Expert: Jacqui - 3/24/2010

Question
Hello there!
I have been on benzodiazepines and barbiturates for over 15 years.
I am currently taking 6mg Klonopin and 200mg Phenobarbital.
There is a doctor that wants to detox me in a hospital setting in 7 days.
Can you get off this meds in one week without major consequences?

Answer
Hi Hector,

I can only speak from my experience within the Austalian system (which is generally a public system where people can access GPs and drug treatment for free), and this does sound very quick.  In Australia, someone may go to a detox/hospital if they need to get on a stable dose (i.e.: they are taking loads and loads of pills and uneven amounts) or to change them from shorter acting drugs such as xanax to longer acting ones such as diazepam (which is much easier to manage).  After that there would be an extended period (sometimes weeks sometimes months, and in a couple of cases, years) where the person is reduced of the drugs very slowly - often only a milligram every few weeks.

I would hope that the doctor has researched this, and I must admit that telling medical practitinoers what to do doesn't always go down very well.  However, if you have a generally good relationship with him or her, you could pass on this web page which has a link to a manual for benzo reduction.  http://www.reconnexion.org.au/coming-off-benzodiazepines-tranquillisers-or-sleep...

The organisation with the web page above are very well respected for dealing with these kinds of medication and you might find that there is other information there that can help.

As far as withdrawal from barbituates, these also have a very high risk attached.  I am not as knowledgeable on this, as they are quite rare in Australia, but I can imagine the same principle applies as with benzos - slow and steady.

If you aren't happy with what the doctor says, then is it possible to see another one?

I hope that helps and good luck.  

Jacqui