Valium for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 5)

• Cal...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 26, 2015

"I don't like medication in general, but this one got me through work, divorced single parent of 2 children. No side effects, very qualified professional work. Then I became wheelchair disabled on the job, I was ripped off by family of $96,000 during a 2-year hospitalization. With corticosteroids, I resumed the 5 mg Valium, which helped. For me, I only need 1 a day, although prescribed 4, so they last me 6 months to a year. I'm lucky, for I don't like to feel dopey, just normal. If I've gotten into an insomnia state for a stressful situation with my autoimmune condition, that is the only time I'd taken 2 to sleep if Tylenol PM didn't work."

• Jel...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 5, 2022

"I have never used more than a dose of 5 mg/day, and nowadays, am restricted by prescription to 2 mg/day. Since I am quite sensitive to it, that has mostly not been a problem. It has made bearable the panics I've been suffering since my middle sixties for ten years."

• Gre...
• January 10, 2017

"I'm new to anxiety, having to recover from leg surgery for long periods of time without getting out of my room much. I had my first anxiety/panic attack after 8 weeks in bed. After a trip to the hospital, I was then placed on Valium, many times per day at the beginning, but just a few months later, I use them as needed. Maybe 2 per day. I have another surgery coming up and will be down again for only 8 weeks total. But this time I have prepared for more visitors, as well as I will be mobile soon after surgery. I'm keeping my Valium for now and hoping to get away from them during my physical therapy."

• Kat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 24, 2017

"Suffering 16 years ago from PTSD after being told in the hospital that I only had 30 mins before I would die, I was a wreck when I came home and lived in fear and terror, shortness of breath, uncontrollable shaking, extreme nausea, body aching all over, doctor and specialist visits - had every test known to the medical world, all came back normal. Finally, a friend suggested I try Zoloft, and after a week I felt myself starting to feel normal again, and after six months I gave it up, but since then I periodically have PTSD symptoms and 5 mg of Valium (don't buy generic diazepam) on those days has been my lifesaver. God bless you, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals!"

• fit...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 12, 2022

"In my lengthy experience with psychiatric medication, this is one of the very few that works exactly as advertised. I do not care one whit about all of the criticism regarding benzodiazepine dependence. Valium gives me a better quality of life, and I am vigilant and responsible with this drug at all times. I never drink alcohol, and I am mindful of drug interactions and operating a motor vehicle (I rarely need it other than my baseline prescription, which is taken at bedtime anyway). However, it is a lifesaver for breakthrough anxiety that I suffer from, especially dental anxiety and random panic attacks. Side effects: fatigue. Do not drink alcohol or take opioids while on any benzos."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 7, 2017

"Having anxiety my whole life, I never sought help and always hid it. Eventually, it led to depression, which I covered up too. The final nail in my coffin was when I acquired a parasitic infection in my gut. The infection left me with permanent irritable bowel syndrome, which I suffer from every day. For a year straight, I saw numerous nerve pain experts and probably had 100 pill bottles in my drawer, which nothing helped. My first psychiatrist started to prescribe medicines I already tried, which I denied, then asked for 5mg Valium. Miracle drug that took all pain away, physical and mental. After 2 years, decided to stop, which was a devil's ride to hell. Miracle drug with insane withdrawal when stopped, even tapering. Back to being miserable now."

• Tir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 28, 2018

"I take Valium (diazepam) 1.5-2.5 mg every second week for a few nights to help me sleep. My insomnia had become so bad it was affecting my memory and my work during the day and increasing my anxiety. I find it really helps me sleep well and function better during the day. Also, it reduces my anxiety and I don’t get side effects. My recommendation is to take it less often so it works when you need it. I don’t find it addictive. It does have a long half-life, so it can build up in your system fast, so that is something to watch."

• Hel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2023

"I have been taking Valium only very recently, and I can say it has helped a lot. It doesn't stop bad thoughts or my anxious thoughts, but it keeps me from having terrible anxiety attacks. I am supposed to take two a day, but really I only need to take one and a half or sometimes just one a day for anxiety. It really helps me so far, but I have a tendency to get used to medications, and they stop working as well, so I am going to try and just take it slow with this medication. It also helps me sleep, and please, when you take it for sleep, go lay down because you will not sleep if you don't. Valium actually gives me energy in a weird way and makes me be able to laugh more and enjoy the moment. It can increase your empathy, though, because I find myself crying at the littlest things, but not in a depressive way. I actually like that because my Zoloft makes me feel numb a lot of the time, which is not good. But beware, when you first take it, it will hit you hard."

• Anonymous
• October 9, 2011

"The use of this medicine is very effective in treating the illnesses for which it is prescribed. They will also admit that it is an extremely safe medicine to use. Valium, when used by me sporadically as needed, effectively treats my anxiety episodes, which untreated would probably lead to ulcers."

• Kev...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 13, 2022

"My anxiety takes the form of aggression and destruction. Valium has been the only medication to level me out and keep me from acting out. I don’t take it every day, but without it, I have no doubt I would be in very serious shape. It has been a godsend to me, and after 6 years, I’m still on 5 mg as needed. No dosage increase has been necessary."

• hel...
• August 29, 2011

"I was given a short course of Valium 4x 2mg a day for 5 days. I needed a slight relaxant, as I was going through opiate withdrawals through no fault of my own. It seemed to work pretty okay, but I think for panic attacks and anxiety I would say you need a minimum of 5mg, as I don't think 2mg was enough to take the edge off it. A great medicine, though."

• bal...
• September 20, 2009

"I like this medication for anxiety, but sometimes it makes me mean. I don't know if anyone else experienced this, however, I highly recommend this drug for anxiety over any of the other benzodiazepines."

• IHa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 16, 2018

"15 years ago, my mother gave me a Klonopin to help me out on my first plane ride, and the euphoria of freedom from anxiety was instantly addicting. I soon got my own RX, and over the years, I was up to 4 mg a day, and my anxiety wasn’t improving. A very incredible psychiatrist told me it was now just harming me and my tolerance was far too high, and he amazingly got me off Klonopin to taper with Valium because of the longer half-life. I’m now down to 12 mg a day (from the converted 60!), and it’s been hell. I’ve never been so anxious and depressed. Though this is sadly normal with tapering. I’m working with therapists and trying to keep on a schedule of exercise and deep breathing, but I fear I’ll never be able to break free from these terrible drugs that are killing me. (I also lost 80 lbs, and my BMI is under 17 after the taper.) While I hate all benzos for what they’ve done to me, Valium is definitely the lesser of all the evils."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 26, 2024

"I am 42 years old. I have been on a benzo, mostly Xanax or Valium, for over 20 years. Coming off of them is awful. I feel like the thing that helped me in the beginning has become almost an obsession. I feel it's very effective for a limited time with a doctor gradually tapering you off. I still am on them."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2015

"Mild-moderate anxiolytic effect, but long lasting. Definite calming effect and sense of tranquility. I weened off of 5 mg of Xanax with this wonderful drug and had virtually no withdrawal. Makes me feel level-headed and at peace when I start to stress."

• Anonymous
• December 15, 2012

"I began taking Valium from doctors in 1968 or 1969 when I was in the Vietnam War and experienced a great deal of combat, which affected me very much. It helped. I have been taking Valium for decades. It increases irritability greatly, probably because of head wounds that caused brain damage. 1000 to 1200 mg Carbamazepine stops or reduces the irritability. Unfortunately, the combination of the two medicines causes tiredness."

• Anonymous
• May 19, 2011

"Before I had all kinds of problems, like stomach aches, and I was scared of everything, and I lost 45 pounds. I have been taking Valium for about 10 months, and I have gained almost all my weight back, and I have no more problems at all."

• wil...
• September 16, 2011

"I've been taking Valium for two years now and really found it a lifesaver. I left my parents' house and had to keep my old doctor (50 miles away) as I'm afraid if I join a new surgery they will want to pressurize me to come off it, as I also receive 20 mg of temazepam to help sleep as well. I find most doctors very unwilling to prescribe benzos."

• You...
• December 10, 2009

"Since I was put on 10 mg of Valium 3 times a day, it has helped me get through work so much easier and takes away the anxiety, making it all go away. Currently, I've been tapering, and I'm now down to 0.5 mg twice a day. I never thought I could wean off that easily, but I'm doing just fine. Nuvigil and Valium have changed my life completely! I also take 15 mg of Seroquel XR and Mirtazapine to help me sleep at night. There's nothing like having a good, hard-working day, then coming home to a hot shower and putting all my stress aside to just relax. Valium has helped me do this a lot better than Ativan did."

• Jac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 11, 2018

"I average about 10 Valium pills (5 mg) per month. Helps with: 1) blood pressure spikes 2) occasional anxiety 3) difficulty going to sleep 4) jet lag sleep disruption-international flights 5) have used prior medical procedures to reduce tension & anxiety 6) can be used when wanting to reduce alcohol consumption."

• Pla...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 11, 2022

"The doctor's office always charges me $130 every 90 days for a drug screen, which I never fail and am legit using the least Valium I can. 40 mg/d PRN is my prescription. So what it is now is an open discussion of extortion from my doctor. I complained about the useless and expensive drug screen; I was supplied with this quip: 'Where else are you gonna get 40 mg/d Valium? I resolved to quit then...now I'm at 22.5 mg/d this week, 20 mg/d next week. Amazon has urinalysis dip sticks for less than $10. TL;DR always have the amount for this schedule of soft taper benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm#s2/bzsched.htm"

• bec...
• January 20, 2010

"I have suffered from anxiety, muscle spasms, nightmares, tremors, restless legs, and mood swings. I have taken 5 mg of Valium, sometimes 10 mg on and off since an extremely stressful nightmare of a divorce my ex dragged on for 3 years. My attorney suggested Valium, and my regular doctor had no trouble prescribing this. 30 tablets will often last 3 months - I've had refills expire, as I only take as needed (since 1995). This medication has been a lifesaver for me, and when I had PMDD (when it was just BAD PMS in the '90s), I have taken Xanax in the past, and the forgetfulness was unbearable, I couldn't drive, and withdrawal was immediate and awful. No problem with Valium! My pain doctor and regular doctor won't prescribe Valium to anyone anymore - long half-life? Ativan and Buspar didn't help at all."

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 16, 2021

"For my panic disorder, I used to take short-acting benzos, i.e., Ativan, which, of course, works; however, dependence and subsequent painful withdrawal followed hours after discontinuation. I am able to take Valium, which is a long-acting benzo that seems (for me) to have a slower onset of action and a much longer duration of action. I notice that I'm able to start/stop the medication without experiencing withdrawal symptoms like I had with Ativan. Sometimes, I can go weeks, even months, without a need to take it. I use 2 mg; it works great, and I have never needed more. In fact, sometimes I break the pill in half and only take 1 mg. The drug certainly can be abused, but I do feel it gets a bad rap. As always, this medication isn't for everyone and shouldn't be used by everyone."

• Stu...
• August 11, 2019

"Valium (Xanax) I do not recommend these to anybody with an addictive personality. But 1 and 1/2 a day and you will feel normal and confident and back to your old self, but DO NOT ABUSE. They generally take up to an hour, so let them kick in first. Best wishes, folks."

• Put...
• May 14, 2016

"My doctor will not prescribe medicine for my panic attacks. I have depression, and when I have a panic attack, I have trouble breathing. Doctors will not prescribe Valium for these attacks because he says they are addictive. This is crazy. I am not a drug addict and need something to help me through these attacks. What to do? Maybe a little lead to the head would take care of these attacks."