Valium withdrawel?

Question

Took *15 mg a day for ten years. Can't stop. I fall asleep if I stop. Jackass drs. say taper off. It ain't that easy, if at all. Half-life catches up, causes me to pass out into seizures. Jack=*** doctor. now says I have epilepsy. I take tegritol for that, but I KNOW IT'S ONLY TO STOP SEIZURES OF VALIUM WITHDRAWEL.

"Who will Free me from this body of pillshit?"

Answer 1

I really sympathize with you because it took me a long time to get off of a benzodiazepine (atavan), in fact I've heard that benzo's are probably the hardest drug to get off of.
I asked my doctor about it but he was surprisingly ignorant about what to do so I switched to another doctor who had me withdraw just a tiny bit at a time. You should find another doctor who will guide you through the process or even talk to an addictions counselor about it.
Here's a little something that I read recently:

"There is clear clinical evidence that patients withdrawing from long-term benzodiazepines must reduce the dosage slowly. However, a consensus on the most appropriate taper schedule for individuals is not available. The minimum recommended time for taper is 4 weeks, and many people take much longer. The rate of withdrawal should be specific to the patient's individual needs and should vary based on such factors as initial diagnosis, lifestyle, personality, outside stresses, and amount of support available. The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guidelines for patients with panic disorder recommend tapering the dose over 2-4 months with a weekly dose reduction of no more than 10%. Since even the most effective withdrawal plan can lead to a return of pretreatment levels of anxiety, some form of psychological support is important during the taper and after the drug is stopped.

"Detox" programs are available through hospitals, but this approach takes patients through a rapid withdrawal without the opportunity to develop coping mechanisms in their own environment. Setbacks and relapse have been reported more often with these techniques as well. Slow withdrawal in the patient's own environment allows time for both pharmacological and psychological adjustments to withdrawal and allows the patient to continue with their normal life while learning alternative coping strategies. "

I wish you the best of luck...take care of yourself

Answer 2

You need to see a neuroligist first of all. If you have epilpesy you need a neuroligist and he can help taper you off of medication. It's very hard as I've been a patient for 47 years and to get on and off medication I alway's had a hard time but it made it easier when I had a good doctor to help me taper off a little at a time. Schudule an appt as soon as you can becuse the sooner the better for yourself. The neuroligists can also tell you if your over medicated or not on the right medication. Trust me as I had epilpesy for 39 years.

Answer 3

Valium depresses the nervous system much like alcohol and is abused by all segments of society. Valium is both physically and psychologically addicting and as is considered one of the toughest addictions to break. With chronic use, its abuse potential is high. Withdrawal symptoms can be seen after only 2 or 3 days of repeated use.

Tolerance to Valium builds quickly and is the effect of cellular adaptive changes or enhanced drug metabolism. This tolerance develops over days, weeks, or months is a diminished response associated with chronic use of this drug.

All benzodiazepines, even when used as recommended, may produce emotional and/or physical dependence. Valium has the potential to cause severe emotional and physical dependence in some patients and these individuals may find it exceedingly difficult to stop using. It is important that your physician help you discontinue this medication in a careful and safe manner to avoid severe withdrawal.

To abruptly stop Valium after an extended period of use is extremely dangerous and can cause seizures and sometimes death. Discontinuation of the medication must include a physician supervised gradual taper schedule and/or adjunct medications to minimize acute withdrawal.

Essentially, withdrawal symptoms from Valium are like the mirror of its therapeutic effects. Valium withdrawal can produce especially severe withdrawal symptoms similar to those in alcohol and barbiturate withdrawal, including jittery, shaky feelings and any of the following: rapid heartbeat, tremor, insomnia, sweating, irritability, anxiety, blurred vision, decreased concentration, decreased mental clarity, diarrhea, heightened awareness of noise or bright lights, impaired sense of smell, loss of appetite, loss of weight, muscle cramps, seizures, tingling sensation, and agitation. In more extreme cases, typically associated with sudden cessation of the drug, users may experience convulsions, tremor, abdominal and muscle cramps, vomiting and sweating. After extended abuse, abrupt discontinuation should be avoided and a gradual dosage tapering schedule carefully followed.

Answer 4

Well I am a recovering addict myself, sounds like you may need to find a inpatient drug program ( 3-6 months) in your area, check and see if you have Catholic Charities, they have a good drug treatment here in NE. Start going to NA mtgs. get phone #'s
of other addicts that you can call when you have the urge to use.
I know it ain't gonna be easy for you however there is help out there, check the yellow pages in phonebook under drug treatment
for a contact # for NA. remember one thing, "there are no strangers in this world, they are friends you haven't met yet!!!
Good Luck my friend and take care. I am on yahoo IM :-)

Answer 5

You need to be admitted to a treatment center. Valium is a very addictive medicine. It will take a lot of time to get off it.

Answer 6

Valium withdrawal is very similar to alcohol withdrawal. You've been dependent on it for a long time so you'll need to withdraw under medical supervision. You're probably too addicted to them to simply withdraw gradually on your own.

Answer 7

You are exactly right. Find a new doctor.

Answer 8

you really do need a new dr