I am prescribed 2 mg, 3 times a day. However, I am very reluctant to take medication so I have been taking 2 mg, twice a day. I take 2 mg when I get up and then split the other 2 mg and take each half throughout the day for a total of 4 mg a day. I also take a low dose of Lexapro. My problem is that my anxiety has become much worse because I have finally been able to open up in my therapy about very hard issues with past abuse. Has anyone had to increase their dose to get them through a really hard time? I understand the stigma with benzos but I also want to get my mind to settle down.
I do feel my dose is low and I have never felt like I was addicted to it
Diazepam - Looking for some positive advice from people who have or are currently taking Valium?
Question posted by Marla82 on 30 July 2020
Last updated on 4 August 2023 by WildcatVet
Added 31 July 2020:
I am only taking 4 mg a day of the prescription that is written for 6 mg a day so increasing it would still be within the instructions of the prescription. I am a person who tries to struggle through the anxiety but I feel I may need the extra during this period of heightened anxiety.
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5 Answers
WildcatVet
4 Aug 2023
Hi, Marla!!!
I'd use the diazepam for only 6 weeks or so as it should only be used short term until your antidepressant/anxiolytic becomes fully effective. Have you and your doctor talked about a higher dose of the Lexapro?
These links might be helpful:
https://www.drugs.com/answers/support-group/benzodiazepine/
https://www.drugs.com/diazepam.html
Regards... I know you've been struggling for a long time!
jammark
4 Aug 2023
I seem to be in the minority, but I feel obligated to share my own experience with diazepam and benzos.
I've been on long-term diazepam (10mg 3x daily) for over 10 years (recently switched to clonazepam 1mg 3x daily). Can benzos be dangerous? Of course! They, like all benzos, CAN be addictive, but they don't HAVE to be. Use them responsibly, as directed, and they are an amazing and effective anxiolytic. I am prescribed them for anxiety disorders in addition to buspirone for anxiety disorders and panic disorder. I've had no adverse effects from any benzo I have been prescribed. However, I think it's worth mentioning that younger users are more likely to succumb to addiction than 55 and older. In answer to your specific question, yes, I have had to have my dose increased twice in 13 years due to both an increase in my anxiety levels as well as increased drug tolerance.
ggeolas
4 Aug 2023
Taking diazepam in my opinion after being on it for many many years it is horrifying coming off it and not only does this medication has many other medications that it reacts with the best thing I could suggest is to look at the benzodiapine user group and the information in it explains very well as to this medication being poison to your body sorry I can't give you a link to the group but I am sure if you look up benzodiapine users group if you can't find this extremely valuable thread please get back to me and I will try to forward it to you if I can good luck and know this is poison to your body
dfa
3 Aug 2020
I've been taking clonazepam on and off, as needed, for around 6 years. I have a lot of fear and anxiety about taking it, because of all of the horror stories and scare-monsters online. But I have to say, it's been a very, very good drug for me, and has given me relief from a number of chronic conditions: anxiety, chronic pain, and severe sleep disturbance and parasomnias.
I've brought my fears of the drug up to multiple doctors (over the years three different GPs, three different psychiatrists, two sleep specialists, and a pain doctor). They've all agreed that, for some people, benzodiazepines are a good choice, even for longer-term use. They've all reassured me that reasonable doses of benzos, as needed, for conditions that aren't well treated by other means, are safe, effective choices.
It comes down to deciding whether the risks outweigh the benefits. If your quality of life without the prescription is horrible, and you can live a reasonable life with the prescription and not have terrible side effects, just take the danged pill. :)
I've done therapy, medication, exercise, yoga, etc., and my anxiety still comes back in a horrible way sometimes. And my other chronic conditions don't respond to other treatments, either. So I take the klonopin, and I live a better life.
Some people might experience long-term ill effects from the pills, but the vast majority of people don't. And I'd rather live a good life and have some small, unknown chance of a long-term problem, than have a terrible life with still some small, unknown chance of a long term problem.
I guess my point is: don't let internet strangers scare you. Talk to your doctor about your concerns about taking the drug. And know that there are millions of people who take benzodiazepines and do just fine. You never hear about the success stories, because happy, satisfied people don't go on to the internet to complain, and no one writes news stories about old, generic drugs working well for people. They hand-pick bad stories and sensationalize them.
kevinb1953
3 Aug 2020
Well stated!! Especially the part "as nerded".
Myself; I've weaned from 4mg of Xanax to .75mg and feel just fine on that dose and am not concerned anymore because that's the dose that gives ME a "quality life"!
Nice summary and you're right that mostly only the horror stories get attention. You and I are just two of the success stories and mow this story.
Marla82
3 Aug 2020
Thank you so much for your response. I agree that for me I would rather take the risk and have a better quality of life. My doctor is very on board with me taking the Valium and at first he had to explain to me that I may have to look at it as a diabetic who needs insulin and not get caught up in the stigma of benzodiazepines.
kevinb1953
1 Aug 2020
Hi.
Very smart of you to recognize the dangers of benzodiazepines in general and good for you to have self weaned down to where you are now. The prescription may say to "take as needed" and if there are certain times your feeling overwhelmed and overly anxious than by all means take a little bit that helps (don't exceed the doctors dose) and ONLY TAKE AS NEEDED and try to not make it a habit, the extra pill(s) that is.
My personal advice would be to take ANY BENZO ONLY as needed because when on them your body stops making the nateral chemical(s) and depends on the artificially induced substance. It's okay. We, people on benzodiazepines, most always need a helper (pill) for good legitimate reasons. My Xanax, a benzodiazepine, is supposed to be prescribed, according to FDA guidelines, O N L Y as needed AND short term only! but I've been on them for 18 years!! Go figure.
Best regards
Kevinb1953
Marla82
1 Aug 2020
Kevinb1953, Thank you so much for your response. It helps to hear that others may need that "helper" pill during a time of heightened anxiety.
kevinb1953
1 Aug 2020
You're very welcomed. I'm very glad to share and hopefully help.
Basten60
29 Nov 2020
Are you still ok on it. Or have you hit tolerance where you've had to increase. ??
Marla82
29 Nov 2020
Basten60, I am still only taking 4 mg a day and have not had to increase it. Even though I am prescribed up to 6 mg a day, I am trying to not increase past the 4 mg a day. There are days where I do feel I could use the extra due to increased anxiety, but I have fought through the anxiety. My psychiatrist and therapist tell me it is ok to take the extra on "bad" days but I am very stubborn when it comes to medication even though I know it would definitely help me.
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valium, anxiety, diazepam, prescription, medication
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