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

[scooby160]

just 2 tens , but i still feel ill ilke wind symtoms  i was drinking a lot also

[MikeInFrance]

Hi what have you taken in the past? The most values at once before? Talk to me...let's see what we can do.

[scooby160]

av just taking 10 tens once yesterday ifeel awfull today is there anything i can take to stop feeling so awefull ????

[jackhanson]

That is horrible advice. You are 80 years old and the medication worked for you for many years. Why on earth would you stop now? The religion is not solving your physiological problems other than giving your temporary endorphin highs from delusional thoughts not unlike phantasy thinking about doing something fun or being the hero of a story. Also, why do you need to look around at other "charismatic people" and compare them to you. You are not them and they are not you. Different parents, different genetics, different experiences, different everything. They may or may not need the medication but that is irrelevant. They are not you and you obviously needed the medication and to stop now to live our your golden years in mental and/or physical pain is terrible advice for others. The judicious use of medication is the reason these medications were invented and given to humans. For crying out loud the ignorance and hand-wringing of people taking medication they need and feeling they have a personality deficiency because they need them are ridiculous. Drugs for mental condition add quality of life to neurotransmitter deficiencies the same way beta blockers add quality of life to hear patients and insulin adds quality of life to diabetics. Learn to use medications wisely and in moderation and stop the ignorant proliferation of bad advice!

[jackhanson]

Saying get away from pain medicines and benzos for life is incredibly ignorant and cruel advice. Some people need them for very legitimate reasons.

I for one have been on Klonopin daily for 7 years for panic disorder and take hydrocodone a few times a month due to recurring uric acid kidney stones and gout. I also take meds to help clear out uric acid from urine and have a special diet but still need the pain meds. I plan on being on both drugs in moderation for life. This does not mean I am addicted, it means I am dependent. So long as neither drug affects my work abilities, social relationships, etc, it is not addiction. This is the same advice I give to patients on a daily basis. If there is a problem with "all or nothing" personalities, I recommend cognitive behavioral therapy so that they control their use of necessary medication and learn to use them judiciously.

If you are an all or nothing personality that cannot take medication in moderation, by all means avoid it. But most ppl are not like that. Please refrain from conflating your experience to general advice. It is very dangerous as many of us depend on pharmaceuticals to have any quality of life at all. Benzos and hydrocodone are every bit a part of my quality of life as heart medicine and insulin are to a diabetic.

[fiz326]

I'm one day not so bad and one day rough as a a badger's coat - weird!