OXAZEPAM ADDICTED. Does anyone know how to get off of it??

[hydrogurl]

I have been using oxazepam for sleep problems and anxiety for over 5 years. I want to get off it but dont know the best way to do this. I can't get a decent sleep when I don't have it. It sux I have tried to cut it down but sleep like **** and have no energy the next day. I also use to use it during the day in smaller doses to help with anxiety and panic attacks but I try now to only use it at night. I really want to get off this, I think I have been on it for far too long now. I just want to be able to get some sort of normal sleep without having to rely on this stuff.

[SophieShine]

hi there,

Benzos can not be stopped just like that. too many risks.
I'm tapering from oxa for almost a year now, almost there!!!
The trick is to switch to a longer lasting benzo like valium.
So talk to your doctor about it and you guys have to agree on a tapering plan.
There's a great site where you can find all the info and the equivalences between different meds. Here's the link
http://www.benzo.org.uk/
and the Ashton manual for the tapering plans
http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm

I'm a little foggy in the head right now, just woke up but, if you need ANY advice please feel free to pm me or send me a note. I'm here to help when I can.
All my strenght. xxx. sophie.

[MontanaGurl]

I agree with OKnotOK.  I do not have any experience with the medicine you are taking but, have read and heard that when dealing with Benzo's it can be very dangerous to stop cold turkey after you have been on them that long.  Talk to your doctor and be your own advocate and research information and bring that with you to your doctor appt.

Keep posting - there are alot of neat people on here who can and will help you.

til later - montanagurl

[OKnotOK]

Oh. Your doctor may want to switch you over right away, but my bet is she/he will get you down to a tolerable dose of oxazepam. Depends on the doctor.

[OKnotOK]

Is it prescribed? Sounds like you have a steady supply, but it matters not how you get them ...

If you're talking Serax (one brand name), it's got a fairly short half-life (breakdown time) compared to diazepam (Valium) and Klonopin/Rivotril (clonazepam) ... I mention this, because you'll have to switch to one of these longer-lasting benzos for your taper. Valium seems to be the choice of doctors.

What you can do now: Stop taking them during the day! It might be a little rough at first, but a good night's sleep is more beneficial than popping them whenever you're stressed (if you've been diagnosed with anxiety/panic attacks, you'll have to get a few medical opinions here);

Find out how much (minimum) it takes to sleep, and stick with that,

Make the switch to the long half-life benzos noted above. You really need to do this under medical supervision, so you can stay with the taper.

There's a great site in the U.K. (search:   benzodiazepine  equivalency) which has taper info -- it absolutely has to be slow, especially after four years -- but it's doable.

Good luck.