Diazepam addiction – can you get well?
Diazepam – which can also be referred to as ‘valium’ – is an extremely addictive medication which can legitimately be prescribed by your GP. However, while it has its uses for relieving anxiety and muscle spasms and stopping fits, due to its sedative effect, it should only be used for a brief period. This would normally be for only up to 4 weeks. This is because very quickly your tolerance will build up. And you will need more and more to achieve the same effect. Then you will find that you cannot live without it and develop diazepam addiction.
Abusing the prescription drug
If this has been your experience, it may be that your doctor has prescribed diazepam for you for a longer period than would be advised. You may feel let down by the fact that you were not warned about its addictive nature. And the grip it can get on you. You may have not heeded the advice of your GP. Or you may even have put some pressure on your GP to prescribe more when they were reluctant to do so. Or you may have obtained supplies of diazepam from other sources when you were not allowed to get them from your GP. Whatever the means of obtaining the drug, the position you are now in is not a good one.
Severity of Diazepam addiction
If you have an addiction to diazepam, it is very difficult to stop using it. Those with a deeply ingrained extensive addiction will find it almost impossible to come off it on their own. It is said that it can be harder to stop using diazepam (and other medicines in the same family of benzodiazepines – such as lorazepam) than it is to stop using heroin! It can be difficult to even cut down. But you may be able to do that with willpower. However coming off that last dose can be all but impossible.
The safest and easiest way to beat the habit is to do so in a private rehab clinic. Here at the Haynes Clinic we have successfully detoxed people from diazepam. And from extremely high doses (though that took several weeks). Usually you can be safely detoxed within a 28 day stay. Once in a protected environment where you will be given the dose you need (rather than the dose you might want!), you will get through your detox and see life on the other side free from your addiction.
Finding the right reasons
As with all addictions, there will be a reason why you started using diazepam in the first place. And why at first it was so attractive to you. While in treatment and doing your detox, you will start to explore this. Was it because you were stressed, anxious, sad, agitated? Or that you physically needed it for a brief while eg to assist with alcohol withdrawal? We will look at the underlying root cause of the addiction. And start to give you the tools to live your life free of the substance. You can then look forward to be able to cope with your life and your feelings day to day. Without turning to medicines, alcohol or other illegal drugs.
