Valium (Diazepam) & Functioning: Not feeling effects

[miss jujube]

at a routine check up, my family doctor out of the blue told me she thinks i am suffering from anxiety and developing post-traumatic stress, so she prescribed me Valium 10 mg twice a day until i am done testifying for this murder trial (don't worry, I did not murder anyone! I am a witness!!).

I do not have any kind of psychological history, but my doctor is so amazing and supportive, i trust her judgement. it's so caring and intuitive to nip this problem in the bud, she is so brilliant and caring about mental health issues.

so i have taken the valium a few times and i don't know what it's supposed to do. i don't feel anything. i am in a good mood i guess, but that's probably placebo effect.

maybe i am just not used to using drugs for therapeutic reasons instead of fun? are therapeutic doses this subtle?



i told my doctor that i do not feel different... she offered to put me on a stronger dose, but then i could not work at my job until after the trial because i am an ER nurse so dulling my senses would not be safe! and i love my job, i don't want to miss it for court. i want to give diazepam a chance.

I have a history of benzo abuse (my doctor is aware), but it was 9 years ago. and i have never used or abused diazepam before.

i am getting anxious over the medication that supposed to help my anxiety... don't make fun of me... ha ha ha!

what is a therapeutic dose supposed to feel like?

[thatdude420]

The therapeutic dose is supposed to feel like what your doctor has described to you. If you don't have an anxiety, then the Valium has no anxiety to relieve for you. However, everyone has some stress, whether it's enough to cause anxiety attacks or not. You should expect some of those stresses to de-intensify a bit. Valium, and other benzo's, have the effect of making one not care so much about their problems.

Interestingly, Benzo's, (Xanax moreso than any other), have a relaxing effect similar to alcohol. The two are very identical.

Just as working as a nurse after 3 beers isn't reccomended, working on something like 20 or 30mg of Valium isn't either.

[Politicalchalk]

It should also be noted that the old phrase "set and setting" should be appreciated here. I noted that you mentioned a previous relationship with the benzos, so you should be aware of their effects (in a general sense). However, after 9 years, one can assume that your expectations of what the drug MIGHT do might be a little fuzzy. And of course, a court room setting is one hell of a trial-location (no pun intended) to experience any psychotropic drug. I can't recommend wether or not your Doc increase your dose, lower your dose, cut you off, change your med, or what.

I'm just saying that if you have *some* idea of what to expect these chemicals to do to your brain/nervous system in general, than the effects might come off as "not as apparent"....it's all about the "set" (you expectations of the drug) and "setting" (the situation one find's one self in when taking the substance)

I hope the trial goes well, and if you need the diazepam, I hope it helps!