Sertraline and Diazepam

Treatment and medication
1

Hi everyone,

Hope you’re all doing ok today. I would like to get some opinions on using Sertraline and diazepam together. I was prescribed 12 x 5mg diazepam tablets a year ago as a safety net for when my anxiety was bad, however I had been taking Sertraline for months and was doing great so I never needed to use them. Since starting back on Sertraline I have taken them as a last resort if I am really really struggling. I have snapped them in half so each time I have taken 2.5mg and this really takes the edge off my anxiety. 

I have taken them as follows:

Week 1 - 2 x 2.5mg

Week 2 - 4 x 2.5mg

Week 3 - 2 x 2.5mg

Week 4 - none

Week 5 - 2 x 2.5mg

I know that they are highly addictive so have been careful with taking them. Do you think the above has been too much? Am I ok to take a couple a week until the Sertraline kicks in?

If you have used diazepam with Sertraline before, what dose did you take and how long for?

Thanks!  x

2

I have an on going prescription with diazepam also 5 msg but only take half when I need one.  I really only needed them going ON celexa in the past and now with sertraline more then ever!  I take them too as a last resort and I’ve never worried about becoming addicted to them because I don’t abuse them.  Take them only as you need and you will be ok.  I think once sertealine starts to do its job you won’t need them/ 

3

I was also px Diazepam as a short term measure to help with the increased anxiety on start up of Sert. 

From the 'log' you have detailed, I really would not be at all concerned about addiction; your dose in very small, and there is no 'upward' trend of frequency.