Valium Withdrawal

[MrKlown]

Hello, I would like to first say that this may be the wrong forum since I never did abuse this medication. I was given this medicine about 1 year ago and was prescribed as needed. As needed turned out to 1 5mg valium per day and has been that way for an extremely long time.  Anyone have any suggestions on quitting this? I tried to drop down to 2.5mg per day and I got so extremely shaky that I thought I was going to have a seizure. My panic disorder was hitting me super hard on the 2.5mg dose too. I am so confused and want help and have even considered a detox center but afraid of them because my friend went to one that was addicted to a benzo and he was completely yanked off of them and even had seizures. I don't want this to happen to me. Any advice?

[mtgoat911]

yeah luppy, we pay out our *** to seek medical care, even with insurance the medical bills for our family is too much, last year we pain $500 a month for health insurance and it did not cover everything
the er is a good idea, but as a paramedic i will say the use of americans calling 911 and going to er for non emergency situations has taken away from the emergency needs of ill patients
each state in the USA has a mental health center, i believe this center would be more suitable for MrKlowns needs, we also have free clinics over here, but it takes determination to get into one of them, most people will not take the time to look one up
and most of the clinics do not give patients narcotics, like valuim the drug that mrklown takes
i just have to say, my best friend is a lesbian, her mom is a joho witness, and completly turned her back, my friend just got into art school and is working as an illustrator for a publishing company, her mom does not support her because she is gay, it hurts my friend, but it doen not hinder her life, some things we can change, others we have to move on, and get over it
here is a dailly affirmation book for gay and lesbians, so many do not ger what they need from their family so they find others who can have faith in them, and they also find faith within themselves, i start each of my days reading a book like this, it helps me stay focused and positive through the day, trust me, i have my own issues, anything i say to you is to inspire you to do more for yourself, i was told when i was 18 that i should get on disibility for dibilitating learning disiblitities, i did not, i made a decsion to goto college and take care of myself, it was a turning point for me, heres that link
http://www.hazelden.org/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=1294
i wish you the best of luck

[luppygirl]

Wow I can't believe you have to pay to go to the Drs.  I guess I am so spoiled living in Canada.  The only thing we have to pay for is prescriptions and even then most people have insurance and covers most of that and if you don't have insurance you can claim them on your income tax.  I am a really sick person and I don't know what I would do if i had to pay every time I went to the drs.  I would most likely be dead and that is no exaggeration.  Do they have any free clinics there?  Sorry I really don't know much about the American health care system, I think I know just enough to be happy living in Canada!!!.  Well let us know if you get an appointment ( by the way if you don't mind me asking what does it cost for one drs visit) and if it is taking to long and you don't have the money for the appointment go the ER surely they have to help you whether you have money or not.  Please tell me they do?????

[MrKlown]

I will definitely talk to a doctor once I can afford to go again. That won't be for a while unfortunately. I just signed up full fledged for disability today and am quite shocked at how long she says it usually takes. She said I will probably be denied my first and second attempts and a lawyer will help me get it on the 3rd attempt.

[luppygirl]

I have read all the posts here and I am not sure if I missed something, but other then fear of not being able to get your meds is your doctor telling you that you have to stop taking them?  If he isn't and these meds truly help you and you aren't eating them like candy why would you go off of them.  Everybody is entitled to live a fairly normal happy life and if this is what it takes then I don't see a problem taking them.  If some of the side effects of the meds are bugging you then try something like lorazepam (i don't think it is a strong as valium ) it might have better effects.  I have been taking it on and off for 12 years and it works well and it works fast. Or maybe a combination of medications might help you out.  I am not a dr so I don't know all that can be used for anxiety disorder. y In my case I have tried many different anti-depressants and none of them work for me, they usually caused the anxiety to worsen and never mind about the other horrible side effects that I got.  I really think you should have a good sit down talk with your doctor and discuss all your fears and such.  He can't read your mind so you must let him know what you want and what you are afraid is going to happen.  It is so important nobodies life should be put on hold like this.  I am sure you have places to go and people to see, so make him listen to what you have to say.  I hope   that I have helped in some small way.  Do what it takes to get your life back.  Take care!

[MrKlown]

I have tried therapy of many sorts, even hypnotherapy which they could never get me under. I have pretty much tried everything and valiums are the only thing that has ever really worked for me which is why it's hard to give them up.

[mtgoat911]

wow, you have tried every pill for anxiety that i can think of, sounds like a program might be your next step
anxiety meds can cause panic attacks, just like pain pills can cause rebound pain
when is the last time you tried to manage your attcks without medication? what happened? what other treatment is your doctor offering you?
i started taking meds for panic when i was 9yrs old, stopped at 29, realized i was better off without the pills, not saying you would be better of without your pills, just wanting to let you know i identify