Valium

[DanaW]

Hi again....I decided to try Valium as an alternative to Percocet. I am nervous about it but, am willing to give it a try. Has anyone had success with Valium? I am thinking that I may have PFD. And, if you do take Valium, what are your side effects? Thanks everyone for answering all of my questions lately!! :)

[ICNJess]

Hi Dana,

I was on 15 mg. of Valium a day for bladder spasms and pain, and the side effects I had were just drowsiness, that's all. After awhile, it didn't even make me drowsy. I do have PFD, and it did seem to help. Hope it works!!!

grouphug grouphug

[DanaW]

Hi Jessica,
I picked up my prescription for Valium 2 mg. I am having a very bad flare right now and the Valium isn't even touching the pain. Not sure what to do now as, I only have a few percs left and i know you can't mix the two. :( I wish I had just picked up my usual percocet instead. Either that or asked for a higher dose of Valium....

[ICNDonna]

I suggest you telephone your doctor. There are some pain medications that are okay to take with valium --- I'm not sure which ones so you do need to get medical advice.

The most common effect of valium is to make you sleepy --- it's frequently used as a pre-op medication for that very reason, but in larger doses.

Sending healing thoughts,
Donna

[DanaW]

Well, I thought that my Uro. was out of town but, I got lucky...he was there. I called the nurse and explained that the Valium didn't work at all. And, she said "well at least you gave it a try" I will get you a prescription for Perc. I am so relieved bc I thought I would have to tough it out until Friday! I probably would have had to go to the emergency room bc I am in a very bad flare right now! Thanks again for your encouragement everyone! I have to try to get over these guilt feelings I have about pain meds... grouphug

[ICNJess]

Dana,

I never knew that you couldn't mix Percocet and Valium together...I was on both at the same time and had a horrible reaction to Percocet...hmmm...thanks for that info, I always wondered why I had the kind of reaction I did. I can't handle morphine either, so I figured I was just drug sensitive because of the Fibro. Thanks for that lightbulb! I hope you are feeling better.

Hugs and love,
Jess grouphug

[cia]

Hi Jessica,
I picked up my prescription for Valium 2 mg. I am having a very bad flare right now and the Valium isn't even touching the pain. Not sure what to do now as, I only have a few percs left and i know you can't mix the two. :( I wish I had just picked up my usual percocet instead. Either that or asked for a higher dose of Valium....
I've been mixing Percoset for IC pain and valium for sleep disorder together for years. Even if it kills me, at least it would be a more comfortable death. I alsp am allergis to Morphine. Some days the pain is so bad though that is seems like the morphine drip is the way to go.

[tzatke]

I got ic thirty years ago. I also have the vaginal component. It took three years, twenty six docs and six months of me reading in the Harvard Medical School Library. But even before a dx I realized Valium helped. After I had a urodynamic study my pelvic floor spasms were so severe my urologist thought I might have M.S. and sent me to the head of neurology at a major medical center. He put me on 30mg of Valium; my other option was Flexeril, but that makes me violently ill. I didn't take Percocet at the time; I had severe urgency and frequency and intense vaginal itching. I'm sorry I didn't try it for an extended period. Things became 90% better when I hit menopause and I did well on valium, atarax and Neurontin. Three weeks ago after twelve good years I started having intense vaginal symptoms and some bladder symptoms. The itching was so bad I thought I'd lose my mind. My gyn was on vacation. I also had urethral and clitoral symptoms. I had shingles this winter and had a lot of narcotic pain meds left. So I am now taking percocet with the valium. I spoke to my psychopharmocologist (he's at one of the best hospitals in the world) and he encouraged me to take the percocet with my other meds. Also, the Atarax will potentiate the percocet so I don't need as much. The only side effect I got from Valium was drowsiness and when I first started it, took it at bedtime. Now I have no side effects. 2 mg. would do NOTHING for me. I also found that taking the 30 at bedtime when I started was more effective than taking it throughout the day. The percocet does help now, even with the vaginal symptoms. I also started taking Pyridium, which seems to help with the stream. My psychopharm was concerned with me taking it for too long. If you haven't tried Neurontin, I can't encourage you enough. It helps my fibro also. I am very dependent on my pharmacist and only fill scrips at one drugstore. He's very good and always watches for contraindications between meds. Now I only hope I have the courage to keep going. Losing a near remission terrifies me. But trust me, they know a lot more now than thirty years ago; it was the dark ages.

[IC SARAH-CPP]

Who told you that you cannot mix valium and percocet? I don't think that is accurate at all, I know lots of people who take both. In fact there are a whole bunch of people on the board who take both. I take valium or xanax with Oxycontin, which is the same medication as what is in percocet and have never had a problem. I am not trying to be rude, I just dont want anyone on here to think they can't take them, IF THEIR DR prescribed both. Obviously anyone should check with their doctor and pharmacist but my doctor prescribed me both of them.

I am so happy they are willing to give you more percocet. I know how tough it is to try to wait out a flare! Thank god your uro was still in town! Hope you feel better soon!

Sarah

[Briza]

This seems to be an old thread, and I don't think DanaW has been on the board for a while, but I am hoping she has found adequate treatment for her pain!
But you are right Sarah, many of us take valium or other meds in the same benzo family in addition to our pain meds, so that may have been some mis-info that was relayed or possibly a concern about an interaction specific to one patient's situation.
Most doctors and pharmacists are and obviously should be knowledgeable about which meds can and cannot be taken together, and definitely patients should be as well. I always make sure that ALL of my drs know ALL of the meds I am prescribed, and also question my pharmacist, and in addition do my own research just to make sure that I have covered all bases in case I have any further concerns about interactions.
B:)

[Briza]

I got ic thirty years ago. I also have the vaginal component. It took three years, twenty six docs and six months of me reading in the Harvard Medical School Library. But even before a dx I realized Valium helped. After I had a urodynamic study my pelvic floor spasms were so severe my urologist thought I might have M.S. and sent me to the head of neurology at a major medical center. He put me on 30mg of Valium; my other option was Flexeril, but that makes me violently ill. I didn't take Percocet at the time; I had severe urgency and frequency and intense vaginal itching. I'm sorry I didn't try it for an extended period. Things became 90% better when I hit menopause and I did well on valium, atarax and Neurontin. Three weeks ago after twelve good years I started having intense vaginal symptoms and some bladder symptoms. The itching was so bad I thought I'd lose my mind. My gyn was on vacation. I also had urethral and clitoral symptoms. I had shingles this winter and had a lot of narcotic pain meds left. So I am now taking percocet with the valium. I spoke to my psychopharmocologist (he's at one of the best hospitals in the world) and he encouraged me to take the percocet with my other meds. Also, the Atarax will potentiate the percocet so I don't need as much. The only side effect I got from Valium was drowsiness and when I first started it, took it at bedtime. Now I have no side effects. 2 mg. would do NOTHING for me. I also found that taking the 30 at bedtime when I started was more effective than taking it throughout the day. The percocet does help now, even with the vaginal symptoms. I also started taking Pyridium, which seems to help with the stream. My psychopharm was concerned with me taking it for too long. If you haven't tried Neurontin, I can't encourage you enough. It helps my fibro also. I am very dependent on my pharmacist and only fill scrips at one drugstore. He's very good and always watches for contraindications between meds. Now I only hope I have the courage to keep going. Losing a near remission terrifies me. But trust me, they know a lot more now than thirty years ago; it was the dark ages.

You are correct in saying that it is important to have a good pharmacist (just as important as having a good doctor(s)) IMHO, and stick with one pharmacy/pharmacist...that is very important (and often required when receiving pain management) in helping to avoid any possible med interactions. Thanks for pointing that out. Bri

[hdb1982]

I take Valum, Xanax, Percocet and Ambien. If I take either Xanax or Valium I don't take Ambien though. The dr knows everything I take and hasn't told me not to but to me that is just too many sedating meds at once.

[IC SARAH-CPP]

Hee hee, I didn't even think to look at the date! How do these old threads get pulled up anyway?

Sarah

[Briza]

I take Valum, Xanax, Percocet and Ambien. If I take either Xanax or Valium I don't take Ambien though. The dr knows everything I take and hasn't told me not to but to me that is just too many sedating meds at once.

Heather, I agree with you. For some patients that IS too many sedating drugs to be taken at the same time...especially if you work, drive, live alone, are caring for children or others who may be under your care, or are especially sensitive to that side effect...that's why I don't want to take muscle relaxers anymore (other than low dose valium) b/c they, of all the meds I've tried, are the the ones that have the most sedating effect on me and I am not comfortable with that.
So yeah, I have my concerns as well, about taking multiple sedating meds all at the same time, even if the dr/pharmacist says it is ok. Not that I haven't done so during extreme flares, but I have always tried to take my meds as sparingly as possible, and luckily over the years and with trial and error have learned which med will best treat a particular symptom/condition so rarely now do I feel like I have to take everything at the same time, which gives me much peace of mind that I am not over-medicating. Even if I feel a full bown flare coming on now, I will try to ward it off with trying one med at a time, rather than taking them all at once.
Best wishes, all, Bri:)

[Briza]

Hee hee, I didn't even think to look at the date! How do these old threads get pulled up anyway?

Sarah

:)Probably by doing a search on a particular med or topic, I would imagine. But sometimes even if a thread is old, I've found often it still contains relevant and educational info that is helpful, esp for those who are new to the board. Hope you are well,Bri

[tzatke]

To the person who was so distressed with me, you misunderstood. I never said one couldn't take valium and percocet. I'm taking both right now in addition to atarax , neurontin. And I'm wide awake! Sorry if you misunderstood me--I'm brand new to the board and really respect everyone here. I'm thrilled I found it and can't wait to have my gyn read the lectures. I was in remission for ten years so flaring now is so discourag, but there is also so much new in those ten years.

[cia]

Things have changed since my last post on this thread. I still take the valium for sleep and the emotional distress that overwhelms me whenever I think of my daughter, along with the percocet when my bladder gets angry at me, but I insisted they try morphine at my last hydro and I tolerated it very well. I explained to the anesthesiologist the circumstances surrounding my being told I should never have morphine again. I had just lost my first baby to an ectopic pregnancy and had requested a private (no student) surgery. Usually I am all for the students, I must have had a premonition or something, because I just didn't want them there. I was a mess. Soon after I woke up, a group of students tromped into my room to poke and prod me having watched my surgery. One of the students told me that my remaining tube looked a little short, so it was unlikely that I would be able to conceive again. She offered her condolences, and I went totally apesh*t. Of course they blamed the morphine for my reaction, rather than the students insensitivity or the hospitals failure to respect my wishes. (I even made admitting cross out all the permission for students stuff before I would sign the medical authorization) That was 1987. Sorry, this response wasn't supposed to be this long, but my chest feels lighter so I guess it was good to get it out.