex Great news to hear you are going ahead and so well with your taper. Yep - I have now read your previous posts to remind me - and believe me I know how that all felt. Altho I was not ever on xanax (thank God) I was prescribed ativan and my introduction to this whole sorry mess was when I went c/t. Oh - it was so bad. 2 days into c/t I was sitting at the computer - shaking so hard.............. dreadful nausea, headaches, sweats............. och - you know. Luckily I found help on the internet that evening - and got the best advice and support from someone who literally carried me psychologically thro the next few days until I was "strong" enough to get my head together enough to transfer to valium and get on a taper. I was told to get to my doctor first thing the next morning and get re-instated fast on the ativan. Which I did. (The threat of seizures worked!!) Luckily I had a really informed doc who took out her BNF and suggested the transfer to valium and taper by 10% every 10 days. And the rest they say - is history!! I will be forever grateful to that man I met on the internet that night. So - taper was fine for me................... OK - not without some problems - but overall fine. Like you (I think) - I found the valium was "kind" and the long half life put a stop to all the interdose withdrawal symptoms that I have been having with ativan. I began to sleep well, eat well and altho very "fatigued" I managed to continue with my job and with family life........... So - all those horror stories are not necessarily the whole picture - yep - some people have horrific withdrawals - but lots of us have a very manageable taper. And I have a feeling that there is a huge psychological element to the whole thing. I think Windysan will agree with that. Dont dwell on it - just get on with it - and get on with life. Altho I do recognise that for a minority it is sheer hell. But you sound much more like me and I am sure you will do just fine. Great that you got a doc to prescribe valium - I understand that is not always easy in the US. So - everything looking good - steady as she goes! Eyes on the prize!! Woops My pics are not in your class at all! but perhaps this will give you a wry smile?