Addicted to diazapam, under shrink, but need advice.?
25 mg a day but growing
What should I do? Advice please.?
Answer:
Definition
Diazepam is an antianxiety medication that is also useful in the treatment of muscle spasms and some types of seizures. The drug belongs to the class of medications known as benzodiazepines that depress activity of the central nervous system.
Purpose
Diazepam, which is marketed under the brand names of Valium, Diastat, T-Quil, and Valrelease, is taken by millions of people to relieve feelings of anxiety. As well, the drug can lessen muscle spasms and can control some types of seizures. Diazepam is also used to therapeutically lessen the agitation caused during alcohol withdrawal by someone who is physically addicted to alcohol. Additionally, diazepam is used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and to lessen the symptoms of panic attacks.
Description
Diazepam is supplied as a tablet, as a capsule that releases the active drug at a slower rate, or as a liquid. All three of these forms of the drug are taken orally. The time-release capsule should be swallowed whole. Diazepam should be stored at room temperature in a tightly closed container to avoid alteration in the compound due to excessive heat or moisture. Valium is also available in an injectable form.
Recommended dosage
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.
Diazepam can be taken with or without food. The liquid form can be mixed with other fluids or select foods such as applesauce.
Precautions
The recommended dosage should not be exceeded, nor should it continue to be taken after the prescribed time. Such abuse can lead to a dependence on the drug, or the establishment of tolerance. As the effectiveness of diazepam is related to its concentration, it is important to take the drug regularly. Doses should not be skipped as this could lead to a worsening of the symptoms.
Diazepam should not be taken with other central nervous system depressants such as narcotics, sleeping pills, or alcohol. The combinations could lower blood pressure and suppress breathing to the point of unconsciousness and death.
Persons taking diazepam should exercise extreme caution when driving or operating machinery. These activities should be avoided during periods of drowsiness associated with diazepam therapy.
Pregnant and breast-feeding woman should not take diazepam, nor should someone with myasthenia gravis. The drug should be used cautiously in those with epilepsy, as diazepam may trigger an epileptic seizure.
Side effects
Some people are allergic to diazepam. In this case, other drugs can be substituted. These include alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), and triazolam (Halcion).
Common side effects from diazepam include drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, headache, fatigue, muscle weakness, memory loss, skin rash, diarrhea, dry mouth, stomach upset, decreased sexual drive, and an altered appetite. Less common side effects include jaundice, decreased white blood cell count (leukopenia), insomnia, hallucinations, and irritability.
Interactions
Diazepam can interact with other prescription medicines, especially antihistamines, as well as cimetidine (Tagamet), disulfiram (Antabuse), and fluoxetine (Prozac). Additionally, interaction can occur with medications given for the relief of depression, pain, Parkinson's disease, asthma, and colds, and with muscle relaxants, oral contraceptives, sedatives and sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and even some vitamins. In general, the result of the interaction is to increase the drowsiness caused by diazepam.
Can something bad happen to a person who keeps their emotions bottles up?
dump them down the toilet asap
Don't dump your pills in the toilet, please! The fish and frogs are getting deformed because of all the pills people are flushing!! (No lie, the United States Geological Survey did the study, and I'm sure it's a problem in other developed countries).
You will have to search online for info on breaking your addiction. Be aware that you will have rebound anxiety and insomnia, you may get restless legs syndrome, which is maddening.
Anxiety reducing things that worked great for me: turn up the heat in the house a few degrees, it's hard to be anxious when you are overwarm. Use a passive muscle relaxation/guided imagery/meditation tape. They seem silly at first, but they work!! You might need to try a couple of them.
Let your psychiatrist know that you are concerned, and ask for tapering off instructions. Don't cold turkey it, or your rebound symptoms will be worse.
Good luck!!
I have a similar problem with Xanax and want to get off it but it scares me not to have that safety net, it just seems things have been easier since I started taking them but as you're probably aware it's really not. In the beginning .5mg pill was enough and now well I take a lot more but as far as I know not enough for an overdose. The addiction creeps up on you and the need for more does too. I'm not one for going cold turkey with anything and I don't see this case as an exception, it generally just increases your chances of going back on them. Basically try to slowly ween yourself off them and try not to feel like a failure if you rebound because I've been there and that feeling just makes you feel worse and doesn't help at all! Talk to your shrink about it and they'll probably tell you something similar but please do it anyway because they're the professionals after all. If you start to feeling the side effects of coming off them try and use methods to handle it like distraction, relaxation techniques but I just try not to replace it with another crutch. One time I was without my pills for days and used booze instead and while it helped me sleep I felt crap.