Benzodiazepine Converter
A few years ago I wrote a spreadsheet application that calculates conversion and reduction schedules for patients reducing and stopping treatment with benzodiazepines. Recently, I started using it again and added some more options to the old version. I also wondered if this same converter could be moved to an internet environment.
The Benzodiazepine Converter is now linked in the menus above. It can transfer daily doses for a number of benzodiazepines into a daily equivalent of diazepam and produce a dose reduction schedule based on 7 or 14 days prescription intervals. I have also made the original Excel version available for stand alone use.
Disclaimer: The reduction schedules should be checked before treatment is changed and reductions should be supervised by a healthcare professional.
Action: Clinicians who supervise managed withdrawal of benzodiazepines may find these resources helpful.
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thanks for this tool. where can i get the excel version?
thanks!
Comment by esther — September 13, 2011 #
@Esther,
I've added a link to download the Excel version to the online converter.
Comment by Matthew Robinson — September 16, 2011 #
If I'm reading the calculator right, this looks like it's an eight week protocol?
How the protocol developed? Could you provide me with some literature references that support its efficacy?
Thanks!
Comment by JDiddy — January 10, 2012 #
@JDiddy,
It's not an 8 week protocol. The daily dose of diazepam is reduced by 2mg on a fortnightly basis to the reduction time period depends on the starting dose of diazepam.
I don't have any references to support the efficacy but anecdotally I have rarely see it fail if there is patient and / or clinician motivation.
Comment by Matthew Robinson — January 10, 2012 #