Valium

[Billyboyboo]

I am on 40-60mg of Valium a day, this is to ward off Aura activity and also for Anxiety, I finds it makes me depressed, I'm on Celexa 20mg, but it doesn't help much.
Anyone else have the benzo Depression?
I see a Specialist in 2 weeks, hopefully he can give me a new Antidepressant, before Valium, I was on Klonopin, roughly 4-6mg a day, which 20mg of Valium is equivalent to 1mg of Klonopin.

Any suggestions?

Or can anyone relate?

Billy.

[Billyboyboo]

Maybe I should go back to Klonopin.

[occb]

Did you feel better on the klonopin?

My partner was on valium for a little while, but he found it made him dizzy and feel uncomfortable. He says xanax works, but clonazepam is better. Just because they're from the same med family, doesn't mean they all work the same.

[Billyboyboo]

Did you feel better on the klonopin?

My partner was on valium for a little while, but he found it made him dizzy and feel uncomfortable. He says xanax works, but clonazepam is better. Just because they're from the same med family, doesn't mean they all work the same.

Yes I felt better on the Klonopin, but if I get back on it after being off for 3 or 4 weeks, will it work the same?

Billy.

[occb]

There's no reason it shouldn't work the same as before. Had you developed a tolerance for it, is that why you were switched?

When I mentioned your depression issues with Valium to my partner, he said that's exactly what happened to him, along with the dizziness and general crapiness.

[gigi]

Valium seems to be a necessary evil for me. 5mg at night before bedtime, along with 12ml of Dilantin a day. On rare occasions I take Valium during the day, but I have to feel really stressed to do that. Group exercise seems to fill the gap for stress release. The exercise combined with the comradery is great. I have been on anti-depressants in years past - too many side effects. I have done everything I can to avoid more meds. The ADs increased my appetite for food, and decreased it for uh; alone time with my hubby! I mean it was literally like someone turned a switch off. Along with the lack of emotion. I could not seem to laugh or cry, weird! I realize that we are individuals, and everyone has to do what it takes to get that improved quality of life. Finally, Valium helped save my life some years back when I went into status. Glad to still be here.

[marion]

Be very careful if you decide to get off Valium. My seizures started when I went off a small dose of xanax that I took to sleep. I tapered over three weeks - thought that was ok - and had several medical problems lasting for a couple of years, and the seizures which I still have, after five years. So if you stop, be careful to do it the right way.

[gigi]

Marion:

Thanks for the advice on the xanax. My epilepsy has been with me for 42 years now. Not sure all the reasons for the initial seizure, but thanks to the internet and education I have targeted my triggers. I understand the threat to the body when going off a drug, although from my own personal experience, my triggers are stress on the body as a whole, including hormones. I trust my own judgment with this disorder, and not the medical community. Drugs, at least for me are a small part of the puzzle.
What kind of problems did you have after going off the medication? If you care not to share, not to worry. What happened to you may have been the tip of the iceberg, as your seizure threshold may have been low and the lack of valium could have triggered seizures, thus making it the primary problem. This is such an individualized disorder. Hope things are getting better for you.

gigi

[marion]

Hi Gigi - I was taking xanax to sleep for several years and never had a problem from that. I decided to get off because my life had settled down and I thought I could sleep without it. I'm 70 years old and never had any sign of any type of seizure, so I'm fairly certain it was from discontinuing the xanax. Everyone doesn't have problems when quitting but it's fairly common. If you'd like to know more about it and how to quit there's an excellent forum (like this one) -- http://www.benzoisland.org.

For me it was two years of one thing after another, though other than the seizures, nothing that still troubles me. I had severe joint problems that couldn't be diagnosed, different joints, and each lasting about a year. Never had joint problems before or since. Heartburn that was nearly continuous and so bad it was difficult to eat. Again, never had that before or since, and doctors didn't know what was causing it. And a few other things, always something going on. Before this, I hardly ever saw a doctor, and then all of a sudden there were a million things. So there's no question in my mind what caused it. -marion

[Billyboyboo]

Oh no,
I'm not tapering, I'm exchanging Valium to klonopin, I was on Klonopin 8 years, Valium 3 weeks, this morning I go back to klonopin.

Billy.

[KelVarQ]

Marion,

After reading your post it sounds like possible Lyme Disease, which can lead to seizures. Have you been tested? Lyme disease can lie dormant and you could have flare ups. Joint pain is one of the major symptoms and I see you're from Connecticut which being in NY I know Lyme Disease is pretty common and all too often doctors aren't checking to see if that's the problem. Just a thought.

[Billyboyboo]

I'm in NY, I didn't know Lyme Disease was a big thing here!
I use to live in NYC, Massachusetts too, now in upstate.

Billy.

[Billyboyboo]

Marion, you do know Xanax is potent, so is Klonopin, I have been on Xanax, it induced Seizures for me! I will be on Klonopin tomm. again 3-4mg a day. You did know 1mg of Xanax like Klonopin is equivalent to 20mg of Valium?

Yes people who come off Benzos can experience seizures, and all kinds of things. I read all about this in the Ashton Manual.

Billy.

[KelVarQ]

Hey Billy Boy,

Yes, Lyme is big in New York. I live in Orange County, NY (Hudson Valley) and I know Lyme is huge here. I was actually diagnosed a few months ago with Lyme but luckily it was diagnosed within 6 months of having it, which helps. I was put on the antibiotics for a month. My primary opted to test for it because after being seizure free for 4 years (RTL surgery) my seizures started up again so he tested me for Lyme. I don't believe that was the cause of my seizures starting up again but rather Gluten which I'm now doing a Gluten free diet and gaining lots of seizure control. My doctor did say that EVERYONE should be tested for Lyme at this point since it's pretty bad and can do lots of damage.

Also for the depression make sure to take the Omegas since it's known to be incredibly helpful for depression. Feel better.

[marion]

No, it's not Lyme Disease, I've been tested. And the joint pains have completely disappeared, as have all the other symptoms except the seizures, which would not happen w/Lyme. What happened to me is not at all unusual when going off benzos.

Billy, I'm glad you found the Ashton Manual. Heather Ashton, a professor from UK, has done most of the independent research on withdrawing from benzos. If you google her name you'll see her excellent credentials.

[KelVarQ]

Marion,

That's great that it's not Lyme, however, I just want to clarify that yes it is possible to get seizures when Lyme Disease is untreated along with whole other list of problems.

[nicholasscott21]

I was on diazepam for anxiety, it helped reduce my seizure rate but I become slurred in speech but still with some anxiety. To wean me off of the diazepam I was put on 500mg of quetiapine which basically made me feel 'flat' in mood (I was on tegretol 800mg at the same time). Now I'm off of the diazepam but on Clonazepam 5mg plus the quetiapine and tegretol. On the whole I feel less anxious. The clonazepam knocks me out at night and for most of the day but I prefer to take them then diazepam.