Taking diazapam for the first time. Handhold?

It's great stuff, it got me through very similar circumstances.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Just for info: The addictive component of diazepam is not that it gives you any kind of high. It is the simple fact that your body quickly develops a tolerance, so that the dose that made you feel better yesterday won't be enough to replicate the same effect tomorrow. This tolerance also means that after a very short while you would need a dose just to get you to the baseline level that you previously had without the medication. (Luckily a responsible GP won't prescribe for a long enough period for you to encounter this problem).

This absolutely shouldn't stop you using it with confidence, especially for the time-limited difficult challenges you are facing atm. But do be aware that it will soon cease to help, and that you might have a bit of an 'anxiety hangover' the day after using it, as your body reacts to the absence of a substance that has tilted its natural homeostasis.

I was given sertraline but stopped them after three days. The occasional Diazepam seems to work better for me.

There is zero chance that you will be addicted after taking three quarters of a 1mg tablet spread over several days! Absolutely zero. It's practically a homeopathic dose.

But am I genuinely pleased it's helping as anxiety is horrible. Good luck with starting the Fluoxetine.

💐 Sending hugs and lots of support at this horrible time, I'm so sorry you for your loss!

Definitely try it first. I had 2mg for muscle spasms in my neck. It did not suit me at all. We give toddlers with fractured femur ls bigger doses than I had!

I'd be surprised if it's possible to get addicted to 0.25mg taken less than once a day - it's probably not even a therapeutic dose. Glad it's helping though!

Its great stuff for a short period.
It is horribly additive and terrible to come off all so only use it sparingly.
Hope you feel a bit better :)

Yayy OP, I'm glad it helped. My panic used to be terrible and 2mg did me the world of good!

I got it last year for flying to a family wedding, but it was specifically for anxiety around travelling without my late husband.

To be fair, I haven't flown for a couple of years so I'm not sure when the rules changed but the last time I asked the GP for it, I got it with no issues. I hope they prescribed it next time!

Ah, thanks @WearyAuldWumman, that makes sense.

It’s a shame they can’t prescribe it on a case by case basis for flying. I usually only fly once a year (well twice as it’s a return flight!) so would only ever need 2-4 tablets a year and they would be able to see from my record that those were the only times I was accessing it. But it seems they have a blanket rule on using it for flying.

I get it for anxiety, so long as my GP is certain that I'm not abusing it - I only get a fortnight's supply at a time, sporadically.

As said above, originally got it for a major bereavement. Have also been prescribed it to help me get through a hysteroscopy, etc.

I think the problem is that it would be too easy (and tempting) to rely on it for a while. Some people don't realise that it's same as "Mother's Little Helper/Valium".

I'll just throw in here that it can cause constipation in some people.

However, I find it very helpful. TMI, but constipation is only a problem for me if I take the full 2mg two days in a row.

@QueenStevie I used to get it for flying and it was great! Apparently GPs won’t prescribe it for fear of flying anymore 😕 Would love to know how you come to get it but that’s possibly not the sort of conversation to have on a public forum. 😂

I take 2mg just to get on a plane and 2mg before we land. I doubt 1mg will have a massive effect. I can function on what I take and I can even have a G&T on the flight, although not recommended! I'm me, just less intense. I don't feel weird or anything.

I hope the funeral goes well.

How did it go OP !

Bet you didn't feel a thing.

1mg is nothing but if it works that would be good. Keep strong.

I'm sorry for your loss @PinkLemonadee
Depending on how much in total you have, try it out slowly and take it as you feel the need to dull the edges and get through it in one emotional piece. Presumably there'll be people around?

My mum gave me some the night before my wedding and I still didn't sleep a wink! I've also had it for a pulled muscle and it had no effect on me at all! Sorry for your loss💐

Sending you hugs x @PinkLemonadee