Benzos Diazepam Addiction, happens suddenly these days

[WarChild]

Hi All

I was addicted to Valium (Diazepam) for about 6 months, a couple of years ago, and was taking up to 30mg-40mg a day. Coming off was tough!! One of the hardest things i've had to do, harder than quitting cigarettes in my opinion.

Now I only use Valium when i am genuinely anxious, or when i'm coming off meth. BUT.... I only need to be on it for 2-3 days running and I now get withdrawal symptoms (I know Benzo w/d symptoms well given i've given them up from a sisignificant habit). Its almost as if my body is now more prone to addiction/dependence and it only takes a couple of days for it to happen now. Has anyone else found this happen to them?

Valium really is one of my weak spots - i love the stuff - nothing else makes you feel 'ok' again after stimulants/bad trips/anxiety - but yeah it just seems even a small amount and my body is instantly right back there dependent on the stuff.

Anyone?


Cheers

WC

 

[sekio]

Yes, this is a known reactiopn and IMO it is a sign you need to stop benzo use entirely and find some other way of coping with stress than 'mother's little helper'.

 

[WarChild]

Thanks Sekio... Okay thanks again. I wondered if it was a known reaction. I guess my problem is it is a legitimate prescription from my psychiatrist, and that i do sometimes get anxiety out of nowhere and valium is second to none in treating it, nothing else works as well as valium to kill severe anxiety. And secondly I love meth and rely on valium to get me through bad comedowns. Thirdly a valium or two really helps me when i go out socially to be relaxed and not get paranoid or sad - i'm also on anti-psychotics but sometimes get symptoms in social situations and the valium works really well to prevent this before it starts. Do you think other benzos would have the same problem? For instance If i got prescribed xanax or something instead would it have the same quick dependency as well? I really value my valium for these and other reasons and i don't know any other ways of substituting it.

Cheers


WC

 

[sekio]

All benzodiazepines are cross tolerant. Switching to a shorter acting benzo like Xanax will not work in your favour.

I know valium is very helpful for stress but it looks like you're mentally dependent on it. All I know is that by the time you reach that state you have a long, rocky road ahead of you. Not only do you have to deal with rebound anxiety when you decide to come off, there is also a strong physical component to the withdrawal that lends itself to seizures and such not.

It may be best to take up tai chi or some other method of controlling your stress without drugs.

 

[RobotRipping]

Could it just be that when you take valium with meth that you are just feeling the crash instead of benzo withdrawal? Meth will certainly make your anxiety worse, even after it has worn off. I'm not really sure on this though just wondering. I've been on/off benzos for a while and the odd use of valium/klonopin/ativan won't throw me into withdrawals, even if used for a few days. I avoid stimulants completely though just because they cause far too much anxiety for me.

I think other benzos will have the same results; valium is great, long lasting, xanax would be out of your system more quickly forcing your body to recover faster, meaning you'd feel a worse withdrawal if that's what's going on.

 

[WarChild]

Fair suggestion, but no its not the meth crash i am feeling. I get the same benzo withdrawal feeling when i come of valium when taking it for legitimate 'organic' anxiety with no visible cause, no meth, which is why i have valium prescribed in the first place. I know my meth pretty well, done a lot of it, and its a very different feeling to this benzo w/d. I can take about 10-15mg valium once only, if i redose even once, i start to get the withdrawal feeling the next day, and it gets worse the longer i am on it. Whereas when i first started to abuse valium years and years ago, the withdrawal didn't come on until i'd been using daily for up to about 2 weeks. With having had an infinite supply of valium for 5 odd years now (i have a triggerhappy doctor), and the fact that i like it recreationally as well as therepeutically, i have taken a shitload of it, and now i guess i am paying the price. It is a nice drug which up until this phenomena had no 'comedown' or hangover, very cheap, pharmacy quality, the perfect downer. I don't get much value from alcohol - valium is far far nicer and less harmfull in my opinion. Although at the peak of my addiction i was taking 25-30mg at a time three or four times a day, so i suppose i had it coming treating it with such recklessness. Drug use is about moderation and harm reduction, so i am guilty in this case. Can't blame anyone but me.

 

[aveoturbo]

Have you thought about trying something else like Paxil? I too use Valium/xanax for anxiety attacks and as well for muscle spasms in my back from recent surgeries on my lower back and I know how nice the stuff makes you feel. I have also taken Paxil before and it worked well for anxiety too although it can make you pretty drowsy. But it has that relaxing feeling like Valium but is in a class of SSRIs. Just a thought. Hope everything works out for ya!

 

[belfort]

yeah once u get adicted to a drug, then get clean and then try to use it sparingly, its very rarely going to work out especially when as you say, you love it..you will be on a constant rollercoaster of managing withdrawals/comedowns and its just not worth it imo..u need to find another anti-anxiety method

you are on an anti-psychotic and you are taking meth often?man, thats not a good combo lol