Why Give You Valium Then Take It Off You So You Know What You Could Have Had!

[RaggyDoll]

Hi .
I am diagnosed as having severe ptsd and bpd (borderline personality disorder) I have had some therapy which made me worse as it opened everything up and then we ran out off time on the NHS and I am now on an 8 month waiting list to try and fix that which is pure hell on earth. Over Christmas my gp put me on Valium which has made me feel semi normal and semi hopeful but my psychiatrist says I have to come off it as it's addictive . To be honest I don't care how addictive it is, it's the only thing keeping me here. Why do they show you how you could feel and then take it away, it makes it worse! Does anyone have any suggestions of how to persuade her or any suggestions of replacements. It's mostly for overwhelming anxiety, panic attacks and
dissasociation thanks for your help xx

 

[Lucycat]

Your GP should have told you when he prescribed it that it can only be given for a short time. It is not a good drug for long term use, and perhaps it did help you while you had it, but now you need to look at other options,

I think it is dreadful that the therapist opened your personal 'can of worms' but was not able to see it through. I am lucky to have been seeing the same CPN on the NHS for over 6 years. There is no time limit for me ( except, as he has joked, when he retires!). Neither PTSD nor BPD can be sorted with a quick fix. Also an 8 month wait is totally unfair. I am not sure in England, but here in Scotland for a referral for a physical illness the target waiting time is 12 weeks - 3 months - and mostly they achieve that. For 8 months to be acceptable for mental health is a scandal.

As for medication for anxiety - the problems are about using what is licensed. My doctor has prescribed Quetiapine for me. I started taking it 3 times a day, and now a long way down my road to recovery I just take one at night. During holidays and times of little stress I don't even take that one. But if something triggers me I can also take it during the day, but rarely do that any more. However because it is not licensed for anxiety I do have to see the doctor every 6 months and justify why I am still using it, and I have to request every prescription ( in contrast to other medications that can be on automatic repeat that you pick up from the chemist).

I don't know if you will persuade your psychiatrist to prescribe anything, but I think sometimes it works better if you ask what they recommend rather than it coming across as telling them their job.

Maybe a bit irrelevant, but I was surprised to read this week that there are only 2 countries in the world in which drug companies are able to advertise prescription -only medications directly to the general public. They are the USA and New Zealand. That is why they are so good at telling their doctors what to prescribe. Personally I prefer our system whereby the doctors tell us what they recommend - based on their experience and expertise rather than advertisements on TV!

 

[RaggyDoll]

Hi Lucycat,
Thanks for your reply, in all honesty he did say they would have to wean me off but I didn't know it would be so effective or how soon they would do it. The psychiatrist has mentioned Quetiapine but I was afraid it wouldn't be as effective so this has given me some hope thanks X I am glad you get some weekly help there is just no funding in the NHS for mental health

 

[Justmehere]

Enduring robust anxiety is really hard. I'm working through it myself.

You write that you don't care if it causes an addiction. I understand that you are desperate for relief. Not only does Valium have addictive potential, but it will lose its effectiveness over time. That's true with just about everything someone can become addicted to. The brain needs more and more of it to have the same effect, and eventually, it can lose any effectiveness. So you will eventually end up with an addiction and all the original anxiety back, and it could possibly even be worse than before you started it.

The relief can be so helpful, and it's a good emergency short term medication to take every now and then, but it doesn't last over the long haul.

There are a handful of meds that's that work better for anxiety over the long haul - I hope you find a good one that works for you!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Hi .
I am diagnosed as having severe ptsd and bpd (borderline personality disorder) I have had some th...

Thats retard! Im on xanax, had to recently increase from 2 a day to 3 a day and to add to it im also on opioid pain meds (psychitrist knows and i always space them out). Thats all additcting and the only reasons i can work!

I am in a massive hurry to get the dog out & fed & get in the shower for work but if you have a smart phone or tablet, search anxiety. A lot of free apps that helps. The one i use is called What's Up.

As to convincing, maybe advise it did get worse (something they should already know), discribe whats going on and advise that you only take it when needed.

Im sorry this happened! I also have BPD with PTSD & Generalize Anxiety Disorder so i understand the BPD very well! Its a roller coster of emotions!

I might type some more a bit later for you when at work. :hug:

 

[Bookoffee]

I have been on Valium for about a year or more. We have an agreement that I will be given 10 pills for a month. If I need more before, I will call and let him know. He will track how much I take within a month. If he sees an increase then he will not refill them until we have a session as to why the increase.

 

[ladee]

I am so sorry that this is happening with you. Like was said, to open up all that pain and now you just have to hang on until you can get some help? Grateful I live in the States and while our system is not perfect by any means, we can get help faster.
I am on Klonipin for anxiety. I rarely take it anymore. Sometimes if I have had an extremely hard day. But for the most part I am able to work thru it. But I also don't have all the things weighing on me as you do right now.
It is a double edged sword really, we get relief, then find out why we can't take something long term. I hope you get some help and relief soon....:hug:'s if you accept them.

 

[RaggyDoll]

Thank you for all your replies I will reply to you all personally if that's ok. I haven't taken one tonight and am out with friends but am losing it although everyone is oblivious X just want to be "normal" for a day x

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@RaggyDoll see if they will give you seriquil, my therapist says its approved for BPD now in the new DSM 5 & it replaces anxiety med & known to work better & longer. Im hopefully gonna change to that (try to out a few weeks sorta thing). So maybe ask for that instead?

Xanax is addicting & i know a ton whom are addicted to it but it never has for me. I think its cuz i only take when i need it, i dont know. I know you were on valium but i think its about the same sorta thing.

I know how it feels to have defense down, have new emotions & thoughts & be completely terrified of them.

Try the anxiety app for now, i dont know if it will help but worth a try!

 

[RaggyDoll]

Enduring robust anxiety is really hard. I'm working through it myself.

You write that you don't care...

Hi justmehere,
I kno that you are right about the addiction and losing its effectiveness when I am in a calm state of mind, sadly and ironically that's when I'm on the Valium. I think if I'm honest although I have only been on it for five weeks, I do take it 3x a day and the thought of coming off it makes me scared and angry as it gives me some semblance of happiness. I guess this means I am probably already addicted right?

I will prob hear from my psychiatrist next week and she will say the same as you and hopefully I will have come more t terms wit it, so thank you for that. I hope she will at least offer something else

Best Wishes

 

[RaggyDoll]

@RaggyDoll see if they will give you seriquil, my therapist says its approv...

Thanks for your replies, it means a lot you have taken the time I will find out about the seroquil and will try the app. I just feel overwhelmed all the time and it's hard not to take the easy way out sometimes but I'm trying :)

Best Wishes
Julia

 

[RaggyDoll]

I am so sorry that this is happening with you. Like was said, to open up all that pain and now you just ha...

Hi ladee,
Thanks for your reply I definitely accept and need the :hug:
I can't take the Valium less than 3x a day so I suppose I do need to come off them but it's so scary :(

:hug: If you want them