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Ending anxiety drugs post-cancer?

Posted by scottbeammeup @scottbeammeup, Aug 27 3:29pm

Not sure if this is the correct forum but it seems to be the closest.

When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, my anxiety went through the roof to the point that I was throwing my heart out of rhythm multiple times per week, vomiting, etc. The treatment (radiation plus androgen deprivation therapy) has also caused insomnia.

I was prescribed valium, Ambien and hydroxyzine with instructions to take 5 mg of valium once a day, Ambien at night and hydroxyzine for breakthrough anxiety. I specifically asked what will happen at the end of treatment and was told "don't worry, we will deal with that when it happens" (it will be the end of September).

I am taking these drugs exactly as prescribed but I feel that I have become dependent on them and am worried what's going to happen next month. My understanding is that hydroxyzine will be no problem but that stopping valium and Ambien could be more problematic.

My doctor says that control of anxiety during my cancer treatment (and keeping my heart from going out of control again) is all I should worry about right now, and that the low doses of these drugs will not be problematic longer term. I do trust him but part of me worries that I might be setting myself up for some problems down the road. Any thoughts?

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ellerchim | @ellerchim | Aug 28 11:43pm

Yes it will be problematic. Especially Valium. Next is Ambien. First
You will have to do an extremely slow taper off of Valium Which obviously your doctor doesn’t seem to think there’s a problem, like most of them,they don’t mind giving them out but when you need to get off of them, they seem to think you can do a cold turkey. Get on YouTube to find more information about this. You have no idea how many people are dependent on Ambien and Valium. Next go on Facebook on beating benzos and you will find many people on there that have the same problem you have and there is help but I have a feeling It is not going to be with your doctor. If you can find someone locally, good luck. I can’t reiterate this enough, especially Valium. It has to be done slow ,,a slow taper. I was only on Lorazepam For one month and not one doctor would help me get off of it so I kept just getting refills so I wouldn’t have any withdrawals for four months and the only person I could find that would help me was on Facebook on the Beating Benzo website. Because I built up such a tolerance to this benzo, it’s taking me about eight months to get off of it doing a very slow taper. I wish you all the luck and please check out both of these sites

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1 reply
scottbeammeup | @scottbeammeup | Aug 29 5:21am
In reply to @ellerchim "Yes it will be problematic. Especially Valium. Next is Ambien. First You will have to do..." + (show)
@ellerchim

Yes it will be problematic. Especially Valium. Next is Ambien. First
You will have to do an extremely slow taper off of Valium Which obviously your doctor doesn’t seem to think there’s a problem, like most of them,they don’t mind giving them out but when you need to get off of them, they seem to think you can do a cold turkey. Get on YouTube to find more information about this. You have no idea how many people are dependent on Ambien and Valium. Next go on Facebook on beating benzos and you will find many people on there that have the same problem you have and there is help but I have a feeling It is not going to be with your doctor. If you can find someone locally, good luck. I can’t reiterate this enough, especially Valium. It has to be done slow ,,a slow taper. I was only on Lorazepam For one month and not one doctor would help me get off of it so I kept just getting refills so I wouldn’t have any withdrawals for four months and the only person I could find that would help me was on Facebook on the Beating Benzo website. Because I built up such a tolerance to this benzo, it’s taking me about eight months to get off of it doing a very slow taper. I wish you all the luck and please check out both of these sites

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Thanks, I have refills to get me through mid-October so should probably start the taper soon as in TODAY. I do feel my anxiety has calmed down after being diagnosed with cancer--I'm used to it now and am in the home stretch of treatment. I will check out the group you suggested.

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ellerchim | @ellerchim | Aug 29 1:02pm

Good to hear. No more than 3 to 10% a month. Your body will tell you if you are going to fast. Beating Benzos on FB has a wealth of information

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