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MedHelp Member's Question

withdraw while still on the drug (Valium)

by troyxx, Feb 17, 2003 12:00AM
Tags: Addiction
I have been taking valuim for 6 years...started taking only 6mg and now only taking 8mg per day. It was prescribed to me 6 years ago by a neuro because I had a slipped disc in my lower back and was having muscle spasms.



Now I know I am addicted to it, and I have brought the matter up to my PCP and he told me that the dose is low and that I should stay on it because I some musclular-skelatal (spelling) problems in my whole back and neck, BUT if I want to stop taking it, I should slowly wean myself off of it. I have no other know medical problems besides what is stated above.



Now....I get periods of tremors and shakes that last for a few hours and cause me to get into a state of anxiety. They start usually just before I retire...I will be reading a book and I suddenly feel 'off' and can't read anymore and by time I get to bed, I feel like I am about to explode into shakes, yet I do not feel cold and my heart rate is stable and my breathing (though I become very aware of my breathing) is normal. This is not an anxiety attack, because I use to have them when I was young and they are very different. Is this a symptom of withdraw from the valium though I am taking it still?
Member Comments (43)

by Thomas03, Feb 17, 2003 12:00AM
To: troyxx
Your tolerance has undoubtedly increased over 6 years. It's possible you could experience these symptoms after you've gone a while between doses. Valium, however, is the benzo of choice for tapering safely. After 6 years, I'd take at least 6 months to taper off of Valium. Even a year would be good. Getting off benzos is a long, careful process.



Google search on Dr Heather Ashton for the best info on benzo addiction. Good luck.



Thomas

by 4mygirls, Feb 17, 2003 12:00AM
About 4 years ago a doc put me on Valium for anxiety attacks.  I never really took it.  I'd say out of maybe 600 pills I took maybe 20 the rest were stolen from me.  I never new that it was real addicting and as for me I never really like the feeling it gave me.  But what I know now about it, I am glad and thankful that I never took that much.  Almost everyone I know is addicted to it,  even the xanax I get.  I have to hide them.  I don't take much and don't get much.  But If I leave them out they are gone.  And Its not me takeing them.  I have a family that is addicted to painpills,  nerve pills,  muscle relaxers. You name it they take it.  I am not glad that I got addicted to painpills, but I am glad thats all I did get addicted too.  I heard that nerve pills are very hard to come off of,  and its a long hard process to do.  I am sorry I don't have the awnsers for you.  But On the other hand from what Ive heard I am very glad I don't have the awnsers.  Take it slow and get differant opinions.  If you really want off of them,  there is someone out there that will help you taper,  until you are off of them completely.  Good luck to you.  Hope everyone is doing good.  Day 7 here and still going.

        Gina

by Bodymechanic, Feb 17, 2003 12:00AM
To: Troy
Your symptoms sound exactly like anziety.  The thing about a valium withdrawal is that it feels exactly like severe anziety.  Have you started to wean off the valium? Can you sleep?  A universal symptom of addiction is sleeplessness. Obviously, just because you can't sleep does not mean you are having withdrawal but it is a good bet. When you feel these symptoms try a small dose of valium.  If your symptoms go away in 20 minutes then you know it is the addiction. Consider slowing the detox.



by feelsobad, Feb 17, 2003 12:00AM
To: Troy
I have to agree with Bodymechanic. Because that's basically what my doc said about being on Ativan log term too. The dosage has to be increased as tolerance builds or you will get re-bound anxiety attacks, much the same with re-bound headaches from meds used to treat them. When you feel an attack coming on take one and see if you get any relief. If you do you might have to get your dosage increased.



Hope you get it figured out...

take care

feelsobad



by dancinginthedark, Feb 17, 2003 12:00AM
Well, gee I must be the Queen of cross-pollination! Do I get some kind of award? :-) Opiates 31 days behind me, fiorinal decreasing but valium....OH, I DO know that one.



You know that book, "I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can?" (brilliant book about valium addiction).  I used to say, "Yeah, well, I danced faster."



Originally went on it in '96 following a car acident where I had hit my head & did damage to my vestibular system.  After almost a yr. in full throttle spin cycle mode I was put on valium & it was like the sea parted!  1st bit of relief from a nightmare I can't even articulate.  Idiot doc started me on 60 mg. a day (I'm 105 lbs.)  Anyway, I knew in the back of my head it was addictive but I was back working & felt fine, no more vomiting 10+ x a day, spinning, falling, etc.  Eventually, was up to 90 because I needed more to keep symptoms under control.  In re-writing a scrip he asked me if I was selling it to which I replied.  "Hell no.  I'm taking it!"  I honestly didn't think I was doing anything wrong.



Moved back home & my GP *freaked* & sent me to an addiction doc & I decided his way would take too long & I'd just quit cold turkey.  I figured I'd spend a few days rolling about on the bathroom floor, sweating, vomiting etc., just like in the movies.  I knew I was tough & could handle that.  Ahem....



My GP gave me phenobarbital to prevent seizures & didn't tell me I was nuttier than a fruitcake, or what to expect.  I cannot articulate - and I'm a writer - the hell I went thru but I never wanted to use it again, just come thru it.  I did.  4 mos. later while on a biz trip, the vertigo came back slowly at first & then...I shudder again.  I later found out this is because valium stays in your system for at least 3 mos. & with my dosage...who knows?  Thus, the vertigo was abated because I had so much rolling around in my system.



An addiction doc, ENT & my GP pow wowed & agreed to put me on 20 mg. a day as I was almost suicidal & if I needed more, tough.



I had no prob staying on 5 x 4 & took them equally distrib throughout day.  However, I oft tried to skip PM dose & I'd feel bloody weird a day or so later.  Not a good plan.



Anyhoo, when I felt certain my vertigo days were behind me I consulted with our Detox place & they sent me a huge document on going off them.  Wow.  Scary stuff & explained much.  Their suggestion & what worked for me *very* well was to cut 1/8th of a dose every 6 wks.  I had virtually *no* angst during this decrease & only a few wks. of rebound insomnia when it was finally over. It took me about 8+ mos.



The only other x I was on it was right after the accident, about 10 mos. before I went on mega dose.  Took 15 mg. a day for 3 wks. & just stopped.  Looking back, I know I had withdrawal...spacey, disoriented, sweating, shaking & screaming at my parents ov er nothing.  I know you can become addicted to it very quickly & the longer you've been on it, the more is swimming about every cell in your body.  



PLEASE go slow & as someone else suggested, your tolerance has undoubtedly decreased/incr?  (You need more to get the same effect).  Set a pgm such as I did & DO NOT think you're being a weakling.  Benzo withdrawal is an entirely diff. ball of wax & I'd also suggest you find out what you can about some of the symptoms assoc. with this class of drug's withdrawal.  



IT CAN BE DONE!  I've been off it over 2 yrs. & no vertigo (!) & I never think about it.



Good luck!  



Dancing in the Dark

by recentlyengaged, Feb 17, 2003 12:00AM
I just wanted to thank everyone who reads my message and gave me advice.  Having a support group like you all helps so much because there is NO ONE in this world who I could talk to about this.  My girlfriend who I just became engaged to would dump me in a second and I am not going to let getting high ruin my life.  It is not worth the risk of me telling her.  I can beat this and beat it soon, as I am starting now.  Today I got rid of my oxys and am going to taper off with morphine sulfate pills.  these are soft orange long ovular pills that say 60 on one side and E3559 on the other.  Anyone know anything about them?  I have used them rather frequently when oxys arent around.  They give me much much less of a high so if i cut one in half and swallow half a pill twice a day (less than I have ever done before, and I used to snort, now I will swallow), I will keep this up for four days.  On the fifth - eigth day I will cut the pill in four and take a fourth of a pill twice a day.  I have vitamins and tyrosine and klonopin for anxiety.  In the past these have been easier withdrawals for me.  I think I can beat this guys!!! Any thoughts????  Thank you so much.  I am going to post daily and let you all know my progress.  My fiance is the most important thing in the world to me and I wanna be a dad some day.  And also, One of you told me I have to do it for myself?  I know, I am because I know I deserve better than the path these will lead me down.  I have a good job fresh out of college, a great family and I am an avid bodybuilder and sports fanatic.  Thank you alll ssssssoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much.  I am sooo excited about this and that I found you guys.  This forum and my engagement are going to be what I need to stop this route to destruction!!

by freezing, Feb 17, 2003 12:00AM
To: troyxx
I have been prescribed valium since 1988, up to 20mg/day.  In fifteen years of use, I have never suffered what you described, nor any ill effect from them.  I change/lower my intake and stop taking them with no symptoms at all.  I know we are all different.  I am extremely addicted to opiates (for the past two years) and my tolerance to the opiates skyrockets almost daily (or I suffer daily opiate w/d's), but not to diazepam.  The one time my valium intake increased, was when I was prescribed methadone.  As soon as I detoxed off methadone, my valium intake went from about 25mg/day down to zero to five mg/day.  My addiction doctor had me increase the valium to see if that was causing me problems, but it did not help.  Are you on other meds that could be causing your symptoms?  I really don't think what you are describing is from the slow taper of valium at your level.  I am sure you/your doctor tried going back up on the valium to test.  What did you experience then?  Best wishes to you.  Keep us posted.

by lisabet, Feb 17, 2003 12:00AM
To: Bodymechanic
Hi my friend - I'm glad to see you back posting and helping others.  But I want to know - "How how you"?  The last I heard, you were tapering your Bup - how are you doing with that?  Thinking of you. Love, Lisabet

by kilo, Feb 18, 2003 12:00AM
To: recentlyengaged
Sounds like you got a plan! I'm not to sure how well your taper will help you, but it's worth the shot. I'll give you a little insight I experienced today. This is my 4th attempt in 18 months to come clean. Prior attempts were always filled with thoughts of relapsing, then believing those thoughts, then acting on them. Always an excuse, another justification, a lie! I use to have pain, but my habit was my escape and not for pain. For some reason, this time it's different, real different. I'm almost into day 6 this time around and I truly feel great. Oh I crave the **** when I think about it, but this time I think more about other things. I chip away at those cravings with these thoughts...my future, a wife who loves me without condition, a smart beautiful 10 year old daughter and we are about to adopt a baby boy from Central America. I finally put my life, my wife's love, and my family's future first.



Why now, why this time? I don't know why. I have embarked on a mission to teach my mind that my life and my family is more important than a short-lived warm and fuzzy feeling that turns on you 6-12 hours later demanding more or else. I caught myself being goofy and laughing with my wife tonight...my mind screamed back at me and said don't stop, go on this is how it use to be or I'll give something else to think about....



I've read it a thousand times on this forum and I truly believe that this time it STUCK! "You have to want to change for yourself"  Finally the 2x4 hit me right between the eyes.



When I read your first post a few days back, the first thought that came to mind was of this guy who had life by the balls! You know...love, soon to be husband, a great job, a loving family, a future father. Sound like someone you know? My second thought was what a shame...he's got cancer. You feel that lump? "Hell it's probably nothing, it'll go away or it's a benign thing". "**** I'm young I got nothing to worry about". But the news isn't all bad, actually it's quite promising. Oh it's cancer all right...but it's a small lesion, it hasn't spread yet, it's a surgeon's dream (small incision and not to much pain for the patient). A little chemo, a little discomfort, and in no time I'm back grabbing life by the conjones.



Looks to me like someone is going to have that lump looked at. You are smart to catch it early. Withdrawal will be uncomfortable, but the worse part is over in a few short days. You may have to spend a few months burying those demons into the dark recesses of your mind, so that they don't surface again. But hell, it beats having cancer!   Peace



Kilo

by dancinginthedark, Feb 18, 2003 12:00AM
To: Engaged/Kilo
Kilo,



I thought you wrote a most inspiring missive & clearly you are impassioned & determined.  Oh, and lest I forget, your brain & passion is in the right place.



But I must respectfully take issuance on 2 pts. you made.  Pls understand:  I may be *very* wrong but I do have quite a history...oh indeedydoo ;-)



1)  When you urged Engaged to bury those demons, I took that to mean put them away, presumably in the back of your mind.  I think & my exper. - and know from many addicts - burying those demons is an enormous mistake.  IMHO, & what lead to my 31 day success (1st time I've gone beyond a day or 2 in oh, 10 yrs.!) you must first