How long do the effects of diazepam last for?

Hi everyone.

I'm having a couple of injections/blood test tomorrow and have a bad needle phobia so I got some diazepam from my doctor.

I'm just wondering how long will the effects of it last? I will be taking 5mg, and it will be my first time taking it.

I don't want to take it too soon and for it to wear off before I have the needles since my appointment is in the afternoon.

My doctor said take it after breakfast, but if I take it at 10am will it have worn off by 2pm?

I'd appreciate any responses asap.

Thanks.

5 mg is quite a high dose. You'll probably find it'll last several hours if you haven't taken it before. Do you have to drive?

I had a blood test this morning, I have to have them every 3 months as I'm on lithium. I was terrified the first time but now it's old hat. I had a newly qualified lady taking blood, she was more nervous than I was! I had to tell her to take more than one vial and she was mortified!! :hugs:

I agree that 5mg is a high does - most docs would give 2mg. Anyway he must have a reason for that dosage.

I was told to take it 30 mins - 1 hour before the event that I needed it for - in my case flying.

I do hope it doesn't zonk you out too much if this is the first time you have taken it.

I don't like giving blood so I just don't watch what they do so I never know !

Just look away and chat to the nurse and it works. There is no reason you need to see the needle and blood tests don't hurt

Thanks for the reply Jo. I'm glad it won't wear off too quickly. Thankfully I don't have to drive. My doctor warned me that I may feel drowsy.

I had a needle on Monday without taking any medication first, but it was only the pre-BCG test which you have in your forearm, but even that made me feel all tingly and I had to stay laying down for a while. Now tomorrow I'll have the BCG and probably a blood test too (which I've never had before). I hope I will get used to it, but I thought having two at the same time would be too much for me, especially the blood test. I hope the diazepam works!

I'm glad you've managed to overcome the fear!

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Originally Posted by nomorepanic

I agree that 5mg is a high does - most docs would give 2mg. Anyway he must have a reason for that dosage.

I was told to take it 30 mins - 1 hour before the event that I needed it for - in my case flying.

I do hope it doesn't zonk you out too much if this is the first time you have taken it.

I don't like giving blood so I just don't watch what they do so I never know !

Just look away and chat to the nurse and it works. There is no reason you need to see the needle and blood tests don't hurt

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I don't really know why he gave me that doseage. I hope it won't be too much for me. I'm a bit worried now! What doseage did you have before flying? And did it work?

I'll certainly be keeping my eyes closed. I'm glad you say it doesn't hurt, I just hope it doesn't take a long time!

I was given 2mg tablets and broke them in half so I took 1mg.

I also took this dosage when I was very bad with panic attacks and again 1mg calmed me down.

Just don't think about it and keep talking to distract your mind and it works!

Hi,
This is an extract taken from - http://www.answers.com/topic/diazepam?cat=health
Diazepam dosage is determined by a physician taking into account the nature of the problem, severity of the symptoms, and the person's response to the drug. Typical adult doses range from 2–10 mg taken two to four times a day. Children and elderly adults will typically receive 1–2 mg one to four times daily.
The dosage of diazepam typically prescribed by a physician is taken anywhere from one to four times each day, depending on the strength of the individual dose. This maintains the concentration of the drug at a therapeutic level, as diazepam is quickly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Peak levels of the drug are reached within a couple of hours after administration, with levels dropping below therapeutic effectiveness within six to eight hours.

Hope this helps,
Decca.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Just thought I'd let everyone know what happened... I took the 5mg diazepam. Thankfully it didnt make me drowsy and did keep me calmer than before. I had a blood test and a vacination. I did feel tingly in my arms afterwards but not that much and it wore off a lot quicker than before. Anyway, I'm glad it's all over now. I had been putting it off for a while, when it wasn't really that big of a deal (even though I knew it wasn't anyway).

Thanks again for the replies.

Hi just been reading this to ask the same thing and was amazed to read that people thought 5 mg was alot im on 10 mg
For the past few years and find sometimes thats not enough
Interesting how things are for diffrent people

I agree Hotsprit I find that in a full blown panic attack it takes about 20mgs to calm me down :) 5mgs wouldn't even take the edge of it but then again I have been an on off user of diazepam for years for anxiety :)

5 mg of diazepam is very weak. It is equivalent to .5 of Xanax. Dosages with Valium are not the same as Xanax. So when you see 5mg of diazepam vs 2 mg of Xanax it would seem that the Valium would be more potent. But in reality 2 mg of Xanax is 4 times as potent as 5 mg of Valium. The upside is Valium is a more happier experience and it lasts longer.

Just saw this and joined to post really, and I find that they do last a very long time especially for anxiety. On Saturday I had a melt down (I'd ran out of my Citalopram for a week, forgot to get my script like an idiot) and ended up going to the emergency doctor.

At first she would only give me some of the Citalopram, but after I left I went into a rage and flung the bathroom door open smashing into the back wall which broke the vent off the back off of it; I was in tears and I just couldn't control myself, I was was so sorry about the door, the old security guard was like no it's fine, I felt horrible about it :( anyway I asked the receptionist if I could go back in but the waiting time would be another hour, she tried to ring the doctor but she was in with someone else so she didn't pick up, I went and sat down and tried to calm down then ended up just telling the receptionist it was fine and it didn't matter, thinking I could get some Nytol (Diphenhydramine) from the chemist when I picked up my Citalopram.

Wrong. He wouldn't give me it because I was getting the SSRI, which in my opinion was unfair and incorrect but oh well he's the chemist not me. I got home and 5 minutes later the phone rang, it was the doctor and she heard what happened and said she'd fax through a prescription to this late night chemist for some diazepam; relief at last!

I went and picked it up, 21 x 2mg tablets, take 1 or 2 up to three times a day when needed, I usually found 2mg was enough and I felt the effects start within 30 to 45 minutes, with lingering calmness for a good 4 or 5 hours really, perhaps more :)

Wow that was much longer than intended, anyway I'd just like to say I think that diazepam when used extremely occasionally and only for extremely stressful situations is a godsend, this morning I got this other doctor to prescribe me 15 more 2mg pills because I have a massive singing showcase in Coventry on monday and I'm staying over 2 nights so it's just incase I get worked up really in a foreign environment; the doctor was brilliant about it when I spoke to her, think I'll make her my new doctor :)

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Originally Posted by AlexCon92

Just saw this and joined to post really, and I find that they do last a very long time especially for anxiety. On Saturday I had a melt down (I'd ran out of my Citalopram for a week, forgot to get my script like an idiot) and ended up going to the emergency doctor.

At first she would only give me some of the Citalopram, but after I left I went into a rage and flung the bathroom door open smashing into the back wall which broke the vent off the back off of it; I was in tears and I just couldn't control myself, I was was so sorry about the door, the old security guard was like no it's fine, I felt horrible about it :( anyway I asked the receptionist if I could go back in but the waiting time would be another hour, she tried to ring the doctor but she was in with someone else so she didn't pick up, I went and sat down and tried to calm down then ended up just telling the receptionist it was fine and it didn't matter, thinking I could get some Nytol (Diphenhydramine) from the chemist when I picked up my Citalopram.

Wrong. He wouldn't give me it because I was getting the SSRI, which in my opinion was unfair and incorrect but oh well he's the chemist not me. I got home and 5 minutes later the phone rang, it was the doctor and she heard what happened and said she'd fax through a prescription to this late night chemist for some diazepam; relief at last!

I went and picked it up, 21 x 2mg tablets, take 1 or 2 up to three times a day when needed, I usually found 2mg was enough and I felt the effects start within 30 to 45 minutes, with lingering calmness for a good 4 or 5 hours really, perhaps more :)

Wow that was much longer than intended, anyway I'd just like to say I think that diazepam when used extremely occasionally and only for extremely stressful situations is a godsend, this morning I got this other doctor to prescribe me 15 more 2mg pills because I have a massive singing showcase in Coventry on monday and I'm staying over 2 nights so it's just incase I get worked up really in a foreign environment; the doctor was brilliant about it when I spoke to her, think I'll make her my new doctor :)

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Sounds like you got a good doctor there.

I agree Diazepam is really helpful, and used carefully is safe. Some docs are too cautious in prescribing diazepam and some don't prescribe at all. :weep::weep:

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Originally Posted by Social Phobe

I don't really know why he gave me that doseage. I hope it won't be too much for me. I'm a bit worried now! What doseage did you have before flying? And did it work?

I'll certainly be keeping my eyes closed. I'm glad you say it doesn't hurt, I just hope it doesn't take a long time!

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Dont worry too much about the dose. 5mg will be just fine. I take 5mg all the time. I have to say though that you should not take it and drive because of the sedative effects Valium has on the brain. Valium has a very fast onset of action, meaning it starts working very soon. So you can drive to the doctors if you have to and then take it while you are there with enough time for it to start working. No worries. Every body has a different tolerance for medication. I would suggest if you have an extra dose of Valium, try taking it at home in a controlled environment to establish what is right for you. Hope this helps. Vinny

---------- Post added at 07:17 ---------- Previous post was at 07:13 ----------

Dont worry too much about the dose. 5mg will be just fine. I take 5mg all the time. I have to say though that you should not take it and drive because of the sedative effects Valium has on the brain. Valium has a very fast onset of action, meaning it starts working very soon. So you can drive to the doctors if you have to and then take it while you are there with enough time for it to start working. No worries. Every body has a different tolerance for medication. I would suggest if you have an extra dose of Valium, try taking it at home in a controlled environment to establish what is right for you. Hope this helps. Vinny

Ok I'm on 5 mg for anxiety and as and when I take them so this seems over exaggerated!! I take 3 if need be!! Just chills me out. I have bad anxiety and been on citalopram and sertraline for years but the has bed best help x

---------- Post added at 23:07 ---------- Previous post was at 23:02 ----------

Nice to speak to people that get it x

I am 5mg of valium and find it just makes me sleepy and I am not getting that nice up feeling at all.Should I up the dose ?:blush:

I have a severe fear of flying.

Reactions include crying, screaming, shaking, hyperventilating... and sometimes singing.

I recently tried valium for flights scheduled for the holidays.

on the way to mozambique we had 3 flights; 1 hour,(2 hour layover), another one hour flight, and one last 1 hour flight.

for this series of flights I had one 5mg valium on our way to the airport, 2 more at check in for the first flight and 2 more at the second and third check ins, (that is seven in total)

I had none of the abovementioned reactions, though I was still very aware of the fear.

at around the end of the last flight I felt close to passing out, so I wanted to try lowering the doses on the way back

on the way back we only had 2 flights, with one layover, and I only took 4 x 5mg valium.

This was not enough to prevent the above reactions (I has some crying spells, screaming, hyperventilating and shaking.

I think the doses depend very much on the level of anxiety.

---------- Post added at 11:50 ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 ----------

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Originally Posted by mollys

I am 5mg of valium and find it just makes me sleepy and I am not getting that nice up feeling at all.Should I up the dose ?:blush:

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Hi Mollys, as far as I am aware Valium is not an upper, there is no nice feeling even with high doses, all it does is lower perception and reaction mentally, making it easier to cope with high stress situations.

You need to take it according to advised your heath care provider. no any one can suggest you about your dose. It's completely part of your and doctor. on here only we can suggest web site name from there you can purchase this medicine.

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Originally Posted by Social Phobe

Hi everyone.

I'm having a couple of injections/blood test tomorrow and have a bad needle phobia so I got some diazepam from my doctor.

I'm just wondering how long will the effects of it last? I will be taking 5mg, and it will be my first time taking it.

I don't want to take it too soon and for it to wear off before I have the needles since my appointment is in the afternoon.

My doctor said take it after breakfast, but if I take it at 10am will it have worn off by 2pm?

I'd appreciate any responses asap.

Thanks.

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How did you get on? I notice your on medications usually for panic attacks and depression. Occasional diazepam use for things that increase this streets is not a bad thing but constant ; daily use is very addictive and they will not be as effective when you really need them . Hope your holiday was a sucsess and your flight was enjoyable :hugs: