I'm facing a similar dilemma as I've been on 2mg/day of lorazepam for over a year. I've recently added Gabapentin at night so I'm actually taking both which makes me quite uneasy thinking of the possible healing I'm preventing. Unfortunately, the anxiety is unbearable without the medications due to my current life situation.

I would recommend to be very careful with coming off diazepam at that dose. Your idea of going with the Ashton manual is a smart and safe one. I've never gone through it, but benzodiazapine withdrawal has the potential to be a huge nightmare. Gabapentin withdrawal has reported similarities and does need to be tapered as it builds up tolerance.

Another important question would be how long have you been taking the medication? Has it been at the same dosage the entire duration? These all play a role in predicting withdrawal symptoms.

Please consult with a physician before making any drastic changes to your medication. The last thing you want to do is be stuck with benzodiazapine withdrawal symptoms for years due to post acute withdrawal syndrome. That being said, 18 months does seem a little high. Perhaps you would be fine with a much quicker taper but do you really want to find out the hard way? It's better to be safe than sorry. That's one lesson I've learned as a result of this long nightmare.

Not trying to scare but just sharing my concerns which are very personal in nature. I look forward to the day where I can wake up and not have to take any medications.

Keep us informed of your progress and continue to post questions and concerns here. This is a very friendly and informative community.

Best regards,
Danny