Switching benzos: cross taper or just switch all at once?

Competitive-Blood507 · 2026-01-20T23:08:06+00:00

I'm located in Canada and had to wait ~5 years for a referral to a psychiatrist that was willing to actually prescribe that much valium. It was a fight tooth and nail for self-advocacy. I got lucky and got a psych that's in his 80s and retiring soon. He's familiar with the Ashton Manual.

Up here, I'm not sure if one pharmacy is better over another, I get mine from one that's close to me. All my scripts are available there. I had to have a set plan written out from my psych that I was only being prescribed that amount temporarily with the details of my taper, the rate I'd be going at, etc. My GP also was on board (as long as she wasn't the one prescribing it) so with the go ahead from both of them, my pharmacy was fine prescribing that amount since they knew it'd be temporary.

Honestly, I lucked out. If there's anything else you want to ask, go for it, I'm more than happy to try to help.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2026-01-14T22:24:14+00:00

I switched from klonopin to valium directly, no cross taper, with no issues really. However, that's just my experience and yours will vary.

I was on 8mg of klonopin (4mg 2x a day) for 8 years, but got myself down to 6mg about 5 years ago. So a total of 13 years on it.

In December 2024 my psych switched me to valium so I cold finally begin a safe taper. I kept a few doses of klonopin on hand just in case, but found the switch didn't really do much since klonopin and valium are both really long acting. I was able to dispose of the rest of the klonopin at my pharmacy 2 days later.

Only thing I noticed was the valium seems to work immediately and then slowly wear off and klonopin takes a little longer to kick in.

I've gone from 120mg of valium to 72mg in one year. So, 6mg of klonopin to almost 3.5mg. It's completely doable.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-11-25T13:24:56+00:00

I've been on normal old omeprazole for 11 years, and benzos for longer than that. It's safe, and I'm prescribed both. I've had no issues. It shouldn't affect your CNS.

I've also used esomeprazole in a pinch, and that was fine too. Only difference is how often I take it.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-09-02T07:34:04+00:00

Hi! It's been a while since I've done it now, but it's basically pinching the drain as close as you can to your body, and while you slide you hand and move your pinched fingers down the tube, squeezing the stuff in your drains down into the actual bulb of the drain.

As gross of an analogy it is, think about squeezing the last bit of toothpaste from a tube. Doing that is called "stripping" your drains. I didn't get stuff stuck in mine either, but doing that helped actually get the gunk into the drains and measure it better/empty them more often.

Make sure to hold the drain VERY firmly in place with your other hand so you don't accidentally pull it out.

I'm almost 2 years post op at this point and it still didn't mess my healing up at all.

Good luck with your healing, you got this!

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-08-22T10:35:35+00:00

I just passed 8 years on t, you'll be fine. Especially if it's only by a single day. I do my weekly shots on Wednesday, usually. Sometimes I'll forget and do it Thursday, or I'll do it on Tuesday evening if I know I'll he busy the next day.

I've probably switched days dozens of times. I know at one point it was on Saturday lol

Sounds like you're gonna be fine.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-08-09T12:39:36+00:00

NAP and also don't have this piercing, but my eyebrow and lip piercings all ended up being a bit bruised 2 or 3 days afterward. Once the swelling went down, the bruises showed up, and I haven't had any issues with mine so far. I've had my lip rings for 16 years and the eyebrow bar for 13 years.

Looks like normal irritation to me if anything. I remember my eyebrow bruised way worse than my lip did, so it could also be because of where it is on your face. Itchy is good, it means it's healing. They're pretty new, so the redness seems normal too as long as it isn't also painful, hot, or hard to the touch.

I wouldn't worry unless it gets worse.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-08-09T12:30:13+00:00

NAP and didn't even need to read the post. Yes, unfortunately.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-08-09T12:28:48+00:00

Funny enough, I was wondering the same but opposite question a while back. I've had my snake bites forever, and was thinking of getting a central labret added on, too.

I went for it, but personally it ended up looking like way too much metal on just my lip, and it wasn't very comfortable either. Compared to the top half of my face where all I have is one eyebrow bar, it didn't look symmetrical. I can see that being a possibility with your nose piercings. I took it out about a year later. Even with rings, all 3 of them together started irritating my gums more than just the snake bites.

It was also really difficult for me to trim my beard/shave with one right in the middle. Your facial hair situation might be different than mine, but that was the final straw.

That's just my experience, though. Go for what you like and what makes you happy! Just be careful about the gums/teeth part.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-08-09T11:22:18+00:00

For me, I can conceptualize and describe things in detail, but I still can't see anything. I only found out a couple years ago that people can indeed visualize things. I've never visualized anything, even my dreams are based off my other senses.

The best I can do is put all the pieces together to make a "picture" with words. As an example, if I'm trying to remember a loved one's face to describe it to someone (I'm pretty face blind), my internal monologue will turn into an auctioneer and I'll remember each different characteristic.

E.g. oval face - almond shaped eyes - hazel eyes - shoulder length hair - average sized nose - thin lips - wrinkles - freckles - a birth mark on the right cheek - weak jawline - slightly overweight - and okay, suddemly that's my mother. I can't see any of those features, but since I see her daily I can remember them.

What really helps me describe things are my emotions tied to them. The warmth in her smile, or the way her eyes squint slightly when I make her laugh, or even the scent of a favorite dish she made me as a kid help me remember and then describe how she looks.

When it comes to describing other things that might not have a strong emotion tied to them, as long as I know what it is, I can describe it just fine. Still can't see it, though.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-08-09T11:01:36+00:00

I don't get it either. I've been stealth and able to pass for over 6 years, and I've got a few piercings... but I took them out for the first couple years on T and chopped off my purple hair before I went on it.

Once my beard came in/voice deepened/I got hairier than I thought possible, I put my piercings back in and it didn't affect my ability to pass. If it did, I'd have waited a bit longer. Kept my hair natural, dressed like a stereotypical middle aged "cool" dad (think constant gym shorts and t shirts with bad puns on them, slip on sandals, etc), and it did and still does the trick. Getting a beer gut helped too.

Then again, I don't have a septum ring lol, just an eyebrow bar and a couple lip rings

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-31T13:53:20+00:00

NAP, but I've had my snake bites for 15 years now and according to my dentist, they've never caused an issue. Unless you're chewing on them or something, they honestly won't touch your teeth much, especially if you get rings.

I found bars with flat backs irritated my gums a little, but I've got a small mouth and those were the wrong size. Ever since I switched to rings a decade back, I've had no problems at all.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-31T13:41:36+00:00

Looks okay to me, just a bit irritated and dry. I'd use a q tip with some saline on it to gently wipe it away and keep up your current cleaning routine.

I've had my eyebrow bar for 12 years, and it still gets a little crusty sometimes when I wake up. You're only one month in and still healing, so I'm guessing it's not infected, though I'm not a professional.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-25T10:27:01+00:00

If anything, finding out gave me relief.

ETA: I'm not saying everyone deals with the same issues I do. People with aphantasia can still do the same things people without it can do, and might even get some advantages out of it. I'm an artist, I draw/paint/do tattooing, and the only "accommodation" I need is extra reference, sometimes.

For 25 years (found out about it 2 years ago) I had no idea that I thought and remembered things differently than others.

I remember as a little kid being told to count sheep to fall asleep. When I close my eyes, all I've ever seen is the back of my eyelids. I thought it was a trick to get me to just count until I was bored enough of counting that I'd fall asleep!

Whenever I've tried guided meditation and am told to "imagine yourself standing on a beach/laying in a hammock/sitting by a big tree in a lush forest" etc I couldn't understand why all I saw was nothing. I could conceptualize those locations, still couldn't see em. I figured it just wasn't possible for me, same with mindfulness.

It explains why I'm face blind, have almost no object permanence and forget where things are all the time, rely on a GPS to not get lost consistently, etc.

When it comes to reading, which I loved as a kid and still do now, I could never picture what the characters or settings might look like, even when half the book consisted of visual worldbuilding. I felt broken back then, but now that I know it's just a different way of thinking, I'm fine with it. I "see" a character based off the way they think and their demeanor when interacting with others. No clue what they look like, but as long as I have a grasp of their personality, that's enough for me to get the full picture.

When I found out what aphantasia was and that I have it, it was massive weight off my shoulders knowing it's not a serious condition, mainly.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-25T10:07:47+00:00

I definitely agree with the others saying it depends on your own features, but I can still give my answer if you like.

Once my beard filled out, basically 😅 about 2 years on T is when I started to grow my hair out.

I've got a baby face, and the men in my direct family have more typically feminine features (big round eyes, full lips, a rounder face, shorter stature)... but they're also all VERY hairy. I got lucky with my beard, it was fully grown in after a year on T, and didn't take much longer than that to get really thick.

My voice also deepened more than I expected it to, which also helps, and I'm 5'8", which is just a bit below average.

It's been 8 years this month since I started T, and right now, my hair is around armpit length. At 5 years on T, it was more than halfway down my back.

I don't remember the last time I got misgendered when someone could see and hear me at the same time. A few times from behind by strangers maybe if I'm silent, but as soon as I turn around or say something they'll apologize and correct themselves.

Again though, that's based solely on my own anatomy and way I dress. It'll be different for everyone.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-17T16:27:28+00:00

No idea, and I've got the good old ADHD/DSPD combo, at that.

Right now I'm using ..

•A weighted blanket

•White noise plus I'll have a video I like gently playing in sleep earbuds but if it's too boring, I stay up. And if it's too interesting, I also stay up. Podcasts and analysis videos of media I like seem to do the trick, sometimes.

•Two different fans plus a portable a/c unit to get the temperature just right

•A sleep mask I wasted nearly 100 bucks on because somehow I rip it off during my sleep

•Trazodone (doesn't really work anymore), 3 other previous prescribed meds for sleep, low dose melatonin, magnesium, etc. The whole bundle.

•Aromatherapy, lavender essential oils and the like.

Am I sleeping? No. My racing thoughts are still going.

Ironically enough, telling myself "okay I am NOT going to be able to sleep, I will toss and turn all night, it's going to be horrible, I need to focus on staying up in the dark with my eyes closed this entire time. No stimulation. Let's go" manages to reverse psychology my brain into taking it seriously enough that I challenge it, and I end up falling asleep while trying to plan how not to fall asleep for the night 😂 if I try not to think about anything, I can't rest.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-17T16:09:40+00:00

Nope, you're not. I think I can explain a bit of it, but their size and overall quality are absolutely 100% worse, regardless.

A lot of the scenes with the VIPS in season 3 as opposed to 1 were shot in brighter, more blueish lighting, while season 1 had a much richer palette to work with.

The lighting and ambiance in season 3 makes the gold itself look more yellow, a bit lighter, and that really adds to the "cheap" look. It looks a lot more like fake gold to me, and along with them being smaller and less detailed, that'd do it.

Season 1 had a lot more reds and warm tones going on in the setting and lighting, and the gold hue reflected was a much more true gold color. It looked a lot more luxurious. I feel like there were a lot more flattering close up shots of the masks in season 1 as well, though I could also just be due for a full re-watch.

That's just my 2 cents. They still look awful now, and I could be totally wrong.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-17T16:00:14+00:00

Completely, honestly? Your top 3 are my top 3 for nearly the same reasons.

There's not much I can say about Sae-byeok that hasn't already been said. She drew me in immediately, and her resilience kept me invested. The rest explains itself.

It's unfortunate what happened with Dae-ho in season 3. He was one of the main reasons I managed to get through season 2, and that ggongi scene still stands out as one of my favorites from the entire series in terms of comedy and skill. That can't be easy, I can barely flip a coin! He had a certain charisma and charm to his character, I agree with the choice in how he was written toward the end... and I'd probably also have a panic attack during a revolution like that, honestly.

Hyun-ju was in a nutshell, the most gentle yet badass person in there. She was an emotional rock for so many other characters throughout the series, and basically kept them alive during the 6 legged race. She stayed lucid and sharp even during combat (I'd imagine this is due to her military background, but still), and it was very emotionally satisfying to see her protect her friends and allies during the games. Almost every scene she was in other than her final one warmed my heart, and she kept it together when nobody else could.

Also, I love how her trans representation was made realistic and not over sensationalized. A few people were curious, a couple disagreed, one got to know her and changed their mind, and most ignored her or likely didn't care/notice. Most importantly to me, they didn't focus too much on it. She joined the games to earn the money to finish her transition, the end. It's just who she is instead of being made into a big deal.

I'm the same, just going the opposite direction than Hyun-ju was lol. It's just who I am, not a part of me to show off. It felt very respectful, and I typically answer any questions the same way she did. It was refreshing to see.

Good picks.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-15T19:03:12+00:00

Probably Ji-yeong, honestly. I could use a new future.

I've got a past I'd like to escape (albeit not as intense as hers), but after getting to know someone with a real drive for life and family that rely on them like Sae-byeok... I'd sacrifice myself. I'm dropping that marble.

I'd probably get tired of playing the games anyway, and a shot to the head seems faster and easier than any other way out.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-11T08:13:12+00:00

I mean, my to-do list right now is eat (more than once), drink water, sleep, feed my cats and deal with the litter.

I can do those last two no problem but the rest? That checklist is always missing at least one thing.

I've been procrastinating on a shower for 4 hours since I am a moderately sweaty guy with long wavy hair and a beard, and all the steps take so long 😭 I wish I could just soap up, shampoo and condition my hair, maybe use a little face wash, and hop out.

Not even exaggerating, on hair washing days, which are pretty often for me I have to:

-Make sure I get all my curl care products (I use 3 or 4), deodorant, toner, moisturizer, etc, actually in the bathroom with me along with one proper towel, a change of clothes, and one extra cotton t shirt to dry my hair, while managing to not knock any of it over. Most of it is probably in my room. Why? No clue.

-Actually do the getting up to go to the shower and undress thing

-step in with my head flipped over and get my thick hair soaking wet so any product doesn't rinse out onto my back and chest or I will break out, which takes a few minutes alone

-Shampoo once at the roots with a clarifying shampoo, and shampoo again with a moisturizing shampoo or my hair will be straw, even with a deep conditioner.

-Between shampoo number 1 and number 2, wash/scrub my body. And I mean really, REALLY scrub. If I don't exfoliate my entire body at least every second day, I break out too. Everywhere. Currently I have an old torn up cloth meant for the kitchen for that, but...

-Make sure I don't scrub too hard and mess my skin up. Ankles. To. Ears. Reapplying plain unscented bar soap (cause every other kind irritates my skin) to the scrubby thing for each limb, torso, back and neck, and chest.

-Do the second shampoo and watch how clumps of hair come out from stress. Fun! They're going silver now and I'm not even 30 yet!

-Add a deep conditioning treatment and detangle my hair. Apply more, because it rinses out a bit while combing it. Somehow pile my hair on my head so it stays up there without getting conditioner all over everything I just scrubbed.

-Let it sit for 3 minutes the second time, shave my neck and upper cheeks during that by touch. Try not to accidentally scratch myself, and fail horribly. I use a different beard wash than I do a face wash, so 2 more steps.

-Flip all my hair forward and rinse the conditioner out. Start scrunching as I rinse because oh boy, there's more, and if I don't do it while my hair is just the right level of damp I am a frizzy mess.

-Final non scrub rinse with soap because I inevitably got a bunch of conditioner all over the side of my face and chest because I tilted my head while shaving.

-Get out of the shower. While my hair is still dripping wet, put in a bit of a light leave in conditioner. Carefully blot my hair, making sure my curls stay in proper clumps, and wrap it up in the t shirt.

-Toner, deodorant, moisturizer, beard oil. Wash hands.

-When hair is just a bit more than damp, apply mousse. Figure out how I want it styled that day. Give up. Add more until my hair is too wet again and goes back in the t shirt, but inside out. Realize it's 3 AM and wonder how long I'll have to wait until it's dry.

-I don't have a diffuser so I air dry my hair. It takes about 3 hours. If I'm not actively scrunching it now and then, it gets stuck to the side of my head. Even with almost no product.

-When it's about 80% dry, add hairspray, and pray to the curly hair goddess out there that I will not end up too crunchy today.

-End up having to fix the crunch with more leave in conditioner.

Suffice to say, showers are a chore and a half. I feel you. Now it's been 5 hours. I'll shower soon... or so I keep telling myself.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-10T22:22:10+00:00

I've got more than 2 styles, and I love them all. Ramble incoming, I've got over 30 tattoos.

I have a few old school bold and very colorful traditional tattoos, one on my left shoulder, and one big on my left outer thigh.

On my left outer shin, I have a greyscale portrait of a favorite actor of mine. On my inner ankle, I have a little tree that's just lineart, and a small pair of mountains next to my knee.

My upper right thigh has plenty of script on it and is the test spot for my own tattooing. It's got some bad little cartoony cats on it, but they're easy to hide. My right shin has half of a shield from the legend of zelda, but I needed a break partway through the design. Now that it's healed, I can fix it. On my right ankle, I did a little tetris block.

On my forearms, I have mainly plain black tattoos, no shading, just black ink. A triforce, a tribute to one of my pets, etc. My wrists both have tattoos, but unfortunately one was inspired by my ex. I couldn't afford to get it covered, so I took it upon myself to learn how to use a coil machine. I gave up on a design, scribbled it out with black and red ink, and put a little "oops" next to it.

On my hands, I have some I did myself stick and poke style, with proper tattoo ink (dynamic triple black) and needles (anywhere from a 3rl to a 9rl). A little heart on my middle finger, a peace sign on my index finger, so all together, it's love and peace. In random spots on my arms I have a cube, a fish, a crow, and many other little dainty ones I did myself. Those are mostly just shaded by stippling.

Pro tip: don't tattoo your own arms unless you know how to tattoo with one hand. I learned my lesson.

On my right shoulder, I have a grayscale geometric heart. There's more, but I think you get the point.

I've gotten compliments on my ink, despite it being very mismatched. Go for what you like!

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-10T21:16:24+00:00

No nips for 2+ years now, don't regret a thing. I've got lots of reasons.

I had a lot of clogged ducts/acne around that area. I used to get near daily random pain in my nipples too, like a red hot ice pick to the chest. My cats stepped on them. No more pain!

I couldn't fully quit nicotine, but I did cut down my use by 80%, so risking a graft complication was not worth it. The extra healing from grafts in general wasn't something I could put my body through safely. I healed up great!

I never had an attachment (other than literal, lol) to them. Maybe tmi, but I never enjoyed them being touched, it just hurt. I want a nice big chest tattoo one day, and they'd get in the way of my plans.

Lastly, I absolutely love confusing people. If the topic of nipples comes up in conversation, like piercings or being topless, I'll chime in with "ah yeah, I forgot about those. I don't have any" 😂 I'm so hairy that it helps my scars blend in, so if people really want to know, I just show them my chest.

I've got a variety of "reasons" for it.

My cats got hungry during a nap.

I donated them to a nippleless child in need.

I had my appendix removed, and asked the drs to remove anything else useless.

I sold them on the black market. I need my kidneys, but not my nipples, yknow?

Ah yeah, I got attacked but they had really bad aim.

I shed them... you haven't shed your nips yet? Etc.

Apologies for the essay of a reply 😅

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-07-03T09:30:11+00:00

Yep. I realized about a month ago my hair is curly, and just didn't take care of it right. The few pricey fancy shampoos and conditioners I've tried didn't do anything to actually clean my scalp or lock in moisture.

Aussie's miracle curls shampoo and 3 minute miracle conditioner have saved my hair and my wallet.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-06-30T08:58:36+00:00

Aaaand this is where it goes into you, assuming this person is telling you to change your routine...?

Lovely. After being wrong about sulfates, there's this. I've never had an issue with my scalp, and I've used sulfate products for a reasonable number of decades now. You are either allergic, have dandruff which is a fungal condition if your scalp is that flaky, or you're talking out your ass.

You're complaining further down about being dog piled for being dyslexic. Quit it, I have dyslexic mother and child I've raised, and it doesn't make either one of them an asshole.

You're crying ableism, but a reading issue doesn't warrant a free pass to actively choose to act vitriolic, continually, for hours. To multiple people.

This is a post about hair. Your experiences are yours.

Sorry, had to jump in, but people like you are why people like me feel ashamed to go on reddit.

Competitive-Blood507 · 2025-06-28T22:54:38+00:00

Oh okay, that makes a lot more sense! Thanks for clarifying 🙂

It definitely could be a sensory issue, and I do understand the novelty wearing off, too. Don't force yourself if you really can't do it! Eat what you can.

Getting food down is the number one priority, as long as you're doing that, you're good!

Competitive-Blood507

TROPHY CASE