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Been taking 50mg valium for about 2 months, now really scared, please give me some advice.

Posted , 9 users are following.

john82058
john82058

Hi,

I'm currently a student and got valium off the internet to help me get to sleep. Because in halls as it's ridiculously loud, I ended up taking 50mg a night about 5 days a week..

Been doing this for the past 2 months and I've been reading stuff online about coming off it and it's frightened so much!

Should I just go cold turkey, how bad will it be and how long will it last? I really have the urge to go the doctors ASAP as I'm worried for my health but will this also go down on my health record and will it jeopardise being employed in the future if they ask to view my medical records? I can't believe I've gotten myself in this situation I feel so stupid and ashamed.

I've also just rang the NHS help line to explain and waiting on a call back, but, it seems some nurses/doctors are really uneducated in these circumstances.

Would be really grateful of any help.

1 like, 38 replies

38 Replies

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  • Ness101010
    Ness101010 john82058

    Posted

    Hi John

    If NHS help line are not helpful try calling MIND (mental health charity) now on 0300 123 3393 - they're more equipped to advise you on this drug and they're open until 6pm this evening, so give them a try now.

    All the best

    Vanessa

  • sapphireN
    sapphireN john82058

    Posted

    Hello John,

    You do seem to be taking a big dose all at once but you say that you have only been doing this for 2 months.  It is silly to get them off the internet as they may not be pure but am sure if you go and explain everything to your doctor, he will get you some help.  After only 2 months, you will get some withdrawal symptoms but would think that can be handled if you tell your gp and he may wean you off them.  If I had stopped my nitrazepam after just 2 months I am sure I would not have had all these years of addiction and withdrawal would not be as severe as it was for me.  Good luck

    • pat97152
      pat97152 sapphireN

      Posted

      2 months is still long enough to get severe withdrawal symptoms 
  • pat97152
    pat97152 john82058

    Posted

    You need to come clean and tell your doctor..the dose you are taking is very high ..please do not try to do anything yourself 

    i don't see why it would endanger your job prospects..half the world takes anti depressants or Tranqulisers 

    BUT you need help

    if you need to know anything else please ask

    medical records are private ..most people don't declare a me tall health issue on. Job application form

    • pat97152
      pat97152

      Posted

      I am 44 years involuntarily dependent on valium so I know what I am talking about 
    • john82058
      john82058 pat97152

      Posted

      Did reply before but it's waiting to be moderated cause I used a swear word.

      Basically, I got off the phone from the guy and he told me to go to a GP tomorrow, the thought of tapering off them for months really depresses me.. is this what will happen? What do you think the GP will say? I wish I had never ever taken them, I could cry I'm that depressed at this situation I've put myself in.

      Also the fact that I don't take them every day do you think that will help me in the withdrawals?

      Just out of curiosity how much valium do you take?

    • pat97152
      pat97152 john82058

      Posted

      John ..I started valium at university..30 mg a day ..then over the last 20 years I've reduced to 10 mg a day

      im surprised you can study with so much in your system 

      it won't be easy to come off them but you will have to take into account your studies 

      you have got me really worried for you ..please seek help..you may be lucky and get off them with not too much angst but to be truthful I doubt it

      If you can do it slowly your studies won't suffer 

      I feel your pain but at least you are not on heroin or something similar 

      take care 

      pat x

    • pat97152
      pat97152

      Posted

      NO cold turkey or you will end up in hospital and ruin your studies..please be patient 
    • john82058
      john82058 pat97152

      Posted

      It's such a bad situation, theres 10 people in my flat so its impossible to sleep without some sort of help.. I wish I'd of gone into post grad accomodation now. I wake up off them really refreshed and productive, but I do find myself being forgetful and quite clumsy which I hate, and can find myself thinking about something off topic while I'm in a conversation with someone. It probably has affected my studies.. and I do quite drained atm but that's probably due to going out last night because of my birthday but could be the withdrawals?

      I've just got the urge to bin them and power through, but the thought of seizures or anything like that is too frightening.

      Thank you for your advice and concern, really appreciate it 

  • jo61533
    jo61533 john82058

    Posted

    Hi john

    You may get some withdrawal symptoms but they may be mild  as you have only been taking them for two months although that is a whopping dose. How do you feel at the weekends when you don't take them. I am currently tapering diazepam. Dropped from 40 to 20 overnight and stayed on 20 for 4 days sinc then gone down 2mg every 4 days. I know people will say that's way too quick but I will slow down towards the end if I feel the need. I couldn't bear following the Ashton manual it would have taken me forever. Don't worry too much about the horror stories on the Internet because everyone is different. You're young and when I was your age I played with valium like crazy and never had any withdrawals or maybe I did but because I didn't know they existed I may have just thought I was under the weather and didnt stress about it so much.  Let me know what doctor says 

    • john82058
      john82058 jo61533

      Posted

      Hi Jo,

      How did you feel going from 40 to 20 a day and how do you feel while your on your current dose? I feel quite normal when I don't take them, sometimes I do take them on the weekends though.. it all depends on what I'm doing. Are you getting your valiums from doctors or have you sourced them yourelf? 

      I don't even take them in the day time, I just take them in the night as a sleep-aid.. I wish their was a none addictive sleeping aid that was actually affective.

      Yeah the people that are in my friend circles take extreme dosages of valium but they don't do it on a regular basis (as far as I know).. I know one lad one night had 12 along with alot of wine.. 

      Do you think being young and fit will reduce the possibility of severe withdrawals? I do go to the gym regularly and eat well most of the time. But I do take drugs recreationally about once or twice a month.. nothing heavy though just mdma.

       

    • john82058
      john82058

      Posted

      Also how long do you think it'd be before I started noticing severe withdrawals?
    • pat97152
      pat97152 john82058

      Posted

      Please remember Jo is very unusual and lucky ..most people don't get away so easily..you need to ask a doctor ...look up the Ashton Protocol ..yes it's slow but it will enable you to get on with your life 
    • pat97152
      pat97152 john82058

      Posted

      i was 22 when I was forced to go cold turkey..I nearly died ...

      youth has nothing to do with it 

    • jo61533
      jo61533 pat97152

      Posted

      Hi 

      firstly I wouldn't say I was lucky my doctor put me on  tramadol , pregabalin,amtripyline , zopiclone and diazepam for my back pain and I have cold turkeyed all of them. Tramadol was awful so I'm not saying withdrawals don't exist but it was over in a week. What I am saying is the longer you stay on a drug the quicker tolerance sets in I am not prepared to be on this for another 6 months if I don't have to.

      john - withdrawal can start anytime between 24 and 72 hours after last dose.

      i got mine from the doctor and the Internet. The drop from 40 to 20 was easy didn't feel a thing I think that is common in larger doses. My cuts nod make me slightly antsy but nothing I can't handle. All I am saying is everyone is different and as you have only been on it 2 months a long protracted taper might not be necessary. If I had listened to all the tramadol horror stories I'd still be taking it now.speak to your doctor but don't be scared. Pm me if you need to

    • john82058
      john82058 jo61533

      Posted

      Jesus thats alot of to cold turkey off! 

      I'm really afraid that they're going to write on my health record that I've been addicted to a drug, surely that'll mess up job opportunities.. I've had someone PM me saying don't go docs and go to an addiction centre but theres none around me.

    • jo61533
      jo61533 pat97152

      Posted

      Pat am I right in saying that you hAve been tapering for 20 years. That may have worked for you and you need to do what is best for your body., but I'm damn sure I don't want to still be on this in 20 years time and I'm sure John doesn't want to be either and after only 2 months usage it's not necessary.
    • jo61533
      jo61533 pat97152

      Posted

      pat am I right I'm saying you have been tapering for 20 tears. That may work for you but I'm damn sure I don still want to be on this in 20 years and I'm sure John doesn't either and after only two months usage I really don't think it's necessary.
    • pat97152
      pat97152 jo61533

      Posted

      No it didn't take 20 years ...I never told the doctors just took pills when I needed to ..then I realised  I only needed 10 mg 
    • jo61533
      jo61533 john82058

      Posted

      i dont know how many do but the only job I ever went for that checked my medical records was the police. Anyway like Alan said if that were the case half the country would be unemployed including doctors teachers and politicians!! 
    • jo61533
      jo61533 pat97152

      Posted

      Sorry I thought you said you'd been addicted for 30 years. So if all of a sudden you realised you only needed 10mg you must have made a large cut. 
    • john82058
      john82058 jo61533

      Posted

      Went to the GP today and told her everything, she has prescribed me 20mg a night for the next 4 days until I go back to university (on a reading week atm) and discuss it with my GP down there for a further prescription..

      Whats your views on this?

    • Jim45991
      Jim45991 john82058

      Posted

      lol no they won't write that. It was a mistake you made. It's ok. You won't do it again. 
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