Diazepam

[TonyG]

Yesterday my anxiety was at what I would call a extreme level so I went to the doctors and I was unable to see my normal doctor and got a fill in doctor, My file was on the screen and she asked how my therapy sessions were going, I told her I wanted something for the anxiety as I can't function like I am, so she said that diazepam will help but I should only take it when needed, She said it will work allmost straight so as soon as I got home I had one and waited to feel better, after an hour of no affect I thought I had misunder stood what I was told so after five hours I took another one and still nothing, It's 5.40am I have slept for about 4 hours and woken up and I still have the same level of anxiety That I had going to bed, The reason I slept was I had a stiff scotch.

 

[KwanYingirl]

A stiff scotch on top of a benzo. If she gave you .5mg tablets you probably need four for any effect. Not advisable to mix them with alcohol. Better you check in with your regular doc about the dose. I have found that if my anxiety interferes with sleep I just can't drug it away. And then I've wasted good tranquilizers.

 

[TonyG]

I have never taken any drugs for anxiety, I will be at the doctors when they open and find out what they have given me

 

[Justmehere]

Diazepam (aka Ativan) is a benzo and is a not an ideal choice for a spike in anxiety from on-going ptsd. It can help sometimes with one time anxiety, but it sounds like your nervous system was too revved up for it to make much of a difference.

I've tried it when extremely anxious, and it doesn't work much for me unless in given scary amount of it that could harm me. If I take it when only a little anxious, it snows me over completely.

So the fact it didn't work, that tells me you must be feeling really bad. :( :hug:

There are other meds that do work a lot more effectively for me for anxiety when it is really bad.

Please be very careful when combining with alcohol. It can cause problems when combined with alcohol that could lead to you dying in your sleep. Basically, it can make it so that once asleep, your body forgets to breathe.

It's also one of they more addicting medications, and if you are in so much pain that alcohol is seeming like a good choice, it's best to stay away from it. Both the alcohol and ativan. Alcohol will increase depression and ativan can cause massive rebound anxiety when it wears off.

Which is a heads up - if you suddenly feel worse today - it might just be due to the Ativan wearing off. It's a tough drug to use for ptsd related anxiety spikes without something else lined up to lower anxiety over the long haul.

I would highly suggest going back and seeing your regular doc and getting a better medication for anxiety or sleep.

 

[Justmehere]

Cross posted with you @TonyG. I'm glad you are going back to the doctor. I hope they give you something that works better. :hug:

Take slow deep breaths - I know it may feel like it won't make any difference, but it may help keep things from getting worse. This all will get better. Extreme anxiety is really tough but it can and does eventually get better. I have had a few really bad episodes. It is so awful to endure, but you are taking some good steps in the middle of it and I really hope they are able to help you more today. :hug:

 

[TonyG]

ok my wife said they are 5mg

 

[catjudo]

Diazepam (aka Ativan)

Diazepam is Valium, not Ativan.

@TonyG what strength, or how many mg, was the diazepam that was prescribed to you?

 

[KwanYingirl]

5mg is a high dose, but depending on the situation even that might not help. When I used to do biopsies on out patients, we gave them 10mg of Valium and did not allow them to drive. A biopsy is a very stressful situation and by giving the Valium people reported better recovery from the procedure. For PTSD it can be a double edged sword because the body gets addicted to it. Not sleeping is the pits.

 

[Justmehere]

Thanks @catjudo or correcting me.

Valium Is another benzo and all of them can cause rebound anxiety and problems when combined with alcohol. Valium is one of the more addictive because it is supposed to act quickly but then can wear off quickly. 5mg is a higher dose. I've tried 2.5 before with mixed results. It's ok to use for occasional or one time anxiety, but not a great option for ptsd on a regular basis.

Either way, I hope they find something that works better.

 

[TonyG]

@Justmehere thank you for the advice, I think it is more unbearable because it has come after three good days feeling super dooper, I let my self get triggered by a friend in pain with the loss of her brother on the weekend. And I feel back to my old self again,

 

[TonyG]

I have just taken my third in twelve hours and I feel like I am getting some affect but only mild anxiety now I can deal with

 

[catjudo]

5 mg is an average dose. It comes in 2 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg tablets. While it is difficult or nearly impossible to get an EXACT comparison, 5 mg of diazepam/Valium is is roughly equivalent to 0.5 mg of alprazolam/Xanax and <1 mg of lorazempam/Ativan. Also, diazepam/Valium is considered a long acting benzo...does not wear off quickly... (peak levels are achieved between 30 - 90 minutes after oral dose and it has a half life > 24 hours. (By comparison, Xanax is considered short-acting [peak level achieved 1-2 hours after oral dose and half life < 12 hour] and Ativan is considered intermediate-acting [peak level achieved in about 2 hours and half life of 12-24 hours].)