Diazepam and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Tri...
• March 6, 2010

For Anxiety "I've had severe GAD and social phobia with light panic attacks on a daily basis for several years, so much so that I could not function at work (I work in the mortgage industry - sales related), and the anxiety would KILL the deal because clients would interpret the anxiety as not being confident in the product. Generally, I also had trouble looking people in the eye, not being able to think straight, stuttering, difficulty making decisions. Psych put me on Xanax, but it was too sedating and a bit harsh & didn't last very long. I was put on Celexa (but this just made me not care about anything and had no emotions, caused mania, etc.). Clonazepam didn't quite do it. I started Valium 3 weeks ago, and wow all previous symptoms are gone, and I feel normal!"

• DOD...
• June 7, 2021

Diazepam for Anxiety "My weight is roughly 68 kg, and I started with 5 mg of this drug. I never required more than 5 mg (half a pill) because it already has a strong effect on me. It instantly relaxes me and takes away the anxiety. As an example, during a panic attack, I felt like I was going to die and that nothing would ever be okay again, and just 2 minutes after chewing (not swallowing whole, that would have taken too long, but grinding it with my teeth), I was sitting there smiling like nothing ever happened. The taste is bitter-sweet but entirely edible, very tolerable because it's so tiny. It certainly has addictive potential precisely because it is so useful. It sends me straight to sleep as well, meaning that even if I'm not that tired, it will make me very sleepy, and if I am tired, it will knock me out completely, letting me sleep deeply for at least 7 hours before waking up. The sleep quality is so-so, I feel slightly groggy afterwards, but nothing compared to a real hangover."

• Cas...
• January 26, 2020

For Alcohol Withdrawal "I’ve been on diazepam for a couple of days now while I am detoxing from alcohol. I only experienced mild/moderate withdrawal symptoms, so it’s safe for me to detox at home on a medication schedule to ease withdrawal symptoms. I’m taking 10 mg every 6 hours and will then begin to taper off it after a few days. It’s been a godsend in that the anxiety, palpitations, shaking/tremors, and agitation have gone away, but as many others mentioned, it makes me drowsy after I’ve taken my dose. I can still go about my day doing housework or cooking food, but I feel kind of floaty and drowsy while I do. I can’t work while I’m detoxing and taking Valium because I wouldn’t feel safe to drive. However, by the time I’m due for my next dose, the drowsiness has pretty much subsided. I think that the only withdrawal symptom it hasn’t helped with is sweating, however, it is also the middle of summer, so it’s hard to tell if it’s withdrawal or the humidity!!"

• Tre...
• December 8, 2011

For Anxiety "Valium is absolutely wonderful. It will help people with sleep and anxiety, it also has quite a pronounced physical relaxation that I don't quite notice with other benzodiazepines like Xanax, making it useful for muscle spasms and uncomfortable aches. It's definitely the longest-lasting benzo that I've ever had, the sedation lasts well and truly into the next day, sometimes even longer (48 hours), but it fades by then."

• dia...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 12, 2022

For Light Sedation "The thing about diazepam is: the drowsiness part is actually a side effect of diazepam. Diazepam is actually for things like anxiety attacks. It is not a sleeping tablet. The sleepiness is a side effect that some people get. It's mainly prescribed to calm you down or for people who have epilepsy. So don't expect it to make you fall into a deep sleep. If you do then, as I mentioned, it's only the side effect part of it. There's plenty of better options to help you sleep. Lots of sleeping tablets you can get from your doctor that will send and keep you asleep."

• dia...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 12, 2022

For Light Sedation "The thing about diazepam is: the drowsiness part is actually a side effect of diazepam. Diazepam is actually for things like anxiety attacks. It is not a sleeping tablet. The sleepiness is a side effect that some people get. It's mainly prescribed to calm you down or for people who have epilepsy. So don't expect it to make you fall into a deep sleep. If you do then, as I mentioned, it's only the side effect part of it. There's plenty of better options to help you sleep. Lots of sleeping tablets you can get from your doctor that will send and keep you asleep."

• Zbo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "Prescribed 10 mg for severe muscle spasms. Spasms stopped immediately but were accompanied by constant sleeping and drowsiness. Stopped after 3 days so I could function like a normal human being again. Switched to OTC remedies, which are a more tolerable option."

• For...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2017

For Anxiety "I would like to say that diazepam is very useful. I only take it when I can't take control of my breathing and get to the point of thinking I'm going to faint. I must say, as I don't like taking these pills, I take the lowest dose, 2 mg, which might not even help me sometimes, but other times will make me feel drowsy and make me go to sleep. I don't like taking a higher dosage for the plain reason of wanting to be in control of my body. I don't want to fall asleep if I don't want to or have a deep sleep and stop breathing. This I know is part of my anxiety, being scared of these things. So the only bad thing I can say is that depending on the dose, you can feel sleepy and not function properly. For example, I wouldn't dare to drive."

• moa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 7, 2018

For Anxiety "Works really well, and at first, it was sedative, but not anymore. I can take up to 10 mg a day and still function normally. I'm holding down a job thanks to diazepam. My anxiety is not gone, but it's under control, though I wouldn't suggest this for daily use, as you can become dependent on it."

• Anonymous
• February 17, 2011

Diazepam "I work the night shift 8pm-8am and would often literally stay awake for 2-3 days at a time. I had tried everything, which either didn't get me to sleep at all or would make me feel groggy and sluggish upon waking. My doctor recommended I try Valium 10 mg when I get home from work, and from day one, I have been able to sleep 6-8 hours and wake up feeling refreshed, not groggy. I literally cried that first good sleep I got after 6 months of severe insomnia, something finally worked!"

• Dar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 23, 2021

For Anxiety "I've been on Valium 5 mg for about 45 years. I am a certified recovering alcoholic. I have trouble sleeping if I am not drowsy. I don't smoke because tobacco is also a stimulant that would further make my sleep disorder worse. Once I was on Elavil by a shrink, I didn't like the stuff. It dulled my spirit, I was a zombie, I was lifeless. I stopped without telling the shrink. Boy! Did I pay for that! The withdrawal was horrific, it took me a long time to get better. To cut it short, I go to doctors and tell them I'm in recovery and I've been on Valium for years! I realize if I stop, I will go through nightmares, so I am not stopping. I hope they don't take it off the market, as they do with other drugs. When I smoked cigarettes, I was up to 60 mg to sleep! Don't ever mix Valium with cough syrups that contain alcohol. You'll like the buzz, but then you will be dealing with a more difficult addiction. A few times they gave me promethazine for colds. That sucks too, it makes you groggy."

• 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."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2016

For Anxiety "I was prescribed to take Bromazepam, and the only thing I can say about it is that it made my head really confused. I felt drowsiness and sometimes even nausea. It affected my concentration and memory capabilities, which was really bad since I am a student. Valium, however, made me lessen my anxiety so much. The only 'side effect' is that it makes you sleepy, and it does kinda affect your memory abilities throughout the day. I use 5 mg of Valium whenever I need it."

• kiw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2015

"I had sleeping problems for a few years now and started taking 1 x 10 mg tablet just before bed. I wake up feeling great and enthusiastic, my partner and son have commented on my better mood and well-being. I feel more energetic and have more positive thoughts. I run my own business and have noticed, as well as others, that my positive approach and staff praise have created more enthusiasm for me and my employees. I'm much more enthusiastic about keeping fit and now cycle 4 times a week instead of just the once. Overall, it has benefited me greatly, and I've only been taking it for 3 weeks. I would definitely not take it during a normal working day, as it would just send me to sleep. As far as addiction goes, I cannot see a problem."

• bs8...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 1, 2023

"I got prescribed diazepam 5 mg by a neurologist to treat my migraines, and it was the only medication that (surprisingly) worked. Side effect is dizziness - after 2 h I feel extremely sleepy. If I resist, the dizziness goes away. If I sleep the night after taking it, I am very sleepy the day after."

• Hop...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 6, 2021

For Anxiety "I take it before blood tests and anything else that really spooks me. Works fine, but I need to take about 6 mg to really feel it. 10 mg can make me very drowsy, I think, so I usually go for 8 mg. I'm an average-sized guy."

• Jet...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 5, 2014

Diazepam for Anxiety "Been taking diazepam for a while now, it's been helping my everyday life. Since Valium, I've been more upbeat with reality. Only side effect I have is drowsiness."

• Dol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 24, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "It's the only thing that works for me without drowsiness or any side effects. Just hard to find a doctor to prescribe it. Helps my neuropathy, muscle spasms, and anxiety."

• Wil...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 26, 2017

For Anxiety "5 mg to 10 mg every morning gets me through the day without sleepiness nor euphoria, side effects, and makes me feel completely “normal.”"

• Rac...
• July 27, 2016

For Anxiety "I was prescribed 5 mg tablets, and although the Valium makes me feel a bit drowsy, it one hundred percent helps with my anxiety."

• Gol...
• August 26, 2008

Diazepam for Endoscopy or Radiology Premedication "Valium helped relieve tension and anxiety prior to an endoscopic procedure and a colonoscopy. It caused no side effects other than a slight amount of drowsiness."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "10 mg diazepam per day helped eliminate debilitating neck pain, but drowsiness was a real issue with this med. Unable to perform normal daily activities. I would probably try an OTC remedy first."

• Jan...
• August 8, 2018

For Anxiety "Totally makes me feel so relaxed, and I end up falling asleep."

• Act...
• March 11, 2008

For Muscle Spasm "Relieved the muscle spasm, however, caused extreme drowsiness. I first tried Robaxin and Motrin, which helped a little, but the spasms returned with a vengeance."