Valium and Tremors: What Users Say

• jhu...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 24, 2015

For Anxiety "I have been taking Valium for 15 years for sleep and anxiety, 15-30mg. This drug has worked well through the years but I have begun to notice memory and balance issues, so I decided to get off of it. The first time, I quickly tapered off and one night, I awoke to a racing heartbeat, tremors, and an intense feeling like my head, face, and back were on fire. I had to go back on because of this. Now I'm doing a slow taper, so far, I have gone from 15mg to 7.5mg over 4 months. Going from 15-10mg was easy, but going under 10mg has been very difficult at times. For years I was very positive about this drug, but I do not think you should take it for more than a month unless you absolutely have to. Just be careful, as withdrawals can be severe."

• Mel...
• August 14, 2016

For Anxiety "I've been on Valium for about 6 months now and have severe social anxiety and separation anxiety. But it definitely helps. It allows me to not feel as claustrophobic and not to get as shaky or frozen in anxiety-producing situations. If I have an anxiety attack or feel like I'm going to have one, then I will take a Valium, and it helps me get through the day."

• 321...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2022

For Temporomandibular Joint Disorder "TMD is a horrible condition that robbed me of my life. Caused trigeminal neuralgia. GP referred me to a maxillofacial specialist who prescribed diazepam. It’s the only medication that works, but GP refuses to prescribe it despite the specialist doctor writing a letter stating that they are prescribing it. So, I can’t get any relief because nothing else works. Now I live with horrendous pain in my jaw, neck, head, shoulders, back, and the spasms roll down into my legs. I shake constantly and have a million trapped nerves. No life and confined to a bed because mobility is affected. Go to bed crying in pain and wake up crying in pain. Now on oxycodone, and it barely touches it. Been prescribed lots of medications, but only diazepam helps. My life has been taken from me. I’ve lost everything because of this evil condition and doctors that have condemned me to a life of pain and misery."

• Jea...
• June 20, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "My doctor prescribed Valium after I had two lung surgeries. It was to treat the pain and muscle spasms. Thankful it was only 5 mgs per night. I couldn’t get a refill in time, and I’d been on it for about two years. I just felt it was time to get off of the Valium. I think I’m doing better pain-wise. And I take Tramadol for that pain during the day. I have been experiencing withdrawals. I am taking natural supplements in place to wean me off. I shake a little, rapid anxious thoughts, digestive upset, irritability, panic. It’s not good to take it long term. I rated Valium high because it did its job, relaxed me, and the only side effects for me were dry mouth and being more tired in the morning. The con is clearly the addictive properties of it. Your body starts to need it just to go to sleep or feel normal. I’m hoping this will end soon. I read it can take months or years to come off Valium. I was on a low dose, so I hope it won’t last that long."

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

For Anxiety "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!"

• bec...
• January 20, 2010

For Anxiety "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."

• Cla...
• August 30, 2021

For Alcohol Withdrawal "I’ve struggled with alcohol addiction for years, as it progressed to 750 ml of hard liquor a day. I tried stopping and got shakes, sweating, palpitations, dizziness, tingly hands, and feet. So far, I’m on 5 mg Valium 2x daily, and no withdrawal symptoms! Definitely tired, in a I worked all day kinda way, even if I didn’t."

• SJH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2018

For Alcohol Withdrawal "This medication reduced my withdrawal symptoms significantly, although I still had some anxiety. Valium reduced tremors, sweating, insomnia, and agitation."