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From: lym on 8 Dec 2005 12:38
Hello,

I have consulted as many Benzodiazapene Equivalency Charts as I can
find on the internet.

They are all basically the same as the one I have "always" used, the
one at www.benzo.co.uk .

The thing I am troubled by is that they all seem to use awfully "ROUND"
numbers in assigning such equivalencies.

For example, 10mg of Diazepam is equivalent to 1mg of Lorazepam, which
in turn is equivalent to 1 mg of Clonazepam. Am I the only one that
thinks that is a bit "too pat"? And, having used these charts to
navigate between benzodiapenes, I can attest that in the cases I've
used them, that while I have found them to be APPROXIMATELY CORRECT,
there is still no potential for an actually comfortable meds change,
because of the minute inaccuracies that almost surely must be present
in these charts. Remembering, of course, that the existence and
presumably the intent of these charts is to provide a safe and
comfortable way of swapping out to different benzos for what may be a
variety of reasons.

But what about the idea of finding the ACTUAL EQUIVALENCIES?

Maybe 1.1 mg is equal to 10.25 mg, but in a table like this, that would
be far too confusing, so just make it "1" and "10".

The real truth is that the ACTUAL equivalencies would be MUCH MORE
HELPFUL in actual REAL LIFE USAGE than their broader-stroked
counterparts.

Does anyone know where to find this more exact information?
From: ilikeindianfood on 9 Dec 2005 01:15
You answered your own question. There is nothing exact. The UK benzo
chart is the best but your reaction may vary and you have to first
accept this and second assert this to your PDOC. Essentially, just like
everything in the f-d up world of psychiatry (and medicine in general)
your reaction will vary. The only reason you worry about this, I think,
is that you are uncomfortable with the bad hype surrounding benzos and
need some comfort in the form of a concrete chart. But that doesn't
exist. The UK one is the best.

From: lym on 9 Dec 2005 10:49
In article <1134108930.900307.248860(a)g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
<ilikeindianfood(a)hotmail.com> wrote:

> You answered your own question. There is nothing exact. The UK benzo
> chart is the best but your reaction may vary and you have to first
> accept this and second assert this to your PDOC. Essentially, just like
> everything in the f-d up world of psychiatry (and medicine in general)
> your reaction will vary. The only reason you worry about this, I think,
> is that you are uncomfortable with the bad hype surrounding benzos and
> need some comfort in the form of a concrete chart. But that doesn't
> exist. The UK one is the best.
>
I suppose you are right. "The only reason I worry about this" though
is that I am "uncomfortable" every time I switch benzos. It has
nothing to do with hype, I would just like a more exact chart so I will
feel better.

Thanks for being the only person to respond though.
From: Larry Hoover on 9 Dec 2005 11:58

"lym" <no(a)chancebuddy.com> wrote in message
news:081220051238054806%no(a)chancebuddy.com...
> Hello,
>
> I have consulted as many Benzodiazapene Equivalency Charts as I can
> find on the internet.
>
> They are all basically the same as the one I have "always" used, the
> one at www.benzo.co.uk .
>
> The thing I am troubled by is that they all seem to use awfully "ROUND"
> numbers in assigning such equivalencies.
>
> For example, 10mg of Diazepam is equivalent to 1mg of Lorazepam, which
> in turn is equivalent to 1 mg of Clonazepam. Am I the only one that
> thinks that is a bit "too pat"? And, having used these charts to
> navigate between benzodiapenes, I can attest that in the cases I've
> used them, that while I have found them to be APPROXIMATELY CORRECT,
> there is still no potential for an actually comfortable meds change,
> because of the minute inaccuracies that almost surely must be present
> in these charts. Remembering, of course, that the existence and
> presumably the intent of these charts is to provide a safe and
> comfortable way of swapping out to different benzos for what may be a
> variety of reasons.
>
> But what about the idea of finding the ACTUAL EQUIVALENCIES?
>
> Maybe 1.1 mg is equal to 10.25 mg, but in a table like this, that would
> be far too confusing, so just make it "1" and "10".
>
> The real truth is that the ACTUAL equivalencies would be MUCH MORE
> HELPFUL in actual REAL LIFE USAGE than their broader-stroked
> counterparts.
>
> Does anyone know where to find this more exact information?

There are no better tables than the ones you've found.

These are averages. Estimates. That's the best we've got. When you read such a
table, you should read it as if the word "about" is stated. 10 mg of diazepam is
equivalent to about 1 mg lorazepam. In actual fact, the way a scientist is trained
to read such information, it would be read as "10 mg of diazepam is equivalent to 1
+/- 0.5 mg lorazepam."

Individual differences make it impossible to be more precise.

You may find substantially different equivalencies, based on your own trials. From
that, you might start to create your own equivalency table.

Sorry, dude, both for not providing the sort of answer you'd really have preferred,
and for not answering sooner.

Lar


From: ilikeindianfood on 10 Dec 2005 03:06
I know it sucks and imprecise. Besides the dosage, there are so many
other factors. Some people do really well on the old-school benzos,
some people don't. Some people find no difference between xanax and
ativan and klonipin, some people become xanax fiends, find ativan
ineffective, and klonipin too sedating. If you are going off benzos in
my experience if it's not xanax, stick with the one you are on and go
slow. no sense switching to valium. that's my experience tho

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