hope you’re all ok …
for me, anxiety and its dreadful physical symptoms - namely lots of palpitations and feelings of general anxiuosness have controlled my life
i have to take diazepam to function - now theres the problem
i have a GP lecturing me / talking down to me, TELLING me to take less, not asking about my life, my feelings, my symptoms … all hes interested in is a reduction … hes making my life ■■■■
anyone else have the same experience ?
hi john yes i can sympathize with you i was originally on ,40 mg a day ( had 5 back ops ) he got me down to 20 mg a day n altho i dont really need them for the muscle spasms they are prescribed for i need them to function each day n now hes talking about getting me off them altogether ive been on diazepam' 20 years n doctors dont know the mental sides of heavy diazepam use hope this has been a bit of help and good luck ..........john
i think that a good GP ought to accept that diazepam is actually of great help to his patient rather than treating the patient like a criminal ive been taking them for over 30 years - they keep me sane even the pharmacist thinks the GP in my case is being unrealistic ive known the pharmacist for ages since they re-classified valium, this is the state we're in keep the dislogue going even though its hard ti write on here lol
Hi John, I do understand what you are going through. I had a similar experience with a GP and she stopped my tablets suddenly, just because my regular prescription request landed on her desk and not my regular GP as she was away. I have been taking diazepam for a very long time and to stop immediately or reduce too rapidly is dangerous. Yes this GP left me with 3 days of tablets to last over Christmas and I had to insist that the duty doctor deal with it, which he did......but I felt like a criminal being treated like this. I know very well the results of acute withdrawal having suffered them myself. Thankfully I am now on a very slow reduction plan with the help of my regular GP and an addiction specialist. They are listening to me and my reductions are tiny and manageable. I can understand why your doctor wants to take less because long term use leads to many problems both physical and mental. My only advice is to ask to see another GP to discuss a sensible reduction program, we are all different. In my opinion a GP has limited knowledge of the effects of coming off these evil drugs and you should be referred to a specialist. I can only wish you all the best, keep talking on here, so many of us know how you feel, Take Care
@ anne28866, how fast are you reducing? ,
Hi there, I am reducing at 0.5mg/ day per fortnight. In the begining I was on 40mg a long time ago, been on these tablets now for 23 years. I am now on 12mg per day, it has taken a long time but I have finally got the help and support I needed due to having a good GP and specialist advice. My reductions monitored but if I am having any really nasty withdrawal symptoms they hear me and make allowances accordingly. I can only say that everyone is different. I had horrendous symptoms when I was brought down rapidly from 40mg, developed severe OCD and anxiety and ended up in a psychiatric ward for 3 months, possibly the worst time of my life. So from now on it is slowly, slowly...........
i 'get' the reasons for reducing, but i'm in a bad place - have a failing business, some part due to me not being bothered enough about it in November / Decembeer aster having a letter from my GP to only see him - not the other GP at the surgery and trying propanolol to replace the diazepam - this made me almost lose my petsonality - oh well
Hi, Sorry to hear you are in a bad place at the moment, not a time to be forced into a reduction. Your GP should be listening to you, you cannot replace diazepam, it is highly addictive. I can understand your concern with the GP but they have a "duty of care" to listen and act in your interests. I can only suggest that you insist that he considers the other things going on in your life and how this may not be the right time to reduce. How much are you taking at the moment John?
John, your GP is not making your life hell the Diazepam is! The simple matter of it is that it is addictive, stops your brain from creating its own chemicals by surrounding your GABA receptors in your brain, gut and the rest of your body. You need to slowly come off the drug as your GP suggests or you may find that he/she may CT you. It is a tough ride that is for sure but many benzo survivors will tell you that there is life after benzos. Look for ways to calm your CNS down like using 4-7-8 breathing techniques, meditation, doing light exercise and eating healthy food....
I read that you are having trouble sleeping. That is a sign that the diazepam isn't working for you and your dependent body wants more. Please don't go down that slippery slope to hell. I now that it is tempting but find alternate ways to cope. Even after 8 years off, sleep is still an issue for me but I have recovered in every other way. I work part time and live a pretty normal life.
can i ask what " CT you ' means ?
There is a lot of pressure on doctors these days in regards to the writing prescriptions for benzodiazepines because it has become abundantly clear that these drugs do a great deal of damage. If your doctor feels that you may be abusing the drug or are not compliant in any way he/she may simply stop writing you prescriptions to cover himself legally. I have seen this happen to many people. When you stop taking a drug abruptly it is called Cold Turkey or CT. You don't want that to happen I can assure you! Your doctor is giving you the correct advice - please look into ways of slowly reducing your meds, if you do that your doctor may support you. The method I recommend is in the Ashton Manual - please educate yourself about the drug you are consuming because in the long run it will save you a lot of grief. https://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/
Thank you ... are you a doctor per chance ?
Hi John, Hope you're doing better today. This lady knows what she is talking about, she's priceless!!!!
she's priceless in what way ? i've researched the whole thing numerous times ... i knew about the Ashton manual - in fact ive printed it out !
i was after some empathetic help here, hopefully it'll materialise
tapering is not an option at the moment -- theres a lot of good things in my life, and i cant help it if the medical profession were prescribing me Diazepam at the outset - nowadays itd be citalopram etc ...
has anyone had any joy with CBD ?
I can only tell you that she gave me the best advice about withdrawal symptoms as she has gone through it all herself. Understand if you are not up to tapering at the moment and yes i wish I had never been prescribed diazepam in the first place. the medical profession are now realising the true effects of long term use. I can only suggest as I did yesterday that you talk to your doctor about how you feel and your fears. They do have to listen as it was the medical profession that put you on these tablets at the start, if necessary use the term "duty of care" and dare I say the words "negligence". I hope that a GP would not want you to go CT as described as it is dangerous. Be strong and tell your GP, I cannot give you any other advice. Take Care. CBD is good for pain as far as I know. Wishing you the best of luck, glad you have the good in your life. Bless you
thank you. did she help you on here ?? its a soulless messageboard !
real help is normally acquired on an interative level in my experience - or by giving advice on alternative medication to replace diazepam with that can run concurrently until it entirely replaces said medication - thats what im in search of right now relief from anxiety medicianally cannot end with benzos, surely ?
Knowing that there are other people going through the same is a kind of help in itself. I use this site as a backup only, that is how she helped. I attend an addiction centre locally who are supporting me as I taper, they are my safety net. My GP referred me to them. No doubt there are many ways to find alternative ways of coping with anxiety, meditation or mindfulness. I am offered these services also. Your GP should be offering you this back-up? If not, tell him/her. I don't know of any replacement medication but if you do find something please let me know.......Good luck and keep talking on here, it does help.
Coby, you said you have been off 8 years now. How long were you on, for what, and at what dosage? What is your healthy diet like?
CT = cold turkey
anne said>>>I had horrendous symptoms when I was brought down rapidly from 40mg,
Can you explain? How rapidly were you brought down? I was CT back in 2006 from klonopin and almost died in an inpatient mental hosp.