Triazolam Withdrawal

Triazolam is a benzodiazepine sleeping tablet prescribed for insomnia. Severe withdrawal symptoms may develop if triazolam is stopped abruptly. It is better to gradually disontinue it preferably utilising diazepam. Triazolam is a very controversial benzodiazepine, being banned in several countries due to violence, addiction and serious psychiatric side effects associated with it's use. Triazolam is a very potent benzodiazepine and very short acting benzodiazepine drug. It has a half life of only about 2 hours. This commonly leads to a strong rebound or withdrawal syndrome the next day with typical benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms. It is like cold turkeying the drug every day due to triazolam's short half life for many people. Day time withdrawal symptoms may include anxiety, agitation, depression, feelings of unreality, muscular cramps and many other symptoms.

If people are addicted and experiencing withdrawal symptoms from triazolam then crossing over to diazepam is what is recommended. Diazepam has a much longer half life and allows for small dose reductions. The long half life allows for a smooth and slow decline in blood levels of the drug. The equivalent dose of diazepam to triazolam is 0.5 mg of triazolam is equivalent to 10 mg of diazepam. Both diazepam and triazolam are benzodiazepines and work the same way on the brain by binding to benzodiazepine receptors and thus diazepam is not a new addiction.

Crossing over from triazolam to diazepam should be done in gradual steps. Diazepam should also alleviate any day time withdrawal symptoms a person is suffering from triazolam. Once crossed over to triazolam a period of stabalisation should be allowed of 2 - 4 weeks before withdrawal is begun. Then withdrawal can be started. Below is a suggested triazolam withdrawal chart for withdrawing from triazolam using diazepam. It should be kept in mind that the below chart is only a guide and some people can reduce faster than others and others need to reduce slower than others and the reduction speed may need to be changed during the taper.

Withdrawing from Triazolam
Withdrawing from 0.5 mg of Triazolam using 2 mg Diazepam tablets.
Follow or Adapt Table From Your Starting or Current dose
Morning	Lunch Time	Evening	Before Bed	Total Daily Dose
			Triazolam 0.5 mg	Triazolam 0.5 mg
Stabalise for 1 - 3 weeks
Cross over to diazepam can be done in 4 stages instead of 2 stages or even more slowly if any difficulties are encountered during this suggested cross over to diazepam section.
			Triazolam 0.25 mg + Diazepam 5 mg	Triazolam 0.25 mg + Diazepam 5 mg
Stabalise for 1 - 3 weeks
			Diazepam 10 mg	Diazepam 10 mg
Stabalise for 1 - 3 weeks
			Diazepam 9 mg	Diazepam 9 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 8 mg	Diazepam 8 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 7 mg	Diazepam 7 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 6 mg	Diazepam 6 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
See also NOTE below for additional information on withdrawing from 5 mg of diazepam
			Diazepam 5 mg	Diazepam 5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 4.5 mg	Diazepam 4.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 4 mg	Diazepam 4 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 3.5 mg	Diazepam 3.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 3 mg	Diazepam 3 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 2.5 mg	Diazepam 2.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 2 mg	Diazepam 2 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 1.5 mg	Diazepam 1.5 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 1 mg	Diazepam 1 mg
Hold reduction for 3 - 4 weeks
			Diazepam 0.5 mg	Diazepam 0.5 mg
Drop Last 0.5 mg dose of diazepam and Never Take Another Benzodiazepine Again
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Gradual Diazepam Detox Complete

NOTE: Some people find it difficult in the final stages of withdrawal from 5 mg of diazepam to zero. If you are one of these people it may be of value asking your doctor to provide you with the 2 mg per 5 ml diazepam liquid suspension, and obtaining a 1 ml syringe from your local pharmacy/drug store/chemist. Users can then obtain smaller dose reductions than the 0.5 mg sized cuts using tablets. See this page on SLOW WITHDRAWAL FROM DIAZEPAM using liquid suspension diazepam.