[Butch]

Hi everybody,

I’ve been a heavy user of Valium for about fourteen months and realize it’s time to do something about it. I started using it to help me through the awful hangovers I used to get from my drinking. I’ve had no trouble buying Valium in large quantities and as a result I’ve been using it far too much. I guess for the last year I’ve had a steady diet of it, never using less than 80 mg a day and often a lot more. At some point the effect of it changed and I no longer seemed to get any kind of buzz or high from it but if I didn’t take it I’d become extremely aggitated and irritable. Recently it affected my vision so much that I can hardly read with my glasses on.
I stopped drinking altogether about a year ago having decided that I must be an alcoholic. If ever I took one drink I could never stop drinking. I don’t miss the booze at all but I can’t manage not taking Valium. I’ve cut back a tiny bit maybe by ten mg but I know I’m going to have to do much better. Finding this site will be helpful. I like what I’m reading here and how you all encourage one another. I’ll try to taper off a little more each day and I’ll post again from time to time.

Someone mentioned addictive personalities. I definitely believe I’m one. I can get addicted to almost anything. I’ve had terrible habits with candy, chocolate, ice cream, snack foods, and all kinds of other things and the only way I’m ever able to control these addictions is by quitting them altogether.

I’m glad you’re all here,

Butch

[dipsydoodle712]

Butch,

I can't imagine anyone taking 80 mg of Valium a day. I don't see how you're even able to function.

Years and years ago I was taking 1 5 mg tab three times a day. I took them for around 12 years, then decided I wanted to wean myself off of them which I did and it took 12 1/2 weeks. You need to wean yourself off them too. With you taking such a high dosage it probably would take quite awhile but I'm sure that if you set your mind to it you could.

[mpvt]

Hi Butch,your not alone when it comes to benzodizepine addiction.Go to google and search "The Ashton Manual".This is a indept detox manual was put together from years of treating benzo addicts.Dr. Ashton's manual is one of the best if you follow it.She suggests that everyone switch to valium first which is great for you because you already get it.Also you should give yourself a big pat on the back for your successful bid at stopping drinking,no small feat initself..Good luck to you....Dave

[Butch]

Hi, and thanks for the replies,

I realize I'll have my work cut out for me. I've always been a glutton for punishment lol. I guess in thinking I could taper a little more each day is unreasonable. I'm going to talk to a shrink and work out a proper schedule, hopefully.

Thanks again,

Butch

[klonopin333]

BUTCH.YOU KNOW BENZOS ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND.BENZOS ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND.I TOOK THE SAME AMOUNT OF VALIUM YOU DID.ONE AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER AND THEN...........MY ADDICTION IS KLONOPIN RIGHT NOW.I AM SO IRRITATED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I CAN RELATE TO YOU SO MUCH.I AM JUMPING OUT OF MY SKIN.I AM TAKING 6MG OF CLONOPIN ADAY.I AM SO IRRITABLE,SO DEPRESSED.aND IRONICLY SO ANXIOUS.SOONER OR LATER YOU WILL NOT JUST HAVE TO TAKE MORE.BUT THEY WILL TURN ON YOU.YOU MIGHT EXPERIENCE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE DRUG.THATS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME BUT I CANT STOP.I ALSO STOPPED DRINKING LAST YEAR.CONGRATULATIONS!!!!hAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT SEEING AN ADDICTION SPECIALIST.OR A TWO WEEK DETOX JUST TO GET YOU STARTED.I NEED HELP INED HELP INEED HELP. I NEDD HELP.I AM SCREAMING INSIDEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!i HAVE THESE SURGES OF ADRENALINE AND MANIA.i CAN HARDLY GET A BUZZ MYSELF ANYMORE.ITS EATING AT ME.SORRY IM TO EMOTIONAL TO THINK RIGHT NOW.GOOD LUCK.i HOPE YOU CAN GETOFF IF NOT AT THE LEAST LOWER YOUR DOSE.i KNOW FIRST HAND IT IS UNMANAGABLE.aND IT ONLY GETS WORSE UNLESS YOU SEEK HELP.i AM A HYPACRITE.BUT I DO KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING.I AM CRYING RIGHT NOW.mY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER A DETOX FOR ME.I AM SO UNHINGED RIGHT NOW IAM GOING TO TAKE A HANDFUL

[Butch]

Yikes, klonopin333,

Sounds you’re having a terrible time of it. I haven’t cut back hardly at all yet, but I know what you mean about being irritable. I expect I’ll be in for a rough time as well, once I’ve started to seriously taper off. I’m not going to rush it though. To be honest I haven’t rally got started yet but I plan to start my taper in a day or so.

I guess if it gets too hard I might have to go into a detox. I hope I won’t have to though. Sounds like maybe that would help you, wouldn’t it?

I hope you get some help and some relief soon.

Butch

[beauty33]

Reading your post makes me nervous. My doctor just prescribed valium to me yesterday for muscle spasms. I told him flexeril just doesn't work for me. The valium is only 2 mg, three times a day, but I noticed he gave me 2 refills. The first thing I said is I have to be careful with these. Internet information on the drug says it's so easy to become addicted to these that one should only use them for one to two weeks.

[jjbellinski]

Hi beauty33,

Try to only use the valium when you absolutely need to. If you use it every day it might not be long before you find yourself addicted to it. The withdrawal from valium addiction is awful.

Good luck,

JJ