Panic attacks - trying to come off long term benzos

[howtonotdothis]

I was stupidly prescribed benzos two years ago after two traumatic bereavements in a fortnight, I was told to keep taking them and ended up on a daily dose of 6mg for two years.

I’m now desperately trying to come off them, I’m down to a weekly script of 7mg and am to try and take half to one tablet a day in the morning. Today’s a ‘half’ and I’m struggling. Gripping the seat in front of me on the bus.

I’ve got to work a full shift 9-5 and I’m worried I’ll lose the head there. My workplace don’t know and I’d be scared to tell them in case they aren’t happy (because it’s bloody diazepam).

Has anyone else come off similar? How do you cope?

Not 7mg, 14mg - 7 tablets.

Can't you get signed off for the tapering down period? Benzo withdrawal can be horrible

I did it three years ago, you can, too. Can you take any time off? I slept a lot. Emotions were all over the place. I'm a bit surprised you aren't prescribed an anti-depressant though.. It would've made more sense to start one and stay at a low dose, taper off benzos then determine if /when you should come off anti depressant.
Hang in there. Try self-hypnosis /meditation (vids on YT). That, counselling and a lot of walks helped me cope.

I’m on two already, take mirtazapine at bedtime and sertraline in the morning which do help a little bit. Nurse practitioner said I’d probably cope better with the distraction of work which is true, I think if I was at home alone I’d be climbing the walls but I feel horrendously sick, sweaty and agitated today. They’ve been tapering it for about 6 weeks now coming down 1mg at a time, it’s hellish.

Are you doing it under medical supervision? I think taking alternative day different doses isn't recommended and might be prolonging the agony. Would probably be better to come down by a tiny amount but consistent each day.

Diazepam comes in 2mg tablets and they can be halved with a pill cutter to make 1mg or you can see if you can be prescribed liquid to be able to reduce by smaller amounts

This is NICE recommended regime:

Suggested withdrawal schedule for diazepam
• From diazepam 40 mg daily or less:
◦ Reduce by 2–4 mg every 1–2 weeks until dose is 20 mg daily, then
◦ Reduce by 1–2 mg every 1–2 weeks until dose is 10 mg daily, then
◦ Reduce by 1 mg every 1–2 weeks until dose is 5 mg daily, then
◦ Reduce by 0.5–1 mg every 1–2 weeks until completely stopped.
• Estimated total withdrawal time:
◦ From diazepam 40 mg per day: 30–60 weeks.
◦ From diazepam 20 mg per day: 20–40 weeks.

If you are suffering so much the advice would be to go slower with the withdrawal

OP, @ThePure has good info. I'd add that every body is different. You might need a slower taper, either by dose, or time, especially if you're struggling to cope. Unless you try upping the other meds. It can be tricky and one size doesn't always fit all. Don't be discouraged. 🩷