Diazepam and Depression: What Users Say

• BS1...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 26, 2019

Valium (diazepam) for Anxiety "After taking Xanax off and on for years, I developed a problem with it making me more anxious when it wore off, like a lot of heart palpitations, sweating, fear. I was switched over to Valium 6mg for two years and then advised to withdraw to see how I went. I’ve spent the last six months tapering and been off for 7 weeks and I’m miserable. I have returned PTSD and depression. So, I guess I didn’t go well and am going to reinstate 2mg a day to get my life back. When I take it I have no side effects and feel alive. I didn’t hit tolerance before. I say yes to Valium if you need it to feel normal and don’t abuse."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 7, 2017

Valium (diazepam) for Anxiety "Having anxiety my whole life, I never sought help and always hid it. Eventually, it led to depression, which I covered up too. The final nail in my coffin was when I acquired a parasitic infection in my gut. The infection left me with permanent irritable bowel syndrome, which I suffer from every day. For a year straight, I saw numerous nerve pain experts and probably had 100 pill bottles in my drawer, which nothing helped. My first psychiatrist started to prescribe medicines I already tried, which I denied, then asked for 5mg Valium. Miracle drug that took all pain away, physical and mental. After 2 years, decided to stop, which was a devil's ride to hell. Miracle drug with insane withdrawal when stopped, even tapering. Back to being miserable now."

• IHa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 16, 2018

Valium (diazepam) for Anxiety "15 years ago, my mother gave me a Klonopin to help me out on my first plane ride, and the euphoria of freedom from anxiety was instantly addicting. I soon got my own RX, and over the years, I was up to 4 mg a day, and my anxiety wasn’t improving. A very incredible psychiatrist told me it was now just harming me and my tolerance was far too high, and he amazingly got me off Klonopin to taper with Valium because of the longer half-life. I’m now down to 12 mg a day (from the converted 60!), and it’s been hell. I’ve never been so anxious and depressed. Though this is sadly normal with tapering. I’m working with therapists and trying to keep on a schedule of exercise and deep breathing, but I fear I’ll never be able to break free from these terrible drugs that are killing me. (I also lost 80 lbs, and my BMI is under 17 after the taper.) While I hate all benzos for what they’ve done to me, Valium is definitely the lesser of all the evils."

• mj1...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 17, 2022

For Anxiety "Diazepam is the best benzo there is. It saved me from taking Xanax all the time. My Dr. gave me the 10 mg tablets to be taken 3 times a day, and I couldn't be better! I don't wake up shaking anymore, I feel less depressed, and overall my mood is in a great place! I can't thank this drug enough because I have Tourette syndrome, and it works 10 times better than Xanax ever did at keeping me calm and collected! Thank God for Valium, or I would not be writing this!"

• Tra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2021

For Anxiety "I have spent too long on benzodiazepines in general. Six years on 3 or 4 mg of clonazepam. I began a taper and switched to diazepam at 60 mg a day instead of the 3 mg of clonazepam, TID. I notice I am no longer depressed. I believe the clonazepam made me depressed. I no longer feel a strange deep sadness. The major effects from diazepam don't last as long-four hours for me instead of clonazepam, six hours for me. But overall, I am sleeping better. I have no problem waiting for or forgetting my next dose, whereas with clonazepam, I needed to keep a timer and take it exactly every eight hours, or else I would start to go into minor withdrawals. The clonazepam would rapidly drop off. With diazepam, the effects come faster, last longer in a less pronounced and more wavering down. So, I can wait until I need my next dose and not struggle with minor withdrawals for two or three hours because I forgot my meds. I take a high dose because of tolerance. Treats my PTSD symptoms better than clonazepam."

• kha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 25, 2015

Valium (diazepam) for Anxiety "I've tried everything for panic attacks and depersonalization so far. I don't like SSRIs, they make me feel like a zombie. I don't really have any side effects, which is very rare as I'm sensitive to a lot of drugs/food, anything you name it. I do find sometimes the day after I'm still tired and a bit depressed. I have 4 mg+ if I'm having a panic attack, it seems to help quite a lot. I take 2 mg if I'm going to a party or a new place and take more if I need to. I'm going to try propranolol next, I heard it's great too."

• Jui...
• April 18, 2012

Valium (diazepam) for Muscle Spasm "No doctor had been able to diagnose my condition. As a result, I was prescribed 10 mg of Valium 3x daily as a crutch indefinitely. At first, I was dim-witted and happy and got some relief, but after about a year, I started to become increasingly apathetic, dim-witted, started to have problems with light sensitivity and focus, became uninterested in socializing, and had a personality shift from the funny, charming guy to a depressed robot with anger spasms, who takes risks just to feel some sense of being alive. After 2.5 years, the physical relief has all but stopped, and in any case, I cannot have a life taking this. I am in the process of tapering off of it."

• Gar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2019

For Alcohol Withdrawal "I have some problems with alcohol, mainly because I use it to relax myself, as I have a history of anxiety since being a little kid. When I start to drink, I drink every night quite heavily, then pass out. After a month or so of this, I start to get awful withdrawal during the daytime with symptoms like depression, bad anxiety, depersonalization, panic, sweating, and really fast heart rate. Just awful symptoms, which my doctor said is alcohol withdrawal, so he's put me on 5 mg of diazepam 3x a day, and it's been great, not felt the need to drink alcohol. I do realize I'm basically swapping one substance for another, but I plan to not take anything soon. Good luck, anxiety is a real pain, you're not alone."

• nic...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 16, 2016

For Anxiety "Unless you are using this as a one-off, say for a flight or dental work, do not touch it! Docs may warn it is addictive, but they won't tell you that with long-term use you can actually go into withdrawal while still maintaining the same dose. I have been on it for 17 years, and it's ruined my life. Anxiety is worse, and I have developed severe agoraphobia and depression. I did my research since the doctors are no help, and these are common effects of long-term use. No one warned me, and now I face withdrawing, which is complicated and painful in itself, but the only way I stand a chance of recovery. It will take a very long time, though. The drowsiness was awful, that wore off, but I am so unsteady on my feet that it amplifies my anxiety."

• Gro...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 22, 2019

For Anxiety "I was taking these with a prescription from my doctor for many years, then they decided to take me off them by cutting them down. I suffered from lack of concentration, no interests in life, no get-up-and-go, and severe depression. I ended up hitting the drink, then my hangovers seemed to be a lot worse than usual."

• Tri...
• March 6, 2010

For Anxiety "I've had severe GAD and social phobia with light panic attacks on a daily basis for several years, so much so that I could not function at work (I work in the mortgage industry - sales related), and the anxiety would KILL the deal because clients would interpret the anxiety as not being confident in the product. Generally, I also had trouble looking people in the eye, not being able to think straight, stuttering, difficulty making decisions. Psych put me on Xanax, but it was too sedating and a bit harsh & didn't last very long. I was put on Celexa (but this just made me not care about anything and had no emotions, caused mania, etc.). Clonazepam didn't quite do it. I started Valium 3 weeks ago, and wow all previous symptoms are gone, and I feel normal!"

• nam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 6, 2018

For Anxiety "At first, this medication saved my life (literally), but as time went on, things slowly but surely started to get worse: feelings of unreality, sometimes severe insomnia, increased anxiety, and actually led to feelings of depression. I started off at 5 mg for one year, then a year later 10 mg, and now, in my third year taking this medication, I am now on 15 mg, as you can see, going up 5 mg each year. What I wasn't told before I took this medication is how addictive it was, and as an ex-drug addict, they still gave me this medication. I am only 25, but this medication has ruined my life. It is okay for very short periods, but do NOT take it long-term. If you want my advice, it is do NOT take this medication, it will ruin your life."

• Ben...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 31, 2017

For Anxiety "Don't make the mistake so many others do by taking this horrible drug. You will get relief initially, but make no mistake about it, this is really addictive, and before you know it, you will hit tolerance and will need to take more to continue feeling OK. However, you may get to the point where it actually makes you feel horrible, waking up every morning with extreme anxiety and hopelessness. I've been off all benzos for 9 weeks now, and I'm finally starting to feel normal. Before trying this med, do your research, and you'll find out how many poor souls are out there suffering every day with very little relief."

• Cla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2021

For Anxiety "Have been menopausal for two years, consequently, been prescribed HRT. I'm not sure if the HRT has helped, other than control hot flushes and joint pain. However, the depression and the anxiety I have been experiencing have made me feel suicidal daily. I've just been prescribed diazepam 2 mg daily for 28 days, and the difference in my emotional well-being is night and day. I want to stay on this drug for the rest of my life, and if I can't get a repeat prescription, then I'm afraid of the consequences. This drug works for me, it always has done. I don't have an addictive nature, and I won't tamper with the dosage, I just want to feel normal so that I can function better as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. Without this drug, it will be a struggle to survive."

• Anonymous
• August 20, 2011

For Anxiety "I have had trouble sleeping for over 25 years, and about 10 years ago started having panic or anxiety attacks in the morning. I tried Xanax, the side effects made me depressed and angry. Valium has always worked well, with little or no side effects. I take 5 mg in the morning and 10 mg at bedtime, and this works great. I have been on the same dosage for about 9 years and have had no problems. I would highly recommend this as opposed to Xanax or other benzodiazepines."

• leo...
• September 26, 2010

Valium (diazepam) for Light Anesthesia "I was given Valium intravenously for light sedation during a quick medical procedure. It worked very well, but about 30 minutes after the I.V. was removed, I became very irritable and depressed and craved more. It also caused a slight temporary personality change in me that lasted the rest of the day."

• Zel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2021

For Light Sedation "This drug is great for getting to sleep, but if you have depression and anxiety, it should only be used when absolutely necessary. I would take one to two, 4 mg a week, maybe less, maybe a bit more. This didn’t seem to affect me, but when I had a UTI, I was taking 6-10 mg nightly. Huge mistake, as it made me feel like I was literally losing my mind one morning. Utter hopelessness, anxiety, sadness, inability to cope with anything. It wore off by the afternoon, but it was a nightmare. I felt like I was going mad. Needs to be carefully managed if you have severe depression or anxiety."

• Zel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2021

For Light Sedation "This drug is great for getting to sleep, but if you have depression and anxiety, it should only be used when absolutely necessary. I would take one to two, 4 mg a week, maybe less, maybe a bit more. This didn’t seem to affect me, but when I had a UTI, I was taking 6-10 mg nightly. Huge mistake, as it made me feel like I was literally losing my mind one morning. Utter hopelessness, anxiety, sadness, inability to cope with anything. It wore off by the afternoon, but it was a nightmare. I felt like I was going mad. Needs to be carefully managed if you have severe depression or anxiety."

• Wol...
• August 25, 2021

For Anxiety "After a traumatic, life-altering event, a victim, and all I did and knew was destroyed. I was given Valium and panic, severed sobbing depression. It was a lifesaver in sleeping and waking with a clearer head. After working through all of it, I recognized and we adjusted my blood pressure meds, and sure enough, it's what I needed, not diazepam. I take it now for physical pains, and it's one med doing 10 things, not 10 meds doing 1. The diazepam is actually safer than what some would prescribe for individual ailments. I have proven to be responsible."

• OMG...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 1, 2018

"I was a long-term user of Valium/diazepam for over a decade, it was inappropriately prescribed to me. While on it, I developed many different sorts of issues, one on top of the other. Through the years, issues ranged from suicidal ideation, extreme depression, bladder and bowel issues, to MS/Parkinson's-type symptoms that kept me many years disabled, confined to a bed. I found out these were side effects, along with tolerance withdrawal. This drug has truly been a nightmare!"

• Tru...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 14, 2019

For Anxiety "I was a long-term user of diazepam. I had numerous problems arise while taking this med that left me with other diagnoses requiring additional medication. When I came off the diazepam, I found the drug caused them all, and issues began going away during the 3-year protracted withdrawal. Diazepam made me have extreme personality changes after many years on it, along with depression, suicidal thoughts. This med caused me to have bladder, bowel, and uterine issues, as well as extreme forgetfulness, and the 'false sense of security' the drug provided made my decision-making very poor. Under the influence of this drug, I dated people I would have never had a relationship with otherwise, and I trusted people that hurt me because the drug made me not feel normal emotions, so I would trust them over and over again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2018

Valium (diazepam) for Night Terrors "This was for my heroin addiction, insomnia, night terrors. It helped me with sleeping, eating, irritability, and the major depression."