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how long does valium withdrawal last?

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
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Avatar universal
Hi everyone.

I will start by saying that I know what everyone will say, go and see the doc, but that option is not really viable.

So, here goes.

I was taking 10mg diazepam for 2 years. 3 months ago, I decided that enough was enough and that I was going to get off these things. I tapered off, 5mg for 6 weeks, then 2.5mg for 6 weeks, then cold turkey 7 days ago.

I think I have developed a serious problem, and it is scaring me. On the 2nd day after stopping taking the 2.5mg, I developed chest pain, back pain, short of breath, the feeling that my chest was being crushed, and extreme dizziness? It sounds, to me, that I am having a heart attack? The pain/crushing feeling/short of breath is constant, 24/7. I have not been to see a doc, yet. If I go and see the doc about the heart problems, whether it is actually a heart problem, or not, they may find out that I have just come off diazepam. Umm! That would mean me going to prison, and losing my job, so you can see why I do not want to go to the doc?

Apart from the fact that I feel really dreadful, (I also have a lot of other withdrawal related problems, the panic attacks have started, hot flushes, etc), I am determined to beat this, if I live long enough!

My question is this? Can diazepam withdrawal symptoms mimic a heart attack? Or have I actually had, am having major heart problems?

I am really scared, so any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.



I have started to take 2 aspirin a day, but they have not done anything.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
There is NO rat POISON in Valium, I looked on a specific site. If you have 2 PhD's in Medical Science, then you would know how to spell poison. Go to www.rxlist.com it will TELL you what is in Valium. The pills are yellow in color NOT blue. I am in the medical field as well and know a few pharmacists. They even said there is no RAT POISON in that drug.

Bible _Thumper52

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, since I wrote that, I went down to 2.5mg / day. An extra 2.5 if I know I'm going into an extra-stressful situation. Been about a year now.

At this low dosage, I MUST have built up a tolerance to it, and I'm probably getting the placebo effect. But I don't care, whatever works is fine with me.

One thing that *****, is that the manufacturer of the generic diazepam I'm taking no longer makes 2.5mg tablets. So, I have to get 5mg tabs and split them in half. The pills are so soft, they often crumble when splitting, so... well, that's just a minor annoyance, I suppose. I'll put up with that inconvenience to not have muscle spasms, twitching and panic attacks :)
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Avatar universal
A few years too late but for those that come across this now there is a book with a lot of info on how to get off benzos and tapering charts for different benzos as well as for different levels of usage. It is called 'the Ashton manual'. It also lists the common side effects and withdrawal symptoms and how long they are expected to last.
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Avatar universal
A few years too late but for those that come across this now there is a book with a lot of info on how to get off benzos and tapering charts for different benzos as well as for different levels of usage. It is called 'the Ashton manual'. It also lists the common side effects and withdrawal symptoms and how long they are expected to last.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
For those who have gone through the withdrawal process, how long did the symptoms last? I've weaned off after 10 years on it and am feeling crappy: dizzy-like, stomach pain, diarrhea, and nausea. Hope this goes away
Soon!!!!
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Avatar universal
so glad i found this post, i to am coming of diazapam. Iwas on 10mg aday and with the help from my dr who put me on lusral Iam know down to half a mil aday, it has taken about 8mths to get this far,some days Ifeel abit wozzy and have burning sensations but most days I feel a lot lot better.Iam so glad Ihave got this far as Iwas on them for 24yrs, glad when Iam off them altogether, nasty little things. good luck to you all. sal
Helpful - 0
4912495 tn?1360921954
Thank you thank you thank you for the mention of the Ashton Manual you have filled me with hope,something I haven't had for so long.I have had to take these 'horrible' little blue devils for about 3 years now due to firstly a knee operation ,then major shoulder surgery, then unfortunately another round of knee surgery because the first one failed. I have been trying so hard to come off these pills and have reduced a good few times down to taking only 5mg per day then unfortunately surgery reared it's ugly head again and i was beginning to think I would be hooked for life.I was an extremely fit extreme sportsman(b.a.s.e jumper,skydiving instructor,climber,gym fanatic) and still am pretty fit considering the operations I have had to endure.Even the great Surgeon was impressed with my physique and cardiovascular health(I have a lung capacity of 7+ litres and lung age of a 19yr old,not bad for 46!) I have tried and tried with my family GP but he is, and has always been very obtuse with me for some reason even though I am polite to him and always have been and to all other people in life too.I'm starting from today, thanks to your post, getting off these life destroying pills and I can't thank you enough for those three little words you posted 'The Ashton Manual'.I am so strong mentally there is no thought of failure,only success.You're a star and I hope life brings you what you deserve and more.Thank you very much Shauny
Helpful - 0
4790421 tn?1359216971
Great story and i totaly understand your pain as im coming off Valium but life is tough and hard and unlike you i have no faith in a God so i walk alone but undeluded and understand the true horror of these medicines are man made and self inflicted.
Good luck for the future.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Valium is not a benzo, it's a diazepam and there is a difference. Neither is easy to get off, however I believe Valium has less side effects when you withdraw slowly, don't give up and be aware of the symptoms, these drugs should be taken off the market and used only in a hospital setting for a very short time.  
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Avatar universal
Hi and welcome.
You are posting on an old post  go to the top of page. Orange "post a question" start you own post that way. You will get a lot more response.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HI THERE : ) I AM ALSO COMING OF VALIUM, WAS HOOK ON THEM FOR 4 TO 5 YEARS, NOW AFTER WEANING OF FOR TWO WEEKS I STOP ALL TOGETHER 2 MONTHS NOW I FEEL FLOATING, VIRTIGO, METALLIC TASTE AS WELL HOW LONG DOES THIS LAST FOR? THANKING YOU ALL.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HI THERE : ) I AM ALSO COMING OF VALIUM, WAS HOOK ON THEM FOR 4 TO 5 YEARS, NOW AFTER WEANING OF FOR TWO WEEKS I STOP ALL TOGETHER 2 MONTHS NOW I FEEL FLOATING, VIRTIGO, METALLIC TASTE AS WELL HOW LONG DOES THIS LAST FOR? THANKING YOU ALL.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
my name is james i have been valium 7 years quit taking them 21 days ago im not sleepimg at all night sweat head hurts and ears ringing what should i do too sleep eat thanks 10mg taken maybe 2 too 3 times day any suggestions
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Nancy,

From your comment "I am very disappointed to now be taking it again",, Were you withdrawing?, If you were then your body was more then likely reacting to the withdrawal. If you are withdrawing make sure you cut back at the rate of 2.5% per month - its very important. Benzos have weird side effects so be very careful and look after your physical, mental and spiritual health  - Best Wishes, J
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello. Ive been addicted to diazpam since i was 20, im now 38 and i am weening myself of them. After every child ive had my depression has got worse. I was up to about 30 mg a day. I am trying to ween myself off them, so i have cut down to 10 mg a day. I beginning to shake and my body feels life less. I am also on anti-depression. How long do you think it will take untill the side effects wear off?
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Avatar universal
My father killed himself in the 60's and he was using Valium heavily for PTSD.  Benzos are not good stuff.  Thorazine (non-benzo antipsychotic) was around at the time, cheap and non-addictive.  I wish he had used that instead.  Seems all the docs were pushing the Valium.
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Avatar universal
Well, that's what I get for talking....Since my last post I had an unexpected or unexplained (as of yet) event where I awoke with my heart racing - tachycardia because it was over 100 beats per minute. It awoke me from sleep at 4am. EMT's took me to the hospital because it would not slow down for over 1/2 hour and my bp shot up 190's over 90's and stayed high for the entire 6 hr hosp stay. So, they sent me home and said to have a cardio workup. I ended up taking (on my own) 2mg of valium at home a few hours after the ER visit because my heart would not calm back down on it's own (now palpitations because rate was 90's). The valium worked within 1 hour which made me feel much better.

So, have had cardio visits and tests and now await the doctors opinion. But, I would bet you he will say anxiety. I know I am anxious, but I have never experienced anything like this. I am just thankful I had some valium left over from when I used to take it.

I am very disappointed to now be taking it again, until I find out anything better to do. Currently 2mg every other day. I am having muscle spasms and very, very sore back, shoulder and neck. Also a headache that won't go away. I am puzzled as to what happened....and I am taking the 2mg on my own now as my doctor did not tell me to take it. But, the anxious body symptoms were beyond what I could tolerate.

The ER doctors and the cardiologist suggested I may have been awoken from a scary dream or some similar event that morning. Who knows? All I know is that the shaky body has returned.

I understand what you say when you "gj32" say that you don't mind 5mg a day...but I still wish it was not necessary. I agree with you...I know people that take very large amounts or take multiple anxiety medications. So, compared to that I will be happy if I can stick to 2mg every other day, or even every day if need be. Of course now I will have to find a doctor that will continue to prescribe it to me. If they do not agree I don't know what I will do.....

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Avatar universal
I guess I should feel fortunate ...

I take 2.5mg of diazepam twice a day for anxiety. Been taking it for YEARS. I rarely (maybe once or twice a year) feel the need to take any more - and on those rare occasions, I might take 5mg between doses if I know in advance that I'm going to be walking into an extremely stressful situation.

It works like a champ to control my anxiety, and I've never felt the need to increase my dosage, meaning, that I don't feel like I've developed a tolerance to it. But, I guess 2.5mg twice a day really isn't a hell of a lot Valium. Sometimes, I forget to take the second dose, and I've never felt any adverse effects from that.

So, because its working, and I don't feel the need to increase my dosage, I also don't feel the need to stop taking it either. I'll probably take it for the rest of my life as long as its doing the job.

A long time ago, I used to take Xanax to stop panic attacks. That works really well and pretty quickly to kill a PA. But this low dose of Valium prevents them from happening, so I'd rather take a total of 5mg of diazepam a day and not have a panic attack in the first place.

I know some people that take 25mg of Valium or more a day to control anxiety and muscle issues. I would just be too terrified to take that much of that drug even once. I don't like taking drugs to begin with, so the least amount I can take to solve the problem that I have, is what I'm gonna do :)

I'm very grateful that I can take this stuff, and its effective, and I don't feel the need to take more. But that's me, your mileage may vary.
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Avatar universal
The Ashton Manual is the benzo bible. Print it out and read every word. I did this and it keeps me from using valium now.

I tapered very, very, slowly. By .25mgs every 3 weeks. What's the hurry if you really want to taper off completely and safely? It probably took you years to get to this point, so take it easy and taper slowly. I even took powdered fragments towards the end. As a result, I did not get sick, I felt very little difference the whole time. But I knew I was making progress so that helped calm my mind. Keep a very accurate journal/log. Go slow!

It has been just under 1 year for me since my last pill. There are occasions when my body is soooo stressed that I feel that old "need a pill" feeling. But, if you rest alot, distract yourself it will go away, make sure you eat and keep your blood sugar level. Prayers to everyone. Hang in there!! I do think some medications are necessary, but valium and similar drugs will just keep you from being free. There is a better way.
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Avatar universal
Try the benzodiazapine support group on facebook there's a lot of help and support there I myself have tapered from 150mg valium and 40mg temazepam from july 2011 I'm on 8mg now it's not easy but you can do it  also      non-benzodiaziepines.org.uk is a very useful site good luck
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Avatar universal
Yeah this is true.  At first you 'think' you have it aced!  It does come on a few weeks after the 'drug' is stopped but the actual 'time' that the drug is really in your system is not that long after that.  It is cause of the half life.  Once you reach the point of true withdrawl, it is really hard & you think maybe you won't make it.  It doesn't last that long though.  Once over the detox then it is all about the 'mind'!  Conditioning oneself to 'get along with out it'.  That seems to be the hardest thing.  For so many years, we are dependent on it.  Take it away & wow!  What a difference.  Everything is intense.  I believe a lot of that is b/c the Valium DULLS everything & we just get used to that.  After awhile we realize how potent it really was & wow we did not need that!  :)
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Avatar universal
I went off of them about 5 weeks ago from taking them for 11 years.  At first, it seemed easy.  After about 2 weeks it got really bad!  I just hung in there & now able to function a little bit! I believe a lot of it is mind over matter.  I have been doing research on this.  Psycho Somatic is what it is.  You are so used to taking the 'drug' that you are not 'used to life' w/o it.  I believe once that hurdle is crossed & the desire to take the drug is gone is when you start to heal.  I am still feeling the affect BUT when I tell myself that is all they are, they dissapate.  After 5 weeks, the 'drug' is probably out of your system.  I was sproatic with the doses. Sometimes a lot, sometimes a little.  At the end there, I was taking 10 mills a day until I ran out & did not get a refill.  I was sick & tire of being sick & tired.  I have come this far & had a major breakthough when I conditioned my 'mind' to the fact that I was DONE!  I think a lot of the withdrawl is because of that very reason... I'll be back........
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Avatar universal
I have been taking diazepam for years I am on 20mg now I really want to come off them. I have stopped taking them and it seems like the world is not real cant concentrate and everything is brighter how long will this last for?
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