Valium warning

Hi guys,

I just saw a "sort of" new doc who is around the corner from me. I say sort of because I've known him for 12 years but he was never my own GP. He has referred me on to a migraine specialist in the area which I will check out this week. I'm going to transition to Prothiaden or something new (if this fails) and really want to have some input from a professional while I walk this thin line. I can't afford to have this migraine crap blow up in my face while working a 40-h week.

Anyway, I asked him for a new script of valium as well and told him how I use it. Basically I get a box of 50 x 5 mg and crack them in half or quarters and use here and there. Lately a lot more here and there. The last box lasted me 3 months. I hit it harder than usual because of the overseas flight and all of the nightmare travel caused.

He was very firm with me in saying that he has DOZENS of patients hooked on valium and that I must reduce consumption and be very aware of my use. His recommendation was to have one box as I described last 6 months minimum; anything less and it was danger country. In his opinion and with years decades experience, valium is the hardest benzo to end an addiction to –- worse than heroin he said. I don't think I'm anywhere near any form of addiction but I can see how easily it could creep in.

It's interesting to hear because I have had different advice from doctors in the US who have said that 2.5 mg daily is safe. I prefer to err on the side of caution however and will now make this box last twice as long (i.e. 6 months). I thought I'd let you guys know this point of view because as it turns out, valium is a wonder drug for MAV -- mine anyway and I know many who say the same. Just sucks that it is so potentially addictive. Just my luck.

I'd be interested to hear what other people's doctors have told them about benzos if you have any stories to tell.

Thanks.

 

Wow, I am surprised as valium is used by many here.

I have no personal knowledge of it but it seems to help many.

 

My Neurologist wanted to put me on Valium the last time I went to see him and I refused to take it. I know many have great success with it here, but it scares me a little for some reason. I was always so afraid of becoming too dependent on it. I am only speaking for myself and am not passing judgement on anyone who does take it because we all have varying degrees of this disease.

Thanks for the information Studio.

 

Funny most docs will tell you hands down Xanax is the hardest to come off of. Doctors often use valium to help people get off Xanax.

 

I get a bottle of 30 with 2 refills (5mgs). I was using them only when I would start to spin, popping one under the tounge and then another in an hour or so if I was still going. A bottle would normally last me about a month. During my last Dr appt. I asked about taking a daily dose to PREVENT the attacks. She said I could try it but most people dont respond to it. So she obviously didnt feel that 5mgs a day was a problem.

 

i was only taking 2mgs a day and fighting daily dizziness because i was affraid to take more.My dr said 2mgs will do nothing.I am now at the point that I take 10 mgs a day...lately.she said to take 5mgs every 8 hrs.Right now I need it,but I can also go days or weeks without any.I think it depends on if you have an addictive personality.Personally,I hate having to take it but will continue if I need.I wonder what addiction means to people.Does it mean...oh my God..I need more I'm shaking and need it,or does it mean that eventually your body requires more and more because the dosage you take dosn't help anymore because you build a tolorance to it.I don't like to,but if it gets me through a dizzy day..ill take it

 

My mom took valium(10mg) ever day for 40 years and decided she wanted to stop. She weaned off over several months and while it was not the most pleasant experience, it was NOTHING like coming off heroin...and mind you, she took it EVERY DAY for 40 YEARS! Imagine coming off heroin after 40 years :O

The two cannot be compared and the doctor is exaggerating.

 

I also had two very different opinions on the use of valium. One doctor (or doctors in that particular hospital) said that 2.5mg x 2 a day was very safe and would not cause any addiction. All the other doctors I saw (in other hospitals) agreed that taking valium daily was dangerous. I was on valium on the daily basis for about 3 months. It turned out that it was quite hard to quit.

 

I totally agree. I am quite surprised that someone had problem quitting after 40 years.

 

I was on 2 mg for years and before I had the vns surgery I went to 5 mg and still use 5 mgs as needed. Some months I need it more than other times so I cant really say how many pills I go thru in a month. My doctors have never warned me about using it maybe due to the fact the beast and the migraines are kicking my arse. But as it stands now I think I might be on this for life as it does help me.

 

I too took valium for a period of time before and after vns surgery in 2006... i stayed on the valium for approximately 6 months after surgery and then slowly tapered down and started to take klonopin instead of valium... now some will say that klonopin is the same as valium but i believe it is in the same class of drugs as valium.. for me.. the klonopin works and helps on my dizzier days.. i still have off balance and a rocky boat feeling since my vns and have developed MAV so the migraines can be gruesome.. also i was diagnosed with bi-lateral mm in 2008. i take a daily dose of klonopin of .05 mgs 2 x a day.. my neuor is fine with that and i may have to take it for the rest of my life but seems to be better than the valium.. why i am not sure. Just something you may want to look into trying to see if it will help... ? good luck.

 

Thanks for posting GinaMc It seems we have similar symptoms. Maybe I should talk to my Drs about trying klonopin and see if that would work better for me.

 

I took valium daily for over three months after my first big attack; a very welcome drug. I had terrible nausea and daily dizzies... when things finally began to turn around, I would forget to take valium (usually 2mg). We are all different, but I never once had a side effect when taking valium and certainly didn't notice when I was down to zero valium per day. Addiction was not a problem for me. VK

 

Great to hear everyone's input on this.

I think I tend to agree that he may have been exaggerating about the heroin comparison -- that it's more difficult. But then he has seen some of his patients go to hell and back trying to dump the stuff. He said that, in general, there's no point in trying to get someone off valium when they're over 60 years of age. Too hard basket for them. And so they just write the script.

Agree that it is obviously not the same for everyone either. I hear stories of people using it like crazy for months on end and then just stop. Maybe it's like smoking. Some smokers just stop and they never look back while for others it is nearly impossible causing severe withdrawal and depression.

It appears that here in Australia GPs are very reluctant to hand out valium (I think it's difficult in the UK as well) but it doesn't seem to be the case in the US.

S

 

I was allowed 2mg at 3 a day. I was only taking one a day.Did it for 6 months and decided to stop as I felt fine. that was 4 years ago. The ENT was only giving me one refil after that it was no meds. He said I had to adjust.

Birdmom3

 

Part of the issue , imo, is also that many who were put on benzo type drugs were placed on it for anxiety and/or panic, and when they quit, not only do they have withdrawals, they also have an increase in anxiety again. On top of that, that anxiety can be even worse because of the rebound effect. So now you have a patient coming to their doctor in the throes of withdrawal, as well as high anxiety. The doctor concludes that the med is horrible and should never be prescribed based on what his patient is saying and acting like.

My personal opinion is that some of these patients should just be allowed to stay on the med their entire lives and that issues only arise when it is taken away.

This all assumes the patient is not increasing their dosage as the years go by. My mom always stayed at 10mg...never more, never less. That is very important. Increasing dosage as time goes by is a no-no. That is how dependence turns to addiction.

Anyway, I'm no doctor and this is just my opinion.....so don't anyone start on benzos just because I say "it ain't that bad".

 

I think that's a good point whereas many of us use it to kill dizziness or I will use it to stop the "fingers plugged into a socket" feeling as well during attacks set off by air travel or driving a car. Lately I've been waking at 4 am with mild racing heart and feeling a little wired and so I will chew on 2.5 mg to fall asleep again. The GP said to avoid that behaviour ...

 

I has a script for 2 mg. valium with instructions to take up to five of these if needed. At one point I was taking 10 mg. sometimes twice a day and although it made me drowsy I had no problem whatsoever stopping once the vertigo stopped.

 

I only get two refills of 2 mg to last for 6 months. If need I have called into the doctor to get more. My regular doctor told me to take one before I go boating on the lake. It helps! I'm sure I am due to go back to my ENT soon. I try to only take them when needed!

 

The higher the dose...the longer you take it, is I think, the concern. If you dont take it daily, then i wouldnt be as worried.

Some people take benzos and go on and off fine....others dont. I have seen people take them daily and go off of them with no issue a time or two only to have the next time put them into withdrawal.

IMO

They really can help...but be careful...