I have been taking diazepam for 17 years now, from 5 mg to now 20 mg now. Yesterday I visited my psychaitrist and he wanted me to taper off my diazepam (valium) and take xanax only when needed. I am prescribed with 0.5mg 4x a day as needed. One thing I would like to share is that he told me a research had been done with patients taking benzos for a long period of time are prone to have Alzeimer's disease earlier in their old age like 60 years old. I was freaked out and was panic for the whole day. I am also concerning about tapering off the diazapam and taking xanax as it is very short acting. My dr didnt give me a schedule for the tapering but just told me to taper off slowly. Anyone taking Xanax or a long user of benzos ? I need advice. Thank you so much for reading.
You’re saying that you are taking 20mg of Ativan right now 
is that a typo? There’s no way any psychiatrist is going to prescribe their patients that high of a dosage of benzos. I’ve been taking clonazepam 0.5mg four times a day since I was 14 years old and and I’m 41 years old now and there’s no concrete evidence to support that people taking benzos for a long period of time end up with alzhiemiers disease since that is something that people are born with. Xanax is a very short acting benzo you’re better off just tapering off your Ativan slowly
Hi Terri:
I am taking valium , not ativan. I think Valium 5 mg 4x a day. So you are also on benzos for 27 years. Have you stayed on the same dosage? In 2002, I was prescribed with Ativan 3 mg and 5 mg Valium but I tapered off the Ativan in 2014, and it was horrible. The withdrawal symptoms are just horrendous. My psychiatrist just told me about that research, no matter if there is concrete evidence or not and that freaks me out. I will taper off my valium slowly . thank you for replying .
I have been taking Xanax 0.25 mg ×3 times per day, as needed for 6 months. I have severe anxiety disorders and mild depression. I told my doctor I need to take the Xanax every day, and he said it is ok. Sometimes, I should stop the Xanax, but no hurry.
hi magmag…I’ve been on valium 20mg p/day for 20+yrs. there are days when I don’t take any or maybe only 5mgs, cuz that’s all I need. I’ve NEVER had a problem with it and NEVER misused it. I too suffer from extreme anxiety and this regimen keeps it in check.
as far as the Alzheimer’s, my mom died of that about 15yrs ago…so if anyone should have concern, it’s me! but I’m 68 and my mom was in her 80’s when she passed…I can’t live my life worrying about what will (hopefully) never happen!
You take 20mg of Valium every day? That’s a really high dose.. I take 0.5mg of clonazepam 4x a day since I was 14 years old and I’m 41 years old now but most of the time I only take it 3x a day because I’m trying to cut back on it a bit. I’m really sorry 
to hear about your mom hun 
. My husband’s mom passed away from the same thing when she was 60 years old (five years ago) but she was bipolar and took a very high doseage of lithium and nobody else in her family has ever had alzhiemiers or dementia and she had been on a very high dose of lithium since she was a little girl and a lot of other very strong mind alerting medications so I am not even sure if it was really "alzhiemiers and dementia that was her demise I think her mind just gave out on her because I think she abused her meds for a long time. There’s no link between long term use of meds like Valium and clonazepam and alzhiemiers and dementia at all I really wish people would stop putting that in people’s minds because half the world is taking these meds and alzhiemiers and dementia is something that people are born with it has nothing to do with meds.
Hi there.. I’m seeing my psychiatrist on Tuesday morning and I’ve been taking 0.5 of clonazepam since I was 14 years old and I’m 40 years old now and I don’t feel like it’s working for me as well as it used to so I know my mom takes Xanax so I I’m going to ask my psychiatrist to switch me to Xanax and take me off the clonazepsm because I’ve been having really bad anxiety attacks and panic attacks for the past few months and I can’t stand it anymore.
hi terri,
yes, I’m prescribed 20mg p/day…10 in am and 10 at bed. However, as I said, I rarely take more than 10 a day (I break it in half), cuz I only take them when needed. Honestly, I think I just like knowing I’ve got them…kinda a security blanket😁. I’m always afraid they’ll stop prescribing, so I pick them up even if I’m not out of them…does that make sense?
And unfortunately, right now, I don’t need ANYMORE stress…about 3mo ago my oldest daughter was LITERALLY on life support and in a coma (they still don’t know why!!)…she’s a fighter and miraculously pulled thru but is Still in the hospital. About 3da after she was admitted to the hospital, I was diagnosed with Lymphoma😢…it’s been a rough few months.
anyway, my mom didn’t drink, take any medication, and there’s no history of Alzheimer’s or Dementia in our family…so go figure.
sorry for rambling. I guess I had more to say than I thought!
Hi Tracy :
I have severe anxiety and depression as well . For me, Xanax is too short acting but it helps when I am having a panic attack . My dr wants me to get off valium, which is a long acting benzos to Xanax as needed. I can only take 0.5mg x 4 maximum a day. If you have severe anxiety, why don’t you keep taking the xanax only as needed ?
Hi Lynda:
Thank you for replying. We are on the same dose except I am taking it everyday whereas you will take only as needed. Do you find it less effective since you have taken it for more than 20 years. Because for me, it has become less effective than before . It doesnt feel the same anymore. I am going to taper off the valium slowly. I am freak out when the dr told me about the research about the Alzheimer’s disease on people using benzos for a long period of time. Hope you won’t get it.
hey magmag…
no, I don’t find it less effective…not sure why, except we all react differently to different medications.
but if you’re going to taper off, PLEASE do it slowly. I’m talking like maybe 1 or 2mg p/mo! better to go slow and avoid problems.
as far as the Alzheimer’s, there’s been NO conclusive evidence this is true. it angers me that it’s even being spoken about at this point. my mom passed about 15yrs ago from Alzheimer’s, and she didn’t drink or take ANY medication…
you’ll be fine. I’m sending you good wishes and big hugs!
Dear Lynda:
Thank you for replying. I think I have found it less effective maybe because I have been taking the high dose everyday. I actually started from 5 mg per day upped to 20mg nowadays. Yes, I will taper it REALLY slowly to avoid the terrible side effect. Although my dr has suggested to hospitalize me for the tapering but I rejected.
About the Alzheimer’s , I have no offense of pulling this out bur to share what my dr had told me yesterday and just wanted to discuss about it with all the warriors here. I wish you well too ! Take care !
Omg I’m so sorry hun, I had no idea what was going on in your life. I’m so glad your daughter has pulled through and hopefully she’ll be out of the hospital soon enough and able to come back home and be with mommy where she belongs. I can’t imagine what you must be going through right now hun. As far as you’re diagnosis of lymphoma goes do you know what stage you are in if you don’t mind me asking you this and what were you’re symptoms before you got diagnosed with lymphoma because I’ve been having a lot of health issues myself and it causing me so much anxiety right now because I don’t have anymore answers all I know is that I have to go get my third set of blood tests done in two weeks and go from there and I don’t have to family 
tight now so I’ve just had to keep going to the walk in clinic and see the same doctor there. I’m hoping it’s not my kidneys or something like that. It’s keeping me up all night long just thinking about it. Becuse my daughter us only 10 years old and if something ever happens to me I don’t want her living with her dad. I hdvd Eloy in my plate right now too hun . I’m here if you ever need someone to talk to
hi Terri,
as for the lymphoma, that diagnosis hit like a ton of bricks!! I’d gone for a reg check-up and had the reg bloodwork done.
the next day I get a phone call to set me up with a hematologist for more extensive bloodwork…now I’m starting to stress.
NEXT I’m being setup for a bone marrow biopsy…now I’m frantic!
End result? I’m told I’ve got a “slow progressive” type of lymphoma…I lost it:cry:
.
Doc. said he didn’t even want to start treatment yet. for time being, we’re just monitoring it by monthly bloodwork. if there’s no changes…after the holidays he’ll re-access.
so, to answer your question, I didn’t have any symptoms. am I terrified?
YES!!
H magmag,
I am taking Duloxetine, too. When Duloxetine has full effects, and I don’t have anxiety anymore, I will taper off Xanax. I am taking Xanax regularly, now, because I have anxiety 24/7.
When Duloxetine fully effects, I just need to keep Xanax in case I have panic attacks.
My doctor said Xanax is to stop anxiety, should not use for long term. Duloxetine (antidepressants) is for preventing anxiety.
What did your blood work say to determine it was some kind of lymphoma?
I’ve never heard of this medication before. Duloxoxotene. Is it an antidepressant and if so does it help you sleep well and does it make you gain weight or lose weight? I’m currently taking zoloft 50mg at night and it’s making me lose weight and it helps me sleep at night but it’s making my anxiety worse
Hi Terri, Duloxetine brand name is Cymbalta. I have been taking it for 6 months, I started at smallest dose 20 mg and went up slowly to 90 mg, now. That is a maximum dose for me (I am 50, female and 100 lbs).
Duloxetine helped me with anxiety and depression. I don’t know about the sleeping, yet because the anxiety makes me not able to sleep, so I started taking Ambien for sleep when I started Duloxetine. My doctor said Ambien is safe to use in long term. So, no hurry to stop it.
I was lost 20 lbs. in 3 weeks because of anxiety. Now, I gained it back. So, I don’t know if Duloxetine makes me gain weight or not. I ate a lot because my doctor said I must get my weight back.
My friend took Duloxetine for anxiety and depression. It helped her with anxiety, depression and sleep. She is back to normal, now and she stopped the meds.
If you look up on the Internet, Duloxetine might cause liver damage. But, I think the benefits for now is outweighed the risk. Every medications have side effects anyway.
Dear Tracy:
Thank you for replying. I am taking lexapro and mirtazapine as my antidepressants. It helps with my anxiety. The reason I am on xanax is because i have been on valium (diazapam) for too long and it has become less effective now. In concerning about having Alzheimer’s disease or dementia at earlier old age (according to my dr), he would rather have me on a shorter acting benzos instead of a long acting one. For now, I need to taper off my diazapam slowly and only take xanax as needed.
That is a good idea. I hope you will not need to use Xanax at all.