A
female
age
51-59,
anonymous
writes:Is it wise for a doctor to suddenly stop valium (2-4mg a day) that I have been taking for about 3 weeks. Before then I was taking 2mg when required. This has increased.My doctor (who was far from sympathetic, and who I don't normally see, new to my practice) said it was such a low dose, I could just stop and there would be no adverse physical or psychological effect.I suffer from anxiety and agoraphobia; have done for many years. (20 approx)I also enquired about a CPN for support and she couldn't understand why I needed one. I do not have any other form of therapy.If you have the link to any info regarding the stopping suddenly of diazepam, be much appreciated. She basically said the dose was low, so wouldn't matter. Reply to this Question
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Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
male
reader, ChiRaven  +, writes (29 July 2008):
 Well, 2 mg is the minimum dose of diazepam, so you really couldn't go any lower unless you went on an intermittent schedule (taking one every other day or something like that). The normal dose for anxiety disorders is 2 to 4 mg twice a day, and dosages of up to 10 mg. four times a day can be used when needed. This may be a bit outdated, as I only have an old copy of the PDR.
In short, while I have no special medical background, I believe that your doctor was probably right about your dose being low enough that there was no need to withdraw gradually any further. Whether stopping the medication was a wise decision, of course, I can't say either. That's strictly a medical decision between you and your doctor.
But based on the way my doctors have taken me (and my late wife) off maintenance medicines in the past (although I've never had direct experience with valium), it seems to me that this follows the same pattern that I've observed.
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