Hey everyone, I have been o Depakote now for 2 weeks and just started taking 2mg Valium at night. I know this is a low dose but my doctor wanted me to take this instead of Ativan and taking even 2mg during the day makes me sleepy and really doesn’t have an effect good or bad but since taking it at night, I notice Im much less dizzy the next day. I have been having pretty much %95 days the past few days, unless I sleep too long or don’t get enough sleep. Could it be possible the Valium is helping the whole day the next day even though I take it at night around 10:00-11:00? Plus it’s such a small dose, or maybe the Depakote is just helping more now? I’m afraid to not take the Valium though…
I also take 2mg Valium per night, to temper the Celexa that I take during the day.
Valium has a longer half life than Ativan, so I think that it can definitely exert a relaxing effect the following day, but at that dose it would be a very small effect.
Previously I was taking 1/4th to 1/2 of a 0.5mg Klonopin, which I found less sedating and also long lasting, but you hardly notice that you are taking anything, whereas Valium definitely gives you a noticeable sensation. I switched to Valium since I had an itchy scalp while on the Klonopin, and I read it can cause some hair loss.
I find that benzos really help me, but I keep myself at a very low dose because I had an addiction issue (on Ativan) 18 years ago. But if used in moderation, I think they really help this condition.
The docs tell me that when my Celexa kicks in, I will not want the Valium any longer.
Have you tried Klonopin?
Thank you! I was also thinking its such a small amount to have an effect on my dizziness, it could just be coincidence as the Depakote was helping, but not enough, so it could just be kicking in more. I havent felt that instant sensation witj Valium, maybe a little relaxing but no effect on the dizziness when i take it durin the day. When I take the Ativan, I take half of .5mg or 1/4 of it, it just seems like lately it isn’t doing much, and has actually been making me feel weirder. I want to ask my my doc about Klonopin but since he mentioned the Valium and said it’s better for vertigo in low doses I just went with it. Benzo’s seem to help me a lot too, when thisnfirt hit me the only way I could get out of bed was after taking Ativan.
Thank you! I was also thinking its such a small amount to have an effect on my dizziness the next day, it could just be coincidence as the Depakote was helping, but not enough, so it could just be kicking in more. I havent felt that instant sensation witj Valium, maybe a little relaxing but no effect on the dizziness when i take it durin the day. When I take the Ativan, I take half of .5mg or 1/4 of it, it just seems like lately it isn’t doing much, and has actually been making me feel weirder. I want to ask my my doc about Klonopin but since he mentioned the Valium and said it’s better for vertigo in low doses I just went with it. Benzo’s seem to help me a lot too, when this first hit me the only way I could get out of bed was after taking Ativan.
Valium lasted way too long for me, and heavily sedated me. I started Klonopin in June and I can take a half of a 0.5mg tab at 6:30 at night and still have a good nights rest! The after life of Klonopin for me will wear off around 10am.
I believe the metabolite of Valium can last a very, very long time…like days…I forget how many. Klonopin and Valium are both long acting benzos, so there’s a smoother transition with it than a high/low action of xanax or ativan.
Taking it at night should be helfpul for sleep as well as helping the next day.
How’s the Depakote feeling?
Kelley
Thanks Nick and Kelly, how many milligrams were you taking Nick? So Kelly do you think the 2mg valium would help me the whole day next day from taking it the night before? Its hard to tell just how much Depakote is helping since i added the valium, but when i wasnt taking the valium i would say my days were at about %50-%70 depending on my day, how much i slept the night before etc. Then again i was only on Depakote for a week, my tiredness is getting better, my neck pain is still off and on. Im wondering how long to give it before i know if i should go up on my dose. I think my doc eventually wants me to drop the valium.
Valium has a long half life - from 20 to 100 hours is what most web sites say. If I take 1/2 valium (2.5 mgs) I have found the effects can last for 3 days in me. I would say if you are taking it at night it can certainly help you the next day if not longer. But I can’t say if it is the valium or depakote that is really doing the trick for you. For me it takes away the carsick and off balance feeling but lately I have been experiencing some new symptoms that the valium doesn’t seem to touch.
I don’t like to take it too often, I’m petrified of getting addicted.
Yes, the valium should help you the next day if you take it at night. Some people are quick metabolizers, some slow…that will make a difference. There is also some correlation on how drugs use the same pathways to metabolize, so taking some meds can interfere with others. I would ask a pharmacist to check your meds and make sure there aren’t any crossover issues. I don’t think most doctors know as much as they think they do. 2mg is really very little. I think the klonopin I take is equivalent to 5mg valium. While I’m afraid to get addicted, I don’t want to waste my life feeling crappy. You never know when your time is up, so I say live the best you can each and every day. Be reasonable, and be proactive. I never took drugs or even drank much before this, and now I take all these meds at night and felt like a loser. But I didn’t ask for this, and I don’t blame myself for getting it. I would only blame myself for not doing everything I can to move past it…I’e made peace that I may take medicine for the rest of my life. But the last 2 years I’ve had a life, and the year before that was spent crying, trembling, headachey, and suicidal. I’d rather be a klonopin addict and have a life.
Kelley
Hi Kelley…I use xanax because I can take it during the day without feeling too sleepy. So I usually take at least 0.25 mg 2x daily and rarely at night. You mentioned taking valium or klonopin but at night. I have no trouble sleeping, thankfully. What do you think of the xanax as opposed to valium or klonopin. I understand about them being longer lasting but would be afraid of being too drowsy next day. The xanax does calm the dizziness and imbalance. Thank you for any inputyou can give. Take care, Karen
Hi Karen
From what literature says, all benzos are fairly equal in the sense that they hit the same receptors. What sets them apart is their half life. The shorter term benzos like Xanax and ativan have more of a propensity to build tolerance. When people become addicted to those meds, docs will switch over to the longer acting benzos, namely Valium and klonopin. I don’t experience any drowsiness on the very low dose of klonopin I take. I have tried Valium and didn’t get as good of relief, but others experience the opposite. What seems to be fairly consistent is that mist mav’ers do get some relief from benzos. Benzos are technically mild anticonvulsants, and it makes sense that they would calm down a hyper-excitable brain.
Kelley
— Begin quote from “rockyksmom”
Yes, the valium should help you the next day if you take it at night. Some people are quick metabolizers, some slow…that will make a difference. There is also some correlation on how drugs use the same pathways to metabolize, so taking some meds can interfere with others. I would ask a pharmacist to check your meds and make sure there aren’t any crossover issues. I don’t think most doctors know as much as they think they do. 2mg is really very little. I think the klonopin I take is equivalent to 5mg valium. While I’m afraid to get addicted, I don’t want to waste my life feeling crappy. You never know when your time is up, so I say live the best you can each and every day. Be reasonable, and be proactive. I never took drugs or even drank much before this, and now I take all these meds at night and felt like a loser. But I didn’t ask for this, and I don’t blame myself for getting it. I would only blame myself for not doing everything I can to move past it…I’e made peace that I may take medicine for the rest of my life. But the last 2 years I’ve had a life, and the year before that was spent crying, trembling, headachey, and suicidal. I’d rather be a klonopin addict and have a life.
Kelley
— End quote
Well-spoken, thank you for saying what I have been thinking.
Hi Kelley…Thanks for the info. I understand more now about the benzo’s. Next time I see my neuro I will discuss valium or klonopin. She has mentioned these in the past but I had already been taking the xanax for my panic attacks. And I agree with you…I’d rather have a life too!!! Take care,
Karen