long term Valium use              Reply to this Comment

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My husband, 56, has been taking a 5 mg dose of Valium for more than 30 years, almost daily, from when he was diagnosed at 20 with an anxiety disorder. He says he nevertakes more than that a day, and that his doctors have said that at that low dose it should not cause a problem. However, at my insistence, he did some psychological testing recently that did NOT show any anxiety disorder anymore, but his doctors are allowing him to stay on it. He saysd he only really needs to take it when he teaches or drives (he is a teacher and he drives daily). As far as I know, he has not abused it beyond its prescribed amount. However, our marriage has been unhappy for many many years in large part because he is so emotionally avoidant and flat and blunted. I recently read an article that stated this is an effect of long term benzodiazepam use (I have never known him not on it...we met when he was 30), and the descriptions they gave of the effects sounded exactly like the very things I have been raising as interfereing with intimacy, emotional and otherwise, in our marriage. I am stunned that doctors would keep him on a dangerous drug so long, especially when there is now no anxiety disorder diagnosed (although he DID take the test on Valium which, well, you tell me, may have masked the anxiety?), but I believe he so fears another anxiety attack that he will never stop. Which means I will essentially live alone because he is just not there for anyone but himself. He functions well at work, and is a kind father but cannot handle anyone making any emotional demands of him and gets deeply resentful if I intrude upon his time. Seems like I've been living alone for almost 25 years. What is the latest research and thinking about patients who have used Valium for a long time, even if it has remained in that dosage? Is there a cumulative flattening effect? Is he physically or only psychologically addicted (both are bad, since I know he will never quit). Or is this considered acceptable, as he is telling me his doctors say. He DOES have a legal prescription. Is it the drug or is this some kind of personality disorder? It's quite pronounced.

long term Valium use              Reply to this Comment

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My husband, 56, has been taking a 5 mg dose of Valium for more than 30 years, almost daily, from when he was diagnosed at 20 with an anxiety disorder. He says he nevertakes more than that a day, and that his doctors have said that at that low dose it should not cause a problem. However, at my insistence, he did some psychological testing recently that did NOT show any anxiety disorder anymore, but his doctors are allowing him to stay on it. He saysd he only really needs to take it when he teaches or drives (he is a teacher and he drives daily). As far as I know, he has not abused it beyond its prescribed amount. However, our marriage has been unhappy for many many years in large part because he is so emotionally avoidant and flat and blunted. I recently read an article that stated this is an effect of long term benzodiazepam use (I have never known him not on it...we met when he was 30), and the descriptions they gave of the effects sounded exactly like the very things I have been raising as interfereing with intimacy, emotional and otherwise, in our marriage. I am stunned that doctors would keep him on a dangerous drug so long, especially when there is now no anxiety disorder diagnosed (although he DID take the test on Valium which, well, you tell me, may have masked the anxiety?), but I believe he so fears another anxiety attack that he will never stop. Which means I will essentially live alone because he is just not there for anyone but himself. He functions well at work, and is a kind father but cannot handle anyone making any emotional demands of him and gets deeply resentful if I intrude upon his time. Seems like I've been living alone for almost 25 years. What is the latest research and thinking about patients who have used Valium for a long time, even if it has remained in that dosage? Is there a cumulative flattening effect? Is he physically or only psychologically addicted (both are bad, since I know he will never quit). Or is this considered acceptable, as he is telling me his doctors say. He DOES have a legal prescription. Is it the drug or is this some kind of personality disorder? It's quite pronounced.

long term Valium use              Reply to this Comment

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My husband, 56, has been taking a 5 mg dose of Valium for more than 30 years, almost daily, from when he was diagnosed at 20 with an anxiety disorder. He says he nevertakes more than that a day, and that his doctors have said that at that low dose it should not cause a problem. However, at my insistence, he did some psychological testing recently that did NOT show any anxiety disorder anymore, but his doctors are allowing him to stay on it. He saysd he only really needs to take it when he teaches or drives (he is a teacher and he drives daily). As far as I know, he has not abused it beyond its prescribed amount. However, our marriage has been unhappy for many many years in large part because he is so emotionally avoidant and flat and blunted. I recently read an article that stated this is an effect of long term benzodiazepam use (I have never known him not on it...we met when he was 30), and the descriptions they gave of the effects sounded exactly like the very things I have been raising as interfereing with intimacy, emotional and otherwise, in our marriage. I am stunned that doctors would keep him on a dangerous drug so long, especially when there is now no anxiety disorder diagnosed (although he DID take the test on Valium which, well, you tell me, may have masked the anxiety?), but I believe he so fears another anxiety attack that he will never stop. Which means I will essentially live alone because he is just not there for anyone but himself. He functions well at work, and is a kind father but cannot handle anyone making any emotional demands of him and gets deeply resentful if I intrude upon his time. Seems like I've been living alone for almost 25 years. What is the latest research and thinking about patients who have used Valium for a long time, even if it has remained in that dosage? Is there a cumulative flattening effect? Is he physically or only psychologically addicted (both are bad, since I know he will never quit). Or is this considered acceptable, as he is telling me his doctors say. He DOES have a legal prescription. Is it the drug or is this some kind of personality disorder? It's quite pronounced.

prescription drug dependency              Reply to this Comment

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I need advice on the best way to get off diazapam, My doctor started me taking it (for approx 8 months now) I am down to 1/4of a 5mg pill a night and have tried to stop completely but after about 5 days my body goes crazy. How long will withdrawal go on for?

stop              Reply to this Comment

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well you should only take valium if a doctor gives it to you that is all there is to it.

Momma needs a re-think!              Reply to this Comment

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Get over it love.. Let me guess, your a christian, no no, maybe a mormon, oh no they don't have computers..except they get let out at eighteen and go hell for leather on drugs and alcohol. I AM clean but arbitrary statements are just that..useless. Life throws you curve balls- let me guess again, please please! Let's see, you obviously don't have a drug habit so maybe it's a food habit, hmmm, am I right?.. Is your arse an hour behind the rest of your body or is it something else? Look deep inside yourself darling, you may just discover something called empathy!

Suggestion              Reply to this Comment

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It sounds like you're really attacking your husband. Perhaps you should be taking valium too? Why exactly did you marry him if you find him emotionally blunt and giving you no affection? Why did you stay married to him if he made you feel bad. How do you know that's not just his personality, if you've never known him not on Valium?

Valium              Reply to this Comment

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I to have been prescribed Valium 10mg daily for anxiety. The euphoria that I feel after I take the Valium gives me the confidence to pursue what was a hardship reior to taking Valium. The side affects does not outweigh the taking of Valium. Although a feeling of drowsiness ensues much of the time, a feeling of relaxation. has me taking the valium on a regular basis and cannot make it through the day without my Valium. After many years on Valium, the addiction is not as terrible as I anticipated. My sex life with my husband has been for the better and I fnd that I am able to climax much easier and perhaps due to not being all tensed up. I sometimes increase the dosage when I feel in need to do so. This drug had made a new woman out of me and I feel it has saved my married life and will continue taking the Valium inspite of any addiction it may cause.

Valium              Reply to this Comment

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I to have been prescribed Valium 10mg daily for anxiety. The euphoria that I feel after I take the Valium gives me the confidence to pursue what was a hardship reior to taking Valium. The side affects does not outweigh the taking of Valium. Although a feeling of drowsiness ensues much of the time, a feeling of relaxation. has me taking the valium on a regular basis and cannot make it through the day without my Valium. After many years on Valium, the addiction is not as terrible as I anticipated. My sex life with my husband has been for the better and I fnd that I am able to climax much easier and perhaps due to not being all tensed up. I sometimes increase the dosage when I feel in need to do so. This drug had made a new woman out of me and I feel it has saved my married life and will continue taking the Valium inspite of any addiction it may cause.

uuuhh              Reply to this Comment

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Don't be the first to assk someone else not to judge then judge your damn self! No not all christians think so self righteous. I'm a Christian lady and yes Im human and I have prescription drug problem that is not easy to get rid of. I understand the issues of everyone here and I don't judge. Maybe the person who posted previously wasnt even Christian, did you even think about that? You're so insulting and rude it's past annoying! It makes me cringe when judgemental people like you pint fingers at Christians, yet you're so judgemental on us yourself!

Valium              Reply to this Comment

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Valium is just another drug for junkies. If you ve got a problem there s plenty of things you can do before going to the pills. Junkies just use problems as excuses to live like zombies.

valium              Reply to this Comment

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Well said Dave! My sister is a valium zombie. She s turned emotionless and brain dead since she has been "prescribed" it by herself. A junkie will just use any excuse to be just that. Not a victimless crime with the whole family stressing about her.