…to be worried about taking Diazepam?

[GreenTeaMom]

I have been prescribed a short-term course of Diazepam to see me through a difficult week. I have a court case this week which is sending my anxiety through the roof, and I have been prescribed 14 2mg tablets.

I have never taken Diazepam before, but I am a little bit worried and hesitant to take them, mainly because I know myself, and if I take one it and it lifts my crippling anxiety (I have this daily, not just because of the court case) then I will want to continue feeling ‘normal’ and want to take one everyday and then what happens when they run out?

I read conflicting things online - some people have taken it every day for years in a small dose just to function because of severe anxiety etc, and other people have taken a few tablets and then have horror stories about becoming addicted and withdrawal etc.

Can anyone offer some advice please?

Do you have any other medications/talking therapies to help with the anxiety on a day to day basis? It sounds like you need longer term help, but in the short term take the diazepam.

@VariationsonaTheme I have had several courses of CBT which haven’t really helped or worked, and I struggle to take medication for my anxiety because I get really bad side-effects and they also can interact with other medication that I take for a stomach problem 😣

Hello I am on 2 mg twice a day and it didn't make me a zombie or anything. It made me feel calmer.
People used to get put on like 40 mg and get addicted and be all sleepy, so it got a really bad reputation.
Maybe just try half a tablet? It didn't seem to have any side effects for me but strangely made my sore arm stop hurting, it's not even prescribed for that, lol. I really like it.
But you don't have to take it. Just because I like it, doesn't mean everyone will, people have different reactions to meds.
I'm the 1980s I know a lady who took one before her driving test😬..! She passed !
Good luck with your case.
Online there are calming breathing exercises and muscle relaxation thingys that are good. You might prefer to try them xxx

@millytilly34 thank-you, that means a lot and has been really helpful! 🤗 how long have you been on it for if you don’t mind me asking, and how do you get it prescribed? My NHS GP only prescribes it on a short-term basis, but if it did really help my anxiety in general, I don’t think they would even entertain prescribing it long-term 😣 I do also have a private GP who I get my stomach medication from (apparently it’s too expensive to prescribe on the NHS compared to cheaper medications that don’t work for me), but again, I don’t know how long the private GP would be willing to prescribe it for either…also, do you feel yourself needing more and more of it to get the same effect after a while?

Sorry for all of the questions and only answer what you are comfortable with! 💐

I had crippling anxiety years ago, and was given 2mg tablets, maybe given 20 in total. They helped me through that period of time. I never had any side effects, and haven’t taken them since either, so didn’t ever feel I “needed” them. They were positive for me. Good luck xx

It can help massively, I get what you mean about the concern of feeling "normal" and not want to return to feeling anxious. I felt that way on diazepam- but haven't become addicted. It's for short term use, and you'll limit it to when you need it, when you're past the court case, take whats remaining to the pharmacist and ask them to dispose of it.

I also feel the same when I'm given pre meds... I always find myself saying, I feel so calm I wish I could feel this way all the time! But because its not something we have regular access to were safe from addiction

Wishing you the best with your court case

I was prescribed some 10mg for my fear of flying. I never felt even the slightest difference. On the upside there was no risk of adiction since they didn't do anything and I am now able to fly with minimal terror these days.

I have had some diazepam ready for anxiety (mostly flying) for a couple of years, I have just realised they are expired! They help so much when I need them, but I never took them unless I really needed them, it was just comforting to know I had them.

I do now also take citalopram for anxiety daily, it has changed my whole life for the better. I hope you can find something similar, it's wonderful not being anxious all the time!

DD was given it for exam anxiety as it's the only way she would have got through it. It didn't make her dopey, nor did she like it so much she wanted more. It got her through brilliantly & with fantastic results, so it didn't affect her thinking either

I'm prescribed it for muscle spasms, I rarely take it, but it's very effective. I've also taken one to get my claustrophobic ass through an MRI scan & it was brilliant as I felt so calm & my heart didn't go nuts meaning they had to knock me out.

I'm not an advocate of taking medication,I stick to natural as much as possible, but diazepam has its uses & occasional use does not harm

I literally just got this

I was prescribed a similar dose to get me through a period of anxiety and not sleeping.

Thought it would help more with the sleeping. I just felt a bit calmer. Still woke early before my alarm. No other side effects. Can't say the school run was any less stressful!

He said I could take up to three a day but I'm just taking one a day to help at night when I can't stop my mind racing.

Hope that helps.

When I took it (just a couple of doses), it calmed me down just enough for me to function properly and get back in control of things. I'm sure it's different for everyone, but it worked well for me.

Thank-you to everyone for your responses, it really has put me at ease and I think I will definitely give them a go just to get me through these next couple of days and then maybe save some for the next upcoming court dates if they work well for me 🤞

[quote GreenTeaMom]@millytilly34 thank-you, that means a lot and has been really helpful! 🤗 how long have you been on it for if you don’t mind me asking, and how do you get it prescribed? My NHS GP only prescribes it on a short-term basis, but if it did really help my anxiety in general, I don’t think they would even entertain prescribing it long-term 😣 I do also have a private GP who I get my stomach medication from (apparently it’s too expensive to prescribe on the NHS compared to cheaper medications that don’t work for me), but again, I don’t know how long the private GP would be willing to prescribe it for either…also, do you feel yourself needing more and more of it to get the same effect after a while?

Sorry for all of the questions and only answer what you are comfortable with! 💐[/quote]
Hi I've only been given 4 weeks supply but I don't take it everyday. Dr said they only usually give it for 4 weeks max. I've been on it most days for 3 weeks. The last two days, I didn't feel I needed it.
I suffer from generalised anxiety disorder and get very scared of trying new meds, so I totally get how you feel.

I haven't had any craving for it, but I've only been off it two days. Strangely, because I know I have it if I want it, that makes me less anxious and I don't need to actually take it. 🤣

I think you're only meant to get withdrawals from stopping it if you've been on it at high doses for more than 4 weeks.

I'm on it because I was on a very strong antipsychotic drug and it caused my heart to go funny ( a thing called long qt syndrome) I was rushed to hospital and the cardiologist had to abruptly stop this anti psychotic drug I'd been on for 20 years and I got withdrawals from the antipsychotic as you're meant to wean off them very slowly. It ended up being a blessing for me as I had hated being on antipsychotics. ( I've never been a danger to others, but heard voices urging to to kill myself)

I wonder if you will feel better after this stressful court case? I'm so sorry you're going through this.

I feel that drs ought to help people with anxiety more, not just with meds but will counselling.

I personally like ringing or emailing 'the Samaritans' if I've got worries. There are other mental health helplines where you can talk your worries out.
Hugs xxx

I have a very large dose for around a week to manage back spasms, made me thankfully woozy but no addiction issues at all - got me through an incredibly tough time.

I take 1mg, or even half that. It’s reassuring for me if I cant get to sleep.
If I take it several days running, I get all shivery when I stop, so I hug a hot water bottle until it passes.

2mg is a tiny dose and won't do much, just bring you down a touch.
I love diazepam!