Abrupt Downward Titration Last Week

[TX Git Slinger]

I have been experiencing abject anxiety, panic and depression, that I'm pretty sure is bac related--many of you have read my previous threads.

When I was up at 370 Dr L instructed me to go quickly down to 300.

Continued down with titration of 10 to 20 mg per week, with little to no improvement.

At one point, when I was at 220, I as having such an esp awful time that I decided to titrate down 70 mg in similar fashion to what Dr L had recommended. Stayed there for a week now I'm at 140.

Still not doing much better, if at all.

Did that second abrupt titration do me any kind of extra harm? I didn't experience anything acute--no shaking or tremors, heart racing etc. I felt better for a couple days and then the same symptoms set in again. I extrapolated Dr L's advice to go down 50 mg that one time earlier, and did it again.

Psychiatrist has had me on 20 mg valium daily for the last month--I usually only take half that, sometimes 15 mg for obvious reasons. Don't want to create even more problems down the road. The valium takes the edge off the symptoms to where it's within the realm of bearable. But that's about it.

140 mg is certainly doing the trick as far as the alcohol is concerned. I can have 3 or less no prob.

Any suggestions as to what I should do? Titrate up? Continue down slowly?
Will this abate???

It's been going on for a month and a half. Don't understand what, how or why, but something went dreadfully wrong, somewhere along the way.

[StuckinLA]

Abrupt Downward Titration Last Week

Tx, I'm so sorry you still haven't had relief. I really don't know if there are long-term effects of the abrupt swings in dose. How long have you been at any single dose?

I'm really not the one to weigh in here, but didn't want your post to sit without a response. I know you've been in touch with NE--any chance of giving her a call? Any chance of staying at 140 for a while?

[TX Git Slinger]

Abrupt Downward Titration Last Week

Hey Stuck! thanks for checkin in.
NE and I have kinda fallen outta touch.
I thought you might have some insight since i remember you mentioning that bac w/d can take a few days to set in?
I didn't notice anything acute. I did feel initially a little more calm after the 70 mg downward titration. I mean I wouldn't really think that would cause crazy amounts of w/d would you? When I hear of w/d nightmare stories, they are usually people who go completely off or do radical ups and downs and whimsical dosages.
These days I'm feeling a little less anxious (knock wood) and a little more depressed (wow what a wonderful choice!). Of course, I know the two are inexorably linked.
Anyway, I'm holding at 140. I want to go as low as I can without cravings starting to kick back in. Which they haven't.. I can have one or two, which I enjoy then I"m ready to stop.

[TX Git Slinger]

Abrupt Downward Titration Last Week

STuck, as I said before I've been pretty careful with my titration schedule both up and down, save for those two incidences I mentioned, the former of which was austhorized by Dr L.

[COSGringo]

Abrupt Downward Titration Last Week

Hey Tx. Hang in there. I think you are in uncharted waters for most of us.

I don't have an answer. I am loving life (kind of a joke) here in NM with the hi guys of our big CO. The kind of make and lose millions for people.

I don't think people that stop answering/replying are necessarily dropping you out of their circle of concerns.

They might be but they could have their own problems. I noticed I sort of fell out of grace but you can't sweat the small stuff.

I can't talk too much as I am on my work net when I travel which is often lately. Hang in there.

Rely on yourself. You can do it.

[StuckinLA]

Abrupt Downward Titration Last Week

Holding steady has to be better than jumping around. 140 sounds like it's doing what it needs to do for you drinking-wise, and no, probably not in any kind of crazy withdrawal range or anything.

But you do have a lot going on in your system right now, and while there might not be dangerous withdrawal, anxiety and depression would seem pretty normal if you suddenly quit or severely cut back on drinking... and bac mimics the withdrawal of AL and benzos, so makes sense that it might cause some of that.

Anyway, yeah, I'd say hold tight for a couple days and see.

[TX Git Slinger]

Abrupt Downward Titration Last Week

think i'm gonna stay here at 140 for a while. I can drink a couple light beers and I swear the stuff (the bac, that is) still works at this dose. After those, I"m done with the beer. Don't want no mo'!
And that's from a guy who used to drink 12-18 a day easily.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Abrupt Downward Titration Last Week

Still around and still checking in!

The issue, Tx, is lack of time. I have yet to figure out how to squeeze more than 24 hours into a day. It's still not possible to do all the stuff I want to do in a day!

Plus it's very helpful to have input from lots of people, and support from all over the world!

(btw, Dr. L didn't say you should go down that much, right? I just want to be clear for the people who might read this and think it's a-okay to go up or down by large increments! THAT can be a real bummer, as you know.)

Glad to see that things may be settling in a bit.