Switching from Xanax to Valium to Taper

[Emmas Mom]

I am currently taking 1.25 mg of xanax total daily.  I want to get off of the medication but I am having a hard time tapering the xanax.  I want to switch over to valium, (I have some from when my doctor was trying me on different medications) and taper off but I do not know what dose to begin at.  Does anyone know the equivalent dose of valium to xanax?  I normally take .5 upon waking and .25 every 6 hours after that.  Any help is appreciated!

[RCA759I]

Equivalency: 0.5 mg Xanax/5 mg Valium

Equivalent Valium dosage - 12.5 milligrams in divided doses.

Adjustment Phase:

Week 1: Morning (Xanax 0.5 mg), Afternoon (Xanax 0.25 mg), Evening (Valium 2.5 mg), Night (Xanax 0.25 mg)

Week 2: Morning (Xanax 0.25 mg, Valium 2.5 mg), Afternoon (Xanax 0.25 mg), Evening (Valium 2.5 mg), Night (Xanax 0.25 mg)

Week 3: Morning (Valium 5 mg), Afternoon (Valium 2.5 mg), Evening (Valium 2.5 mg), Night (Xanax 0.25 mg)

Week 4: Valium 5 mg morning, Valium 2.5 mg, afternoon, evening and night. The Xanax is discontinued.

Wait for a period of one month before proceeding. This permits the Valium to accumulate to 5-7 times that of steady-state. Such accumulation then may be subtracted from very slowly, minimizing discontinuation symptoms and or rebound anxiety, insomnia, etc.....

Discontinuance Phase:

Week 1: Valium, 2.5 mg, q.i.d. (the morning dose is cut by half)

Week 2: Morning (Valium 2.5 mg), Afternoon (Valium 2.5 mg), Evening (Valium 1.25 mg), Night (Valium 2.5 mg)

Week 3: Morning (Valium 2.5 mg), Afternoon (Valium 1.25 mg), Evening (Valium 1.25 mg), Night (Valium 2.5 mg)

Week 4: Morning (Valium 2.5 mg), Afternoon (Valium 2.5 mg), Night (Valium 2.5 mg)

Week 5: Morning (Valium 2.5 mg), Afternoon (Valium 1.25 mg), Night (Valium 2.5 mg)

Week 6: Valium, 2.5 mg, b.i.d. (q 12 hours)

Week 7: Morning (Valium 1.25 mg), Night (Valium 2.5 mg)

Week 8: Morning (Valium 1.25 mg), Night (Valium 1.25 mg)

Week 9: Valium, 1.25 mg nightly.

Week 10: The Valium is discontinued.

To be performed only the discretion of a medical doctor.

-Ryan

[Hensley258]

This forum will tell you exactly how to taper off Xanax. It even has a section that has a chart which you can follow to taper off by using Valium.

It a forum, so ask some of the members there and they can tell you everything.

http://benzowithdrawal.com/forum/