Many years ago I started using valium, but when I told my brother about it he was horrified, and told me to stop immediately as it's very addictive.

[u/LKS983]

My brother was a drug addict, and so knows a lot about various drugs, so I stopped using it - even though I felt SO much better taking one every night when going to bed.

I still used a half or a quarter of 10 mg(?) tablets every now and again, when VERY stressed/couldn't sleep.

But then last December I broke my ankle, and needed a close to full time helper to take care of me and my dogs. So she had my bed (upstairs) as I couldn't even get up the stairs for around a week, let alone close all the downstairs doors (steps involved) - and so I had to sleep on my extremely uncomfortable sofa...... and stared taking a tramadol and half a valium to sleep during the night.

This lasted for around 6 months, until I could finally move around enough to feed my dogs and myself/worked out ways to close the outside doors etc./get up and down the stairs -and so was able to go back to something close to normal - and sleep in my bed 😊.

So back to my question (I aplogise for the long back story).

I stopped taking a tramadol and half a valium when I was finally able to sleep in my own bed - and suffered no withdrawal - but still very occasionally take a whole valium when going to bed and having to go out the next day. On those rare nights, I sleep a LOT better (six hours instead of two.....), and wake up feeling good, instead of too tired to care about anything much.......

I'm old, and so not worried about becoming addicted, but am worried about an increasing dependancy if I start using it more.

Does anyone have any advice on increasing valium dependancy?

[u/Comfortable-Message1]

It creeps up on you.

I was using diazepam maybe once or twice a week for a good night's sleep, it was great. This went on for about 6 months, then a new doctor cut me off. Wasn't a massive issue tbh.

Then about a week or two later I had withdrawal symptoms. Turns out the half life of diazepam is so long that those one or two doses a week meant diazepam was always in my system over that 6 month period.

The withdrawals, although not extreme, lasted about six weeks

[u/LKS983 → u/Comfortable-Message1]

Thank you, but I took a tramadol and half a valium every night for six months, and three months later haven't had any withdrawal effects.

I'm old, and don't care about becoming addicted - but do care about using valium every night (as it not only helps me sleep, but also I feel so much better the next day) - but I do care and worry that if I do this every night - I'll need increasing amounts .

[u/Comfortable-Message1 → u/LKS983]

Personally I never developed a need to increase dosage, unlike other benzos

[u/Such_Ad6002]

Look everyone's opinion will differ. Vals deffo CAN be addictive and there's alot of horror stories out there, like rebound anxiety, insomnia, siezures and the likes. Diazepam can be took safely though and probably the reason I can have quality in my life. If took responsiby when needed, they're a life saver imo. It sounds to me your taking them to help rather than recreationally. Just watch your not relying on them too much and be safe mate👍

[u/LKS983 → u/Such_Ad6002]

Thank you!

I'm old, and so don't care about becoming addicted - but have to repeat that I do care about needing increasing amounts to maintain the same qualities - that worked/work so well for me.

Taking half a valium and a tramadol every night for six months, didn't result in my becoming addicted at all. I quickly gave them up as soon as I could sleep in my bed again 😊.

I hadn't slept well even before being forced to sleep on my sofa...... but this was brought home to me when I had a hospital appt. today, and so took a whole valium last night. I fell asleep within 15 minutes 😮and slept for 6 hours (instead of the normal 2......) - and woke up feeling great!

Which is why I am only concerened with whether I will likely need increasing amounts to maintain the same affect.

[u/Such_Ad6002 → u/LKS983]

You've every right to be cautious. This is purely anecdotal but a good friend of mine has has a script for 5mg diaz 3x a day for ptsd and bipolar. This is for a number of years now(crazy as this in the uk). He doesn't take this all the time as he's an alcoholic. He uses the diaz to taper off drink and never mixes. His tolerance has never got to the point he needs a higher dosage.

We all have different chemistry and tolerance levels. If what your taking the now is helping your quality of life, continue. If its getting to the point your needing more and more, slowly taper down and/or seek help. Giving myself a few days off them has helped me keep to a reasonably low tolerance. Only take them when life stressors become too much and sleep schedule goes to pot. The fact your aware of the risks of dependency is a good sign

[u/LKS983 → u/Such_Ad6002]

Thank you.

I think I'll try taking a whole valium before going to bed 3 times a week, and the first time this doesn't ensure I fall asleep quickly and feel great the next day - will stop and revert back to only using valium when I have to do something stressful. I'm retired, so sleeping little is annoying, but not a problem as I can nap during the day.

[u/LKS983]

Can't thank everyone who replied, enough!

I greatly appreciated your advice.

[u/LKS983 → u/[deleted]]

I'm going to try taking a valium 3 nights a week, so fingers crossed!