Benzodiazepine Taper

This is a medication taper template.

14 Week Benzodiazepine Taper
Step 1 - Risk assessment checklist
Taking benzodiazepines daily for longer than one month Older than 65 years (because of the risk of injury from falls and other cognitive adverse effects) Taking multiple benzodiazepines Taking benzodiazepines combined with prescribed opioids or amphetamines Taking supratherapeutic dosages Cognitive disorder History of traumatic brain injury current or history of substance use disorder, especially sedative-hypnotic or alcohol use disorder
Assessment --> countscore0=(Q0) identified risk factors

Step 2 - Current benzodiazepine use
<-- Current benzodiazepine
<-- Total daily dose of current benzodiazepine

Step 3 - Use a long-acting benzodiazepine for the taper
Select a long acting benzodiazepine to use for the taper -->
Equivalent dose is dosescore=((N1)/(Q1))*(Q2) milligrams of tapering benzodiazepine

Step 4 - Suggested taper schedule (Note: doses should be checked for safety and may need to be adjusted to accommodate formulary supplies and availability)

Week 1: dosescore1=((score)*.875).toFixed(1) milligrams of tapering benzodiazepine taken once daily - (12.5% decrease from the original dose)
Week 2: dosescore2=((score)*.75).toFixed(1) milligrams of tapering benzodiazepine taken once daily - (25% decrease from the original dose)
Week 3: dosescore3=((score)*.625).toFixed(1) milligrams of tapering benzodiazepine taken once daily - (37.5% decrease from the original dose)
Week 4: dosescore4=((score)*.5).toFixed(1) milligrams of tapering benzodiazepine taken once daily - (50% decrease from the original dose)
Week 5-8: continue current dose
Week 9: dosescore5=((score)*.375).toFixed(1) milligrams of tapering benzodiazepine taken once daily - (62.5% decrease from the original dose)
Week 10: continue current dose
Week 11: dosescore6=((score)*.25).toFixed(1) milligrams of tapering benzodiazepine taken once daily - (75% decrease from the original dose)
Week 12: continue current dose
Week 13: dosescore7=((score)*.125).toFixed(1) milligrams of tapering benzodiazepine taken once daily - (87.5% decrease from the original dose)
Week 14: continue current dose
Week 15: discontinue

hide/display references and links
references and links:
#1 Lader M, Tylee A, Donoghue J. Withdrawing benzodiazepines in primary care. CNS Drugs. 2009;23(1):19-34.
#2 Effective Treatments for PTSD: Helping Patients Taper from Benzodiazepines. United States Veteran's Administration website Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website https://www.va.gov/painmanagement/docs/OSI_6_Toolkit_Taper_Benzodiazepines_Clinicians.pdf Updated 2013. Accessed December 24, 2017
#3 Ogbonna C, Lembke A. Curbside Consultation: Tapering Patients Off of Benzodiazepines Am Fam Physician. 2017 Nov 1;96(9):606-608.

Benzodiazepine Taper

Result - Copy and paste this output: