Valium Withdrawal...help please! - Addiction & Recovery Message Board

Barrel Bottom · 09-01-2006, 07:38 AM

Hi Everyone,

Thank God I found this board - been on the internet for hours and can't find an answer.

Been on 10 mg [1 tablet] per day for the past two years. Never really felt like it was doing anything but continued taking it anyway. I know...stupid to do, but it became like a vitamin to me and I just didn't think about the repercussion.

Problem is I decided to stop taking it last Wed [08/23] and never gave any thought to withdrawal. I was fine until Sunday morning. That's when I realized that it MUST have been doing something to me, because I can't believe the way I felt [and continue to feel]. Totally spaced out, nauseous, hands are shaking...feel like I'm going out of my mind. And it' not getting better. It seems to get worse aws the day goes on. I had to take off work this week and starting to get really scared.

A friend suggested that I go back on 1/2 tablet and start weaning myself off. Not sure what to do because I already went "cold turkey" and wonder if I can/should do that.

My main problem is that I decided to go job hunting [possible career change] and found out that everyone requires a drug screen, so I panicked and just stopped taking the valium.

Real catch 22: If the answer is to get back on 1/2 tablet, then I guess I can blow off the job search for a while...which leads me to another question.

How long does this poison stay in my system?

Appreciate any info.

Thanks to all,

BB

featherweight · 09-01-2006, 07:49 AM

You are in cold turkey withdrawal and this can have drastic side effects. Seizures are not uncommon. Valium has a long half life, thus the reason you didn't feel it until Sunday. What you are feeling are typical withdrawal symptoms and this is only the beginning. It can get nasty.

If you are going to do this on your own you need a low systematic taper. Please do a search for the Ashton Method of Withdrawing from Benzodiazapines.

I just tapered off of Ativan that I took for 18 mos. I took 1mg which is equal to 10mgs of Valium. It took me 17 mos to taper off of it.

I strongly suggest to get back on your regular dose and seek some professional help for this or keep searching the net for information on benzos and how to withdraw safely and comfortably.. There is a ton of information and help for you. Unfortunately I can't give you the web sites here.

Please keep in touch.

Barrel Bottom · 09-01-2006, 08:32 AM

Crap - not what I wanted to hear, but I'm very thankful for the advice Featherweight. Only 10:30 and I'm already freaking out - usually don't feel this way until much later in the day. That's why I posted...I had a feeling that this might just be the beginning of something bound to get worse. I just took a half dose and am about to read the Ashton Method right now.

I guess I shouldn't worry about the drug testing - they'll either test for that or they won't. Kind of stinks because I really wanted to start looking to change careers.

How long have you been off the Ativan? How are you doing now that you're off?

Will let you know how it goes - thanks again.

featherweight · 09-01-2006, 09:27 AM

Hi Barrel

I have only been off the Ativan for 7 weeks.

I started taking it to help with the anxiety and residual dizziness from an inner ear infection. It worked beautifully and I felt WONDERFUL on it. But, fast forward 18 mos and I started to feel despressed, apathetic had major brain fog, memory loss and when I missed a dose I felt sick, dizzy, and shaky.
I finally realized that my symptoms went away quickly after taking my Ativan. Decided I didn't want to go about the rest of my life in a fog. Also realized through reading that I was feeling interdose withdrawal and to correct this I would only need more....interesstly, 3 Dr's suggested I stay on Ativan for life, I am 64. They told me my dose was really low and it was helping some long standing GAD I had and wasn't addressing.

I searched the net and found support for getting off. I did a water taper directly off Ativan which can be more difficult since it is a short acting drug. The best water taper is directly off Valium which you are on already.

In reading the material you will see that you'll need to stabilize again on your 10 mgs and then begin a taper from that dose in order to help eliminate severe WD symptoms. Taking 1/2 your dose isn't going to help much. that is too drastic a reduction, in my opinion. You'll also learn that many people can discontinue these drugs with no outward effects at all. Everyone is different.

Right now at 7 weeks off, my depresseion and apathy are completely gone. I don't feel any anxiety amd I am sleeping well most nights. I have developed some irritating eye symtpoms though. My eyes feel numb and get a strange feeling in my head that I call "bobble head". Sort of unbalanced and dizzy. I am extremely sensitive to noise. These symptoms may also be residual from my inner ear problem. The good thing, though, is that the symptoms are intermittent. Tropical storm Ernesto is approaching so maybe the humidity and barametric pressure is bothering me....

You have been a good decision to quit benzos. Don't know your age but you'll be so free when you quit. It may take some time for you to feel 100% but hang in there. Remember any symptoms you get are only symptoms. Nothing is actually happening to you. Keep searching the net for a benzo recovery group and join in the interaction and message boards.

Hopefully others will jump in here as well. Please keep in touch

Feel well......

Barrel Bottom · 09-01-2006, 08:01 PM

Hey FW,

Can't tell you how thankful I am for your replies. Wait. Yes I can...thank you

.

Sorry to hear that you're still have some probs, but real glad that the anxiety is gone. Could be right, though, in that it might be the storm. I guess everyone who goes off a med starts to second guess everything that they feel. How can you know if it was the med or if now, it's something else? I guess you can't because the meds really do rewire you.

Was able to get through the day with only the half but had the other half in my pocket all day. I think you're right in having to bump it back up first - better to be safe. I definitely can relate to "bobble head"

and I also had major noise sensitivity from Sunday on. Waking up in the middle of the night with ringing in my ears too - that was pleasant. Man, this stuff really messes you up. From what I have read, I wasn't even really taking that much when compared to other people.

Just turned 39 on the 23rd. That was another reason for stopping. Had a second interview on my birthday [for what seems like a great position] and when I woke up the next morning, I just stopped taking them. Had the birthday and the interview in mind...and then the dreaded thought of a drug test popped into my head. Panic. Glad I didn't flush them

. Just dumb luck because I was going to.

Have GAD and a little ADD & OCD. I think we all do...to a degree. This stuff really did help me over the past two years and even though I know I'll eventually be off it completely, I feel like I'll be right back where I was before - anxiety, panic attacks, etc. Once off, I think I will go with herbal remedies. Tried some before but they just never seemed to achieve what the valium was apparently doing for/to me. It's strange because I didn't have that weird buzz that everyone talks about when on their meds. They just really took off the edge for me.

Will keep you posted and would also like to read how you progress as well. Take care of yourself.