HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Suggest Dosage Of Valium

default
Posted on Thu, 13 Aug 2015
Question: I was taking 5mg of vaium for last five years to get sleep and it seems i have deveoloped a tolerence for this drug and i require an additional five mg of valine to sleep. pl advice me on this as i am getting sedated during day time. with less concentratoin.Pl suggest some remedial measures to get out of this problem.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
atarax is also sedative, reduce dose of valium for a while

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

You are taking total 10 mg of valium at night for sleep as well as atarax for skin itch. Valium contains diazepam which is benzodiazpine and used for insomnia. Atarax is anti-histaminic and contains hyrdxoyzine which also causes sedation.

Your current problem is daytime sedation.
If you are taking atarax in day time, please avoid daytime dosing and take it at night or at evening.
If you are already taking atarax at night you should reduce dose of valium to 7.5 mg to avoid day time sedation and if still problem persists reduce it to 5 mg.

When atarax is stopped you can increase the dose of valium again.

For good sleep, apart from medicines some measures are there called 'Sleep Hygiene'. With this you can reduce your need of sleeping pills. You can find it in below link:

sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (9 hours later)
Dear Doctor,
My main worry is when i continue with this 10mg of valium as a higher dose i am likely to be addicted and my system become used to this 10mg dosage with the result i may be tempted to increase valium dosage further which i am afraid will end in disastrous outcome.Hence i request you to clarify whether it is possible to reduce this higher dose of 10mg to original leval of 5mg of valium soas to avoid disastrous outcme at a futue dates.
Thanks And Regards
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
yes you can reduce/stop diazepam

Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXX,

Thanks for follow up.

I appreciate your concern about addiction of diazepam.

It is good that you want to decrease the dose.

I have already mentioned non medicinal approach to treat insomnia in previous answer as 'Sleep Hygiene'.
Apart from that you can take one cup of warm milk with half teaspoon ghee(butter) before 10 minutes to bed. This will help in sleep.

Above measures will help to decrease and stop valium.

I think you can reduce 2.5 mg every two weeks and can stop under your doctor's guidance.

Note: You are already at age of 95. Benzodiazepine/diazepam can cause problem of dementia after chronic use of 15-20 years. You are taking since 5 years. If yo do not have any neurological problem, diabetes or hypertension; no need to worry if you want to take 5 mg diazepam for long period.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2406 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Suggest Dosage Of Valium

Brief Answer: atarax is also sedative, reduce dose of valium for a while Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for writing to us. You are taking total 10 mg of valium at night for sleep as well as atarax for skin itch. Valium contains diazepam which is benzodiazpine and used for insomnia. Atarax is anti-histaminic and contains hyrdxoyzine which also causes sedation. Your current problem is daytime sedation. If you are taking atarax in day time, please avoid daytime dosing and take it at night or at evening. If you are already taking atarax at night you should reduce dose of valium to 7.5 mg to avoid day time sedation and if still problem persists reduce it to 5 mg. When atarax is stopped you can increase the dose of valium again. For good sleep, apart from medicines some measures are there called 'Sleep Hygiene'. With this you can reduce your need of sleeping pills. You can find it in below link: sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further. Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki.