how long does valium withdrawal last?

[swivelhed]

I've been using valium for at least ten years on a daily basis. Two months ago I reduced dosage from 10mg a day to 5, and three of weeks ago went down to 2.5mg. Two weeks ago, stopped taking it altogether.

Now, I've got a strange metallic taste in my mouth, fast heartbeat and the world seems to be kind of swimmy, if that makes any sense. A couple of nights ago I was having full on visual and auditory hallucinations.

It is my intention to walk away from this drug, but I'm not sure if I'm going about it the right way. I have no insurance and no Doctor. I understand this may take a while and am willing to suffer through, but am curious if anyone out there might know the real taper off formula? I am 50 years old and in good shape, 5'8, 160 lbs.

Thanks in advance
Swiv

[fiz326]

I came off valium on 6th December. I have been on it for 8 years. Before I was on ativan on and off for 20+ years. It was done in a planned way, with my GP's help and advice. I have had "flu" with awful muscle and skeletal pains and now I am having sensory problems such as feeling frozen in places even though my skin is a normal temp, insomnia, depression and dizziness. My GP is really pleased, but I am feeling virtually suicidal.

[fiz326]

I came off valium on 6th December. I have been on it for 8 years. Before I was on ativan on and off for 20+ years. It was done in a planned way, with my GP's help and advice. I have had "flu" with awful muscle and skeletal pains and now I am having sensory problems such as feeling frozen in places even though my skin is a normal temp, insomnia, depression and dizziness. My GP is really pleased, but I am feeling virtually suicidal.

[helen110]

that was a very informative article getting off dependent drugs is not easy indeed the doctors give out far to many without discussing the consequences of when you are dependant on them

[Rich99]

You and your doctor need to get together and discuss a taper plan.
As for another recent post saying:
""I tried to cold turkey off all my sleep meds in a rehab with the most disasterous withdrawals but the complete worst was the insomnia. I never slept for a single minute in 17days.""
I went through a similar situation though yours seems even worse.     But I'm not surprised when I read these constant posts about insomnia.    Many of these legal Rx drugs will disrupt your brain's chemistry to the point where it shuts down production of its own natural chemicals that control the sleep/wake cycle.     Add to that the fact your body becomes tolerant of the drugs to the point they don't work anymore and it means you are left with nothing to control the sleep/wake cycle.      So then the next step is to wait it out until your brain gets the signal that it once again has to produce its own...but that takes time and so seems to describe what you've been through.     Most people decide to again take the med,  even more of it out of desperation to get rest..but that only prolongs the problem.    

[stimpi]

I have a CNS issue still UN-diagnosed. I am keeping this short for I am in the middle of this horrible times and I have no energy. I am posting here in attempt to find out if the withdraw is life threatening , I have all but lost hope for a "long future". I have been on 30 Mg to much higher dosaes for over 15 years,

I have one month into this with going to 2 Mg a day of lorapam, People around me know I am "beating" this medicine yet I feel as if this is simply to much. I am hoping in best case that the excessive amounts of diazapam have actually caused my complete equilibration and CNS break down, I now wonder if I should get back on the doses of valium or continue with this drop.

I post this to this community in hopes that what I am doing is safe and will it make any differnce in the long run.. I would add that I am writing this in the middle of the with draw.

[carol999p]

I have just read your post and want some advise.  I am trying to withdraw from ambien/zolpidem and dormonoct which I have been using for sleep for 12years  and have reached total tolerance levels i.e. the are no longer working and i am taking more and more to sleep.  I have contacted the non-benzodiazepine society who suggest I switch to valium and follow the Ashton Manual to taper down.  My question to you is how bad is is your insomnia during taper off i.e. do you sleep at all, how much etc.  The reason I ask this is because I tried to cold turkey off all my sleep meds in a rehab with the most disasterous withdrawals but the complete worst was the insomnia. I never slept for a single minute in 17days.  I ended up spending 3weeks in a psychiatric hospital. Please give me your advice.