Advice regarding coming off Diazepam/safe drinking

[Vaeltaja_1986]

Ok, so for the last 7 nights i have been taking 2mg of Diazepam to help me sleep. my doctor was reluctant to give me it as it's addictive etc. To be completely truthful it hasn't worked. I get a little bit drowsy/spaced out for a short while and then nothing. Also, i get a bit anxious the next morning ( I already take 40mg of Citalopram a day for anxiety-with-depression btw). So basically what i would like to know is a) Will i be alright to stop taking it abruptly and b) would it be safe for me to drink alcohol (ie half a dozen beers with my mates etc on friday night) and finally c ) what will my doctor do? - just tell me to take a higher dose?

[bernie1977]

You will not have a physical dependency after taking 2mg of diazepam for 7 nights, so it's okay just to discontinue use. Having beers on Friday will be fine, such a low dose in your blood stream will not cause a reaction. As for what your GP will do I don't know, they may try you with something different to aid sleep like a sleeping tablet such as zopiclone or zolpidem. Again though not something you want to be on long term. Have you tried the herbal sleeping remedies?

[Vaeltaja_1986]

I tried sleep sprays before and they didn't work. Plus i've been told that you can't mix certain sleep tablets etc with citalopram because it can give you serotonin syndrome.

[bernie1977]

I was thinking about Nytol tablets. Do you have problems dropping off to sleep or staying asleep?

[Vaeltaja_1986]

it's both really. It takes me ages to get comfortable and to stop worrying and to just relax and let go. then i'll wake up in the early hours after a nightmare or needing to go to the bathroom etc and it will take me ages to get back to sleep.

[bernie1977]

I used to be like that and funnily enough I was on citalopram at the time. I didn't get on with any of the SSRI & SNRI meds so I was changed to Trazodone, I sleep like a log now as you take this at night as it has a sedative effect

[Vaeltaja_1986]

does trazodone have any bad side affects?

[bernie1977]

When I first started taking it I felt quite groggy for a while upon waking but that's passed. It's a breeze for me compared to the SSRI's as I had such bad side effects from these drugs. We are all different though and what's suitable for one might not be for another.

[Vaeltaja_1986]

ah ok. thanks for the advice :)