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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jms600 on May 21, 2008, at 17:38:14
Hi everyone
Does anyone know how often Valium can be taken per week before the brain will start to become tolerant to it's effects?
I feel I need Valium three or four times per week; however I'm frightened of taking it too much as I don't want to become tolerant to it and find that it no longer works for me!
Any ideas anyone?
Thanks!!
Posted by torachan on May 21, 2008, at 19:36:22
In reply to How often can Valium be taken before tolerance??, posted by jms600 on May 21, 2008, at 17:38:14
There is no real way to avoid tolerance to a drug if you are ingesting it on any basis. The degree of tolerance depends on dose and frequency of use.
The drug will likely work for you as long as you take it in a lifetime, at increasing dosages. If you mean you want to avoid physical dependence, I believe three to four weeks of frequent use will induce dependence.
Posted by Phillipa on May 21, 2008, at 21:04:20
In reply to Re: How often can Valium be taken before tolerance, posted by torachan on May 21, 2008, at 19:36:22
37years so far and no increasing doses less as a matter of fact it just doesn't work anymore. Wonder what would happen if I just cold turkeyed it. Probably nothing. Phillipa
Posted by torachan on May 21, 2008, at 23:11:02
In reply to Re: How often can Valium be taken before tolerance, posted by Phillipa on May 21, 2008, at 21:04:20
Not that I should be dispensing psychiatric advice, but Phillipa, I believe if you feel the drug doesn't work for you anymore, you should taper off. You'll undoubtedly experience some withdrawal symptoms, but if in your mind you feel secure that you can do without the drug, go for it.
Posted by yxibow on May 22, 2008, at 0:43:22
In reply to Re: How often can Valium be taken before tolerance, posted by Phillipa on May 21, 2008, at 21:04:20
> 37years so far and no increasing doses less as a matter of fact it just doesn't work anymore. Wonder what would happen if I just cold turkeyed it. Probably nothing. Phillipa
No -- don't cold turkey it for that long, even though 10mg is not a large dose. If you don't think it works any more, you would have to go down in what is the typical medical recommendation, 10% per week give or take, maybe a little higher, and so it only comes as low as 2mg or oral drops, which might be better if your insurance covers it.
I would consult your doctor about this though.
-- tidings
Posted by yxibow on May 22, 2008, at 0:56:52
In reply to How often can Valium be taken before tolerance??, posted by jms600 on May 21, 2008, at 17:38:14
> Hi everyone
>
> Does anyone know how often Valium can be taken per week before the brain will start to become tolerant to it's effects?
>
> I feel I need Valium three or four times per week; however I'm frightened of taking it too much as I don't want to become tolerant to it and find that it no longer works for me!
>
> Any ideas anyone?
>
> Thanks!!As others have said I think, it depends on the dose and consistency of taking it. For reasons not for your situation, I took a high dose for at least 4 years or more -- I stopped feeling the ahhs of it.
Now though, even though its been halved, there's still a theoretical reason for it in my case -- at least it seems so -- really pronounced anxiety and loss of functionality happens if I reduce it........ yet I want to reduce it for several reasons -- clarity, and including that I can't take another medication if I'm on it. And actually though I can't feel it, more at times in an emergency does "fill in the gap" of a complex disorder.
The point being -- yes, there are people who have been on it since it came out in 1962 and still have some use for it, but any benzodiazepine has the potential of tolerance and habituation -- not addiction, although for those prone to addiction, both can occur at the same time, its not semantics.Anyhow, if you stop feeling any value from it and it is purely there for the purpose of prevention of withdrawals, it could be past its sell date, so to speak.
Officially, depending on what country you're in, they're only supposed to be taken for like 4-8 weeks and then something like an SSRI is supposed to be used instead. Eventually short to medium term memory holes or loss can start to happen after a long period of time, for some.
However, only your doctor can really tell you what would be proper for your case, not all of our different conditions.
I guess, as a generalization, if you're only taking it sporadically -- say a few times a week at a low dose, habituation will take much longer than 24/7.
I hope that helps
-- J
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