Diazepam and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Sma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2017

For Anxiety "I had nasal surgery (septoplasty/lateral splints) (1st surgery scheduled & 2nd was emergency surgery in an 8-day span). During the consultation, I mentioned that I'm not a mouth breather and was anxious about breathing issues (not being able to breathe or stop/dying in my sleep). He gave me Valium to assist with the anxiety. This medication is wonderful...it's only short-term for me as I'm recovering from a post-op traumatic experience. Took it twice daily during the first 11 days, now I take it only at bed. I feel rested when I wake up, and I'm not crying/shaking/emotional when asked about the surgeries (yes, it was horrible because that's how they found out I'm allergic to silicone). I will be coming off this med in a month or 2."

• Zel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2021

For Light Sedation "This drug is great for getting to sleep, but if you have depression and anxiety, it should only be used when absolutely necessary. I would take one to two, 4 mg a week, maybe less, maybe a bit more. This didn’t seem to affect me, but when I had a UTI, I was taking 6-10 mg nightly. Huge mistake, as it made me feel like I was literally losing my mind one morning. Utter hopelessness, anxiety, sadness, inability to cope with anything. It wore off by the afternoon, but it was a nightmare. I felt like I was going mad. Needs to be carefully managed if you have severe depression or anxiety."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2017

For Anxiety "Since beginning my dose of 10 mg of diazepam 2x daily, my sleep is nowhere near restful. I have wild dreams, they feel very realistic and usually start well, but end in panic right before I wake up. This, of course, contributes to the giant Versace bags under my eyes because I feel as if, instead of sleeping, I just went through something crazy! At night, I take 10 mg 30 minutes before bed. Before that, I feel anxious, tense, and upset. I usually have to cancel plans with friends or loved ones because I cannot get myself to put the effort in. Nights feel so long, and I used to love sleep, but now I almost want to avoid sleeping. Overall, I'm not seeing how diazepam is better than Klonopin, if anything, it's worse."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2017

For Anxiety "Since beginning my dose of 10 mg of diazepam 2x daily, my sleep is nowhere near restful. I have wild dreams, they feel very realistic and usually start well, but end in panic right before I wake up. This, of course, contributes to the giant Versace bags under my eyes because I feel as if, instead of sleeping, I just went through something crazy! At night, I take 10 mg 30 minutes before bed. Before that, I feel anxious, tense, and upset. I usually have to cancel plans with friends or loved ones because I cannot get myself to put the effort in. Nights feel so long, and I used to love sleep, but now I almost want to avoid sleeping. Overall, I'm not seeing how diazepam is better than Klonopin, if anything, it's worse."

• Msp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2020

For Alcohol Withdrawal "I was given diazepam for severe alcohol withdrawal. It was given to me in quite large amounts as I was having hallucinations, severe anxiety, and I was dehydrated from sweating. It did stop all of the above, and I felt a lot calmer. I was tapered off over a period of 4 days. My body felt like it had been “run over,” but I was alive. Thankfully. This drug really helped."

• Sme...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2021

For Anxiety "I was given a 2 mg prescription to help me get through the side effects of starting sertraline, as I was waking at 4 a.m. with panic attacks. Took 2 mg and the attack got worse. At 8 a.m. I finally calmed a little, but was so drowsy and foggy-headed I couldn’t do anything but lay in bed. Apparently, increased anxiety is a rare reaction, but it happens - and lucky me reacted like that. I’ll never take this medication again."

• AJa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 24, 2018

For Anxiety "I was put on this medication for Ménière’s disease in March 2013. I am up to 30 mg a day, and it helps my Ménière’s, but it has never helped my anxiety. It has made my anxiety worse to the point I have panic attacks and refuse to leave home. The doctor gave it to me because it helps with my Ménière’s, but for some reason, it doesn’t make me tired. It doesn’t do anything but help me keep my balance."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2017

Diazepam for Anxiety "I used to be on Klonopin for years, and I think it helped, but I'm not sure since I was also on Paxil. It came to a point where neither were working for me, even at higher dosages, so I started taking Ativan. This really helped my anxiety, but it would come back every morning. Eventually, I hit tolerance and had to increase it. Eventually, I hit tolerance again, and I found myself feeling more anxious than ever. I decided it was time to get off. The doctor put me on Valium because it's easier to taper off than any other benzo. He suggested I could take anywhere from 4mg to 10mg per day. I slowly tapered down to 1.5mg, but I was miserable. I reinstated and went back up to 6mg and have also tried 10mg, and it has never worked for me. Stay away from it."

• Me2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2023

Diazepam for Light Anesthesia "I had 2 severely ruptured discs in my neck. I needed to have a steroid injection into the space around my spinal cord where the nerves exit my vertebrae. They needed to use fluoroscopy (a type of live X-ray) to see where they were going inside my neck because the injection needed to be very precise. I was extremely anxious because they were sticking a needle into my neck. I was given Valium IV right before they took me back. I was still able to stand and follow their instructions, I can remember talking to them while they did the procedure. But I was so relaxed, and I didn’t feel the poke, I didn’t feel anything other than being able to tell them that they must be in the right area because I could feel pressure right in the area that had been hurting me a lot. Then we were done. The drug gradually wore off. I felt fine after. The steroid injection ended up not working for me, and I needed surgery, but the IV Valium worked great!"

• sar...
• April 23, 2015

For Anxiety "I've got PTSD due to domestic violence 27 years ago, which left me with chronic anxiety and panic attacks. I have too many side effects from antidepressants, so this is all I can take, but they help through the worst times. My GP only gives me 28 5 mg, though, every 5 weeks, as not good and can increase your anxiety if you take regularly."

• via...
• June 17, 2014

For Anxiety "I started having panic attacks, anxiety, which all led me to insomnia for 4 days. I was not able to sleep for more than 1.5 hours. I went to my GP, and he prescribed me a dose of 7.5 mg of zopiclone, and this tablet acted very fast but only kept me asleep for 3 hours. My GP prescribed me 5 mg of diazepam for three days, and when I took the first dose of 5 mg, I waited and waited, it just didn't do anything, and I had even more panic attacks and anxiety. So I decided to take all of them, which makes 15 mg of diazepam, and nothing happened, I just felt really confused and heavy-headed. After 6 hours, I managed to have some sleep for 8 hours. I don't think this is the right medicine for me, but the next day it did make me feel calm and kind of relaxed."

• Del...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 27, 2020

"I was put on this to combat the effects of withdrawal from street Valium. I ended up being left on this. I wish I never touched it. I don’t know who I am anymore. Don’t go out the door now. I tried to come off it, and I felt like I was losing my mind. Horrible drug. I strongly advise you to avoid it if you want to be clean. It messes with your personality. It’s horrific to take long-term. It has scrambled my head completely, made my anxiety worse, and also has made my intestines paralyzed because they combined it with methadone. I’m a wreck."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2018

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I must disagree. I found this medication interacted with my anxiety, and I was experiencing very irrational episodes. I was also constantly depersonalized, and it brought on hallucinations. I was under a lot of stress and only 16 years old at the time, trying to make a living and dealing with these new things. I definitely wouldn't find myself trying it again for anything. The sleep dose stopped working after 1 short week."

• A66...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 13, 2021

For Alcohol Withdrawal "This is only day one of diazepam detox. I’ve been a nightly heavy drinker for many years. I’m only being given 5 doses. The first was at 1 pm, second at 4 pm, and third dose of 10 mg at 6 pm and another 5 mg at bedtime. I don’t understand why the doses are so small. I’m 55 of average build. As my drink time approaches, I’m feeling very nervous. I feel I could still drink on it, but know better not to! Detox is only for 5 days, after which I will have no access to this medication."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2022

For Endoscopy or Radiology Premedication "Been attempting to get an MRI done on my neck. I told my doctor I'm claustrophobic, so my first attempt at getting the MRI without anything failed miserably. The doctor then prescribed diazepam 5 mg to take 1/2 hour before my next MRI. Took as directed, checked into my appointment still feeling nervous, got to the MRI machine still feeling nervous, got in the MRI machine, and after the first image, I asked to be pulled out so I could try and stop shaking uncontrollably. Ended up crying, shaking, and couldn't complete the MRI. This stuff is garbage, and now my day is shot from not only still having a panic attack but because now I have a migraine from the MRI machine giving me muscle spasms. I don't take any other medication except my pain meds as directed, so you'd think this stuff would work. Am I the only one this stuff doesn't work on??"

• Lam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2019

For Muscle Spasm "The diazepam made me feel very emotional and flat, gave me some mild anxiety, and caused me to have vivid nightmares even days after I ceased using the medication. I was given three days' worth to take 3x daily, however, I did not take any more after the first day. Never again."

• Coo...
• January 22, 2015

Diazepam for Muscle Spasm "This medication works as intended with minimal side effects. Relieves my muscle spasms and takes away the nervousness and bad attitude caused by back pain (not back ache). I take Percocet with Valium."

• Myk...
• February 6, 2009

Diazepam for Anxiety "Valium has really helped me. It has made a difference in my life. I'm 24, I went from being violent and having anxiety after anxiety attack but since being prescribed Valium, it has worked wonders."

• anx...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2024

For Anxiety "I have intrusive thoughts, which bring me great fear, anxiety attacks, I can't sleep, etc., so diazepam has helped me a lot."

• beb...
• July 23, 2010

For Anxiety "I was taking 10 mg of diazepam. It really helped my anxiety. I'm now on 2 mg. It really helps to calm you down and helps with anxieties and agitation! It doesn't help me sleep, though."

• Cia...
• July 19, 2021

For Anxiety "Awful... Works moderately at the time but only prolongs and intensifies anxiety, especially grief. I do not recommend this drug. Get through the grief, you'll do better on your own."