My Valium Experiment

[intothelight]

Nicolette,

Thank you for the affirmation. I am just so shocked by the difference this has made. If I could do a "happy dance" I would. Anthony is so dead on about the anxiety/depression link.

I really believe that if people could use this therapeutically, they would have greater success with therapy and a lot of other things. I hope we hear more on this thread. Be nice if some researcher would pick it up and test it. I also noticed that I need less as I have taken it regularly. Both the spasms and the anxiety are tapering. Will soon be down to 5 mgs three times a day. Was at 10 three times a day, but that was in the beginning. Don't see a tolerance building, just see a drug doing what it was designed to do.

BTW, my sister has MS and has taken Valium since 1990 to control the muscle contractions related to this disorder. She hasn't had to increase her dose except when she has an exacerbation, so I am not so sure the "addictive" thing is a guarantee.

It is just so nice to feel good and not irrationally scared.

 

[Nicolette]

BTW, my sister has MS and has taken Valium since 1990 to control the muscle contractions related to this disorder.

I don't find it addictive and some afternoons I even forgot to take it if my phone alarm was not set.

She hasn't had to increase her dose except when she has an exacerbation, so I am not so sure the "addictive" thing is a guarantee.

Same here and agreed.

All my medical team believe Valium is better and less addictive than drinking alcohol to numb the pain.

 

[anthony]

Its like my doctor told me... and I was prepared for the answer and have instigated my answer already. He asked; What do you plan on doing when your body has become used to the valium? Simple answer, which I have conformed with... I plan on taking it for 10 months of the year, and not for the other two, IF it starts to no longer work for me.

I started out on one table, twice daily, 2mg each time. I took a couple months off the stuff... I actually only use one table daily now each morning. I no longer take two a day. I have adapted myself to the medicine, not the other way round, which is destructive and dangerous.

I had to work out how to keep the last little bit of anxiety at bay, with the help of valium, but not so valium itself created its own problem with dependence. So I started higher which worked, then I kept working on my management skills to self manage, then tapered the medication backwards again.

2mg of valium once a day... honestly, nobody could actually become addicted to that small an amount of the stuff, yet it removes that residual anxiety at the start of the day, allowing me to get motivated and achieve things. By the end of the day I slow down, otherwise I get ill and anxious... however; I am also at a point where I sleep each night the majority of the time, without issue.

If I'm going out and doing some larger event, then I take the afternoon tablet as well.

Self management, even with medication, is key to successfully integrating a complete tailored package in your life to manage with PTSD, with the least daily fall-out.

 

[Tessa]

I only take diazepam when needed for panic and anxiety and temazepam for insomnia as needed and find this works well. My daughter has been on every anti depressant you can think of and the mood changes are hard to live with. None have helped her.

A staff member of mine asked the dr for some temazepam as needed and was refused and put back on SSRI which also make her worse. I wish the doctors would listen to us.We tend to know what works best for us to get up and cope each day.

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[Gamereign555]

I was on diazepam as needed for panic as well as temazepam for insomnia and sleep disturbance. I eventually settled with alprazolam .5mg up to twice daily for the panic and anxiety. I seldom take but half of a tab if I can feel chest pain and that seems plenty. The diazepam was probably more useful when I was taking it as the diazepam last significantly longer. I take prazosin now instead of the temazepam, it seems to work about the same for me for sleep. At least now I wouldn't be developing any tolerance issues with the benzo, so the xanax works quickly and is strong when its needed. Temazepam also is a benzodiazepine.

 

[heidi]

I had quite the benzo experiment experience. It got me through a rough patch, but the tolerance issue just kind of kills it for me.. well, and I just use it for sleep so not taking it for a while makes sleeping very difficult. I can see now that outside anxiety really does make matters worse. It's hard to understand that when you're in it. I guess that's why people automatically limit what is in their lives. And regardless of what's in people's life people still produce anxiety. Too bad there really aren't many options just to calm people. Seems like it shouldn't be that hard. I need to get a lab coat and a stack of rats.

 

[anthony]

Too bad there really aren't many options just to calm people.

There are a crap load of options... its more about fitting them within your day and also what is healthy for you and what is not... Benzo's aren't bad because of the addictive properties, they are bad because when addicted it typically means you are taking high doses, and it's the high doses that do major internal organ damage.

• Daily exercise...
• Sport
• Social activities
• Drinking socially
• etc etc

There is quite a long list of things people can do to calm and remove stress, even limit it... but whether its realistic to fit within the day along with downtime to just do nothing, that is the big question.

Greece, as an example, has one of the lowest rates of stress in the world. But they also work when they want, a few percent actually pay tax, very little is achieved, lots of family and social activities, social drinking and smoking, etc etc... though the country is also broke as a result, yet they have one of the lowest stress levels in the world.

 

[heidi]

I just mean I'm surprised there isn't another medication on the market that can reduce anxiety that is not addictive and does not lead to tolerance issues. Anxiety can pretty much make any mental condition worse.

 

[Belle]

I doubt my GP would prescribe valium. No such luck. I just got the standard citalopram which made me feel like a complete zombie, nausea, loss of any libido and I kept forgetting things. Usually my mind is sharp. I was asked if I wanted to try another anti-depressant but I am not depressed, just hyped with anxiety. So I said 'no thank you' because I want to feel alive, I just don't want to feel totally stressed over little things.

I do exercise to get rid of anger and anxiety, swimming and dance.

 

[Chook]

Just wanted to say thanks guys...

Anthony's journey, his intentions, findings and rationales for or against have been inspirational for this little black duck.

As have the replies from others with their own experiences.

Currently taking Efexor-XR 150mg morning and 75mg night....Have had horrid withdrawal symptoms when missing a day or two, like brain zaps, freak out, irritability and so on.

Early in treatment/diagnosis was trialled on Seroquel and then an SSRI (Aropax).

Also became reliant on popping a Xanax at the start of each shift. Would be good till peak plasma levels subsided, then be very tired.... Some days was reaching for another before lunchtime.

Next Dr visit, am going to discuss the options and consequences of reducing then stopping the Efexor. Then consider low dose Valium or similar with this concept of management in mind.

Hope that all made sense....

 

[Hashi]

I'm wondering what countries you all live in, to get valium on tap like this. In the UK I have to argue and argue to get just a small quantity for when I go to the dentist. Sometimes my doctor still won't prescribe them, because he prescribed me 6 x 5mg tablets a year ago and doesn't believe I've had to use them all already.

Same with sleeping pills here. In general, to get a prescription for anything so addictive you have to practically move the doctor's hand over the prescription pad yourself. Even then, you'd be luckily to get 2 weeks' supply.

(If I wanted antidepressants, though, I could have bucketfuls delivered to my door tomorrow)

Sometimes I'm tempted to take a valium on a really bad day but I never touch them because I need them for the dentist and I don't know if I'm going to get any more during the rest of my lifetime.

 

[anthony]

Valium (diazepam) is not something I would think you would get for the dentist... and would have to argue for in order to get for something like going to the dentist (presumed usage due to fear of dentist).

A Xanax would be better for panic due to going to the dentist, being short lived, yet quick to work. Valium is slower to work, but much longer lasting within the system... so valium is more a constant drug that you take on an ongoing regular basis, where Xanax is a quick fix drug. Both are addictive if you have the attitude of, take drug, ahhhhhhhh.... that is addiction, not the drug working.

I take a 2mg valium each morning, and I don't feel any affect. If I don't take it, my chest pains due to anxiety return... which is when I know if I forgot to take it, or purposely haven't taken it to let my system go without for a while.

And I am in Australia. Its not easy to get here either... its only given to those who absolutely require it, and have usually tried SSRI's or such with bad effects.