to think that if I want Valium I should bloody well be allowed to have it?

[InMyLittleHead]

I have been prescribed it before for anxiety and panic attacks. They are only 2mg and my GP let me have 14 tablets to last me six months. She talked to me about it before she prescribed them, talked about dangers of addiction etc. but was satisfied I was not vulnerable in this way. That was six months ago, I have used them all.

The nice understanding GP is not there anymore. Now there is some hippy bastard other doctor who advises me to use breathing techniques, creative visualisation etc. instead. These things do not work. It is like people who advise having a whiff of lavender oil to relieve labour pain. The only thing that works is diazepam. It is not possible to get addicted on 14 x 2mg in 6 months. I think he should stop treating me like a child. AIBU?

[hester]

I don't know, LittleHead, I'm not a doctor. But I did used to work in a tranx advisory service, and my understanding was that valium is both (a) highly addictive, and (b) largely ineffective after the first couple of months. So maybe your new doctor is following protocol, and your old doctor may equally have refused you a second prescription? (Btw, I'm not sure how you can be 'not vulnerable in this way' - diazepam is highly physically addictive; it's not about your personality type or your situation).

But I do think you need help that is effective and that you are confident in. Could you go back and talk to the doctor again? Or talk to another doctor in the practice? Or ask for a second opinion?

[meltedchocolate]

I hate valium. I have known LOADS (yes LOADS) of people to get addicted to it (including my DH unfortunately) and it is a really hard addiction to get rid of. You prob cant be addicted yet (well.... duh) but he prob doesn't want you to start liking them too much. They are really easy to become addicted to. Problem is they are handed out far too easy nowadays

[macdoodle]

Valium (diazepam) is a rubbish drug to treat anything frankly, it is short actig, has side effects and is HIGHLY addictive!
It is also a drug of abuse and has a relatively high street value, your GP is quite correct, he is not a drug pusher!

[Ronaldinhio]

I use diazepam for muscle spasms from what I understand it would need to be consistent use to become addicted to it
28 mg over 6 mths would seem unlikely to do it
especially as I have often taken 30mg a day for a week or so at a time on doctor's orders

perhaps you need another appointment...maybe he felt the medication wasn't necessary or help so quoted something easy rather than take the time to actually explain his reasoning

[InMyLittleHead]

The original GP said that addiction was most common with consistent use, i.e. taking it pretty much nearly every day. I would say I have one or two tablets once a fortnight-ish. I was prescribed them in the first place because I convinced her that I understood my condition - lots of people apparently use it as a psychological crutch and so don't feel 'safe' if they don't have their tablets with them. This is not me. I know they have to be careful but if he'd asked me the right questions he would have realised that it's perfectly safe to prescribe them for me.

[meltedchocolate]

He clearly doesn't feel it is necessary in you case though Little. I know i shouldnt say this (but i am gonna) but you don't really sound as if you NEED them. I am a bit confused as to while you feel you do?

BTW the addicted people I speak of also started off the way you are (not saying you will become an addict but please dont think it cant happen to anyone - it can)

[NightShoe]

I'm qualified to say that I would tend to agree with the new doctor (obviously on the surface information and not being aware of your intricate medical details). Although if the attacks are so bad that you feel that only a diazepam will work, then perhaps you need referring to a secondary service or for counselling.

So YABU, you shouldn't be given diazepam just because you want it.

[BelleDameSansMerci]

I tend to agree (sort of) with the other posters. I was given diazepam/valium for much the same reasons as you many years ago and was also refused a second prescription (at a different surgery after I'd moved). The problem may be that you actually asked for it (as I did) which may have set alarm bells off for the GP.

Not sure what to suggest except getting a second opinion.

[liath]

YANBU, 14 tablets over 6 months won't get you addicted especially such a low dose. I wouldn't have any problem prescribing that (am a GP) as a lot of people find just having the pill around and knowing they could take one if needed helps reduced anxiety. Diazepam can be a useful drug if used safely but I'm obviously always aware of the risk of addicition - sounds like you use it very sensibly and your new GP maybe ought to treat you like a grown up!

[SouthMum]

LOL at "drug pusher" reference. 14 tabs of 2 milligram (2 mg FFS!! I've had OTC painkillers that would give a better buzz than that) valium over 6 months is hardly going to turn you into some sort of mafioso drug overlord. Can you see a different doc?

[MamaLazarou]

Buy it on the internet.

[bellissima]

I think that valium (and all the related 'pams') are highly addictive. But agree that the new GP seems to be dismissing your anxiety etc a bit lightly. Breathing techniques are all very well but might not work for a more serious problem. There are anti-depressants that are rather less addictive than valium and might help. Not a medical expert here but would suggest going back, maybe seeing another doctor at the surgery.

[morningpaper]

I once went to India and bought 100 tablets for £2 from a pharmacy

I was SLIGHTLY addicted but I couldn't believe I could just buy them over the counter!

I think you are being very reaonable asking for a small amount to use as a last-resort and it is annoying that hte GP doesn't understand that

[badietbuddy]

If you have anxiety why do you want a prescription for just 2 weeks? If the problem is that bad you should ask the GP to refer you for CBT and look at some different medication in the meantime.

[nellie12]

perhaps the nice understanding gp took the easy way out? if you have panic attacks do you really want to be dependent on having a pill to alleviate the symptoms? That means always having a supply and eventually panicking if you have run out.

I think (fwiw) you need referring on to counselling for treatment and to take control of your anxiety.

[badietbuddy]

nellie, have you ever suffered from anxiety? Do you knw what a panic attack feels like? It feels like you are actually going to die. I am on trazodone atm for terrible anxiety. I couldn't just have a 'take one when I need one' medication, this is a pill that I take every night that makes me feel normal and free from anxiety. It's not a long term solution but until I am at the top of the waiting list for CBT it's the only thing that allows me to stay on top of things and feel normal. I don't think there's anything wrong with medication to treat anxiety per se. I just don't think sporadic madication is the answer, but that is only from my experience and my anxiety was at a ridiculous, constant level.

[nellie12]

Badietbuddy, to my knowledge I was not referring to your situation and if you need regular medication in order to help then as far as I'm concerned that is fine.

sporadic use of diazepam suggests that this is something that could be handled differently to the way the ops gp handled it initially.

[flockwallpaper]

I'm afraid I sort of agree with your GP, in that I don't think more of the same is a good idea, but I do think that exploring other drug treatments and counselling could be worthwhile.

I would go back to your GP. Try to see a different doctor at the practice if you don't want to see the one that you saw last time. Good luck with it.

[InMyLittleHead]

I've had these panic attacks since I was 14, and they're not very frequent which is why 14 x 2mg can last me 6 months. I agree that in a lot of cases for panic attacks, diazepam is a bit useless as it takes quite a long time to kick in, but I get panic attacks that, instead of following the quickly peak then subside altogether pattern, peak and then dip a little, then peak and dip a bit more, on and on, so they can last hours rather than 20 mins or whatever, which means that diazepam does work on them. Even if the pill is just a placebo, it works well.

I have had counselling about various things, hasn't made a difference to the attacks. I don't know what they're about but it must be something hardwired in me that I'm never going to get rid of. I don't particularly mind this, but if I can get rid of them when they happen, the same way people can get rid of a headache by taking paracetamol, then I don't see why I'm not allowed.