Getting off diazepan safely when seizure prone

I am new to the group and have also been on 10mg of diazepam for over 2 years, but I think you should reduce your dosage much more slowly. I did either 1/4mg or 1/2 mg every 2 or 3 weeks, and I am still on 5mg. I get head feelings and stomach queasiness. Do not be in a rush to get off the pill, you must be patient. I read that the slower you go the easier it will be for you despite what some doctors say. It makes sense!!! Also, the slower you go a seizure will not be likely. I know you want to rush off the pill, but please go slowly and have a lot of FAITH! Your brain will appreciate it as it retrains itself to a lower dose. Please keep in touch with me, I would like to hear your progress and I can tell you mine.

Many blessings, Jane

I have too been on a battle with Diazepam and other Benzodiazepams for around 5 years now.  I use to drink alcohol but due to my husband becoming a MAJOR alcoholic which led to me leaving, for some reason I just cant drink any more, I suppose thats one good thing.  It was when I left him after 22 years, childhood sweathearts, I became extremly deppressed and anxious also BAD panic attacks.  I now realise it was due to all the domestic violence that went on.  We had just bought a house together and I had worked my whole life and put all my money in.  I was pretty well left with nothing.  My point is, Doctors back then would hand out Valium and all the other addictive prescription meds as a cure all, and they worked.  What they didnt tell us was the horrific withdrawals once you come off.  We were there test subjects and we pay the price, I have now read up on everything to do with it.   Yes, Valium is used for Alcohol withdrawal and I understand where your coming from as Alcohol withdrawal can be worse than herion withdrawal and so can Valium, it changes the chemicles in the brain and makes us physically dependant.  Now the Med profession no how dangerouse they are they just want to cut you off or like you tapper you down way too fast for your body & mind to adjust.  Im no Doctor but I swear I no much more about this issue than they do, they just go by the text book.

So good on you for getting of the Alcohol but the doctors should have told you that Valium and all drugs alike are only to be used for max 4 weeks.  After that your pretty well addicted and you dont know it till you try to come off.  No matter how much you were on even 2mgs is 2mgs too much, HELL sets in, I have been through 3 lots of detox, they expect you to taper down in 10 days and say "oh it will be all out of your system by now, you'll be fine" A joke  yes once out of your system is all fine but Valium has a very long half life depending on the persons Weight Height. metabolisim all kinds of things it can actually stay in your system for 6 months 1 year personally Ive done detox and stayed off them for 7 months, worst 7 months of my life, that was the first time, also had seziures.  Did not sleep a wink, hearing voices, major anxiety panic and depression, sweating could not go outside, had to really force myself to be positive.  I tried everything excerising, eating well, vitamins, natropath.  I really could not eat at all or hold anything down.  I was worse of now than I was when I left my husband. 

I was like after lying in bed for 7 hours trying to go to sleep but just feeling so bad, i'd get up and think, i'll get my affairs in order today as I just cant live this way, i was barely existing, and a burden too all around me,Tried putting on that happy face so all would think i was fine but they knew, although i never had the guts to actually do it and what it would do to my family. So I would relapse, I went to a doc as they were gettng harder and harder to get and just told him how bad I was feeling, did not mention that I was in withdrawal or they would not give you them at all.  My doc was good and helped me out until, like you he started tapering me down far too fast, he put me on a anti deppresent which I think i have been on every one, prob helps a little with deppression, thats about it.  At this stage I knew what I was in for so I got more from friends and different kinds of meds just to feel like I could handle the day.  I did not get on these drugs for fun, they were prescribed too me and for soo long.  Now I was considered a drug addict, waste of space.  I have  a Pshyciatrist who understands which is great and he would give me some but by this time I was now lying to friends and family as they thought after detox you should be just fine.

Second detox I had a major seziure 10 min, in hospital they had never seen one that long.  They put me out too it for 2 weeks, when I came too I had lost so much of my memory but I got it back.  Doc's still did not want to putme back on them.  They gave me other meds for sezuires, but still felt so so bad.  That was a 8 month battle with nothing, going thru chirstmas and all occasions just wanting to die.  how many times can one hit rock bottom?  They say these withdrawals are worse than Herion and I def can vouch for that.

I no what I have told you hear your probably freaking right out.  Don't , my point is you are down to 3mgs, you need to go back up to 5mgs and remind your doctor of his duty of care, with seziures  you can die from this.  Studies prove that a reduction programme should take a long time even a year or more so your whole self can adjust.  I was prescribed alot more than you are on and they gave me several different ones at once.

I doubt very much you would go thru what i have.  But look it all up and go to your doctor with the proper information, you are not taking them for fun or to get high, he put you on them.   If worse comes to worse and he wont listen, go to a detox center at least there they will medically treat you and really watch out for seziures.  Even if it's the first step.  I live in Australia, I dont know where you live? there is a good one here.

One more thing I've learnt, dont be too hard on yourself, it only creates more anxiety.  I've given you the schock factor,. Although I really believe if he can take it slower with you, go back to fivemgs and come down a tiny bit every 3-4 weeks you will probably be just fine and the withdrawals will not be nearly as bad.

I hope you get thru to your doc, or find one that understands.

I really wish you all the best and will be thinking of you.  Things will look up for you, look at what you have already achived.  Stay calm and strong.  If I had had this information back when i began, I would have been alot better.  So you have a heads up.  Def Kick them but slowly.  ALL THE BEST and sorry to go on and on, I feel a duty to tell people about this issue.  Anyone on this discussion that has comunicated with me, no's I talk alot, I feel it helps me too.  If I can stop one person from going thru what I did I would be a little happier.  I  am still on them but have come clean to every one in my life about it & wow they understood, my doc monitors me as you would no its very easy to want to take more and more.  Addicition it is a diesease & should be treated as such. cry out loud if you need too.

I'll let you go now, I am here for you if you need and next time it wont be a long message, ha ha.  TAKE CARE  Nicola

he gave it to me as i have had almost 2 years of back pain and it made me sleepy.

I take 3 x tegretol 400mg everyday, there computer was down and he didn't have my notes

Many blessings, Jane

Sorry it's taken so long to reply - i never have chance with a baby!

Thanks so much for all the advice - some really helpful stuff said.

I'm staying put on 3mgs for now, it took a week, but my body adjusted to 3mgs and now it would feel like a step back to increase.

As for the seizures, I'm not epileptic - seizures in the past (last one was 2008) have been solely due to alcohol withdrawal after heavy prolonged use, but hence why I'm scared with reducing the diazepan too quickly, I know I'm seizure prone when it comes to withdrawal.