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Diazepam withdrawal

Posted , 6 users are following.

craig1974
craig1974

Been on diazepam for 26 years and now my doctor has taken me off them. The withdrawal is terrible and she has put me on Buspirone but they don't do anything for my panic attacks/anxiety at all. Any advice on what else I can try for severe anxiety?

Thanks, CRAIG 1974

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • RobertT
    RobertT craig1974

    Posted

    According to Wikipedia, buspirone takes two to four weeks to become effective. How long have you been taking them? Were you given nothing to take until they became effective?
  • mark96052
    mark96052 craig1974

    Posted

    After 26 years on Diazepam you should only come off it very gradually. It should never be stopped quickly. There are other medications other than Buspirone to tackle panic attacks
    • craig1974
      craig1974 mark96052

      Posted

      My Doc has now put me back to 10mg daily, I don't know how long for but it is easing my symptons.

      I don't take the buspirone anymore as they were making it worse. I thank you for your advice and will keep you posted on my recovery.

      Thanks, Craig

  • ursulauc62
    ursulauc62 craig1974

    Posted

    Absolutely you should never have to completely stop at once after being on diazepam for years. I know from experience that the medical authorities aren't always very helpful about this.  If you have a Drug Addiction Support centre of any sort near you go and see them now.  I did, and they do help with withdrawal from benzos - although most people who go there are addicted to other stuff. They have Dr's working there who can usually work out a withdrawal prescription programme for you.

    Good Luck.

     

  • dave92332
    dave92332 craig1974

    Posted

    Hi Craig how much or what dose did they cut you off at?

    I'm currently tapering and im having problems at 10mg .

    My advice to you would be this . Goto your local mental health clinic and ask to be put on a low dose long taper. I'm sure they will help as tho is what I had to do.

    Its a nationwide clamp down, as I was on 28 and forced to take 2mg reductions. Its no fun mate , and no laughing matter . Take care

  • dave92332
    dave92332 craig1974

    Posted

    Try and get the doc to give you the 10mg in 2mg tabs, that way you can take control.

    I found that whilst tapering from 22mg to 10mg , using the 2s that it was easier when you have more tabs .

    What I mean is that I was always ahead of them by a month or 2mgs as with more tabs I felt I was getting more , and this worked all the way down to I hit 10 mg and only had 2 5mgs to take a day and now I've caught up .

    I'm currently on a 2mg a month drop and going down to 8 tomorrow or nxt week, so I plan on getting ahead of them again, so that when I do stop or come off that last 2mg, that ill have a months worth of 2mgs in case in freaking out.

    I imagine you are like me and have a ritual or a habit within an addiction, where you panic without knowing that you have tabs there. Breaking the pill popping ritual is going to be hard as well.

    But good on you for getting help and as I said id ask for the 10mg in 2mg tabs, and tell your doc you want to be able to drop down on your own.

    I'd imagine the doc will be fine if you suggest a plan where in five months you're jumping off at 1mg ..

    Take care mate

    • dave92332
      dave92332

      Posted

      Forgot to add that I too have been on these thing's for 18ish years and I panic if I misplace them or if I miss the chemist. Its madness but that's life when we become physically addicted to pills and mentally addicted to pill popping. I actually used to live the taste of them as I melted them under myvtounge but I broke that habit or guilty pleasure by swallowing them whole with water. Horrible bloody drug that takes 100-200 hrs to fully get out the body. Think the half-life is 100hrs . So every time I go down 2mgs it takes my body and mind 5 days to notice and almost 14:untill I'VE properly only got the new dropped dose in my blood. So in essance my body is only operating on the reductions or reduced dose for the next 14 days and boom down I go again.

      I'm going to put them in my cereal aswell to break the pill swallowing habit , and I also pop all my tabs out and sit them in the cupboard. Anyway your not alone

    • craig1974
      craig1974 dave92332

      Posted

      Your story is exactly the same as mine Dave, and I am on the 2mg tablets. Thanks for the advice, you are SOOO right about the mental addiction, its a nightmare. I wouldn't wish anxiety and panic attacks on anybody. It's nice to know that I am not alone. Once again I thank you

      Craig

    • mark96052
      mark96052 dave92332

      Posted

      I can empathise with you on this one. I do exactly the same with my Zopiclone. I crunch the pill in my mouth so i can taste the full bitterness of it. But i agree with you that i would be a good start in the mental addiction to stop this behaviour.
  • gary90980
    gary90980 craig1974

    Posted

    Craig im in same postion but my doctor wont prescribe.Do u know were i can buy any real diazepam

    regards gary

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