Re: RE; Valium

[Guest guest]

Jodi, et al.,

I have wondered why Valium doesn't seem to be used much for RLS. I

took it years ago (before the RLS was a serious problem) for severe

muscle spasms in my neck and thought it was a fine drug. I suggested

to my doctor that I try it for RLS last year and he wouldn't let me.

It seems that Valium has fallen out of favor due to it's abuse

history. At least that's the impression I got. In any case, keep us

posted. I'd really like to cut out the Vicodin, Xanax, Mirapex mix

too-- or at least have another alternative.

--, 52

---Jodi Judson jmjudson@...> wrote:

>

>

>

> Jan:

> Up until a few days ago, I was on a combination of Hydrocodone 5/500

> (Vicodin/Lortab), 1-2 tablets about an hour before bed, or at 8:30

pm and

> 0.5 mg of Xanax to help me to relax so that I could sleep (I've had

insomnia

> problems for some time now). This combination has worked very well

for me

> for quite some time (almost 2 years). About 10 days ago, I went to

my doctor

> because of severe neck pain that was radiating across my shoulders

and up my

> neck, giving me severe headaches. She put me on Valium, 5mg 3x a day

to help

> to try and loosen the muscles, as they were knotted up terribly. I

also

> found out that I have a disc compression C-3/C-4 and the bulge in

the disc

> was putting pressure on the nerve. She also prescribed Vicodin for

the pain,

> although I was already taking it, but since it was a 1-2 per night

> prescription, I didn't have enough to take during the day, if

needed. Well,

> believe it or not, this is the third day now that all I have taken

is the

> Valium. I take 5 mg around 6 pm and the other 5mg at 9 pm and I have

had no

> RLS symptoms at all and I sleep through the night. I don't know why

I hadn't

> thought of suggesting this med to my doctors in the past, as I have

been

> prescribed Klonopin, Ativan, Xanax, Ambien, Halcion and Restoril,

which are

> all in the same family of benzodiazepines. For the first time in

years, I am

> able to take only one medication at night, which is a miracle for

me. I have

> stopped taking the Hydrocodone for the last three nights and so far,

so

> good. I don't know how long this will last, but I'm keeping my fingers

> crossed. I haven't heard many people on the list mention Valium, so

I don't

> know whether anybody else has had good/bad experiences with it, but

I do

> intend to talk to my doctor about it when I go back to see her on

Jan. 7 and

> see if I can continue with this therapy until it (knock on wood)

fails to

> work for me. And another miracle has come out of this: not only have

the

> neck spasms and pain stopped, but for the first time in about 6

months, I

> am having no back pain. This whole thing just seems like a small

miracle to

> me at this time, and I must say, I'm enjoying every minute of it.

>

> By the way, I have been a perfect example of an RLS waiting to

happen the

> last few days. I came down with some sort of unbelieveably terrible

stomach

> virus on Christmas morning, and until today, I have been bedridden

because

> of it. With the current meds, I have had no RLS spasms, so it might

be worth

> looking in to. Dr. L, if you have any thoughts on this, please let

me know,

> I'd much appreciate it.

>

> Happy New Year,

> Jodi, 39 (now)

>

> P.S. I did have very good results with Neurontin, also, and it does

seem to

> be one of the most benign (less side effects) of all of the meds

commonly

> prescribed for RLS. For a complete list of meds for RLS, go to

> http://www.mLists.net/judson/Mediations.html. Just click on any of

the meds

> listed and it will take you to a pharmacological site with all of the

> information on that particular medication.

>

> JANWILS@... wrote:

>

> > Jody,

> >

> > What are taking now? Any distress and is it working ?

> >

> > jan

>

>

>

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