Diazepam withdrawal after 20+ years at 40 mg

[daisy9822]

Hello,

I have been on diazepam for over 20 years being at 40 mgs daily and have recently went thru withdrawal coming off of it in 4 weeks. I am having horrible withdrawal side effects and am wondering if anyone else has done this. I have severe anxiety along with depression. To counter the anxiety my doctor has put me on Buspar but I feel like I am having severe side effects with it but cannot tell if it is that or withdrawal from the diazepam.

[Shazamataz]

Hi Daisy, sorry you are suffering. That is a very quick withdrawal from the diazepam at such a high dose so no wonder you are feeling terrible. I have read it is recommended to taper off at 1mg a week. I wonder if you need to revisit this with your doctor?

[MyNameIsTerry]

I agree with Shaz, that is far too quick to come off. It could be withdrawal or maybe rebound.

Why has your doctor withdrawn you so fast? We you in a centre so you could be monitored?

[dally]

I stopped cold turkey from a small amount of Valium (at doctors advice- wrong) and had bad withdrawals for at least two months, then symptoms gradually lessened. (Many symptoms only surfaced at withdrawal)

IMO your withdrawal has been too fast.
IMO many doctors are NOT educated in the withdrawal problems associated with benzos.
Unless there is a medical reason for withdrawing at that speed, I would arm yourself with info on withdrawal schedules by reading;
The Ashton Manual
And by joining the benzobuddies forum.

The Ashton manual will give you lots of info from an experienced professor in this field.
Benzobuddies will give you support and help from people who are and have recovered from what you are going through right now.
(I would also remind you, some people find it harder to cope with withdrawal than others, so be aware there may be scare testimonies that will NOT apply to you.)

Basically, benzos build up in your body and switch of the production of your own. When you stop taking benzos your body needs to produce it's own again, which can take weeks or months. The time it takes is individual to each person. Meantime, your body's equilibrium will be upset and until it settles you may have to take other meds to cope with the withdrawals ie buspar. Another med propanalol is commonly used which helps with panic, but not depression.

If your withdrawal symptoms are too severe for you to deal with, you MAY need to reinstate to a dose of Valium which removes all symptoms then commence a strict withdrawal schedule with cooperation of a doctor who is educated in the subject.
Some people do withdraw cold turkey, but it is generally not recommended by experts. And as you are already one month done, it may be that you will want to continue and look for other ways of coping.

My advice is to be very proactive in educating yourself on valium withdrawal AND asking/demanding help from your doctor.

Finally,. Withdrawal can be awful, but it CAN be done. You can live free from valium. And you Will have a better quality of life.

[Tims]

Hi daisy
It can take up to a year to safely come off a benzo when you've been on it for a considerable length of time. For you're own mental well being of very slowly on the taper, maybe even use something else to take the edge off, don't worry about coming off in a hurry, take as long as you feel comfortable with.

[karenp]

Benzo withdrawal is horrible. I was on Lorazepam (Ativan) for 3 year 2mg a day up to 4mg (equiv of 40mg Valium.) I was also taking Escitalopram (Lexapro) but that did nothing for me and though I kept telling my doctor, I am still so anxious, as after 4 months I was usually perfect on Citalopram/Celexa the AD they had always given me before, I was able to taper off benzos or sleeping pills with no prob. But my GP just kept saying "well take the Escitalopram and the Lorazepam," then just stopped the benzo.
I was so ill, I started drinking vodka just to block my life out as I could not sleep, had severe anxiety, electricity in my brain, could not eat without everything tasting of metal. I put myself in HDU on a drip and had to have a blood transfusion....a year later still an anxious mess and can't go out beyond taking my parents dogs for a little walk.
3 months after going cold turkey (or being forced to by my doctor,) he sent me to a benzo specialist who just said "what you doing here? I am here to taper people off" and he told me he would have taken two years to get me off safely.
I have begged for Lorazepam back and to go on Citalopram and then taper correctly but none will listen to me. I no longer drink as it was killing me. But I never sleep beyond 4am and struggle every day. I get sever panic attacks starting Citalopram so my old doctor was very supportive helping me through the early days....these scored 56% in a patient satisfaction survey as all old doctors have all left now and it's all newly qualified ones.
I even lost my son as his dad took me to court to take him form me so be very careful taking these meds and insist peeps, on an AD that does work if it clearly is not, not trust any doctor!