Am I addicted to Valium? (Diazepam)

[Secret Agent]

Swim has been taking Valium (i.e. Diazepam) on and off for 2 years. SWIM has 10mg pills and usually takes 1 to 2 max per week. Not much for a while and SWIM thought it wouldn't harm him. It helped SWIM with his depression (and helped him keep his job!) SWIM bought them off the internet.

Until August it was only around one 10mg pill every week, but since August '08 SWIM started taking it every 2 days and even had a couple of weeks when it was every day (but only for that 2 weeks.)

SWIM can go a few days without, even now, but then weakness in legs sets in, finding it difficult to focus, anxiety and 'mad' thoughts take over. SWIM doesn't like other anti-depressants as they made him worse, but Valium worked, for a while... SWIM wonders if he is addicted

Problem is SWIM is finding it difficult to live without.

[Politicalchalk]

There was a study done that I recall very prominantly, though I can't re-locate it at the moment. It demonstrated that 100% of the patients in the study became dependant on diazepam when treated with a low dose (2mg) chronically (over 6 months). In other words, if swiY takes benzos regularly for a long period of time, expect dependancy.

Note that dependancy, ie:going through a withdrawal syndrome when drug is abuprtly stopped, is not addicition. Addicition is defined as when the patient continues to use despite harm to self. Not to forget others too, things like fiending, stealing, creative physician consulation habits, etc are also likely depending on how severe the addicition is. Dependancy is a medical condition just as addiciton is, and is treated one of two ways: drug maintainance (keeping you on the med because the benefits outweigh the risk), or detox (weening off, symptomatic relief, abstainance from drug of addiciton)

So it's highly likely that Swiy has developed mild-moderate dependancy.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	good information on addiction and dependency and explaining both
	good
	Good post.
	Extremely good explanation of dependency v. addiction. Well done!

[rocksmokinmachine]

Originally Posted by Secret Agent

Swim has been taking Valium (i.e. Diazepam) on and off for 2 years. SWIM has 10mg pills and usually takes 1 to 2 max per week. Not much for a while and SWIM thought it wouldn't harm him. It helped SWIM with his depression (and helped him keep his job!) SWIM bought them off the internet.

Until August it was only around one 10mg pill every week, but since August '08 SWIM started taking it every 2 days and even had a couple of weeks when it was every day (but only for that 2 weeks.)

SWIM can go a few days without, even now, but then weakness in legs sets in, finding it difficult to focus, anxiety and 'mad' thoughts take over. SWIM doesn't like other anti-depressants as they made him worse, but Valium worked, for a while... SWIM wonders if he is addicted

Problem is SWIM is finding it difficult to live without.

2 weeks use of benzo's is enough to cause physical addiction. Benzodiazepines (diazepam, temazepam, nitrazepam etc.) are not anti-depressants. They are used to treat anxiety, insomnia and severe alcohol withdrawal. Finding a non benzo drug for anxiety can be hard, in the long term SWIY may benfit from drugs such as mitrazepine or trazadone.

Anti-depressants are either SSRI, MAOI or trycyclics/tetracyclics

[Ontherooftops]

Yes, swiy is physically dependedent on benzodiazepines.

Diazepam has a 100 hour half life with active metabolites, which is the reason that swiy can go a couple days without. Then when blood serum levels drop below what your body is used to you begin withdrawl. The long half life makes it so the strange "madness" and other symptoms swiy feels after a few days, is really only the tip of the iceberg.

Benzodiazepine withdrawl can be life threatening, so if swiy plans on stopping use, they should go to a doctor.

[lorzapmail]

swims opinion, that this dose is is very low. But, people have different tolerance. Swim has taken lots of valiums for weeks, then just stopped. The long half life seems to slow the withdrawal to not a problem. Swims problem is lorzeapam withdrawal. But that belongs in another thread.

[rocksmokinmachine]

Please see downers addiction:

This thread is very beneficial to people addicted to a range of benzodiazepines, it will continue to be updated.

http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45539

[Secret Agent]

SWIM would like to thank you all for the great advice Any other stories or helpful posts from others would be greatly appreciated. This forum is an excellent resource. SWIM started tapering, but then went back to 10mg again. It's difficult with a stressful job, SWIM wonders if holiday time is best to meet the withdrawals

SWIM read through the withdrawal symptoms, 'burning spine' sounds similar to what SWIM felt. Couldn't sleep SWIM also forgot to state that the 10mg would sometimes be accompanied be a few beers (increasing the dosage of both drugs I believe...)

[rocksmokinmachine]

Tapering from 10mg is fairly stright forward. Would SWIY like this tabulating? Also does SWIY have access to diazepam as a liquid suspension. It is quite useful when tapering from small(ish) doses.

[Secret Agent]

SWIM tried to cold turkey valium... After 10 days of complete madness in which SWIM really thought he was going insane, he then fell back on it and his habit got much worse (25mg for a number of months), a high dosage for him.

Now he has very recently gone onto 5mg, jumping down from 10mg. No major problems so far. SWIM is finding it dazy and a bit depressing, but bareable. Now SWIM really wants to quit altogether, but is wary of the final step(s). Is the last step or two the worst? It would help SWIM to get off it ASAP for various reasons. Can a 5mg to zero jump be done? Is it advisable?

[nojokeshere]

Benzodiazepine withdrawl can be life threatening

In another thread linked here:

cut too fast and caused damage to their CNS and developed protracted withdraw symptoms that can last years

Swim would like a little more 'experience' info on these statements. Swim has a habit of not respecting meds she's comfortable with. Swim is suprised to find problems happening with such small doses - although swim has these problems herself.

[Venusia]

Originally Posted by Secret Agent

SWIM tried to cold turkey valium... After 10 days of complete madness in which SWIM really thought he was going insane, he then fell back on it and his habit got much worse (25mg for a number of months), a high dosage for him.

Now he has very recently gone onto 5mg, jumping down from 10mg. No major problems so far. SWIM is finding it dazy and a bit depressing, but bareable. Now SWIM really wants to quit altogether, but is wary of the final step(s). Is the last step or two the worst? It would help SWIM to get off it ASAP for various reasons. Can a 5mg to zero jump be done? Is it advisable?

No. Please don't discontinue using any benzos without medical supervision. Benzo withdrawal can be deadly. It could end up being horrible for swiy if he doesn't have a doctor slowly taper him off. It may not seem like a lot, but 5mg is a normal therapeutic dose. Please don't just stop. Have a doctor wean swiy off. Please, be careful. Keep us posted on how it all goes, ok?

[Secret Agent]

SWIM is going to see a doctor, will let you know. Thanks for the advice everybody, it's nice. This forum is very helpful... particularly for addiction

Secret Agent added 1240 Minutes and 15 Seconds later...

SWIM went to doctor today and was told to try and stick 5mg for 1 week, then go to 2.5mg for 1 week, then 1/4 of that (i.e 1/4 of a 5mg pill) for 1 week more then off the Valium altogether. SWIM was advised not to drink any alcohol during this time. SWIM realises that this will be quite difficult with many social events coming up. But SWIM will try his best. Will alcohol totally mess up his taper? Even if just a couple of drinks?

SWIM also has a music festival coming up and wants to try and enjoy. It's been so long since SWIM went to a festival. Instead of drinking SWIM may take LSD (his preferred occassional drug of choice). SWIM is a very experienced LSD user and has even tripped through a previous Diazepam withdrawal.

Although this sounds crazy and SWIM would not recommend it to others... during his previous experience SWIM had severe body pain which was almost unbearable... however he was able to totally silence his mind (as he had in trips before) SWIM found it actually helped, especially the days after. It was like the battle with the mind was won.

SWIM feels that perhaps an LSD trip maybe better for him than alcohol and SWIM doesn't touch any other drug Ecstacy,MDMA, Coke etc... All he wants to do is to try and have a bit of fun during a holiday

[Venusia]

Originally Posted by Secret Agent

SWIM is going to see a doctor, will let you know. Thanks for the advice everybody, it's nice. This forum is very helpful... particularly for addiction

Secret Agent added 1240 Minutes and 15 Seconds later...

SWIM went to doctor today and was told to try and stick 5mg for 1 week, then go to 2.5mg for 1 week, then 1/4 of that (i.e 1/4 of a 5mg pill) for 1 week more then off the Valium altogether. SWIM was advised not to drink any alcohol during this time. SWIM realises that this will be quite difficult with many social events coming up. But SWIM will try his best. Will alcohol totally mess up his taper? Even if just a couple of drinks?

SWIM also has a music festival coming up and wants to try and enjoy. It's been so long since SWIM went to a festival. Instead of drinking SWIM may take LSD (his preferred occassional drug of choice). SWIM is a very experienced LSD user and has even tripped through a previous Diazepam withdrawal.

Although this sounds crazy and SWIM would not recommend it to others... during his previous experience SWIM had severe body pain which was almost unbearable... however he was able to totally silence his mind (as he had in trips before) SWIM found it actually helped, especially the days after. It was like the battle with the mind was won.

SWIM feels that perhaps an LSD trip maybe better for him than alcohol and SWIM doesn't touch any other drug Ecstacy,MDMA, Coke etc... All he wants to do is to try and have a bit of fun during a holiday

Yes, alcohol and most benzos are cross-tolerant, therefore it will mess up swiy's taper if he drinks. Sucks, but that's what swiy has to do to get off the diazepam. Sorry, man.

[rocksmokinmachine]

Originally Posted by Secret Agent

SWIM tried to cold turkey valium... After 10 days of complete madness in which SWIM really thought he was going insane, he then fell back on it and his habit got much worse (25mg for a number of months), a high dosage for him.

Now he has very recently gone onto 5mg, jumping down from 10mg. No major problems so far. SWIM is finding it dazy and a bit depressing, but bareable. Now SWIM really wants to quit altogether, but is wary of the final step(s). Is the last step or two the worst? It would help SWIM to get off it ASAP for various reasons. Can a 5mg to zero jump be done? Is it advisable?

These are slow withdrawal schedules tabultaed by myself for withdrawing from most common benzodiazepines, diazepam is the 1st post in the thread. http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45539. The proper way is to titrate 2mg either per week/fortnight. Good luck. If anybody wants any more schedules I'd be happy to oblige