Tapering off Valium with Oxazepam (Seresta) - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

nakur · 10-30-2007, 05:19 PM

I went to my GP today and told him that I have been using Valium for 2 months. I started using it when I quit drinking and started with 60 mg and am currently on 20 mg. He told me to taper it off to 0 in one week and gave me some Oxazepam if the withdrawal gets really bad. I told him that the tapering schedules I found on the net advise to taper it off more slowly but he told me that 2 months and 20 mg isn't that bad.

Did anyone had experience with tapering off so fast and will the withdrawal be really bad?

Thanks Nakur!

anvilhead · 10-30-2007, 05:24 PM

i really appreciate your efforts to get OFF stuff, but i do wanna warn ya:

Oxazepam as with other benzodiazepine drugs can cause physical dependence, addiction and what is known as the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. Withdrawal from oxazepam or other benzodiazepines often leads to withdrawal symptoms which are similar to those seen during alcohol and barbiturate withdrawal.

basically, you're just TRADING substances........

nakur · 10-30-2007, 05:29 PM

I know but he said that Oxazepam has a much more shorter lifetime so it will be much easier to quit it when I am off Valium...

tennchick9598 · 10-30-2007, 05:52 PM

what the heck is Oxazepam?? Is it new, i have never heard of it. I was prescriber Xanax Xr and regular Xanax, I am just curious about this?? I take mine to help me sleep. I am supposed to take it three times a day (XR) and as needed regular. The XR is 1mg and the regular is .25. I dont know if it does any good but it sure helps me sleep. ANyway, what is the Oxazepam, new stuff or what? Can someone enlighten me? Thanks

ccgirl · 10-31-2007, 05:29 AM

I agree with Anvil. Honestly I'd get a second opinion.

EricPaul · 10-31-2007, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nakur

I went to my GP today and told him that I have been using Valium for 2 months. I started using it when I quit drinking and started with 60 mg and am currently on 20 mg. He told me to taper it off to 0 in one week and gave me some Oxazepam if the withdrawal gets really bad. I told him that the tapering schedules I found on the net advise to taper it off more slowly but he told me that 2 months and 20 mg isn't that bad.

Did anyone had experience with tapering off so fast and will the withdrawal be really bad?

Thanks Nakur!

If you find that you have intolerable withdrawal symptoms from the withdrawal plan above, then ask your doctor if you can follow the plan from the Ashton manual.
Click on the link for a withdrawal schedule from diazepam. For a taper plan from 20mg diazepam, you start from stage 10. Ask your doctor if this plan is okay for you. You will need your doctors supervision when withdrawing from benzos.
http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm#s2

Oxazepam is a active metabolite of diazepam. This means that your liver metabolizes diazepam and turns it into oxazepam which is one of the active metabolites of diazepam, so taking oxazepam has basically the same effect on your brain and nervous system as diazepam does. It is difficult to taper because it does not come in small doses and it's half life is too short leaving you with interdose withdrawal symptoms.

Read the Ashton manual to understand what benzos do to you and how to safely get off them with the help of a benzowise doctor.
http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm

The benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome may develop at any time up to 3 weeks after stopping a long-acting benzodiazepine, but may occur within a few hours in the case of a short-acting one.
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40024896/

Metabolism and Elimination: It has been reported in the literature that diazepam is extensively metabolized to one major active metabolite (desmethyldiazepam) and two minor active metabolites, 3-hydroxydiazepam (temazepam) and 3-hydroxy-N-diazepam (oxazepam) in plasma. At therapeutic doses, desmethyldiazepam is found in plasma at concentrations equivalent to those of diazepam while oxazepam and temazepam are not usually detectable. The metabolism of diazepam is primarily hepatic and involves demethylation (involving primarily CYP2C19 and CYP3A4) and 3-hydroxylation (involving primarily CYP3A4), followed by glucuronidation. The marked inter-individual variability in the clearance of diazepam reported in the literature is probably attributable to variability of CYP2CI9 (which is known to exhibit genetic polymorphism; about 3-5% of Caucasians have little or no activity and are “poor metabolizers”) and CYP3A4. No inhibition was demonstrated in the presence of inhibitors selective for CYP2A6, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP2EI, or CYP1A2, indicating that these enzymes are not significantly involved in metabolism of diazepam.

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/diazepamr_cp.htm

Lizrox · 10-31-2007, 06:05 PM

I really don't understand how your doctor wants too add an ADDITIONAL benzo to get off of the benzos?!?? He should be tapering you off gradually with valium or a different Benzo. I was also abusing Valium, but the drs decided to taper me off with Klonopin..

The w/d symptoms will vary depending on the person..

emmer · 10-31-2007, 06:23 PM

I tried tapering off klonopin with klonopin and had in between dose shaking...
so I crosssed to valium for the longer half life.
The tapering was easier 3-4 times smoother with valium.

Lizrox · 10-31-2007, 09:29 PM

Darn Emmer,

I don't even want to see a prescription bottle with the word Valium on it.. will bring back too many BAD memories.. i'm doing fine; I see my pdoc tommorrow..

emmer · 10-31-2007, 09:58 PM

yeah i hear you Liz ...I abused them heavy too... my wife had to pack them around in her purse at all times!
When I first crossed to them ....right away i gulped down my whole months worth in a few days then i tried the cold turkey thing..
I had to be taken to the hospital .... i dang near went nuts.
Then i started the weaning off properly and had no problems......whew!
Don't wanna go there again.

Lizrox · 11-01-2007, 09:55 AM

Cold Turkey Benzo= death, seizures..the works!!!

tennchick9598 · 11-01-2007, 01:05 PM

my doc, after my seizure and several rehab stints for tramadol has me on Xanxax XR 1mg three times a day and regular xanax .25mg as needed. with three refills. I dont really like benzos I crave the up and high feeling i get from opiates, ya know. I am in a pretty down place right now that i feel like nothing good will come from me and i am feeling pretty damn hopeless.

Lizrox · 11-01-2007, 06:38 PM

Whats wrong Tenn?? are U OK???

tennchick9598 · 11-02-2007, 10:08 AM

no, not doing so good LIz, i am not doing so good or to be proper (doing so well) at all, i feel like crap, act like crap and want some tramadol so bad i could die

bval · 11-02-2007, 11:43 AM

Tennlady...

Dunno how long you have off of tramadol but it's gonna take awhile before the hopelessness and craving you're feeling goes away. There is really nothing more crushingly depressing than being dopesick. You just gotta stay strong and KNOW that it's just the drugs leaving your system and you're gonna be ALRIGHT pretty soon. The really bad part should last no longer than two weeks. If you're in a lot of pain, you may want to see a doctor. I highly recommend the combination of neurontin and clonidine to easy the w/d symptoms, hopefully your doctor will agree. And *I* say, Ambien for sleeping when you're in w/d's is a freaking godsend, because you can go bats*it crazy from the symptoms if you can't get some sleep. Some may disagree, and if one has had a sleeping pill addiction at some point it may not be the best idea, but I never did, so a couple weeks on ambien was very easy to let go of when they ran out. Just my 2 cents. Hang in there baby, you WILL recover if you stay away from the dope. Let this experience be a learning experience for you - you DON'T EVER want to be in this position again, EVER! Right?!?

NEEDTOBESOBER · 11-11-2007, 10:59 PM

you should ask your doc about Librium -is a benzo that is less potent-when i was in detox they gave me 50mgs every 6 hours and I was in for alcohol and taking 12 mgs xanax a day-ihad been using benzos for 5 yrs. and after 7 days in the hospital i had no problems when they didnt give me any more after that.

10-30-2007, 05:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
nakur Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Holland Posts: 90	Tapering off Valium with Oxazepam (Seresta) I went to my GP today and told him that I have been using Valium for 2 months. I started using it when I quit drinking and started with 60 mg and am currently on 20 mg. He told me to taper it off to 0 in one week and gave me some Oxazepam if the withdrawal gets really bad. I told him that the tapering schedules I found on the net advise to taper it off more slowly but he told me that 2 months and 20 mg isn't that bad. Did anyone had experience with tapering off so fast and will the withdrawal be really bad? Thanks Nakur!

10-30-2007, 05:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
tennchick9598 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: TN Posts: 1,372 Blog Entries: 10	what the heck is Oxazepam?? Is it new, i have never heard of it. I was prescriber Xanax Xr and regular Xanax, I am just curious about this?? I take mine to help me sleep. I am supposed to take it three times a day (XR) and as needed regular. The XR is 1mg and the regular is .25. I dont know if it does any good but it sure helps me sleep. ANyway, what is the Oxazepam, new stuff or what? Can someone enlighten me? Thanks __________________ Its Better To Have Loved and Lost Then Never To Have Loved At All........

11-01-2007, 01:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
tennchick9598 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: TN Posts: 1,372 Blog Entries: 10	my doc, after my seizure and several rehab stints for tramadol has me on Xanxax XR 1mg three times a day and regular xanax .25mg as needed. with three refills. I dont really like benzos I crave the up and high feeling i get from opiates, ya know. I am in a pretty down place right now that i feel like nothing good will come from me and i am feeling pretty damn hopeless. __________________ Its Better To Have Loved and Lost Then Never To Have Loved At All........

11-02-2007, 10:08 AM	#14 (permalink)
tennchick9598 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: TN Posts: 1,372 Blog Entries: 10	no, not doing so good LIz, i am not doing so good or to be proper (doing so well) at all, i feel like crap, act like crap and want some tramadol so bad i could die __________________ Its Better To Have Loved and Lost Then Never To Have Loved At All........

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10-30-2007, 05:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
anvilhead Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 14,576	i really appreciate your efforts to get OFF stuff, but i do wanna warn ya: Oxazepam as with other benzodiazepine drugs can cause physical dependence, addiction and what is known as the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. Withdrawal from oxazepam or other benzodiazepines often leads to withdrawal symptoms which are similar to those seen during alcohol and barbiturate withdrawal. basically, you're just TRADING substances........

10-30-2007, 05:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
nakur Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Holland Posts: 90	I know but he said that Oxazepam has a much more shorter lifetime so it will be much easier to quit it when I am off Valium...

10-31-2007, 05:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
ccgirl Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Harwich, MA Posts: 2,749	I agree with Anvil. Honestly I'd get a second opinion.

10-31-2007, 06:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Lizrox Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 677	I really don't understand how your doctor wants too add an ADDITIONAL benzo to get off of the benzos?!?? He should be tapering you off gradually with valium or a different Benzo. I was also abusing Valium, but the drs decided to taper me off with Klonopin.. The w/d symptoms will vary depending on the person..

10-31-2007, 06:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
emmer Guest Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,716 Blog Entries: 10	I tried tapering off klonopin with klonopin and had in between dose shaking... so I crosssed to valium for the longer half life. The tapering was easier 3-4 times smoother with valium.

10-31-2007, 09:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lizrox Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 677	Darn Emmer, I don't even want to see a prescription bottle with the word Valium on it.. will bring back too many BAD memories.. i'm doing fine; I see my pdoc tommorrow..

10-31-2007, 09:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
emmer Guest Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,716 Blog Entries: 10	yeah i hear you Liz ...I abused them heavy too... my wife had to pack them around in her purse at all times! When I first crossed to them ....right away i gulped down my whole months worth in a few days then i tried the cold turkey thing.. I had to be taken to the hospital .... i dang near went nuts. Then i started the weaning off properly and had no problems......whew! Don't wanna go there again.

11-01-2007, 09:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
Lizrox Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 677	Cold Turkey Benzo= death, seizures..the works!!!

11-01-2007, 06:38 PM	#13 (permalink)
Lizrox Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 677	Whats wrong Tenn?? are U OK???

11-02-2007, 11:43 AM	#15 (permalink)
bval Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: CA Native Posts: 2,509	Tennlady... Dunno how long you have off of tramadol but it's gonna take awhile before the hopelessness and craving you're feeling goes away. There is really nothing more crushingly depressing than being dopesick. You just gotta stay strong and KNOW that it's just the drugs leaving your system and you're gonna be ALRIGHT pretty soon. The really bad part should last no longer than two weeks. If you're in a lot of pain, you may want to see a doctor. I highly recommend the combination of neurontin and clonidine to easy the w/d symptoms, hopefully your doctor will agree. And I say, Ambien for sleeping when you're in w/d's is a freaking godsend, because you can go bats*it crazy from the symptoms if you can't get some sleep. Some may disagree, and if one has had a sleeping pill addiction at some point it may not be the best idea, but I never did, so a couple weeks on ambien was very easy to let go of when they ran out. Just my 2 cents. Hang in there baby, you WILL recover if you stay away from the dope. Let this experience be a learning experience for you - you DON'T EVER want to be in this position again, EVER! Right?!?

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11-11-2007, 10:59 PM	#16 (permalink)
NEEDTOBESOBER Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS Posts: 501	you should ask your doc about Librium -is a benzo that is less potent-when i was in detox they gave me 50mgs every 6 hours and I was in for alcohol and taking 12 mgs xanax a day-ihad been using benzos for 5 yrs. and after 7 days in the hospital i had no problems when they didnt give me any more after that.