Valium/Diazepam Support Group

[[et...]]

I just don't get it. If a doc gladly writes a prescription for a fast acting Benzo that is driving their patient bananas why wouldn't they gladly write a prescription for a less irritating drug like Valium? I would definatley gently argue this point with him/her.

etown

[[Wo...]]

I just don't get it. If a doc gladly writes a prescription for a fast acting Benzo that is driving their patient bananas why wouldn't they gladly write a prescription for a less irritating drug like Valium? I would definatley gently argue this point with him/her.

etown

 

I second that - WTF??

 

I'm guessing that the drug companies convince them that the newer ones are somehow better. Idiocy!

[[So...]]

When I asked my Dr to be switched to Valium for my taper, he said that by law he could not switch me for that reason since he is not an addiction specialist. 

 

Denise 

[[et...]]

Holy crap what a supreme load of bs. It's ok then to give you Valium once you are under 1mg Ativan? Is this guy a whackjob?

Illegal? What's illegal is prescribing Benzos for longer than 2 weeks. I've heard it all now!

Sorry for the rant.

etown

[[So...]]

I still don't know if he would give me valium then. But, he did say that if I could get down to 1 mg, then I could stay on it for night time use.

 

Now, that will never happen!! But, I thought if I could suggest to him that the Ativan isn't working for that, then I might be able to talk him into the valium.

 

He is all about low doses of benzo's. Like he will get in trouble for prescribing high doses for very long.

 

And no, I can't switch Dr's due to insurance reasons.

 

Denise 

[[et...]]

I'm sorry Denise I'm just all about sticking up for YOU and advocating for an easier taper for you.

Illegal? wow

etown

[[So...]]

Thanks etown!!

 

Who knows, I may just be able to cross over at some point. 

 

Denise 

[[dr...]]

Denise,

 

Just a thought...since your doc says he isn't an addiction specialist, might it be worthwhile to call your insurance and request one?  Possible loophole.

 

Drew

[[So...]]

Right now I would have no way to get there. The closest one would be at least 30 miles away.

 

And, this stupid Ativan has made me more anxious and scared of things. Sad, isn't it. 

 

I am just going to muddle through for now, and hope for positive changes in the future.

 

Denise 

[[...]]

I got my doctor's nurse practitioner to put me on Valium by telling her the Ativan was too "strong" for me. Actually, I was already well into taper with Valium my dentist had prescribed for "dental anxiety". I'm so bad. The NP  looked up the dose and any possible med interactions in front of me and then told me to take 5mg twice a week. I managed to keep a straight face while she wrote the prescription and thanked her for her "expertise". I never discussed tapering with any of my providers. I consider that visit quite helpful, actually. Ignorant vs dishonest. Practitioners who prescribe benzos sure need more education. I was going to seek out a benzo wise doctor but soon discovered I could get whatever I wanted with a little "artful" effort with my current practitioners. I suppose in time I'll be more outspoken about my experience around my university which does have a medical school. I will have no intention of getting elected Mr. Popularity.

[[Sm...]]

I've heard the med schools are less keen on benzos. At least in Aus

My brother and a friend just went through med school and the general picture was that benzos are useful but ONLY short term hospital use: No long prescriptions. And they got a lot of information on just how hard withdrawal from dependence is. Hopefully that is true across the world and generational change will happen.

[[et...]]

Don't hold your breath Smiffy especially in Western countries where $ mean everything.

etown

[[Wo...]]

Bart - LOVE the way your mind works 

[[J-...]]

I've heard the med schools are less keen on benzos. At least in Aus

My brother and a friend just went through med school and the general picture was that benzos are useful but ONLY short term hospital use: No long prescriptions. And they got a lot of information on just how hard withdrawal from dependence is. Hopefully that is true across the world and generational change will happen.

Too late for some of us here in Aus.

I heard that in 2011 all doctors's were given info about giving benzos and in particular,

Xanax putting stricter rules in place. Too late for me, I was handed out Xanax like candy

Just 3 months before.

No wonder every gp I go to basically can't handle my situation and abandons me and

Fobs me off to my pdoc...who of course doesn't believe in w/ d and thinks I'm just

'anxious'.  I have to play along just to get my scripts. He's offered plenty of times to place

Me in a clinic and get me off in 3 weeks. He said he's treated hundreds of patients and

Got them off with no trouble. If I hadnt gone through a brutal c/ t in hospital last year I would

Have taken up his offer.

[[Sm...]]

Yea too late for all of us J 

 

But things are improving.

 

Xanax is now officially category 9 restricted in Aus. As of 2014 it is as hard to prescribe, and get, as Morphine: you have to request to prescribe it as a Dr, so only certain Drs will even be able to prescribe it and every prescription goes on a database.

 

My PDoc didn't know about benzo withdrawal till I got it and got seizures. I think about all those people in all her years of practice that may have tried to come off, got anxiety and were told by her that it was their condition. Such a shame. But even she now knows what Benzos do to the brain.

 

May we get well soon despite being prescribed this trash. xxx

[[or...]]

Sophias here's a thought. OK, so your insurance won't let you see another doc. So what? You could go see one in private practice and pay yourself. Or a psychologist. Or a psychiatric nurse practitioner -- the woman who prescribes my valium is a psych NP in private practice. See anyone with a prescription pad! I saw a private practice doc here in OR before I got established with an insurance plan. Would that work? I mean 15 minutes now and then to get them to write a script with refills wouldn't cost an arm and a leg.

 

Just a thought.

 

I hate it that you're stuck.

 

Bart's idea is a good one, too. What about your dentist? You could all of a sudden develop dental anxiety.

 

Okatz

[[...]]

I got my doctor's nurse practitioner to put me on Valium by telling her the Ativan was too "strong" for me. Actually, I was already well into taper with Valium my dentist had prescribed for "dental anxiety". I'm so bad. The NP  looked up the dose and any possible med interactions in front of me and then told me to take 5mg twice a week. I managed to keep a straight face while she wrote the prescription and thanked her for her "expertise". I never discussed tapering with any of my providers. I consider that visit quite helpful, actually. Ignorant vs dishonest. Practitioners who prescribe benzos sure need more education. I was going to seek out a benzo wise doctor but soon discovered I could get whatever I wanted with a little "artful" effort with my current practitioners. I suppose in time I'll be more outspoken about my experience around my university which does have a medical school. I will have no intention of getting elected Mr. Popularity.

 

This is exactly the route I had to take to get the valium by asking my hrt doctor for a "sleep aid".  Once I got enough accumulated for the taper I just stopped asking for it.  This mess has made me quite the prevaricator.

 

[[ja...]]

I had some nasty anxiety when I woke up today and had to take one of the few Xanax tablets I had left on top of the Valium I took. I used to have days like this sometimes even when I was on Xanax. I was just hoping with the half-life of Valium that things would be smoother and I could avoid that. Then again I haven't been taking the Valium too long and it hasn't built up in my system, plus my body hasn't adjusted from the switch. Worst case scenario I go back to my doctor and tell them this stuff just isn't working get me back on the Xanax.

[[...]]

I had some nasty anxiety when I woke up today and had to take one of the few Xanax tablets I had left on top of the Valium I took. I used to have days like this sometimes even when I was on Xanax. I was just hoping with the half-life of Valium that things would be smoother and I could avoid that. Then again I haven't been taking the Valium too long and it hasn't built up in my system, plus my body hasn't adjusted from the switch. Worst case scenario I go back to my doctor and tell them this stuff just isn't working get me back on the Xanax.

 

Jason,

I hope you can try and give yourself a couple more weeks for the valium to build up.  I swear if you do, you will have probably the best chance for success tapering in the long run.  I cannot imagine tapering from Xanax with its short half life AND short duration of effect.  I would probably be in inter-dose w/d 24/7.

 

Have you considered putting the Xanax away and if you feel the need for a rescue dose, taking the Valium instead?  It is not a popular suggestion on this site, but there are members, some here on this thread including myself, who have to take a 20 / 30% one time up-dose on those inexplicably symptomatic days and then just go back to the regular taper dose the next day with no problems.  The idea is to realize there is no need for pain or sticking fiercely to a taper schedule, but to "ease down" your dose in a gentle way.  As long as you do not make a habit of it, you should have no reason to fear using this little trick from time to time.  I fear if you continue to rescue with the Xanax, you may derail your w/d from it and jeopardize your chances for a successful crossover.

 

This is just my opinion and suggestion based on my own personal experience with the clonazepam, but something you might consider.

 

Take care whatever route you choose 

[[Sm...]]

Yes Jason I agree with Eliz.

Give Valium a really really good go before going back to xanax. You can take some xanax with your Valium if you feel you need to do a more thorough C/O. There are C/O schedules in Ashton.

 

Everyone with breathing problems on Valium: Well I took my old asthma medication. And it works to a certain point. But it is causing nasty w/d symptoms. Hopefully not too bad if I sit it out for a few days because I've been fine but not an option really for people in acute withdrawal. I'm seeing Dr on Saturday. I get the brilliant choice of breathing or being anxious/shaky/nauseous. I'm hoping since there was phlegm it is an infection that will pass. Valium certainly makes it worse though. It was all cleared yesterday and I took my Valium dose and straight back into bad breathing though it past quicker than before. J: interestingly I'm worse without the anti-histamine/doxy.

It is at times like this when I remember the hold this stuff has on my life.

 

Hope you're all feeling better

love

Smiff

[[Sm...]]

The other thing I'd quickly note Jason is 'wake up' anxiety is usually the passing kind. Sure it isn't fun while its lasting but it does usually pass. It is a combo of all those stressy hormones like cortisol and adrenaline running through you as you wake. Give it an hour, take a vitamin C maybe.. you'll find it is one of the most passing anxieties out there.

still crap though...

[[Sm...]]

oh and one more thing valiant valium taperers...

 

I could be getting hit hard today because of the combo - a kinda missed dose and asthma med. Well I didn't miss a dose exactly but I couldn't taste my liquid valium at all. I had that experience last week too. The consistency of the stuff seems to be getting wacky the closer I go to the end of the bottle.

 

Anyone have any knowledge/advice on end of bottle Valium issues?

 

Much love

Smiff

[[jj...]]

smiff and Jason, the AM spike is well known among diabetics. Your body gives you a little hormonal boost to transition from sleep to waking. Works great for healthy people. It causes blood glucose levels to rise if you are insulin compromised and in our cases causes AM anxiety due to a compromised CNS. I've been waking up with AM dread for the last two months, but it always passes in an hour or so. Eating some almonds first thing when I get out of bed seems to have helped me a bit.

[[J-...]]

Hi everyone,

 

Im now on 10mg and now want c/o to valium microtaper with tablets and liquid.

What daily reductions should I start at?  Better to start higher at say 0.3ml

daily then go down to 0.2ml or start lower and go higher?

 

Thanks,

J-Bird

[Guest [Sa...]]

Thank you SO much everyone for replying to my post. I'm feeling much better today! Day 6 after my taper and a few hits of Lyrica see me feeling almost normal! It's such a crazy ride huh!? I'm terribly sorry for my frantic posts! They've all been on really bad days. Today while I'm feeling great, I'll have a go at this website and work out how to use it.

It seems that I am one of those lucky ones who isn't struggling that much. Not only have I come off Xanx and Mogadon, I've also come off 2 antipsychotics and 2 antidepressants since 2008 so I've experienced some FAR worse and incredibly frightening withdrawals!! The bonus I have up my sleeve is that I know that this will pass. I know I'll get through it and feel better on the other side because I've been down this road so many times over te years of switching meds and recently as I've rid myself of all chemicals.

However, this is the longest withdrawal I've gone through. If I had my way I'd go off valium in 2 weeks, but I know that's not safe.

I'm following the taper schedule that's on this site. http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm According to this site, I have 16 weeks to go. Next fortnight I start tapering 1mg instead of 2mg/fortnight.

 

Thanks etown, I'm happy to post here. I'll learn about blogs today.

 

Human11 ...sorry... Yes I did start my taper on September 12th 2013 (I'm an Aussie, I'm also used to dd/mm/yyyy)

 

Workinitout..yes I'm doing really well in all other ways. I'm supplementing my diet with some much needed vitamins and minerals and I don't eat preservatives at all. I grow our food and my partner is a chef. Most of what we eats come from my gardens. Maybe that's why I'm coping better than most??? I haven't had a single bad nights sleep, which was the same with the other benzo withdrawals. I get tired instead. I feel very blessed! My best friend in the who;e world since we were 16 died of an OD last year so I really think she's helping me! I'm a spirit believer :> If you're also one, you won't think I'm odd, you've probably seen some too :>

 

Diaz-Pam...I'm 41 years old.. not going through men'oh'pause  yet ;> 

As I've been following the suggested taper regime on this site, I don't understand why everyone's telling me I'm going too fast. It says here to drop 2 mgs every 10 days - 14 days. I figured as I've been on it for so long that I should go for the longest time being 14 days. I don't wanna do percentages either. I've always done my tapers by mgs, I'm not changing that now! ;> KISS ...Keeping It Simple Sweety ;> And thanks SO much for the link to my posts..I've worked it out thanks to your help :>

 

Smiff... I'm SO dumb atm it's laughable! Thankfully I have a healthy sense of humor and my partner and I often laugh at the weird things that have been coming outta my mouth lol . I do hold for an extra week or 2 if I'm struggling.. I knew Christmas was gonna be tough so I help for 4 weeks. First time I've seen my family in 4 years and had to fly to NSW to visit. Having been agoraphobic for 10 years..it was a big step for me, but I had the BEST time!! Another success! Life's great when you work on your stuff and come out the other side! :> And there's absolutely nothing wrong with being introverted while we're going through this IMHO. I've told my friends that I'll be back in 4 months when it's all over and done with. They understand, but nobody is gonna understand me like you guys, so I know this site is gonna be the place for me to be :>

 

 

SO basically I found that taper the hardest cos it was the FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS THAT I HAVEN'T TAKEN A DAYTIME DOSE OF DIAZEPAM!!!!!

Deleting the 2pm alarm from my mobile felt SO good!! I never have to remember to take that dose ever again!! WOOOOOO!!!! SWEET FREEDOM!!! And worth every single hard day/hour/minute!

 

 

OK, now I'm gonna try this quote business and reply to each one of you next time and get to know a few of you so I can have some friends to chat with.If you think you're like me, or have also gone through the same, or are going through the same withdrawal, please feel free to pm me. I'll work out how to use it today ...lol

Thank you all SO much for replying and for your concerns and advice! What a priceless gift to have found this site! :>

 

Love and light to all of you brave souls!! :>

Sarah Hope