Diazepam

Spot on with your post Nicola! Apparently there 150,000 in the UK hooked on this bitch of a drug. Its a national disgrace and an embarrasment to the NHS, in the states they have a worse problem and many are going for compensation. Its good that we can support each other here. 

Yes Puma, It is good we can all get together in a sense and give support.  No one understands unless they have been thru it like all of us here.  Hope your doing well

I'm actually on to 5mg a day,so it's 10,I'm on,iv took many substances over the years,& nothing compares to the withdrawel of these,it was like someone had put me on a permenant bad LSD trip, I can't go throu that again,I'm back to where I left of 4 month ago,but still,don't feel right,some doctors say there getting taken of the market,which is what strikes the fear  of hell into me,I even told my gp,about the Ashton method,they said they'd  never heard of her,there should be rehabs in the uk for this,I can't believe,these little pills are now controlling me,my brain can't function without them,these doctors need to know how dangerous it is to try,& come of them,iv read of people that's taken 10 years to get of them,& are still messed up,I'm going to see this shrink,iv asked to see,& tell them everything,that I'm terrified of coming of these,a friend of mines seen the state I was in,& says what are you on,I was like nothing,I'm actually coming of them, aahhh,what can you do but keep taking them!

Hi there Pat, I've often thought of you too.  Yes, I took your advice and sat down with my Mum and talked it out, I thought she would be so angry with me but as I said too her, I dont want to lie to you as we are so close the thought of keeping this from her was making my anxiety worse, I felt like i just wanted to die as no one understood butit ws up too me to be honest.  She was wonderful, dad has had a stroke so he definatly know's but not the ins and outs.  I had been having a really bad time of it Major panic, also looking after my father and mum and looking after the house as they are 72, with work and all I was really quite bad.  I also saw my phsychiatrist and told him how I was feeling and talked openly and honestly, he has been fantastic too.  I did not want to go behind people's backs and lie.  So now he gives me what I need but monitors me and does not give me repeats, I see him every month which is also good to talk.  I felt like a weight had been lifted, i no longer felt like a criminal.  I am still on Valium but all involved have felt for the time being, I legitimatley need it, he's also put me on 50mg of Sertaline (anti depressant) was a little against it although I really believe it's helping me.  As my Phsyc said too me you and millions like you were the test subjects for these drugs (benzo's) and now all of you are paying the price, it must be treated as such, it's actually a disease. He stated, if you had diabetes would you take medication for that? I said of course so there you go.  Down the track I will come of but on a rather long tappering down method.  Still wish I'd never been given them, at least now I'm dealing with it in the correct way.  I've torn that BAD GIRL sticker of my chest.  Thankyou for your help during that time as you did put things in perspective for me Pat.  How are you?  I hope all is going well, let me no when you get a chance.  Kindest regards  Nicola 

Dont stress about the being taken off the market, they have put Xanax up to Schedule 4 which is like narcotics.  Valium and alike will not be taken off the problem is now they are realising how dangerous these drugs are they don't want the responsibilty so they are slowly not prescribing them anymore, which is great for people who have never had them, they wont be sent down that track.  For people like us who need care and a long reduction or even to stay on them now for the rest of our lives, that's frightening for US.  So yes keep taking them, do not come off cold turkey.  I hope your Phsyciatrist is a good one and understands they can help alot.  Remember if he does'nt understand or want to help there are many who will, you just have to find the right one.

I'm feeling for you as I've been through it so many times only to find myself with two options, to die or keep taking them.  I've listened to some wonderful people on  this post Pat, Puma and more, they have helped me to be open and honest, we should not feel like criminals.  Deadly little pills they are, as Puma stated 150,000.00 people in the UK addicted Class actions are being taken against pharmacutical companies.  They are the one's that got us in this mess.  All $$$$$$ for them that's all.  Pls take care, i'm sure yo will feel better after your visit with the Phsyiciatrist.  Let me know how you go, will be thinking of you.  One day at a time, sometimes one minute at a time.  Stay strong.  Your not ALONE.

How nice to hear that you are getting help and that your parents know and understand .I know that feeling of wanting to die..I never want to feel like that again.I am fine at the moment ..just plodding on taking the pills ..my GP is retiring soon so the anxiety of what a new doctor will say to me is frightening..a Isn't it aweful that we all live in fear ..and like you said diabetics take insulin because they need it to keep alive..just as we need Valium,though through no fault of our own..heroin addicts are treated better than us .we all wish we'd never taken it in the first place but we took it in good faith...as far as your SSRI is concerned it will help you..I have taken them for 20 years ..I am in the process of withdrawing from Citalopram ...if it helps take it ..BUT be aware you have to wean yourself off them too !! ..it's never ending...take care and keep in touch ..Pat 

Took SSRI's for 10 years not 20 

Nice to hear from you and thanks for thinking of me.  I also no that feeling when you loose your doctor, it creates it's own anxiety and we should not be made feel like this.  I really hope all goes well for you.  Thanks for advice on SSRI's.  The never ending story!  yes Pat keep in touch, dont be a stranger.  True, Herion addicts are treated better, only if the government can make money out of us will there be treatment for US.  We did this becasue we trusted our doctors,not to get high. Where are WE left.  I've been thinkng and the amount of time and effort put into the worry, anxiety etc of Valium if I could use that energy into somehow trying to get a programme for people like us I would, just how to go about it?  Any thoughts?  only when your ready.  Pls take care, as much as you can.  Nicola

Hi Nicole and others in same situation.I have been abusing benzos for ten year's or more .and like others have never ever felt so bad coming off any substance .but reading that others are going through same kinda helps .my doctor has no interest in helping am at my wits end don't know where to go from here have tried natural remedies for dopamine and serotonin realises but no better please I know I've done this to myself and have no idea how to move on from here any advice information would be much appreciated thanks for reading

That was just a doctor I had a few years ago,that said that to me,iv got a pretty good doctor now,but still doesn't seem to understand what the withdrawel symptoms are like,the best I could explain it to him,was that I was holusinating,& was like an outer body experience,& that I was feeling suicidal,& it was real to me,I could hardly even speak, I felt like the doctor thought I was of my head,

Spot on with the Ashton repot! Puma, they need to be re educated in the effects of these class of drugs, there are plently of people in hospital becasue of them.  I also take Sodium Ascorbate, pure Vit C in powder form, it's very salty but the good salts, a big teaspoon in half a glass of orange juice it can help with those flu symptoms you get with W/D.  As Puma said even when changed brand it can effect you, they may still have the active indgrediant in it (Diazepam) but how much? and different binders etc.  I've mentioned on here before about having huge seziures due to theses drugs, well stopping them, becasue my doctor decided he wanted me too come off, no going down slowly just stopping.  Almost killed me, I had the hallucinations and things I can't even put into words.  One seizure I had IN hospital went for 10 minutes and was not stopping so they had to sedate me for 5 day's.  Even the doctors there did not understand what was happening, when I could talk I told them, they just wanted to put it down to epilepsy, gave me drugs for them and I only got worse and worse.  When I was discharged they had the hide to put on my release documents, Cause "drug induced delirium" Medical profession has made a HUGE mistake with this medication and now wants nothing to do with it.

There are a few specialised doctors out there that treat you, I went to one in the beggining, very expensive and he was still taking me down too quick, as you said you woke feeling like you were having a stroke.  The day of my third app I rang to tell him as I was not even safe to drive, his secretary told me, "If you cancel we will never see you again", I asked why? as it was legitimate and I told her If I can get someone to drive me you will see the state im in.  Her response was " we dont believe that ,you have probably relapsed so that's that.  Well after that even if I could have gone I would not have given them anymore of my money, just no empathy at all.  that could have been a new beggining for me but they actually pushed me too relapse.  I hope and pray that you find a good doc as even though what I have said there are good one's out there, I now have one.    Good Luck mate, take care and TRY to stay positive. Thoughts are with you.    Nicola

Ye,I didn't drink any caffeine,or anything,I was doing ok,then,I just woke up one day& thought I was having a stroke or something,I just feel really let down that doctors seem to think its like heroin or something,they think you'll just sweat it out& you will be fine,I would like to try again,but the doctors think I'm taking the mick,I still don't feel that much better,I'm waiting for my brain to adjust again ,this is crazy,

LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER TOO FLUSH IT OUT YOUR SYSTEM.  Glad too hear your al least on 5mg, it will make a difference in  how you feel.  Dont mean too be sticking my nose in, jus feel for you.

They have AA and NA, I suppose this forum is all of us doing VA or Perscriptions Drugs Anonomys!  I've been though Narcotic withdrawal and I would take that anyday over this.  One thing, even though you dont feel like it, try to eat good food even a little. keep your Vitamins up.