Recently I wrote a post questioning whether valium is an effective treatment for Meniere’s disease. Just to recap I take Valium and it seems to work for me. Here are a few comments that I received.
From Nicki (Nicki of the peripheral view)
Valium has been a real lifesaver for me. i carry it with me everywhere i go. when i feel an attack coming on, I put 1/2 of a 2mg tablet under my tongue and that's usually enough to stop it. if i feel i need more, I’ll take the other half. i don't take it on a regular basis. i do take klonopin on a regular basis. My doc explained it to me like this. Valium works very well because it works quickly but it also leaves your system quickly. Where as klonopin works slowly but stays in your system a long time. i take 0.5mg 3x/day. That medication got me through another year of teaching. This year, I’ve not been so lucky. i remind myself that this will pass. this disease will go back into "remission" at some point. i did very well for 9 years. Only 2 vertigo attacks and both of those happened because the tube came out of my ear and my meniett wasn't working.
In my opinion, valium is good to have around just in case. good luck to you!
bigdaddythinks (bigdaddythinks) said...
David, I'm on pretty much the same plan you are except for the Antivert. I take T-Bio 2/X per day. I take Valium (2mg pills) only on the days when I absolutely must remain upright. For instance, I started graduate school six days ago. The entire program is through distance learning except this first week where I have had to travel to the campus and study 12 hours per day for seven entire days. It's important to me to participate so I took a Valium every morning. I had planned to take a second in the afternoon just in case but I haven't needed to. There were two times when I thought I might need to go lie down but it passed. When I get back home and into my normal life again I might experiment with not taking valium on days when I normally would, just to see what happens. I'm not worried about getting addicted to valium and it doesn't make me sleepy at all. But I'm also doing a bunch of different things for my MM and I'd like to start finding out what works and what doesn't. I need a prescription for Valium so I thought I'd start there. Then again, I know it works so maybe not. When I need my pill I'm also going to try Nicki's trick of taking my pill sublingually. I bet it tastes like crap but if it's fast acting I can endure the taste. I've found that I have only about 15 minutes' warning for attack and I know taking pills under the tongue makes them absorb faster.
Thanks for the comments about Valium.
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Sunday, January 17, 2010
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8 comments:
hey big daddy,
the sublingual trick really works. my doctor was the one who told me to do it. it gets in your system much quicker and sometimes can keep you from having to take a higher dose.
and for me...there's not really a taste with such a small pill. i imagine if you put a whole one under there, it would get a bit gummy and weird tasting though.
good luck to both of you and i hope you're doing well.
I haven't been on the site for a while because I started school but I like to check in on you all here. I now take my valium only sublingually. And I take the whole 2mg. Maybe I should experiment splitting it in half. I don't think there are tastebuds under the tongue so there's no taste, assuming you can keep from swallowing for 5 minutes. I read online that's the optimal time to let something disolve under the tongue.
Hi~
I have had Meniere's now for a year and a half, and have already lost the hearing in my left ear.
I was taking Meclazine, however it became less effective.
The ENT told me about Valium. Other than that he was no help at all.
The Valium does minimize or stop an attack if I have enough warning and can get it into my system fast enough.
There have been many occasions when I had to make a desperate wobbling dash for my purse to grab it out.
I never thought to place it under my tongue, but I sure will from now on.
Thanks for the tip!
It was BigDaddy and Nicki's idea check out their websites they are really good.
David
for those of you taking valium on a reg. basis..are you allowed to drive? my ent has told me after 8 weeks, I still cannot drive while taking the valium? (i did have a HIGH DOSE ONE TIME new method Gent. injection almost 3 weeks ago)...and will begin to come off of the valium but am confused to if I will be driving again if I feel I need to keep a low dose handy. do your dr.'s clear u for driving? I have 3 young kids...so this is obviously been difficult to say the least.
Hi Melanie,
I was able to drive while taking valium but I took a very low dosage of it. My gent injection was spread out over 4 shots in 2 months the first time. I didn't have any restrictions on driving.
I wouldn't drive till your doctor gave you the ok (thats just my opinion)
David
It's my understanding that if your ENT feels you are a danger on the road, that he can report it to Driver Licensing. I guess they could pull your license till he ok's it.
Kind of a drastic move though.
The Valium is low dose & has never made me feel unable to drive.
The vertigo certainly can...but in the few attacks I have had while driving, I have always been able to safely get off the road.
It's just super stressful. Not good times.
I think people with Menieres are careful of themselves and others, and don't drive long distance, or when they feel unstable.
This disease makes you very aware of your limitations.
thank you, David...I've been restricted..and not real happy about it...but that's good news that maybe it will be a short term restriction. I'm only 37 and have 3 kids in 3 activities so u can imagine i'm eager to drive again. thx for the blog.
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