Coming off Valium

[laurandisorder]

Soooo.

I am coming of Valium and now that I have two weeks worth of holidays, with not much else on, I figure what better time?

Current situation. I was taking 5mg Valium every morning to deal with hyper vigilance of attack symptoms and general anxiety during my working day.

I stopped taking an additional 2mg at night about 2 weeks ago.

Yesterday I started to cut down to 2.5mg in the morning. I was all good until I went for a rather vigorous interval run and then when I got home I started hyperventilating. It didn't lead to an attack, but I struggled to control my breathing.

I also started hyperventilating in bed when I went to go to sleep. My partner had nipped out and I just couldn't settle for about an hour due to the anxiety attack pre symptoms.

This is the normal part of weaning off Valium, right? It's weird because I have had to use benzos twice before (in the past 5 years) to help me with anxiety and I didn't notice any withdraw from them. I just feel a little unnerved that two things I don't usually have that big a problem with, caused my body to freak out.

Any thoughts?

[laurandisorder]

You're pretty insightful Kev!

This might sound a bit silly, but even though I'm in anxiety-down mood and have accomplished some big things lately by pushing my limits, I feel a little apprehension about my situation.

I have been clutching at this two week break like a straw to stop me from drowning in my anxiety and as an opportunity to get off the valium. Well... What if it doesn't work?

What if? What if? The little voice that undermines everything...

Just going to try and ignore it and push on forwards - like a shark!

Thanks - hope you have a lovely Easter
!

[biceps72]

COMING OFF ANY BENZO KEY = COME OFF VERY SLOWLY

There is no hurry-- about 10% reduction/week and you shouldn't have problems.

My sister reduced her klonopin from 2 mg/day to 0.5 mg/day in about 4 months. She still had sleep problems even reducing the dose very slowly. Her goal is 0.25 mg/day only in evenings. She will make it in 2012. She has been on benzos for 18 years so coming off too quick is dangerous!

good luck to you!

[laurandisorder]

I have cut down from 10mg to 7mg to 5mg, now 2.5mg per day.

I have been experiencing some unusual anxiety symptoms In places where I would usually be comfortable - like at home. But very little anxiety in places where I would usually get worked up - like at the supermarket... Weird. So far it's limited to hyperventilation and some uncomfortable chest strain feelings.

However I'm just trying to tell myself that it is my subconscious reacting to the fact that I am coming off a daily dose of what has been my saving grace for the last 10 weeks.

Fortunately I am not a long term user. This is my third treatment on Valium in 5 years to manage severe anxiety and the previous 2 times, I just went cold turkey down from 2mg. I'll go a bit slower this time. This bout of anxiety has shaken me more than the other two.

Thanks for your input guys!!

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[laurandisorder]

Ignoring the above post and assuming its spam?

Anyway. Bad night last night. I got a coffee at about 7pm (I'm supposed to be cutting down, but I'm struggling) anyway. I was awake until 3:00-3:30am. I just couldn't sleep and felt dreadful really sweaty, shaky and like I was 'glitching' out. Not nice.

All I wanted to do was get out of bed and take 2mg, so I could sleep. I ended up sleeping eventually, but yeah it was rough.

Now today I have similar feelings. I'm restless and bordering on hyperventilating most of the time. The weird part is that the beast is getting to me when I am at home - in my safe place. This morning I went shopping and drove my partner to work and I was fine. Now I'm home, with not much to do other than chores, I'm pacing like a caged animal.

This sucks.

[laurandisorder]

Ugh.
Now having my first full blown panic attack, alone at home. I feel like crap. Screw this. I obviously need to wean off in smaller amounts.

Valium and paper bag time :(

[alankay]

You can get some temp increase in anxiety but coming off slowly and recongizing the fact that you'll worry about the decrease(the worry over the decrease itself can cause some anxiety) might happen and you need to accept that this is the case and will fade as your neurons adapt. In time you'll be fine and just use the benzo occasionally as needed for tough times/situations. Alankay

[laurandisorder]

Thanks Alan.

I ended up taking a 5mg pill this afternoon for my first full blown attack in a month.

It sucks because every little hurdle like this feels like a huge obstacle I have to overcome to start feeling semi- normal again.

The pill did the trick. I had some fairly strong anxiety responses about 2.5 hours later, when I went to go and pick up my partner. I chose to drive, even though driving anxiety is quite a big issue for me. I rode it through and he drove us both home from his work.

Not going to let it get me down. I have an appointment with my psychiatrist next week and I will discuss this with him. I have also made an appointment for coupled counseling with my partner and a psychologist appointment for myself to help me deal with this using CBT, rather than meds alone.

It is a bit frustrating. I was looking forward to this 2 week holiday so much and now I'm struggling worse than I was at work!!

[Mysticsoul]

You might want to check at Benzobuddies.com they are great for getting off benzos

[Mysticsoul]

check out Benzobuddies.com

[laurandisorder]

Thanks do much for your support and advice folks.

I'm now back down to 2.5mg and I'm taking it every other day. I'm still experiencing some mild anxiety and shakiness, but it seems to pass quite quickly.

I see my psychiatrist today and I'm going to hit him up for some 2mg tablets so I can reduce them in a smoother process.

I'll definitely check out benzo buddies too

XxxX

[ladywillow]

How was your appointment with your psych? I hope everything is going well. Are you on any antidepressant medication?

[laurandisorder]

It was pretty harrowing, LadyWillow!!

I was just so anxious today. I hit a 10/10 attack and my partner had to come home from work to take me to the Dr.

I wrote about it in a post on the main anxiety thread, but it looks like I'm not ready to be off Valium for a while.

Today has been crazy. Relentless waves of panic, hour after hour. I try to be positive and fight this, but on days like today...

Back on the horse tomorrow, eh!? :)