Valium and Concerns about Dependence

[lookouth]

I've found taking 1mg of valium a half hour to an hour before ejaculation helps immensly with post-soreness. I am a bit worried that doing this, even only a few times a week will quickly raise my tolerance, which is something I don't want at all. What is a good space to leave between doses to make sure my tolerance doesn't increase? Is this even possible? I also don't want to become dependent or addicted to them.

[CppsDad]

Some people have reported that taking nice long, hot baths prior to and/or after sex helps as well. You might want to see if that makes a difference. I don't think that I've ever tried having sex after taking a muscle relaxer, but according to the side effects, some people may not be able to have sex on the medication. Personally, I don't think 2 pills a week would lead to addiction, espcially since when I was taking the medication for anxiety I was taking 3 per DAY (doctor's orders). I quickly reduced that dosage as soon as I could. Now I seem to take 1 pill a week for anxiety and another pill a week to break a bad flare up from muscle spasm. I find if I take them 2-3 days in a row, I start getting withdrawal effects.

[MastCells]

Personally, I don't think 2 pills a week would lead to addiction, espcially since when I was taking the medication for anxiety I was taking 3 per DAY (doctor's orders). I quickly reduced that dosage as soon as I could. Now I seem to take 1 pill a week for anxiety and another pill a week to break a bad flare up from muscle spasm.

You've acted wisely. IMO, this is exactly how chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients should use potentially addictive benzos--as an adjunct to physical therapy, stress reduction, phytotherapy, etc. It's also important to take these meds under the close supervision of a caring physician. I have taken benzos on and off for years now, and they have greatly improved the quality of my life. I have never felt the need to increase the low doses prescribed by my doctor, and I have never experienced any withdrawal effects. I take an average of two pills per week, and I make sure to take a couple of weeks off every few months just to make sure I'm not becoming dependent on them.

A couple of Xanax or Ativan are enough to abort a flare-up for me, and they are remarkably effective for treating anxiety. I take benzos as little as possible, and I never take them for MORE THAN 3 DAYS IN A ROW. If a person takes a benzo daily for weeks or months, he quickly builds up tolerance to the drug and needs to increase the dose to maintain the desired anxiolytic and muscle relaxant effects. Long-term daily use of benzos is a recipe for disaster.

I find if I take them 2-3 days in a row, I start getting withdrawal effects.

I'm a little surprised you experience withdrawal effects after taking them for only two days, but as I said before, every individual reacts to a medication differently. What benzo do you take? My doc and I have tried several in order to ascertain which is most suitable for me, and alprazolam and lorazepam are the best choices for me since they are short-acting. Clonazepam has a very long half-life, and I don't like the idea of drugs hanging around in my body for so long; I also find clonazepam pretty ineffective for treating anxiety. Diazepam may be a good one for muscle tension, but it's half-life is too long for me. Temazepam is not indicated for anxiety or muscle tension; it is an unpopular benzo used to treat insomnia, and has pretty much been replaced by supposedly safer non-benzo drugs such as Ambien and Sonata. These drugs are supposed to bind preferentially to the omega 1 benzodiazepine recognition sites located within the GABAA receptor complex, as opposed to benzos, which bind non-selectively to the omega 1 and omega 2 sites. Omega 1 sites are thought to be responsible for the hypnotic, but not anxiolytic or muscle relaxant effects of benzos.

[CppsDad]

Well, most of the reason I take the Xanax is for anxiety. After I've taken 2-3 days in a row of medication, my body seems to be "asking" for more medication. My anxiety becomes very intense for a day or so. If I can just make it passed the day or two period, then I'm ok for as long as it takes.