Has anyone succesfully got off Diazepam or other Benzos?

[TheAnimus]

Uni with things liek Diazepam you really should be getting better advice than the average GP.

I was put on a course because I was told I'd have to wait up to 6 months for an operation, I was in quite tremendous pain (I'd frequently pass out if I was doing something as strenuous as going for a wee) and the chronic insomnia (15 hours a week sleep) was taking its toll. The problem was I just needed a painkiller, idealy one other than codine.

I find addiction very easy for a mind like mine.

Luckily I was taken off it very quickly by a different doctor.

As such I'd recommend trying to make sure your GP is refering your or leasing with someone who is a specialist, GPs are often no more than a traige nurse. And the OP has been taking this for more than the textbook recommended time. I would hope with the NHS that qualifies him for a specalisit rather than a generalists, one of the NHS finest GPs didn't even know what the asthma drug I was taking was, and had to look it up in her reference text before now, meanwhile I'm there sitting politely as you'd imagine me, suggesting the correct dosage of Prednisolone would xxx when she was recommending almost twice too much!

[abaxas]

physical excersize and fresh air can help greatly, the chemicals created when working out affect your brain, as well as the workout affecting your body. you can end up feeling mentally and physically better, annd the physical improvement can also have a further mental improvement

We are simple beings who adapt and learn from out environment. We tend to be the product of the experiences, if you make the experiences good, outlook improves.

It might not help you, but it cannot harm if you put good things 'in'.

[Ben Rogers]

My GP is very good and says to taper things at my own rate and does not pressure me into rushing things at all.

I will get some 2MG pills when I next see him and start the taper (if he doesn't think getting off 2 at the same time is too much of course)

I will also get a lot of fresh air and excercise as suggested as these are really good ways to naturally feel better - used to do a lot of walking.

[Unique]

Uni with things liek Diazepam you really should be getting better advice than the average GP.

I was put on a course because I was told I'd have to wait up to 6 months for an operation, I was in quite tremendous pain (I'd frequently pass out if I was doing something as strenuous as going for a wee) and the chronic insomnia (15 hours a week sleep) was taking its toll. The problem was I just needed a painkiller, idealy one other than codine.

I find addiction very easy for a mind like mine.

Luckily I was taken off it very quickly by a different doctor.

As such I'd recommend trying to make sure your GP is refering your or leasing with someone who is a specialist, GPs are often no more than a traige nurse. And the OP has been taking this for more than the textbook recommended time. I would hope with the NHS that qualifies him for a specalisit rather than a generalists, one of the NHS finest GPs didn't even know what the asthma drug I was taking was, and had to look it up in her reference text before now, meanwhile I'm there sitting politely as you'd imagine me, suggesting the correct dosage of Prednisolone would xxx when she was recommending almost twice too much!

the reason for saying "your gp" is really so people see someone that knows about their personal circumstance, rather than any old doctor or nurse who doesn't know your medical history etc. if you don't think your gp is helping then asking to be referred for a second opinion, or even changing doctors (so your records move with you) is an option to consider

i've been fortunate to not have seen my doctor in 10 years, and seen any doctor less than a handful of times, so i'm not sure the process for doing so. i have had training regarding dealing with people with mental health issues and all advice points towards getting the individual to see their own doctor who has access to proper records, and not to take advice from elsewhere when it comes to medication, as sometimes people can be very well meaning, but the advice given may have an adverse effect on the individual. and when it comes to one person describing their own experiences, they may have very different treatments and medication requirements to the person requiring help

the one thing that's uniformly recommended is excersize and fresh air, and socilising and talking to people. generally what is bad is illegal drugs, alcohol and smoking, but those are generally bad for most people. some of those things may give a quick fix, but usually have a long term adverse effect. for some people medication can be useful, but others don't require it and perhaps shouldn't be on it. but when someone is on it, they should consult with their gp before reducing or stopping it. it's common that someone feels better because the meds are working, and if they stop or reduce it they will go back to feeling worse. sometimes it also takes time for the prescribed meds to work so you need to see your gp again for alternate meds, and it can sometimes take a few weeks for them to work adequately. your gp would be able to explain all of this much better than i can, as i'm not a doctor

[peterb]

I've never been on benzos but I'm loving the cool, calm, collected, and completely non-judgemental advice provided thus far. Good luck Ben.

[SeriousSam]

To use a cricket analogy a lot of the great batsmen use the metal approach of "get five runs", "get another 5 runs" and so on to (a) give them little positive milestones and (b) remove the anxiety about the long term goal of getting 50 ro 100runs. The same works generally in life... break down the big scary goal into smaller more manageable chunks which give you a sense of acheivement on a regular basis. Doing this also gives you a structure to follow, which again helps to add stability and normalcy.

In any case good luck.

[Ben Rogers]

@SeriousSam

Thanks for the advice. That is a good analogy to make - I will just take my time and taper the stuff slowly and try and not it overwhelm me which I don't think it will too much with my GP's help and my own state of mind at the moment being good.

I like to think my will power is good and this will be required to get off Diazepam for good, just coping with the restlessness, lack of sleep and anxiety.

Might take me a year or so but I am sure it will be worth it in the long run.

[Paul_s13]

Hi Ben,

I was on Diazapam for a prolapsed disc in my lower back, they only gave me 14 days due to the very high addiction rate and it was quite scary because after only 14 days when I'd finished the course I couldn't sleep and felt awful!

My prescription was only short term as a muscle relaxant to help my back and not long term like you but it was my osteopath who warned me about the addictive qualities, not my GP!

I go with consulting with your GP and maybe they could refer you to a specialist?

Good luck though

Paul

[Ben Rogers]

Thanks for the reply Paul.

Just shows how addictive this stuff can be if you were on it 14 days and couldn't sleep after coming off it!

I currently have just my GP and a phyciatrist to help but I will see what my GP says when I next see him on 12th July, maybe he can refer me to a specialist if he feels I need one. I think I can get off the stuff on my own just my tapering it slowly though and might not require a specialist - time will tell.

Cheers.