Hi, I have had severe anxiety, panic attacks and recently dx'd w/ptsd. I was taking 1 mg Ativan twice daily for 7 years, never upped the dose or needed to. July of this year my panic attacks, anxiety and depression (yep, that too) started up again. I did the best I could until October and went to a therapist. I saw a Psych, NP. He changed the Ativan 1 mg to valium 5 mg. saying it was an equivalent dose. The first week I about came out of my skin the anxiety was so bad. The second week not so bad. The third week it was if I wasn't taking anything at all. The valium didn't seem to help but I wasn't having much anxiety. I kept reading how the valium built up in my body over time and kept waiting for it to kick in. It didn't. I knew I was through with any withdrawal type thing from Ativan. I quit taking the valium last Friday. I believe it was in my system somewhat b/c today haven't had any panic, just run of the mill normal anxiety that I have had almost every day since week 2 off the Ativan.
I don't know what I'm asking, just has anyone taken valium for 28 days and had withdrawals?Should I be having them? I don't want to take it because of the long 1/2 life and that's exactly why the NP put me on it. I've also read that one hits a plateau pretty quickly and would need an increased dose. I had an event w/ my 89 y/o MIL in July that set my panic off again majorly and feel I need to do something. I don't want to get back on benzos of any kind. Buspar? Any reply would be helpful. I also take venlafaxine xr 225 mg/day and gabapentin 400 mg twice daily for diabetic neuropathy in my feet. Nothing else except diabetic meds(Metformin).