OMG! You are soooo correct, it was not a SLOW AND GRADUAL TAPER that is hammered into everyones head. Something terribly similar to me happened except my Medical Professional team gave me the incorrect dose to taper. Switching to Valium was the correct start but obviously was not followed thru with the slow taper. Did you discuss this with your Medical Professional and if so what did he tell you? So very sorry this has happened to yet another. When will the FDA, besides issuing the most egregious Black Box Warning, start making the Doctors accountable for long term use?