> weeks/months rather than days.

Weeks to months is actually pretty fast for benzo withdrawl IME.

For me it took nearly an entire year to feel completely normal. I was only taking 10mg diazepam per day (not a big dose).

To anyone on the journey now... hang in there. It feels never ending. But I promise you... you will wake up one day and feel completely normal.

▲

tylergetsay 10 hours ago | parent [-]

how long were you taking them?

▲

cj 10 hours ago | parent [-]

14 months. (Usually) not every day, maybe 3-4 times a week. And 8 months to taper off. How long it takes to taper depends on the level of discomfort you’re willing to tolerate.

Diazepam half life is so long that dependence can develop even when not taking it every day.

Edit: and I totally believe there are people who can take the same amount as me and not become dependent as easily as I did. Everyone is different

	▲	retrac 9 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> Diazepam half life is so long This is a desirable trait when tapering a dose. It reduces hour-to-hour blood level variation which reduces the whole up-down of alternating between euphoria and rebound anxiety. Idea is to target a constant level which is tolerable and slowly lower it. The article implies this (a Valium taper is mentioned) but I don't think it outright states it so I'll say that for anyone who is addicted to a fast-acting one like Xanax or Klonopin - a switch to Valium might help. My taper was nearly one year. Ten years off now.