Using Valium (diazepam) to combat depression

I have lived with depression since about the age of 12 when I hit puberty. Throughout this time (12 to now 24) I am rearly happy, nothing in my life makes me happy and even when I become happy about something, I will always find something about what Im happy about, to be sad or depressed about. I hope you get what I mean. It's not like I live a bad life, I have a partner who loves me to death, a beautiful home full of new toys and gadgets and drive a nice SUV, In times ( here anyway ) were jobs are rough and low paying, I have a decent job with decent pay and live a good life, yet none of this makes me happy. I was diagnosed with severe depression after my third suiside attemt, wich if I didn't have close friends I wouldn't be here today. Getting to my point for the last month I have been taking a half pill of valium or diazepam not sure wich one,( it has a letter "G" on it kinda like the LG electroincs symbol ) and ever since I have been doing this, Im living an entire different life! I no longer feel like life is a pointless hell, I enjoy going to work my sex life hasent been better and my self confidence it through the roof. I feel like a totally different person, I feel like I person I used to be, outgoing, funny and the life of the party, Everyone keeps sayin "We got our Joey back" The down side is im buying these pills illegaly from a friend and need to know why this drug is affecting me like this, and if I talked to my doctor about this if he would laugh at me. This works for me, no antidepressnt has ever workd, usually making thigs worse. So please do you have any answers??

[Hensley258]

I must say that is unusual to say the least.

While Diazepam is occasionally prescribed to depressed patients that also suffer from Anxiety, it is not a good option for treating Severe Depression.

Some doctors will perscribe Diazepam just long enough to get patients, "over the hump" until their antidepressant medication takes effect. After that they are usually reluctent to continue perscribing it. Mostly because it's seen as a kind of short term "band aid" until other more long term options are found. Not to mention that most people tend to build up a resistance to Benzos like Valium very fast. Thus putting people at high risk for dependency.

Perhaps your diagnosis of "severe depression" was incorrect. People suffering from severe depression tend to almost always take a downward spiral by taking Benzos over long periods. They can actually work to further depress depression sufferers.

Could it be that your condition is anxiety related only? In that case I can see how the Valium would make a big difference.

I think you just need to think this out very carefully. The problem with Diazepam is that if you continue to take it, you will without a doubt build up such a high tolerance to it that the amounts you will need to take at each dose will become very high, thus very dangerous.

Maybe your one in a million and this treatment works for you. It just seems like while it's working now that it could spell disaster later down the road.

I also suffer from severe depression, and a long time ago a doctor perscribed me Zanax to take with my AD meds. At first I just took one Zanax a day, then later I started on three a day, then 6, then 8, ect, ect... I had to keep increasing the amount to get the same effect. After about a year of this nonsence I had to stop because I was turning ito a Benzo junky. It got to the point where I was taking enough at one dose to kill most people.

Just be careful, I am living proof that they can be very addictive.

[hope_for_more]

I think the first thing I'd do if it were me is to find out exactly what I'd been taking and at what dose.  Just Googling I'm wondering if it's xanax/alprazolam too but what do I know.  

http://www.thatspoppycock.com/pillpharmer/imprints_alprazolam.htm

My GP once commented that he's reluctant to prescribe xanax unless he really has to because "it makes people feel a little too good and they want to dip into that well a little too often".

On the up side I'm glad you're feeling better.