Valium has destroyed my sex life

[Reefers]

I've been taking generic diazepam since mid-December, starting with 2-4 5mg pills in December to 4-8 5mg pills per day in January and February, and finally 1 or two occasionally with about half the days not taking them in all of March.

I stopped cold turkey after taking 4.5 of them to get to sleep March 26th. I've been drinking every day over the course of this winter, not necessarily getting drunk but maybe having a few beers every night to get to sleep.

I started losing energy, interest in things, and interest in life in general. My main problem is that I have NO libido at all. Sex rarely crosses my mind anymore unless something really turns me on and its affecting the relationship with my new girlfriend. We tried to have sex but I just wasn't into it enough to have a hard enough erection. It takes about three hours to get off with her help and it only can happen once a week or else I'm not horny enough.

I quit drinking for a week which was really hard, and noticed no difference. I rarely drink now and still notice no difference. I was confused which led me to believe it was the diazepam, which online sources confirmed.

I just want to know if anyone else went through this and when I will return to normal. I went from getting horny enough to finish the job every day to once a week and I'm really down on myself about it. I have a record of how many mg's I took every day from the beginning if it would help.

 

[Dr.Strange.Love]

I've been taking generic diazepam since mid-December, starting with 2-4 5mg pills in December to 4-8 5mg pills per day in January and February, and finally 1 or two occasionally with about half the days not taking them in all of March.

I stopped cold turkey after taking 4.5 of them to get to sleep March 26th. I've been drinking every day over the course of this winter, not necessarily getting drunk but maybe having a few beers every night to get to sleep.

I started losing energy, interest in things, and interest in life in general. My main problem is that I have NO libido at all. Sex rarely crosses my mind anymore unless something really turns me on and its affecting the relationship with my new girlfriend. We tried to have sex but I just wasn't into it enough to have a hard enough erection. It takes about three hours to get off with her help and it only can happen once a week or else I'm not horny enough.

I quit drinking for a week which was really hard, and noticed no difference. I rarely drink now and still notice no difference. I was confused which led me to believe it was the diazepam, which online sources confirmed.

I just want to know if anyone else went through this and when I will return to normal. I went from getting horny enough to finish the job every day to once a week and I'm really down on myself about it. I have a record of how many mg's I took every day from the beginning if it would help.

Benzos are very hard on your brain biochemistry. Stopping benzos is not like stopping opiates, you will go through some tough physical and psychological issues for much longer than withdrawling from any other drug. It's very rough, but don't lose faith or get depressed. You will eventually get back to normal without the valium, but it is going to take weeks or even months. Just remember the quicker you start the sooner you can get back to baseline.

If anyone can be more specific or if I'm totally off on this please chime in. But I think I'm close here. Almost any amount of benzo will result in psychological issues if discontinued after prolonged use.

 

[x7Mx]

Almost any amount of benzo will result in psychological issues if discontinued after prolonged use.

^ Indeed

 

[burn out]

i've got the same problem. i'm in the process of tapering off of benzos and i hope my sex drive will eventually return.

 

[x7Mx]

... and i hope my sex drive will eventually return.

I hope it will too, however I can say from experience that it has for me. I was on a combination of Klonopin, Ativan and Xanax for 4 years and I can say that after being off them for a bit over a year my sex drive is pretty much back to the baseline This is my own experience but I have a feeling given enough time it will be yours as well.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

My sex life was great on heroin...maybe you should get on the dope.

Alcohol and Benzos fuck too hard with respiration...that's why they suck in comparison to heroin (OH, that and the brain damage...)

 

[skoat]

^ Not helpful. As stated earlier man, in due time you'll be yourself again. Sorry about that relationship though, sounds strained.

 

[paranoid android]

Weird but ive always found benzos to make me more horny then i already am. Ive been on clonazepam for over 3 years now at a dose as high as 6mg's a day but im now usually only on 4mg's and it has not affected my sex drive or ability to get it up one bit. In fact it's improved things because im not so self consious.

It sounds like your depressed and depression is a killer on your sex drive. If your still withdrawing then no doubt that would make you depressed and the benzo WD's would most likely fuck your libido right up.

 

[tadfish]

I agree. and Doh!
I tapering off benzos as well some ~9years of use
Its fucked.
I just been ju,ping around using different benzos as i come tapering down.
Think all the antihistamines doing the worst damage.

 

[Eight0Eight]

Why did you not go to a GP and get a tapering 'script?.

I don't know about the US - but in the UK, GP's tend to be a lot more sympathetic to benzo addiction than opiates (probably due to the WD being more dangerous)..

 

[heyian2222]

When im withdraweling from heroin you get sooooo horny but you get off in like 3 seconds. i thnk id rather be in your situation

 

[Spaazkaz]

Are you having any rebound anxiety? I know this has happened with me, if you have any amount of angst you prolly wont be able to get a boner. a few months of benzos use and only one month off COULD result in an enough anxiety at this point to cause problems. Its physiologically impossible to be both anxious and aroused at the same time, and since valium is most noted for its anti-anxiety properties, amybe you are getting the opposite effect from withdrawals, or post acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). your only a month out, I don't think the word destroyed is the right one. Temporarily disabled sounds better and i think is more realistic, I think if you had an active sex life at one point you will rebound, give it time. Make sure you explain your situation to your girl so she doesn't run away... and don't forget to get her off just cause your libido is fucked. Gotta keep them girls happy. This is from experience of keeping girls unhappy, I am not the man.
In conclusion, dont worry dog, you'll get your boner back.
my 2c -Spaz-

 

[Reefers]

Thanks a ton for the support and info everyone.

Eight0Eight, I have a about 100 pills left I just want this all to end sooner so instead of tapering I'm going to try to go cold turkey.

Are you having any rebound anxiety? I know this has happened with me, if you have any amount of angst you prolly wont be able to get a boner. a few months of benzos use and only one month off COULD result in an enough anxiety at this point to cause problems. Its physiologically impossible to be both anxious and aroused at the same time, and since valium is most noted for its anti-anxiety properties, amybe you are getting the opposite effect from withdrawals, or post acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). your only a month out, I don't think the word destroyed is the right one. Temporarily disabled sounds better and i think is more realistic, I think if you had an active sex life at one point you will rebound, give it time. Make sure you explain your situation to your girl so she doesn't run away... and don't forget to get her off just cause your libido is fucked. Gotta keep them girls happy. This is from experience of keeping girls unhappy, I am not the man.
In conclusion, dont worry dog, you'll get your boner back.
my 2c -Spaz-

This is the weird part. I'm not really sure if I'm in withdrawal or not. This sex thing started happening once the drug became accumulated in my system sometime in February, so I'm thinking it may be because of the drug itself instead of the drugs withdrawal symptoms. I'm not feeling any rebound effects yet such as increased anxiety. I would know since I went through Xanax withdrawal last year and I felt depressed, angry, and irritable. I didn't want to take to anyone and I hated life. None of this is happening yet, but I'm thinking it will be more subtle at first with a longer lasting benzo like Valium.

Here is a small snapshot of the drug usage by day.
http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=66674089.jpg

 

[Eight0Eight]

Sorry mate, but your going to try to go CT when you have 100 pills in your possession?

No way.

If you manage that - then you have BALLS OF FUCKING STEEL.

Taper down yourself if you can.

Better yet, give the pils to someone you trust implicitly, and get them to give you a days supply at a time.

Cold Turkeying from a serious benzo addiction is not only dangerous - but EXTREMELY difficult (especially when you have a fuckton of pills on you)

 

[Mr Blonde]

This is the weird part. I'm not really sure if I'm in withdrawal or not. This sex thing started happening once the drug became accumulated in my system sometime in February, so I'm thinking it may be because of the drug itself instead of the drugs withdrawal symptoms.

I would have guessed that the diazepam would have built up in your system in a significant concentration during January sometime.

 

[sonic]

Ouch, sorry to hear about your condition. When was the last time you did valium? I've heard of benzos lowering your sex drive while they're in your system, but if you're having problems now it could be at least partially psychological. I don't know what advice to give you.. Alcohol didn't help? When you were on valium did you have any problems? I'm certainly NOT saying that you should relapse..

 

[Eight0Eight]

Watch porn.

Seriously.

Watch porn on the sly - before you go to do the nasty...

 

[Reefers]

Ouch, sorry to hear about your condition. When was the last time you did valium? I've heard of benzos lowering your sex drive while they're in your system, but if you're having problems now it could be at least partially psychological. I don't know what advice to give you.. Alcohol didn't help? When you were on valium did you have any problems? I'm certainly NOT saying that you should relapse..

I think the problems started in January. I'm no expert, but maybe the problems happened while the drug was accumulated? The last time I took it was 22.5mg on March 27th. I'm hoping the there is still a significant amount of the drug still in my system which is causing the problem and I've yet to withdraw.

Watch porn.

Seriously.

Watch porn on the sly - before you go to do the nasty...

It doesn't really affect me anymore.

 

[Eight0Eight]

If you haven't taken benzos since the 27th - then count yourself lucky, there is no way you would start feeling withdrawals now.

 

[Reefers]

If you haven't taken benzos since the 27th - then count yourself lucky, there is no way you would start feeling withdrawals now.

I'm not getting what you're saying. I thought once the diazepam was accumulated it took roughly 2 weeks for withdrawals to come. Its only been a week and a day. What are you saying in relation to my problem?