Diazepam?
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Hi, Kate,
Welcome to the Forum!
I am so sorry you are going through that. How absolutely scary. Try calling your new neuro's office, ask for the doctor's nurse, and explain the situation. She may prioritize your case and have your appointment moved up. Or have your PCP call on your behalf. A doctor can get your appt moved up more rapidly.
Have you had a TC so far? Twitching doesn't necessarily mean a TC. If you haven't had a TC yet, take a deep breath and try to relax. Stress can act as a trigger for some people.
Your question is really one for a doctor. Can you call your old neurologists office and ask this question? How about your primary care doctor? It really depends on your individual circumstances, especially the dosage. The recommended dosages are NOT the dosages given in the first link below, which is for IV Diazapam given for Status Epilepticus (SE), which is a life threatening situation, or as a rescue med (distat).
Diazapam is used for seizures, but usually not alone. It's usually used together with an anti-seizure medication. That's because it's anti-seizure effects can be very short term.
Here's more info:
http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/managing_diaz.html
http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/diazepam/diazepam-for-seizures.htmlhttp://epilepsy.emedtv.com/diazepam/diazepam-for-seizures.htmlhttp://epilepsy.emedtv.com/diazepam/diazepam-for-seizures.html
http://www.drugs.com/mtm/diazepam.html
Welcome to the Forum!
I am so sorry you are going through that. How absolutely scary. Try calling your new neuro's office, ask for the doctor's nurse, and explain the situation. She may prioritize your case and have your appointment moved up. Or have your PCP call on your behalf. A doctor can get your appt moved up more rapidly.
Have you had a TC so far? Twitching doesn't necessarily mean a TC. If you haven't had a TC yet, take a deep breath and try to relax. Stress can act as a trigger for some people.
Your question is really one for a doctor. Can you call your old neurologists office and ask this question? How about your primary care doctor? It really depends on your individual circumstances, especially the dosage. The recommended dosages are NOT the dosages given in the first link below, which is for IV Diazapam given for Status Epilepticus (SE), which is a life threatening situation, or as a rescue med (distat).
Diazapam is used for seizures, but usually not alone. It's usually used together with an anti-seizure medication. That's because it's anti-seizure effects can be very short term.
Here's more info:
http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/managing_diaz.html
http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/diazepam/diazepam-for-seizures.htmlhttp://epilepsy.emedtv.com/diazepam/diazepam-for-seizures.htmlhttp://epilepsy.emedtv.com/diazepam/diazepam-for-seizures.html
http://www.drugs.com/mtm/diazepam.html
Thanks, I am waiting to see a Neurologist, they say if I have no appointment in the post by Wednesday to ring them but I am going to ring them anyway tomorrow. I have probably had E for 30 years (the Dr now says) but was not aware that it may be this - various explanations given by doctors were anxiety, migraine, fainting and gastro problems.
I was told 2 weeks ago by a Psychiatrist that he is 99% sure I have left TLE, but the meeting abruptly ended so didn't get a chance to ask many questions and have been left at home, not driving or working with strange symptoms that I interpret are leading up to maybe a TC (which I have never had).
Ironically I have been looking after children with E for 10 years, if they are twitchy we tend to watch them more for a seizure. My work knowledge actually seems to have me more anxious due to my experiences of seeing the children.
I have some anxiety and depression which do not help and could be making me over alert and feeling more negative than necessary. We use midazolam/diazepam at work for a t/c over 5 mins. This is why I am using it for my symptoms as I have nothing else available to me. The Psychiatrist also said that they will not be treating my symptoms at all until the EEG as it will mask the activity on the test. I am so desperate to get some meds to help me. I know that no one can really advise as it is a medical problem but I doubt if the diazepam would be detrimental short term.
I just need to be more positive at the moment but my life seems to have stood still, as I watch everyone else carrying on. The uncertainty is really hard.
I was told 2 weeks ago by a Psychiatrist that he is 99% sure I have left TLE, but the meeting abruptly ended so didn't get a chance to ask many questions and have been left at home, not driving or working with strange symptoms that I interpret are leading up to maybe a TC (which I have never had).
Ironically I have been looking after children with E for 10 years, if they are twitchy we tend to watch them more for a seizure. My work knowledge actually seems to have me more anxious due to my experiences of seeing the children.
I have some anxiety and depression which do not help and could be making me over alert and feeling more negative than necessary. We use midazolam/diazepam at work for a t/c over 5 mins. This is why I am using it for my symptoms as I have nothing else available to me. The Psychiatrist also said that they will not be treating my symptoms at all until the EEG as it will mask the activity on the test. I am so desperate to get some meds to help me. I know that no one can really advise as it is a medical problem but I doubt if the diazepam would be detrimental short term.
I just need to be more positive at the moment but my life seems to have stood still, as I watch everyone else carrying on. The uncertainty is really hard.
Ann T.
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Hi, Kate: A PCP, as far as I know, means Primary Care Physician, or the doctor you see when you get regular check-ups, or when you need a tune-up. Nah, you posted in the right place--the Kitchen's for non-epilepsy chit chat & recipe sharing... ;-) Hope your day gets better, Kate.
Hi Kate
So sorry to hear you are stessing out so much. I do understand how you feel as I have gone through it so much in the past.
You have to try and calm down and relax. Not because I think stressing will trigger an attack or anything, but simply cos being so stressed is just going to make you feel sh*t.
If it's any consolation, I went to see a psychiatrist because of anxiety and he too raised the issue of simple partials and referred me to a neurologist.
It was a 3 week wait for that appointment and I spent my time wisely by reading everything I could find about simple partials on the web. End result: I convinced myself within 10 minutes every weird sensatin my body had was a seizure. One of the things I latched onto was deja vu. 'Oh my god!' I thought, 'I've had deja vu before!' I must be having seizures! 'Oh and I experience depersonalisation a lot too!! I clearly have epilepsy and am going to keel over any minute!!'
This caused my anxiety to increase so much I ended up taking 2 weeks off work to spend cowering at home waiting to pass out.
I didn't pass out. And when I saw the neurologist he diagnosed me with anxiety and that it was highly unlikely I was suffering partial seizures. He then said I did't have epilepsy.
That calmed me down for a few months but then I had another deja vu and got terrified again. I then started thinking I was experiencing deja vu every day. Only one way to deal with this I decided, an appointment was booked with a Harley Street epileptologist at great expense.
Unfortunately he clearly didn't know what he was talking about as he went further than the other neurologist and said I definitely wasn't having partials.
I do still worry a bit about having a seizure (I had a one off 10 years or so ago), but have accepted that 4 GPs and 2 neurologists have said my risk of that is the same as the gen population. The rest is prob anxiety.
I have no idea what a neurologist will diagnose with you. The point is that I know how powerful anxiety can be, so much so that it can make you feel like you are experiencing symptoms. My daily deja vu disappeared after my visit to the epileptologist when he simply said it is a very common phenomena and not indicative of epilepsy - immediately counter-acting everything I had read on the internet.
My utterly unmedical opinion is that you are freaking out after a pyschiatrist has mentioned epilepsy and as you work with E and are aware of it you are now panicking all the time. Even if the neuro decides you do have it, I imagine the majority of the 'symptoms' you are currently experiencing are anxiety related.
A psychiatrist is not a neurologist. He has prob referred you to one to cover his a**! Take what he says with a pinch of salt and listen to the neuro. The psychiatrist I saw worried me into thinking I was having seizures until I saw two neruos who both were absolute in their conviction that I was fine.
In any event, if you have been having partials for 30 years your chances of having a TC in the next few weeks before seeing a neuro are pretty minute. You'd be very unlucky!
Diazepam will help calm you in the midst of a full blown panic attack but I find they make you feel drowsy and tired the next day so I'd stay away from them and use them as a last resort. Speak to your GP about dosage before taking any at all though. It is a powerful and very addictive drug.
Just remember a doctor who is not qualifed in neuro stuff has simply suggested you should get seizures investigated. Combined with the fact that you work with E and may have gone online to look up symptoms, makes it quite likely this is anxiety. Go and see a neuro and get it evalulated. if it is something it will get treated. If it's nothing you need to look at getting anxiety treated. Either way you are going to be absolutely fine! I have read your symptoms in another thread and can say I and my girlfriend have both experienced those kind of things and neither of us has epilepsy. If your doc decides it is something then fine, but until that unlikely event, calm down, do something you enjoy to take your mind off things, and I have to say....STAY away from the internet!! The web can be good but for those with anxiety I have found it universally bad. You will always find someone who claims to have had or know someone who has had your synptoms and something terrible happened and that you must therefore immediately call an ambulance. In reality what happened to someone else has zero bearing on your case.
You'll be fine Kate, just try to relax until you see the neuro as otherwise you're going to have a headache for 2 weeks!
Stop looking on the internet, and if you can't help it, look up symptoms of anxiety. One thing the epileptologist told me was that as my symptoms could often go on for half an hour or more, this was atypical of seizures, for which symptoms usually last a few minutes, and was therefore more likely anxiety.
I know it's hard but try not to analyse other people's stories and apply them to your own situation. If the neuro says there may be something going on and you get a diagnosis, then use resources like this forum for support but until then, I would have to say stay away as reading about E all the time will just make you worry more.
All the best Kate, relax, enjoy your time between now and the appnt, do something fun, and realsie everything will be just fine....and try not to come back here until you have seen your doctor
So sorry to hear you are stessing out so much. I do understand how you feel as I have gone through it so much in the past.
You have to try and calm down and relax. Not because I think stressing will trigger an attack or anything, but simply cos being so stressed is just going to make you feel sh*t.
If it's any consolation, I went to see a psychiatrist because of anxiety and he too raised the issue of simple partials and referred me to a neurologist.
It was a 3 week wait for that appointment and I spent my time wisely by reading everything I could find about simple partials on the web. End result: I convinced myself within 10 minutes every weird sensatin my body had was a seizure. One of the things I latched onto was deja vu. 'Oh my god!' I thought, 'I've had deja vu before!' I must be having seizures! 'Oh and I experience depersonalisation a lot too!! I clearly have epilepsy and am going to keel over any minute!!'
This caused my anxiety to increase so much I ended up taking 2 weeks off work to spend cowering at home waiting to pass out.
I didn't pass out. And when I saw the neurologist he diagnosed me with anxiety and that it was highly unlikely I was suffering partial seizures. He then said I did't have epilepsy.
That calmed me down for a few months but then I had another deja vu and got terrified again. I then started thinking I was experiencing deja vu every day. Only one way to deal with this I decided, an appointment was booked with a Harley Street epileptologist at great expense.
Unfortunately he clearly didn't know what he was talking about as he went further than the other neurologist and said I definitely wasn't having partials.
I do still worry a bit about having a seizure (I had a one off 10 years or so ago), but have accepted that 4 GPs and 2 neurologists have said my risk of that is the same as the gen population. The rest is prob anxiety.
I have no idea what a neurologist will diagnose with you. The point is that I know how powerful anxiety can be, so much so that it can make you feel like you are experiencing symptoms. My daily deja vu disappeared after my visit to the epileptologist when he simply said it is a very common phenomena and not indicative of epilepsy - immediately counter-acting everything I had read on the internet.
My utterly unmedical opinion is that you are freaking out after a pyschiatrist has mentioned epilepsy and as you work with E and are aware of it you are now panicking all the time. Even if the neuro decides you do have it, I imagine the majority of the 'symptoms' you are currently experiencing are anxiety related.
A psychiatrist is not a neurologist. He has prob referred you to one to cover his a**! Take what he says with a pinch of salt and listen to the neuro. The psychiatrist I saw worried me into thinking I was having seizures until I saw two neruos who both were absolute in their conviction that I was fine.
In any event, if you have been having partials for 30 years your chances of having a TC in the next few weeks before seeing a neuro are pretty minute. You'd be very unlucky!
Diazepam will help calm you in the midst of a full blown panic attack but I find they make you feel drowsy and tired the next day so I'd stay away from them and use them as a last resort. Speak to your GP about dosage before taking any at all though. It is a powerful and very addictive drug.
Just remember a doctor who is not qualifed in neuro stuff has simply suggested you should get seizures investigated. Combined with the fact that you work with E and may have gone online to look up symptoms, makes it quite likely this is anxiety. Go and see a neuro and get it evalulated. if it is something it will get treated. If it's nothing you need to look at getting anxiety treated. Either way you are going to be absolutely fine! I have read your symptoms in another thread and can say I and my girlfriend have both experienced those kind of things and neither of us has epilepsy. If your doc decides it is something then fine, but until that unlikely event, calm down, do something you enjoy to take your mind off things, and I have to say....STAY away from the internet!! The web can be good but for those with anxiety I have found it universally bad. You will always find someone who claims to have had or know someone who has had your synptoms and something terrible happened and that you must therefore immediately call an ambulance. In reality what happened to someone else has zero bearing on your case.
You'll be fine Kate, just try to relax until you see the neuro as otherwise you're going to have a headache for 2 weeks!
Stop looking on the internet, and if you can't help it, look up symptoms of anxiety. One thing the epileptologist told me was that as my symptoms could often go on for half an hour or more, this was atypical of seizures, for which symptoms usually last a few minutes, and was therefore more likely anxiety.
I know it's hard but try not to analyse other people's stories and apply them to your own situation. If the neuro says there may be something going on and you get a diagnosis, then use resources like this forum for support but until then, I would have to say stay away as reading about E all the time will just make you worry more.
All the best Kate, relax, enjoy your time between now and the appnt, do something fun, and realsie everything will be just fine....and try not to come back here until you have seen your doctor
Dear Cardones,
I will take your advice and not come on here again until I know one way or the other. Your post actually made me realise how much I had been obsessing about this and how sensitive I have been to every small symptom from my body which seems huge when you are panicking. What you have said makes a lot of sense and I am going back to work at least part time as the more I think you spend time on your own thinking, the more detrimental it is. I feel slightly ashamed actually of being so anxious as it must be irritating to the members on here who do have E and have to read neurotic posts from new people! I really needed your post to bring me back to reality and to get things into perspective. Yes maybe I have got E maybe I haven't but my ruminating, worrying and obsessing is doing nothing to change anything and actually making me feel worse. I think I will force myself to go out into the fresh air, distract myself and get out of the house. Thank you for your wise words, they have made a big difference.
I will take your advice and not come on here again until I know one way or the other. Your post actually made me realise how much I had been obsessing about this and how sensitive I have been to every small symptom from my body which seems huge when you are panicking. What you have said makes a lot of sense and I am going back to work at least part time as the more I think you spend time on your own thinking, the more detrimental it is. I feel slightly ashamed actually of being so anxious as it must be irritating to the members on here who do have E and have to read neurotic posts from new people! I really needed your post to bring me back to reality and to get things into perspective. Yes maybe I have got E maybe I haven't but my ruminating, worrying and obsessing is doing nothing to change anything and actually making me feel worse. I think I will force myself to go out into the fresh air, distract myself and get out of the house. Thank you for your wise words, they have made a big difference.
Hey Kate
Don't feel ashamed at all. I think many with E will confirm that anxiety and stuff is also a real problem.
I know exactly how you feel about analysing everything your body is doing! That is my speciality and its amazing how many extra symptoms your mind can make you feel like you are having.
Glad you feel a bit better. Occupy yourself now and just wait to see what the neuro says. If you do find yourself going back to worrying, distract yourself time by writing a list of things you want to ask the neuro. I knew after I first saw a neuro I was cross I had forgotten to ask some things which then fed my anxiety again! So going in with all your questions ready will prevent that from happening to you.
I also confirm that my worst days were when I took time off work or just sat at home alone obsessing. Got myself into some right states like that!
At this stage you have nothing to worry about other than some funny episodes you'd like to get an expert's opinion about. Once you have that opinion, take it from there.
Good luck and let us know how you get on!
Don't feel ashamed at all. I think many with E will confirm that anxiety and stuff is also a real problem.
I know exactly how you feel about analysing everything your body is doing! That is my speciality and its amazing how many extra symptoms your mind can make you feel like you are having.
Glad you feel a bit better. Occupy yourself now and just wait to see what the neuro says. If you do find yourself going back to worrying, distract yourself time by writing a list of things you want to ask the neuro. I knew after I first saw a neuro I was cross I had forgotten to ask some things which then fed my anxiety again! So going in with all your questions ready will prevent that from happening to you.
I also confirm that my worst days were when I took time off work or just sat at home alone obsessing. Got myself into some right states like that!
At this stage you have nothing to worry about other than some funny episodes you'd like to get an expert's opinion about. Once you have that opinion, take it from there.
Good luck and let us know how you get on!
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You're welcome to post on CWE anytime, regardless of how you are feeling, even if it's just to let us know that you are feeling better. But as you say, it can sometimes be good to step away from the internet and shake out the worries.
Best,
Nakamova
Update
Well..since October I have seen 2 Neurologists, I have not got a diagnosis yet.
I have tested positive to antibodies to Voltage Gated Potassium Channels at a level of 161. Does this test mean anything to any of you? My EEG shows intermittent sharp theta waves mainly over the left temporal lobe. The Neurologist also thinks that I may have Neuromyotonia (also known as Isaacs syndrome).
I am no longer experiencing the 'episodes' and all the twitching has calmed down. My Neurologist has ordered a prolonged EEG and retested the VGKC antibody as she predicts that the levels may have decreased as I feel better.
I would be very interested to know if anyone else here has had the raised levels of antibodies which can cause seizures. I am only taking Citalopram at the moment. Thanks,
Well..since October I have seen 2 Neurologists, I have not got a diagnosis yet.
I have tested positive to antibodies to Voltage Gated Potassium Channels at a level of 161. Does this test mean anything to any of you? My EEG shows intermittent sharp theta waves mainly over the left temporal lobe. The Neurologist also thinks that I may have Neuromyotonia (also known as Isaacs syndrome).
I am no longer experiencing the 'episodes' and all the twitching has calmed down. My Neurologist has ordered a prolonged EEG and retested the VGKC antibody as she predicts that the levels may have decreased as I feel better.
I would be very interested to know if anyone else here has had the raised levels of antibodies which can cause seizures. I am only taking Citalopram at the moment. Thanks,
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Hi Kate,
Im from Scotland and i am prescribed diazapam also by my doctor,ten mgs a day.It was a bit of a battle between us he didnt want to at the start.But as a lot of my tonic seizures were and are stress related,he agreed.I think i would have had a lot more seizures without them,or worse been on the "street"trying to score them,good luck and i hope everything works out well for you.
Im from Scotland and i am prescribed diazapam also by my doctor,ten mgs a day.It was a bit of a battle between us he didnt want to at the start.But as a lot of my tonic seizures were and are stress related,he agreed.I think i would have had a lot more seizures without them,or worse been on the "street"trying to score them,good luck and i hope everything works out well for you.
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Is Diazepam the same as Lorazepam? My wife had that prescribed to her for a few weeks 3x TC seizures ago. I must say I did not like the effects at all. She became another person... staring into the distance, but she slept like a baby... really deeeeep breaths, asleep immediately as opposed to her normal sleeping which is quite rapid for someone in deep sleep.
I was also a little concerned by the going "cold turkey" approach to just stopping them. From what I read it seemed like going cold turkey could induce seizures, and that you have to be weaned off them??
For this reason I'm not 100% sure about this Neurologist we're with. We're going on Wednesday - with another neurologist appointment for 2nd opinions and independent scans a few weeks later.
I was also a little concerned by the going "cold turkey" approach to just stopping them. From what I read it seemed like going cold turkey could induce seizures, and that you have to be weaned off them??
For this reason I'm not 100% sure about this Neurologist we're with. We're going on Wednesday - with another neurologist appointment for 2nd opinions and independent scans a few weeks later.
nicholas:)
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Hi! I was on diazepam for anxiety and seizures together with tegretol. My GP switched me to clonazepam in place of diazepam, both Benzodiazepines, as GPs prefer you not to be on diazepam for too long a period. I take clonazepam 5.5mg and tegretol 800mg daily and this has considerably reduced my seizures.
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hI Atmosphere,
Yes there is a diffrence,ive had this disscusion with my doc and guess what i cant remember the exact diffirence.Im sure diazapam stays in your system longer whilst lorazapam is a quicker acting drug,ive posted it before so ill try and find it for you.lorazapam is preffered for severe anxiety.
As for a cold turkey,that wont happen,they put you on a taper,well over a month off gradual decline of the drug in question for the exact reason as you say about seizures..Please ask your doc first just incase ive got it the wrong way round.Ill try and find that post for you,all the best.
Yes there is a diffrence,ive had this disscusion with my doc and guess what i cant remember the exact diffirence.Im sure diazapam stays in your system longer whilst lorazapam is a quicker acting drug,ive posted it before so ill try and find it for you.lorazapam is preffered for severe anxiety.
As for a cold turkey,that wont happen,they put you on a taper,well over a month off gradual decline of the drug in question for the exact reason as you say about seizures..Please ask your doc first just incase ive got it the wrong way round.Ill try and find that post for you,all the best.
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Yes i did have it the right way round,diazapam is a longer acting drug,while lorazapam enters your body quicker and is faster acting.I guess you just need to speak with your doc/nuero and decide on the best course off action.Best off luck.
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I was quite shocked that my wife prescribed Lorazepam for 2 only months. I was concerned about this and any other medication she takes in conjunction with Lamotrigine. As I read up about it, I discovered that you should not stop it suddenly. They should wean you off it, however she wasn't. My wife and I decided to just take a precaution and attempt to wean her off it ourselves.
With the last week, we cut the tablets in half and quarters ... as I read that seizures are a result of withdrawal!!!!??? (even though the lamotrigine works with the lorazepam, and actually decreases it's efficiency.
This makes me incredibly skeptical about the doctor as a neurologist who is supposed to know this. But then, perhaps I'm just a neurotic paranoid googler??? Or am I!!??
She still suffered the typical withdrawal symptoms (Anxious - which it's meant to reduce & Insomnia), it also has seizures listed as a symptom, but none fortunately.
All this said, I'd really rather not have her on any more of it!!! It sounds scary unless supervised directly!!
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