how long does valium withdrawal last?

[swivelhed]

I've been using valium for at least ten years on a daily basis. Two months ago I reduced dosage from 10mg a day to 5, and three of weeks ago went down to 2.5mg. Two weeks ago, stopped taking it altogether.

Now, I've got a strange metallic taste in my mouth, fast heartbeat and the world seems to be kind of swimmy, if that makes any sense. A couple of nights ago I was having full on visual and auditory hallucinations.

It is my intention to walk away from this drug, but I'm not sure if I'm going about it the right way. I have no insurance and no Doctor. I understand this may take a while and am willing to suffer through, but am curious if anyone out there might know the real taper off formula? I am 50 years old and in good shape, 5'8, 160 lbs.

Thanks in advance
Swiv

[linorawhar]

This thread is so interesting. I have been on 20mg diazapem for 3 years. I stopped cold about 3 weeks ago. The first week was torture. I thought I was getting better, because I actually felt good for a few days.. minor anxiety, insomnia, mood swings.. But then for all of the sudden all of my symptoms returned. I thought i was going crazy. I was wondering if I should just continue to 'Not' take them, and hopefully this will all go away?

[iriedaughter580]

1mg of Ativan is equivalent to 10mg of Valium (Diazapam).  You were tapering way to fast.  It takes about 4 months for 1mg of Ativan or 10mg of Valium.  Please everyone check out Dr. Heather Ashton in UK.  She runs a benzo clinic in UK and there is everything you ever needed to know about tapering including a schedule.  The woman graduated from Oxford Medical school and is a genious.  I have found no info in U.S.  She literally saved my life s almost died from Ativan withdrawal n the ER.  The ER doctor did not know what he was doing and tried to bring me off 5-6mg Ativan by taper in 3 weeks whichsent me right back where I started.  I have been following Heather's schedule and am slowly making progress.  It is TEDIOUS but if you want off there is no quick way.  May God bless you all and grant you success through this very difficult process. Irie Daughter

[jennwright]

Mooseinlaw,
Thank you for your comment--I am a believer as well, and trust that the Lord will deliver me from this dependence on Valium  (I've been on it for nausea for about 18 months (I have multiple chronic health problems, one of which requires IV nutrition, so I use IV Valium). Jesus Christ is Lord of my life, including my body. He conquered sin and death, and He loves me--and He will be with me through the withdrawal process. Your testimony of deliverance is very powerful and encouraging--I really appreciate it!!

Fortunately mine is a purely physiological dependence and not for anxiety. I've been wanting to quit, but have feared the withdrawal process. Anyway, yesterday I decided to try to quit cold turkey, and was very proud that I went over 24 hours without a dose; but after reading about the dangers and complications of suddenly stopping, I'm reconsidering my approach, and will find a tapering plan to follow.
The rest is in God's hands.
Thank you for the encouragement--even though it's been two years since you posted your comment!

[FATCHOPS]

That was the most inspiring piece of advice. I have read in all the research into topics such as you described.
Even reference to not watching news and negative articles is the best advice to all...the book I love to have people read is THE POWER OF NOW, by Eckhart Tolle!
Blessings to people such as yourself who can help. Others like myself learn ang grow healthier and happier!
Linda

[Robski4013]

Well, I do have some interesting news. It would seem my problems aren't related to the diazepam at all. I saw my doctor again and she is convinced that what I was experiencing had nothing to do with withdrawal because the dose I was taking wasn't high enough or long enough, and she’s had a fair bit of experience with this kind of thing.

I went off HRT last November because it had stopped working, and I was seeing a naturopath. That treatment did seem to be working during part of January, but considering all the symptoms I was experiencing my doctor was convinced it was hormone related, so it would seem that the naturopath’s treatment had stopped working as well.

So I went back on to HRT again, which usually works pretty quickly, and I'm already feeling better. The hot flashes have reduced and I have slept reasonably well without taking any diazepam at all, although I will take a small dose over the next couple of weeks to taper myself off it.

My doctor said that some women do need to change brands of HRT during the course of the menopause journey, and sometimes they might even have to go on the higher dosed stuff, but I can't be worried about the long term effects of that because the present is more important than the future. I will deal with whatever happens in the future - in the future. I’m also taking on a new job soon, so I needed to get all this sorted out because the added stress would have been too much for me.

I think my problem has been that I have been reading too many of the horror stories on the internet, which have mostly been from people who haven’t been professional medical people or who have had long term high dose abuse of these drugs. I really needed to listen to my own doctor more, because she always said I was beating myself up too much over the whole thing, and it would seem she was right.

Thank you for your kind advice, but hopefully I have turned the corner and I am on the mend again.

[carol999p]

You are really confusing your brain with your erratic dosing - it is important to dose the same amount at the same time each day to be able to acurately establish what the lowest effective dose is.  

Insomnia is known to increase anxiety which tends to exhasperate flashes.
Taking Diazepan would have calmed your anxiety hense providing you with some relief.  At the same time your erratic dosing of Diazepan means you are constantly w/d from lower doses.  You have not been on it a long time but following a slow taper is always recommended.

I am 5years post menopause and was on Benzo's and Z-drugs for insomnia 13years so I understand how difficult this time is. I am still tapering off a Z-drug and having gone 21 nights straight with zero sleep trust me a slow taper is always better than cold turkey.