How am I going to manage getting cut off my Valium after years ?!

Posted by birdie67 @birdie67, Apr 24, 2023

I’ve been talking 5mg Valiums 3x’s day for years for ptsd and extreme anxiety. I moved from Ga to Tn 7 years ago to escape my now ex. He mentally and physically abused me and when my daughters were grown, I found out he molested them. I asked my Dr for the Valium because I’m a mess. After 7 years seeing her, ( through these years I’ve asked for a therapist) I asked again Friday and she got me a referral for a psychiatrist. Psychiatrist called and said she’d see me but would not prescribe my Valiums. My Dr gave me my last bottle and no refills. This has caused more anxiety. I don’t know what to do. I feel she could at least taper me off?? I’m not looking forward to quitting cold Turkey. I’ve never abused them. I take as prescribed. Any advice please??

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Mental Health Support Group.

Tapering is tough. Maybe they can give you ativan ,it comes in 2mg or 1mg. I was on 10mg and the doctors office didnt like it. ( new department head) Have you tried hydroxyzine 10mg 25mga little sedating but works. Some of my co-workers have gone to zoloft for anxiety and has worked wonders. Stay away from effexor to hard to wean off . Promethazine is a good one if you need to sleep. It can be classified as an antipsychotic ( spell) usually used for car sickness, Can you do a psychiatrist on line that might help you to taper off?. Good luck

REPLY

Thanks for the info. I do not need anything that will make me sleepy. I do have a appointment with a psychiatrist as of this morning. Hopefully they’ll be great and listen… as to why my anxiety& ptsd is through the roof. Thanks so much

REPLY

I wish you well. I am sure they will help . I had to go through several different therapists/doctors until I found one that worked for me. Keep us posted

REPLY

Valium is in the drug class of Benzodiazepines. These drugs can be VERY dangerous (even deadly) to just stop using. You need to talk to your Dr again!! There needs to be a plan. Be your own advocate and INSIST that they help you to wean off of this drug! There are far safer options now to take care of your anxiety!

REPLY
@wmspt5

Tapering is tough. Maybe they can give you ativan ,it comes in 2mg or 1mg. I was on 10mg and the doctors office didnt like it. ( new department head) Have you tried hydroxyzine 10mg 25mga little sedating but works. Some of my co-workers have gone to zoloft for anxiety and has worked wonders. Stay away from effexor to hard to wean off . Promethazine is a good one if you need to sleep. It can be classified as an antipsychotic ( spell) usually used for car sickness, Can you do a psychiatrist on line that might help you to taper off?. Good luck

Jump to this post

Ativan is as bad or worse than the Valium! They are both Benzodiazepines! Highly, Highly addictive and too dangerous to just stop taking. Please Please Please speak with your Dr again or as suggested, use a virtual psychiatrist! I am a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and we send people for medically assisted detox facilities to get people off of these drugs. Just like is done for alcohol and opiates! I plead with you to seek help immediately! Google these issues. Be informed and advocate for yourself!

REPLY
@blessedintx

Ativan is as bad or worse than the Valium! They are both Benzodiazepines! Highly, Highly addictive and too dangerous to just stop taking. Please Please Please speak with your Dr again or as suggested, use a virtual psychiatrist! I am a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and we send people for medically assisted detox facilities to get people off of these drugs. Just like is done for alcohol and opiates! I plead with you to seek help immediately! Google these issues. Be informed and advocate for yourself!

Jump to this post

I’m going through a similar situation, but worse. I’m prescribed 2mg of clonazaoam 2x daily and 10mg of diazepam 2x daily for PTSD, GAD anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic attacks. Also for seizures since they can treat seizures and I’m already prescribed 18 medications. I’m already on a SSRI medication for anxiety it does absolutely nothing and I’ve tried more than 3 not doing them anymore I’m prescribed trintellix I don’t want to kill my self because of the medication (literally because of the medication) like Zoloft had me feeling like. I will not try a different SSRI or go back on buspar or baclofen they do t work. Period. I’ve been on benzodiazepines for 6+yrs. You people say it’s not healthy we’ll it’s definitely not healthy for your brain peace of mind and body to go through withdrawal symptoms when it’s not needed. If the medication works god gorbid they keep giving them the medication like do I have to move to Mexico just to get prescribed the medication I need and yes you can’t just buy Xanax in Mexico you need a script. Benzodiazepines are no different than insulin if we stop taking it we can die it doesn’t sound like a fun death not going to attempt to do a 2yr ween off and be miserable for those 2yrs and the rest of my life. I take my medication EXACTLY as prescribed I actually get my script one day early and skip a dose if I can and have a jar saved up for emergency’s like this but I’m just going to see what happens because if I have a seizure before I get a new script I will file a lawsuit. This country is disgusting making Drs feel weird about giving these medications out not everyone abuses medication. Rehabs profit off misery and suffering and problems so people get desperate and pay money or their insurance does it’s a scam it doesn’t work look it up

REPLY
@blessedintx

Ativan is as bad or worse than the Valium! They are both Benzodiazepines! Highly, Highly addictive and too dangerous to just stop taking. Please Please Please speak with your Dr again or as suggested, use a virtual psychiatrist! I am a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and we send people for medically assisted detox facilities to get people off of these drugs. Just like is done for alcohol and opiates! I plead with you to seek help immediately! Google these issues. Be informed and advocate for yourself!

Jump to this post

🤙

REPLY
@jcagggg

I’m going through a similar situation, but worse. I’m prescribed 2mg of clonazaoam 2x daily and 10mg of diazepam 2x daily for PTSD, GAD anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic attacks. Also for seizures since they can treat seizures and I’m already prescribed 18 medications. I’m already on a SSRI medication for anxiety it does absolutely nothing and I’ve tried more than 3 not doing them anymore I’m prescribed trintellix I don’t want to kill my self because of the medication (literally because of the medication) like Zoloft had me feeling like. I will not try a different SSRI or go back on buspar or baclofen they do t work. Period. I’ve been on benzodiazepines for 6+yrs. You people say it’s not healthy we’ll it’s definitely not healthy for your brain peace of mind and body to go through withdrawal symptoms when it’s not needed. If the medication works god gorbid they keep giving them the medication like do I have to move to Mexico just to get prescribed the medication I need and yes you can’t just buy Xanax in Mexico you need a script. Benzodiazepines are no different than insulin if we stop taking it we can die it doesn’t sound like a fun death not going to attempt to do a 2yr ween off and be miserable for those 2yrs and the rest of my life. I take my medication EXACTLY as prescribed I actually get my script one day early and skip a dose if I can and have a jar saved up for emergency’s like this but I’m just going to see what happens because if I have a seizure before I get a new script I will file a lawsuit. This country is disgusting making Drs feel weird about giving these medications out not everyone abuses medication. Rehabs profit off misery and suffering and problems so people get desperate and pay money or their insurance does it’s a scam it doesn’t work look it up

Jump to this post

I am so very sorry you are suffering. The insurance, pharma and medical system in America have got to change, I agree. Too many people are dying. Too many suffering. I see it in my personal life and in my professional life.
My comments were not meant to address anything but the danger of abruptly stopping or "self-tapering" from benzos without medical supervision. Those people I was addressing want to get off of these drugs.
Your situation appears to be different. I hope you get the help you need. I, too, suffer with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Medication Resistant Major Depressive Disorder. I have been on this roller coaster of try this, try that, now let's add this drug to that one until I found myself taking 7 different mental health prescriptions and worse off than I have ever been. So I understand the frustration. I left my job, that I love, in February because I can't take care or help others when I can't help myself. It is heartbreaking. Last week I began TMS treatments. I saw sunshine today. Will I see it tomorrow? I don't know and I sure as he'll don't dare to hope. But, as I have for most of my life, I will keep trying. Every. Single. Day.
Oh, and you are wrong about Rehab. If a person goes with an open heart, an open mind, a desire and a willingness to pick up the tools that we lay down and do the hard ass work to live a different way, then, yes, it can work.
I hoe you find the peace and serenity we all deserve!

REPLY
@blessedintx

Ativan is as bad or worse than the Valium! They are both Benzodiazepines! Highly, Highly addictive and too dangerous to just stop taking. Please Please Please speak with your Dr again or as suggested, use a virtual psychiatrist! I am a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and we send people for medically assisted detox facilities to get people off of these drugs. Just like is done for alcohol and opiates! I plead with you to seek help immediately! Google these issues. Be informed and advocate for yourself!

Jump to this post

Yeah. No Ativan for me. I refuse to be a experiment to these drs

REPLY
@jcagggg

I’m going through a similar situation, but worse. I’m prescribed 2mg of clonazaoam 2x daily and 10mg of diazepam 2x daily for PTSD, GAD anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic attacks. Also for seizures since they can treat seizures and I’m already prescribed 18 medications. I’m already on a SSRI medication for anxiety it does absolutely nothing and I’ve tried more than 3 not doing them anymore I’m prescribed trintellix I don’t want to kill my self because of the medication (literally because of the medication) like Zoloft had me feeling like. I will not try a different SSRI or go back on buspar or baclofen they do t work. Period. I’ve been on benzodiazepines for 6+yrs. You people say it’s not healthy we’ll it’s definitely not healthy for your brain peace of mind and body to go through withdrawal symptoms when it’s not needed. If the medication works god gorbid they keep giving them the medication like do I have to move to Mexico just to get prescribed the medication I need and yes you can’t just buy Xanax in Mexico you need a script. Benzodiazepines are no different than insulin if we stop taking it we can die it doesn’t sound like a fun death not going to attempt to do a 2yr ween off and be miserable for those 2yrs and the rest of my life. I take my medication EXACTLY as prescribed I actually get my script one day early and skip a dose if I can and have a jar saved up for emergency’s like this but I’m just going to see what happens because if I have a seizure before I get a new script I will file a lawsuit. This country is disgusting making Drs feel weird about giving these medications out not everyone abuses medication. Rehabs profit off misery and suffering and problems so people get desperate and pay money or their insurance does it’s a scam it doesn’t work look it up

Jump to this post

Thank you! Why mess with what works?! I don’t and have never abused my meds. I didn’t say in my first post about being diagnosed with MS on top of all the other. All I wanted was for someone to talk to., and I’ll say why.. my husband molested my daughters and his 10 yr prison sentence turned into 1 bc of the good ol boy system. I moved from my hometown 7 years ago and started over in my 40’s. I still have to go back to that town bc I have family there. Trying to take care of my dad., my youngest daughter and grands. It’s too damn much. I didn’t find this out until my daughters were young adults so… like I said. I just asked for someone to talk to and if you have a medication that works, you take it responsibly, it’s CRAP that I’m being treated like a drug addict. I’m so sick of it. Some need benzos for a reason. Ulg.. sorry I vented

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.