Diazepam...opinions?? I only take 5mg and only when I do feel at my worst, if it helps what's the harm?

[G_150487]

[Hidden]

Hi, I was stuck on Diazapam from 1977 to 1986 and had to get myself off them, it was very, very hard to do but I managed it over a long period of time, my Doctor then was useless no help at all and it was his fault I was addicted because he kept giving them to me without any questions, anyway, I have a really great Doctor now, he is trained in ENT too wich helps with all the problems I have with Vertigo due to Infections ad Operations on my Ears over the years, I have been precribed 2mg tablets to use as I feel the need, I have taken 5 since March! and only then when I am at the very end of my tether as I do know what they are capable of doing to you if you take them by habit, I think, as long as you are using them only as a last resort and only now and again you may well be fine, they do help to relax you for a while and if that gets you over a really bad spell it can only be of help, good luck to you and the best of wishes to you.

[Hidden]

Hi. gemnewby. I entirely agree with anxman. Diazipam are addictive and should only be used in the short term, but (there is always a but, isn't there?) as anxman says, to help over a difficult patch they can be useful. Like picking up a walking stick if you have a sprained ankle.

I was on 5mg. for some time, then came down to 2mg. then to 1mg. (Which is hardly a therapeutic dose; maybe a placebo effect!).Which I am on at the moment. Will come off entirely when this lot run out. I would not hesitate to take a SLIGHTLY larger dose if I had a 'setback', but only for a short while. If you punch up PROFESSOR ANDERSON on the web you will find a very useful (free) programme of 'tapering' off Diazipam. She has made a study of it's effects and is very helpful. You ask 'what's the harm?'. Well, I am sure you would rather be in control yourself than have to rely on tablets. When I tell you that some people are on 40mg. daily it will perhaps put your problem into perspective! Good luck. jonathan.

[hairyfairy]

remember back in the 70`s if I went to the doctor, it didn`t matter what for, he would nearly always prescribe Valium, or one of the other benzodiazipams. We were told that they were non-addictive, & doctors seemed to think that they were the answer to every problem. I fell into this trap & ended up addicted, & my doctor had the cheek to blame me saying that I had an addictive personality. In 1990 I was lucky enough to have a more enlightened gp who helped me to get off these drugs. It`s a pity that I can`t sue the company that made these drugs, unfortunately not much has changed because now doctoors believe that anti- depressants are the holy grail!

[Hidden in reply to hairyfairy]

Hi hairyfairy. Yes, I too remember those days. Another of those stupid uninformed remarks! What on earth is an addictive personality? I am sure they make up these remarks as they go along.I have a friend who was prescribed antidepressants for a cough associated with a cold. You may remember that Valium was considered too expensive. Diazipam was cheaper! In those days I think they really thought they were non addictive. How wrong can you get! Best wishes. jonathan.

[Melgil58]

Hello I take 5mg diazepam only when I feel really bad not everyday I feel I'm in control of it but they can be addictive and I understand that which helps me control it I hav. Gad panic disorder and health anxiety . I also have work related health problems basically I'm worn out as the job I did was physical and stressful out in all weathers all hours and its left me burnt out mentally and physically but back to diazepam it's not a cure all but it gives me an occasional break but doesn't solve all the problems anxiety wise I take them more for its muscle relaxing properties than anything but be careful of regular long term use I know I am you take care Mel

[miarose]

diazepam can be addictive,but so can antidepressants,any dr that tells you different is a liar..Iwas on tolvon for 30 years,an old antiepressant..coming off them left me off balanced,anxious,tearful,forgetful headaches confused,felt so bad ended up in ER.these tablets were supposed to non addictive but my body craved for them..off them now 4 months and I will never take another antidepressant..I take 0.25 xanax when im really anxious,doing CBT really helps.and he calls antidepressants poison...They have their place,eg,if your feeling like ending it all,then you need them,but for anxiety,they just mask the problem,an odd xanax won't do any harm,if you dont abuse them...

[BriarRose]

Argh!!!!!! The dreaded Diazepam! Get out the crucifix and the garlic!!!!! That, at least, is the reaction of many doctors - in my opinion, unfortunately. Yes, they can be addictive; so can chocolate,pain-killers, alcohol, sex, the internet, money - you name it! We seem to confuse "use" and "abuse". Yet, doctors continue to assure you that anti-depressants are NOT addictive - when I know people who have been on some for like 15 years, are DESPERATE to come of, but can't. If that's not addiction, what is?

Yes, i take diazepam; I take it regularly, although only a small dose (2mg) and i do monitor my useage - as does my GP. I wish I didn't need it, just as I wish I didn't need paracetamol for my arthritis. But - if the alternative is panic attack after panic attack - within reason, I'll take diazepam. And, yes, I've tried virtually every anti-depressant known to science - didn't help!

The medical profession is as prone to "fashion" as any other; yesterday diazepam, today anti-depressants, tomorrow - what? The scientists told us that "mad cow" disease could not be transmitted to humans - how wrong they were! Diazepam has a use and, like every other "drug", can be abused. But it's safe, difficult to overdose on, has few interactions with other drugs - and keeps me from having the screaming ab-dabs! Just be careful with it - but then, too much chocolate is bad for you, too.

Rose

xxxxx

[Hidden]

Hi. BriarRose. We meet again. You are so right. Anything can be addictive, even water. (Oh yes it can). Drugs! what about Thalidomide (spelling??) but we wont go into 'safe' drugs. I do not believe there is any such thing. I have a relative who was so doped up (not anxiety) that she could hardly cope with life. She saw a Specialist who raised his hands in horror and took her off most of them. She has been much better since! They must be regarded as a crutch. By the way I have looked up, in the medical dictionary, 'screaming ab-dabs' and cannot find it. What is it!!!!!!! Only kidding. Love and best wishes. jonathan.

[BriarRose]

Hi Jonathan, and thanks. Ahh, you should have looked up "acting out" in the medical dictionary - because that's what a lot of medical "professionals" believe we're doing when our anxiety reaches crisis point - blame the patient!

I was taken into A&E with a mega-panic attack once. The ambulance staff were awful, and everyone, but everyone, kept telling me to "Calm down" - like it was that easy! In the end, they put me in a side observation room, where I hyperventilated for England Then some poor unfortunate paramedic passed my bed, and said, yet again "You've got to calm down, Rose!" At which point, I lost it and screamed across A&E "If I could calm down, I wouldn't be having a (expletive deleted!) panic attack, would I?????!!!!" Like telling a drowning man to swim - if he could, he would, and wouldn't have a problem!

I actually complained to the hospital and the ambulance service - with good results THEY ended up asking ME for advice on treating a patient suffering a severe anxiety attack So, hopefully, it did some good in the long-term.

Mental health problems are the ONLY ones where the patient is blamed for being sick. I have a theory that anyone wanting to work in the MH field should have an "induced" nervous breakdown before they're allowed to qualify But that's probably just me being cruel. As has been said many times on here, no-one who hasn't been through it really understands - and a lot of those who haven't don't want to understand. Like I say - easier to blame the patient!

All the best

Rose

[Hidden]

In spite of having a parent who spent 19 years addicted to this drug, I fell into the trap of taking an occasional dose when I was desperate or had some difficult event to attend, like a funeral or something where I needed to put a fuzzy edge on everything.

I found that eventually I was having terrible after-effects, even after a one-off dose, and one symptom was terrible depression. If you don't seem to have any after-effects and the dose is truly occasional, then maybe there's no harm, but be warned that these drugs are terriblt dangerous and can cause all manner of nasty effects that last.

Sometimes I find an alternative can be an anti-emetic like Stemetil or a travel-sickness pill like Stugeron, as these can be helpful in calming down my brain and making me feel slightly drowsy.

[jennyjolly]

I started off on 2mg then needed much more as I became used to them.

Was addicted to them for over ten years.

.When I tried to stop I couldn't and became psychotic under section

as when I did manage to stop got hallucinations etc which I later read is quite common

Used occasionally when needed in social situations, would think to be ok

If you have more serious mental issues as I had advise to be vey careful.

[Scarlett06]

Hi there,

I've been on 5mg of valium for several months now. I get my pills from generic-meds-store.com and I use them on bad days only. They help me a lot, with no bad side effects at all. One tablet of 5mg will not cause any bad things if used with caution.

Many blessings, Scarlett