Please come and talk to me about diazepam............

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

Am still on waiting list for CBT
in the mean time GP and I have agreed that I should have these in the house for occasions where I feel things starting to build up and to prevent me from making bad choices.

What i don't know is am I doing the wrong thing?
I don't really want to use htese things as a crutch but I am soo tired of feeling like this.

Anyone taken this and what is your experience of it?

[MatNanPlus]

What is the prescribed dose?

I take it for muscle spasms in my back.

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

4mg - to double it if I feel it hasn't helped

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

anyone?

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

bump

[MatNanPlus]

Sorry lost internet, on 4mg i am ok and on 8mg i am spacey, sort of out of body looking in, can function at home, cook etc but wouldn't want to go out.

What is the CBT waiting list time frame?

[giggly]

The big problem with taking Diazepam is the risk of over use and/or dependence, both physically and emotionaly.

Loads of GP give them out as a cure all without much ongoing support, so not surprised to hear that you have been offered them while on a waiting list for CBT.( not the GP's fault, more about time and resources)however I hope your GP has taken the time to discuss over use.
Did they discuss using a beta blocker as an alternative in a similar situation?
Diazepam can be a very useful drug, but should only be used for a short period of time.

Sorry I don't mean to alarm you,but you will be fine if you take as prescribed.

Good luck with your CBT it is an excellent treatment choice.

[LadyOfWaffle]

I have had it 'just in case', it's really good I find. There is no point trying to make things harder than they need to be. I found having them there was a comfort and relief it itself and didn't need them that much at all, but knew if I did get bad I could take some and relax a little. As long as you don't think you'll be dependant on them or anything, but you may find (like me) just knwoing they are there helps in itself x

[UniversallyChallenged]

8mg seems a pretty high dose to me. Like MNP I take it for muscle spasms - cant get out of bed crawling with pain kind - and 5mg is the most the doc will allow.

I dont find it addictive but it is calming and what's wrong with a bit of a crutch sometimes? Lots of us need one now and again

[expatinscotland]

I've only been prescribed it when my insomnia gets out of control.

I mean, really bad.

Or temazepam.

I don't worry about becoming dependent on it because I don't use it except when I have just not been able to get off to sleep, to sort of break the cycle.

I don't see the harm when it's used in a situation like that.

[notasheep]

8mg would send me to sleep

[expatinscotland]

takes 10mg to get me off to sleep if i'm on a particularly bad jag.

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

Internet went down,

thanks for all your responses. I don't intend to take them as much as the doctor says is safe. She suggested it would be ok to take them 2-3 times a week I can't see me taking them once a week. But perhaps more once a fortnight.

Can you guide me, how long does it take to get it into your system and how long do you feel the effect for?

For example if I know I am going to have a day full of triggers do I take one the night before or do I take it at breakfast time?

Sorry for all the questions but I have no idea.. don't really want to google as I find when I do that I find things that scare the Wotsits out of me.

[2sugars]

Stays in your system for days. I know that because I was told that by a psyciatrist. It also takes away stuff left behind with an alcohol addiction. Doesn't sound too high a dose to me - I was prescribe 10mg 4 times a day, but I guess it was for a different reason. Just left me wanting to sleep the whole time. HTHs.

[MatNanPlus]

ByThePowerOfGreyskull it is most effective 30 minutes to 2 hours after being taken by mouth, so if you know it is going to be a trigger day i would suggest breakfast time or 2 hours before it will be needed.

It hangs around in your system for between 2 and 5 days.

Smoking makes it leave the body quicker and less effective.

Don't take any herbal preparations that contain Valerian.

It reacts with many different medications making it either linger in the body for longer or increase the effects of the other medications.