Can Valium cause major depression?

[Manick]

A couple of weeks ago I started taking Elavil. It seemed to be working great. No side effects to speak of, and it helped with my insomnia and helped me get a good night sleep without any nightmares. Then the next week, I started taking valium. First few days on it during the weekdays, I felt fine for the most part, and the tension in my muscles was reducing every day. But today, I had energy for about 1 hour, then POOF! I felt horrible, as if nothing mattered to me anymore and I didn't feel like doing anything at all (not even fun stuff). I am taking the lowest dosage once in the morning, and then one at night before bedtime like the doctor ordered. Did anyone else have this problem when they took Valium for the first time?

[webslave]

Are you taking Valium and Elavil at the same time? Elavil is mentioned under the "Drug interactions" section for Valium.

Remember that depression is one of the known possible side effects of Valium.

[Manick]

Yes, I am taking 2x 25mg of Elavil every night, and 5mg of valium once in the morning and then once again at night. This is what my psychiatrist suggested I be on for now but said I should back off to just once a day on the valium if it caused any problems. But this happened only 1 day out of the week, so... I'm not sure what to think about it.

[coppertop]

My valium levels are low: .5 or 1 mg 3x a day. No depression thus far and it has been several weeks.