Am I in the clear (diazepam)

[television82]

I'm about 12 days into a break from taking valium. Before the break I was only taking ocassionaly, at not too excessive doses. Say 40-50mg a week, but only taking on one or 2 days in any week.

Twelves days since I had any, and I feel fine. Had no noticeable adverse effects at all. I wanted to take a long enough break to make sure I hadn't been pushing it too much (I'd been taking occasionally for around 12 months). Do you think I'm in the clear and can return to my previous pattern of use? (I have never really developed any tolerance either since first taking).

 

[welshmick]

Well done TV82.

Keep it up. If ya do get the tremors or just feel dreadfull allow ya self just a little.
Ya a lucky person.

I need little, but everyday still.

Go for it m8.

 

[d3Xo-fan]

I'd say you are definitely in the clear, even though diazepam has a very long half life. I take it you're talking about being physically addicted... I doubt you were ever physically addicted with such small doses and such few times a month. I wouldn't recommend going back to your previous pattern of use, though, since you seem to do just fine without the diazepam, but I'd still say you are in the clear and you won't become addicted if you decide to go back to that pattern of yours.

 

[effie]

It does sound like you are in the clear this time. As mentioned, the long half-life of diazepam (up to 100 hours) means that you don't have to take it every day for there to be a constant supply in the bloodstream and therefore for your body to become pnysically dependent, so I would be careful, especially if tolerance increases and pushes up your dose. I would also worry about psychological addiction - it's great that you have been able to take a break from it, and it may not be a problem at the moment, but for example if something bad was to happen in your life it would be easy to fall back on benzos as a crutch and start needing them to get by.

I don't mean to sound pessimistic or preachy, and it may be that you can continue sporadic use in the manner you have been without any problems, but benzo addiction and be insiduous and I think it is important to be realistic about the risks.

Congrats on kicking it for 12 days though

 

[television82]

Well its been about 2 weeks now. And I'm still feeling no ill-effects. I think I will return to my sporadic use, sooner or later. But I think I'll make the sporadic use even more sporadic. Perhaps I'll just use it when it will be useful to, rather than just for a chilled out night in.