STOPPING VALIUM COLD TURKEY. ANY ADVICE PLEASE?

Hi, I am sorry to learn of your plight, it seems to me that your doctor needs replacing because I know from personal experience just how frightening the symptoms can be with withdrawal.

Over thirty years ago I was prescribed 30 mg's of Valium daily, as it was then known, and it slowed me down no end, so one day I decided to take myself off it, and the withdrawal was like the world had stopped turning, I couldn't sleep, I was just so spaced out. But eventually I did adjust and haven't had it since.

In those days doctors were writing out the prescription before you sat down in front of him/her, and these strong tranquilisers were dished out out like sweets. And the whole point of my story is that I didn't need them anyway.

I would always recommend talking therapies like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; beats drugs any day. But I wish you well in your battles with your doctor and hope it all works out well for you. Regards

Thanks john488, I'm happy to report that I managed to stop valium ct. 2 weeks of withdrawals, but I received the strength from praying to God & believing He would see me through. I am now free! I've never felt more peaceful & so joyful. Feel like writing to the prescribing psych to thank her for not sending me the scripts. To anyone wishing to get off this poison, it can be done. You won't die by stopping ct, though it should be done under medical supervision. I told my GP I could do it. My faith was all I needed. No-one has to be a slave to this addiction! The freedom is worth all the withdrawal symptoms, as they do pass!

Hello,

I've been in the position you'r in through too quickly reducing the pills and I had bad side effects. It was a different GP who changed the [prescription, when my GP came back and saw the dose he increased it and told me about the dangers of sudden reduction.

Can you talk to your GP? I'm sure he will have seen and know all about diazepam reduction and will be able to help you. I can really feel for you and urge you to get in touch with someone who can see you quickly, or even just a phone call. Withdrawal, as I'm sure you know should be medically monitored as its a physical problem, not a mental one.

I'm reducing now, but the only thing is it makes my fibro so much worse, as well as my osteoarthritis. Good luck Sue xx

Hello,

Thanks for your input. I'm very happy to report that I did indeed, get through the withdrawals. Yes, I know it's a physical one, but brain & body are interconnected. I sweated it out, literally. Many baths helped as well as valerian herbal capsules, calming herbal teas such as vervain, hops, passionflower & scullcap. Lots of water, eating healthy & taking supps & the minerals calcium & magnesium. Magnesium especially, as it's the cool, calm mineral. Add lots of prayer & faith & it can be done. Eating foods that help balance the neurotransmitters also help, Protein, walnuts, almonds, yogurt,, wholegrains etc. Exercise helps, as it releases the 'feel good; hormones. Studying all this during my withdrawal also helped me get my mind of the shakes, full-blown anxiety, sweats etc. But best of all was prayer. That, more than anything, kept me strong & I didn't lose my joy or sink into depression. I truly believe in the power of prayer, as there truly is a God! A Power greater than the one that is in the world. I never went back to that prescribing doc. My own GP was there if I got into any difficulty, which I didn't. I'm so happy to be free of those 2 drugs, valium & zopiclone. My family say I'm a changed person & certainly one for the better. I'm not snappy, impatient or befuddled anymore, dependent on valium just to stop withdrawal feelings. Yes, it's worth going through those intense withdrawals to be finally free. Keeping that end in sight, also helped give me the strength to keep going. I'm nearly 4 months free of it & that sleeping drug, that mind & soul destroyer zopiclone, & I'll never look back. If anyone is serious about getting off valium, IT CAN BE DONE! And you'll be SO glad you did!

I meant to add that I also, have osteoarthritis. I didn't find valium to be helpful in the least, as far as pain goes. Maybe it relaxes you more, so you're not so tensed up which certainly makes pain worse. But I'd rather have physical pain any day, than the mental anguish that comes from being on a useless drug like valium. I am on a pain medication, but fortunately there's no bad side effects, as it doesn't work on the neurotransmitters in the brain, so doesn't cause any mental health problems. There are many alternative pain remedies to use along with a suitable painkiller, that can help with managing pain & that enable you to get pretty good pain relief. It depends on the severity of your osteoarthritis & fibro, as to what your doc will prescribe. Wishing you good luck, Sue & thanks again.

Christine

Hello all, just wanted to share my story for some feedback. I've been taking 5mg of Valium a day for about a month and a half. Mostly for back pain (relaxes my muscles) and for stress/anxiety that I get at the end of the day, half from being at home all day, and half from my lovely 3 yr old daughter who is a bit of a handfull. I didn't realize that it was so habit forming, and am trying to get off of it. Is only 5mg a day enough to get withdrawel symptoms? I find that if I haven't taken it by 6 pm, and start getting stressed, I feel like a mild panic attack is coming on, and get short and snappy, and sensitive to loud noises, people talking ect. I would like to get off of it and move on. Any feed back or advice is welcomed. P.s sorry for not starting my own discussion, forum, and wish you the best Christine201 and all others. Cheers! Mark

Hi

    I am not one for reading but my advice to you is to buy yourself a Book by Dr Claire Weeks,who has a  Method  for you to use (free of chage),I have come thru with help from these books,i was taking 30 mg a day of diazepam & now on a dose of 4 mg a day,& hopefully soon i will be Valium free thank god,The Book i suggest is More Help for your Nerves,she also has a book to help AgoraPhobics

  I got my books off eBay (2nd hand)

                                             Good Luck

Dearest, are you still there and ok?

Been there.

 

Beware. Never ever go cold turkey with valium I took minor doses of valium for several years I moved to London and had no valium Out of the blue I was thinking about good versus evil then I thought I had cameras watching me I tried to commit suicide and thought people were looking in my Windows waiting to attack me I thought the IRA were after me the Gestapo were going to experiment on me and put me in a box and I was paranoid about everything. I was so terrified I went on the run often walking all night I did this for a couple of months I was taken to a hospital but escaped from there and kept running then the police found me and took me to another hospital where I thought all the staff were out to get me and then transferred to a hospital near my home town. I still thought they were going to harm me. They gave me a pill which made me sick so I flushed it down the toilet and was still very paranoid then they made me take the pills which luckily had been changed to Olanzapine. It was like a miracle I was back to my old self with no paranoia at all. I was discharged a few days later and have never experienced this again which happened about 11 years ago. The thing is I just thought this was bad events in my life had caused this but about a year ago I was on a mental health forum and was told diazepam withdrawal had probably caused this site I gradually came off Olanzapine and I am pleased to say am still mentally normal. I would add when I left the hospital after taking Olanzapine the Psychiatrist said I was in excellent mental health it could have been a different story if the hospital had not given me such excellent treatment I am so grateful for that so NEVER EVER go cold turkey it could destroy you I have been one of the lucky ones able to lead a happy and complete life

Hi Christine

I'm wanting to get off Valium. Would you mind telling me what pain reliever you are using for the osteopathic Pai

Thanks

Linda

I've been using diazapan 2mg and zopiclone 7.5 for about 3 years. Some doctors re-prescribe, some fiercly tell me it must be recuded and is temporary. To be honest I am so tired of having to go to the surgery every week and a half and get a prescription I think I will drop the diazapan. My terrible insomnia is another issue. Ive been on computers since 9 as a programmer, and past 40 I remember I just changed, always alert and concentrating. So I feel this might be awkward. I am ready to do this I feel, I must focus on my daily routine, and even in simple things around the house allow as much movement and buisiness as possible; litle by little also taken into note. I've yet to do this, so you are not alone. I feel I am the kind of person who will not wean off this stuff, and might need to just stop. i think though it might be necessary to on some days to do what you need to do. Especially with not being able to sleep and so on. The best of hope to you

You should not stop cold turkey. Very dangerous. You need to slowly tapper off. Withdraws from benzo can be deadly if stopped cold turkey.

Hello christine my name is Rami , first off sorry to just barge in like this .

Im jut a little nearvous and im looking for support im on the same rollacoster you where in valium 30 -40 mg for about one year ive tried tapering only to always to start all over even tied taking opiates to help what i understand is that quiting c/t is the besy way to go any advise on what to stay away from how to manage for 1-2 weeks untill the w/d s are gone