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How To Taper Off Valium?
Question: I am out of my script for almost a week from Valium on a drop back from Xanax with the higher half-life to make the taper easier, but iv been having bad affects as my meds were lost on a air Canada flight from Newfoundland and I ended up in hospital last time I came off and started taper from 6-7mg xanax to 80-100mg valium a day to 40-50mg a day and that's where I still am (untill a week ago witch was the last pill I had from my carry on suitcase), I have my bottle from the last script I had in nl and that is due for a new script tomorrow anyways, can you please help me with my next move, I figure I may have to fly back home from my vacation which is 1200 one way just to get some meds at my house. its very serious as ive been on these for 14 years. This is my good friends account who I am travelling with.I have had life threatening symptoms in the past and am getting close to that again with weight loss being very substantial. im 113lbs lightest in my adult life by 20 plus pounds from 178 last year
thanks for your time
thanks for your time
Brief Answer:
Clarifications
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
However I would require a couple of more details to help you in answering your query in a better justified way.
1. While taperring you are on 40-50 mg of diazepam (valium these days ). Correct me if I am wrong.
2. Have you lost all your medicines or you have any xanax or vallium left with you?
3. What isthe possibility of you getting medical help from the country where you are visiting.
Hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.
Regards and wish you good health,
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
Neuro-Psychiatrist and Sexologist
Clarifications
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
However I would require a couple of more details to help you in answering your query in a better justified way.
1. While taperring you are on 40-50 mg of diazepam (valium these days ). Correct me if I am wrong.
2. Have you lost all your medicines or you have any xanax or vallium left with you?
3. What isthe possibility of you getting medical help from the country where you are visiting.
Hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.
Regards and wish you good health,
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
Neuro-Psychiatrist and Sexologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have tapered off all meds but still was taking valium at 40-50mg a day until a week ago when my supply ran out due to loosing 2 week supply in luggage (I made it tell now and my script is due to get a refil tomorrow, so the lost luggage should not be an impt detail atm. My friend is in the same position with her meds. I only take Valium so other scripts lost are not impt since i have stopped them for over a month now. i am in Bangor now and have not had any luck with walk in clinics, even went to the hospital in st. XXXXXXX Canada and was told they don't write scrips for that.
Brief Answer:
40-50 mg is a high dose
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the follow-up information.
Its very unfortunate that you have lost such important medicines along with your luggage. Now the problem is that you are on 4-050 mg diazepam which is a high dose of diazepam and it cannot be stopped right away. If stopped this can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, sweating, increased heart rate, insominia, and even seizures or delirium. Now the last two things are serious. You definetly have to take medicines or something similar.
The other problem is that valium is a drug of abuse and if you went around askingfor a prescription and medicines in a new country, they will consider you as an abuser and wont help you.
The options that you can do:
1) fly back to your own country meet your doctor and get the medicines prescribed and refilled.
2) You may ask the local doctor to prescribe any benzodiazepines in the equivalent doses like lorazepam or clonazepam or oxazepam so that you dont get the withdrawal.
3) You may contact wallsgreen pharmacy with your prescription to refill the same with you and provide drugs by ordering online.
You may try one of these options, but dont ignore the problem.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
40-50 mg is a high dose
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the follow-up information.
Its very unfortunate that you have lost such important medicines along with your luggage. Now the problem is that you are on 4-050 mg diazepam which is a high dose of diazepam and it cannot be stopped right away. If stopped this can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, sweating, increased heart rate, insominia, and even seizures or delirium. Now the last two things are serious. You definetly have to take medicines or something similar.
The other problem is that valium is a drug of abuse and if you went around askingfor a prescription and medicines in a new country, they will consider you as an abuser and wont help you.
The options that you can do:
1) fly back to your own country meet your doctor and get the medicines prescribed and refilled.
2) You may ask the local doctor to prescribe any benzodiazepines in the equivalent doses like lorazepam or clonazepam or oxazepam so that you dont get the withdrawal.
3) You may contact wallsgreen pharmacy with your prescription to refill the same with you and provide drugs by ordering online.
You may try one of these options, but dont ignore the problem.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
in answer to yours...
1. It will cost an additional $1200 to fly hone for medication.
2. Can you recommend a doctor in the Bangor Maine Area that would be able to see me tomorrow, on such short notice?
3. Although my prescription is due now, the bottle I have is not showing any refills...will they still be able to refill them?also do you know of an online pharmacy that would overnight these to me? thank you.
Ive actually come down to 50mg a day, total for diaz, I would be fine with ativan, clanaz, oxezapam, but an equiv dose of any now would be fine, I can not sleep and feel really bad, I really cant sit in a waitng room for 6h with no luck again, I dont think I could possible do it without leaving then getting worse, thanks for your concern and I really need to get this issue in order, the flight back (not big on flying) would be very very hard to get home and the price is up to 4000 one way (not easy right now)
XXXXXXX
I am finding it very difficult to walk and can't find my center of balance, so traveling would not be possible or at least difficult. I am wondering how serious of a condition this symptom would imply? and my next step?
1. It will cost an additional $1200 to fly hone for medication.
2. Can you recommend a doctor in the Bangor Maine Area that would be able to see me tomorrow, on such short notice?
3. Although my prescription is due now, the bottle I have is not showing any refills...will they still be able to refill them?also do you know of an online pharmacy that would overnight these to me? thank you.
Ive actually come down to 50mg a day, total for diaz, I would be fine with ativan, clanaz, oxezapam, but an equiv dose of any now would be fine, I can not sleep and feel really bad, I really cant sit in a waitng room for 6h with no luck again, I dont think I could possible do it without leaving then getting worse, thanks for your concern and I really need to get this issue in order, the flight back (not big on flying) would be very very hard to get home and the price is up to 4000 one way (not easy right now)
XXXXXXX
I am finding it very difficult to walk and can't find my center of balance, so traveling would not be possible or at least difficult. I am wondering how serious of a condition this symptom would imply? and my next step?
Brief Answer:
It can get worse
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Normally benzodiazepine dependence lasts for 5-10 days and it generally reduces in intensity after that. There is a risk of seizure in the first 48 hours only. If the symptoms do not look that bad then you may just wait for 5 more days to let the symptoms settle down. However flying home would be a best option for you if financially feasible.
You may contact ones:
Dr. XXXXXXX C. Payne, MD
Psychiatry
268 Stillwater Ave, Bangor, ME 04401
He may help you, but nothing can be said with certainty.
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
It can get worse
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Normally benzodiazepine dependence lasts for 5-10 days and it generally reduces in intensity after that. There is a risk of seizure in the first 48 hours only. If the symptoms do not look that bad then you may just wait for 5 more days to let the symptoms settle down. However flying home would be a best option for you if financially feasible.
You may contact ones:
Dr. XXXXXXX C. Payne, MD
Psychiatry
268 Stillwater Ave, Bangor, ME 04401
He may help you, but nothing can be said with certainty.
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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