Anyone have any experience with Librium?

[Ashes]

I researched it as much as I could online after also talking to my doctor, so I know what it does and what the side effects are, etc., but it still isn't the same as getting a personal account from someone. I got the prescription today, but haven't filled it yet. If any of you have taken it, or know someone who takes or has taken it, it might be helpful to know what to expect. Thanks in advance.

~ashes

 

[digdeep]

About 30 years ago I was prescribed librium because of a series of tragic family problems but soon discovered that the only effect it had was to make me so sleepy I could hardly work therefore I stopped taking it.

I have on occassion taken diazapam (Valium) before an especially stressful situation, for example, taking a plane flight. Beats taking alcohol to relax and it still keeps me mentally alert.

I suggest you talk to your doctor about the most appropriate medication for your situation. A good patient-doctor relationship with a discussion of the pros and cons of the medications will help both of you decide what is best for you.

Just my experiences. Good luck and hope things work out for you.

 

[mete]

Each person handles a drug differently so you can't depend on other's experiences. You must be aware of how it works and the possible side effects .If you get unpleasant side effects go to your doctor and ask for something different. I agree a patient-doctor relationship is important.

 

[MarkPinTx]

Librium is ok stuff. Used to take the edge off detoxing addicts, especially alcoholics.

It is, however, a benzodiazepine, like Valium, Xanax, Ativan and others. It has a sneaky way of catching you (mothers' little helper and all) and I understand withdrawal is MOST UNPLEASANT.

Therefore, use judiciously and avoid any sort of regular use.

 

[Ryan8]

I don't have any personal experience with Librium, however I've taken Xanax which is basically a shorter-acting and more potent version.

It's a minor tranquilizer. It slows down the firing of neurons in your brain, making everything seem calmer.

Take it exactly as your doctor prescribed it because it can be addictive, and DO NOT mix it with other downers like alcohol. I'm assuming it's for short-term use where this won't be a problem, but some doctors maintain people on these drugs for long term because the benefits outweigh the harm.

I've experienced some mental clouding and drowsiness with Xanax. I had a prescription to take it "as needed" when I experience (or am going to experience) severe anxiety. This was fairly rare so addictive potential was never a problem for me.

 

[Mike Hull]

Never mind!

 

[jsmatos]

What in the hell is the point of taking this stuff? I'm serious. I've read the responses to Ashes question, and I can't conceive of a good reason for her to take these meds. What is the purpose? Detoxification? It sounds like it causes more problems than solutions. Why would a doctor prescribe an addictive medication to a person who has addiction problems? "The withdrawal can be worse than heroin." WTF???

There has to be a better way to treat these problems. What am I missing here?

 

[Ryan8]

What in the hell is the point of taking this stuff? I'm serious. I've read the responses to Ashes question, and I can't conceive of a good reason for her to take these meds. What is the purpose? Detoxification? It sounds like it causes more problems than solutions. Why would a doctor prescribe an addictive medication to a person who has addiction problems? "The withdrawal can be worse than heroin." WTF???

There has to be a better way to treat these problems. What am I missing here?

Because it stops potentially-fatal seizures, hallucinations and severe anxiety associated with alcohol withdrawal.

Unlike alcohol though, the doctor can control how much you are taking and taper you off of it.

Sometimes doctors maintain very problematic alcoholics on tranquilizers long-term. The reason is that they don't cause liver or brain damage and at least their use can be controlled.

 

[Gollnick]

Some years ago, a doctor told me that I had to take prescription drugs every day probabaly for the rest of my life to control excess stomach acid and reflux. I didn't like the idea of taking pills every day for the rest of my life, so I asked a second doctor. He said, "Raise the head of your bed eight inches and switch from screwdrivers to martinis before bed." That worked like a charm.

That's an entirely different sort of problem than our friend Ashes has, of course. But the point is that some doctors are way to quick to reach for their prescription pad and prescribe big drugs for problems that might be able to be solved other, simplier ways.

 

[jsmatos]

Because it stops potentially-fatal seizures, hallucinations and severe anxiety associated with alcohol withdrawal.

Well that's interesting. But in this situation, Ashes already quit once without the use of these meds. She didn't mention experiencing "potentially-fatal seizures or hallucinations." I would imagine "severe anxiety" can be dealt with so long as the person quitting is aware that it's coming. If you quit, there will obviously be severe physical and emotional responses to the withdrawal. It is temporary. It will go away after a period of time. There is an end to the withdrawal symptoms. You must cling to that throughout the withdrawal. It will end.

Unlike alcohol though, the doctor can control how much you are taking and taper you off of it.

If that were really the case, we would not have every post in this thread warning about severe addiction. Sure, doctors can control all kinds of addictive drugs. That's why we have so many addicts running around who are addicted to prescription drugs. :barf:

"But, you have to stick to the doctor's plan." "As long as you're careful..." Aren't we talking about people with naturally addictive personalities? Do they suddenly change their drug interactions when a doctor is onboard?

Sometimes doctors maintain very problematic alcoholics on tranquilizers long-term. The reason is that they don't cause liver or brain damage and at least their use can be controlled.

Okay, I can see this in situations of extreme emergency. If the person has liver problems already, then perhaps, tranquilizers are necessary. But here, we're talking about a 26 year old woman. It seems like there's still time to explore alternative methods.

I'm sorry, I agree with Gollnick. Second, third, and fourth opinions are always helpful. There's nothing wrong with shopping around for a doctor that fits your needs and understands your personality type. I wouldn't freely begin the use of "extremely addictive" drugs without some real serious basis for it.

 

[Nordic Viking]

I agree with jsmatos and Gollnick; prescribing addictive drugs to addictive personalities is FUBAR. It seems the only long-term beneficiary in this scenario is the drug industry.

 

[geothorn]

I think that if Ashes is having so many questions about taking Librium that she should make another appointment with her doctor and more thoroughly discuss it with him or her, including all of the side-effect and withdrawal possibilities that have been mentioned here. If she is so worried about Librium that she won't take it, then she either needs more information, or, as has also been mentioned, to get another opinion(s).

I was given large, coma-sized doses of morphine, Pavulon and Ativan for a period of a month, during a 6-week stay in intensive care. Although I was released from the hospital, medication free, I went into a seizure a few days after my release. I'd thought that I'd asked my doctors to detoxify me of those medications, before I left the hospital, but, apparently, because of the resulting seizure, I wasn't.

If you have questions, Ashes, ask all of them, until you're satisfied. Ask your doctor how you can be withdrawn from Librium without having to go through a tough withdrawal. If s/he wants you to take Librium, and has filled-out your prescription, you should also be armed with the knowledge of how your doctor will ease you off of it.

GeoThorn

 

[Ryan8]

Well that's interesting. But in this situation, Ashes already quit once without the use of these meds. She didn't mention experiencing "potentially-fatal seizures or hallucinations." I would imagine "severe anxiety" can be dealt with so long as the person quitting is aware that it's coming. If you quit, there will obviously be severe physical and emotional responses to the withdrawal. It is temporary. It will go away after a period of time. There is an end to the withdrawal symptoms. You must cling to that throughout the withdrawal. It will end.

I guess she doesn't drink to the point where it would be life-threatening. This is definitely good to hear.

The seizures and hallucinations are what you get when suddenly withdrawing from any large, chronic dose of downers - alcohol, Valium, Librium, and so on.

A second opinion, as you and many others have said, may not be a bad idea at all in this case.

"But, you have to stick to the doctor's plan." "As long as you're careful..." Aren't we talking about people with naturally addictive personalities? Do they suddenly change their drug interactions when a doctor is onboard?

It may only be enough Librium for a few days or a week or something, in which case I don't think it would be an issue.

I think the problem with these tranquilizers is not so much that people abuse them initially (except on the street), but they become physically habituated to them in the course of taking them. I never found Xanax to be pleasurable, but YMMV.

 

[DaveH]

The seizure thing is real.

I had a GF once that was taking xanax and buspar, never went grand mal, but enough to "check out" for 10 to 20 minutes. She end up spending 3 weeks in a hospital psych ward and over 20K in hospital bills for basically what was IMO, an doctor induced medication event.

IMO unless you're one of the severe spyders crawling in my mind can't control dangers to youself or others it's best to avoid psych medications if possible.
(but clearly I ain't a doctor)

 

[Mike Hull]

Never mind!

 

[Ashes]

I am currently on Klonopin for anxiety. My doctor said to stop taking it after I get my new meds (Librium and Buspar.) Yes, I am taking it because I cannot deal with the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol, and because I am quitting drinking again. I was only given a week's supply, and he wants me to come in weekly for a while to monitor me as I try to get off the alcohol.

I'm not one to abuse drugs either. I am too chicken for that anyway. And I want to quit drinking. The main reason I can't is because the withdrawal symptoms really are too difficult for me to endure, and I'd probably end up self-injuring if I had to feel it again.

I have a very good relationship with my doctor. He is young and incredibly knowledgable and willing to go out of his way to help me out, even as far as counseling (he told me I can call him anytime) and he's even called me from home before when he couldn't reach me during the day (to discuss my recent blood lab work; it turns out I have something called Von Willebrands Disease, which causes severe bruising and excessive bleeding/problems clotting.)

My doctor is well-known for NOT prescribing things except as a last resort, and for taking the time to research things ahead of time and know what he is talking about. He has previously recommended herbal supplements (he's also very knowledgable about that kind of thing) and even refused to prescribe me anything in addition to the Klonopin and even told me to decrease my dosage from three times a day to two times a day, after I switched to him from my previous doctor who WAS willing to prescribe me just about anything. I started seeing him on a recommendation from my best friend, last fall, I think. I can't say enough good things about him, and I have NEVER had anything good to say about any of my previous doctors, and I've been through lots, having moved so many times and had so many health problems.

He did discuss it with me too, and sat with me and answered my questions. Of course, he also recommended the typical things: AA, rehab (again), online support groups, which I already have, and even stuff like journaling.

I just wanted to hear some personal experiences with it if I could, in addition to that. Not because I don't trust him, but because different people might have different experiences. I didn't intend to start a thread that would have people trashing my doctor. None of you know me nearly as well as he does, and I am honest with him about everything, which also attests to his trustworthiness and manner. I don't feel comfortable talking in person to most people about such personal matters.

Yes, I've tried to quit drinking on my own, I have been through IOP rehab, and I have quit for weeks at a time, but the withdrawal symptoms for the first several days or even a week or two are horrendous.

Thank you for your replies. I hope I have made myself a little more clear.

~ashes

p.s. Sorry for not posting back to this until now. I did try to last night, but my computer keeps freezing, and it happened again after I wrote my post. I think I have a computer virus. My aol won't work at all right now, just in case anyone may have emailed me (so please don't feel offended or snubbed!) I'm borrowing my father's dial-up account. I should be able to access my email from work, hopefully, if I have a chance this week. I don't get any breaks at work except for lunch, when I take my dog for a walk, so I usually have to stay after work if I want to use the computer there. I'm almost always online on Saturdays, when I work in the store, in between customers.

 

[jsmatos]

I guess it depends on how you "choose" to read things. I thought I, and some of the other posters in this thread, expressed genuine concern for your well-being. All you saw was an attack on your doctor. That's fine.

I'm glad to hear that you are trying to break your addiction. You'll be a much happier and productive person when you get this behind you. I'm glad that you have a great relationship with your doctor too. I had three doctors misdiagnose me for appendicitis. I recently had a fourth surgery (20 years later) to repair some of the damages from their mistakes. I don't dislike doctors, but I am a hell of a big skeptic when it comes to them.

 

[Ashes]

I guess it depends on how you "choose" to read things. I thought I, and some of the other posters in this thread, expressed genuine concern for your well-being. All you saw was an attack on your doctor. That's fine.

I saw it as an attack on me, actually. And I don't think your rudeness has helped any.

I don't dislike doctors, but I am a hell of a big skeptic when it comes to them.

You have no idea what a skeptic I am.

You know? Hell, I'm trying really, really hard here to work through some pretty big issues in my life, and your posts, to put it truthfully, have kind of pissed me off. You don't need to belittle me or play devil's advocate... And no, honestly I do not feel that you have ever expressed genuine concern for me. I feel like every time you actually respond to something I wrote you are either patronizing or simply insulting. I honestly don't know what to think of you, jsmatos.

~ashes

 

[Josh Feltman]

My aol won't work at all right now, just in case anyone may have emailed me (so please don't feel offended or snubbed!)

Not offended or snubbed, just a little concerned . Hang in there Ashes, it really does get better with time. If I can quit drinking, I think anyone can; I was quite the lush

 

[Cindy Denning]

I have panic attacks. I also have been on medication for this for a number of years. Actually, it's called Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder and what I can't indulge is the reason why I can't say what aided this disorder. The medication can help but the pain my body goes through is getting worse as I get older. Do doctors care ? I don't want to say they do not but I have to agree with Jsmatos question as far as why the medical field is replacing alcohol with Librium. It's nothing to be ashamed of and I can see why they would do that but I think I would read everything I could get my hands on Ashes. This is a different ballpark.