Drug that steals women's lives: It's more addictive than heroin, with horrifying side-effects. So why, 50 years after its launch, is Valium still given to millions?
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With her wedding day fast approaching, Baylissa Fredericks was increasingly worried about a tic in her eyelid. She'd suffered the problem since early childhood, but was so concerned about it drawing attention to her for all the wrong reasons on her big day that she visited her GP.
Sadly, the drug prescribed by her doctor on that day in 1998 for what, in retrospect, seems like a trivial problem, left the 49-year-old housebound and incapacitated for years.
Baylissa was prescribed clonazepam, one of the benzodiazepine family of drugs. These drugs are used by 1.5 million people in this country to treat wide-ranging problems including anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, muscle spasms, restless legs syndrome and alcohol withdrawal.
The legacy of benzodiazepines is a vast group of people suffering appalling withdrawal symptoms
One of the first - and most infamous - of the ‘benzos’ was Valium. Launched in the 1960s it quickly became the pill for every ill,
Catnip is a unique herbal anxiety remedy. Part of the mint family, catnip is designed to treat many of the various symptoms of anxiety. It may be used to alleviate stomach cramps, spams, and irritations (which often occur in those with anxiety). It may also reduce some of the headaches caused by insomnia, improve appetite, and – perhaps most importantly – ease muscle tension and stress in those with severe anxiety.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a natural sedative that is best for mild anxiety.
Chamomile is used to calm nervousness, both in the mind and in the stomach. It can reduce digestive discomforts and improve appetite in those with a great deal of stress.
It has also been linked to reducing headaches and improving liver and lung health. Most experts recommend that chamomile only be used as a temporary treatment, not a long term solution. Chamomile is also popular for anxiety in children.
Fennel
Fennel isn't for anxiety specifically, but it is linked to treating some of the most common symptoms of anxiety, including digestion, coughing (many with anxiety have a nervous cough), and asthma (anxiety can exacerbate asthma symptoms). It may also act as an analgesic, diuretic, and antispasmodic – the latter being useful for some types of anxiety.
Kava Kava
Kava (also known as Kava Kava) is possibly the most effective herbal supplement for moderate and severe anxiety. The Kava root has been extensively researched for its effects on stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Unlike other herbal anxiety supplements, kava is not only effective for anxiety symptoms – it's effective for anxious thoughts as well. However, kava has been linked to a few health scares, so it's advised to talk to your doctor before taking kava, especially if you drink alcohol, take any other medicines, or have any liver problems.
Hops
Hops is useful for more than just beer. Hops has a long history of medicinal applications. It's used to fight insomnia, stress, and headaches. It's also beneficial for indigestion, general nervousness, and may help reduce fever.
Hops has also been used for lowering uric acid levels in the body, treating infections and skin disorders, and provide some relief from rheumatism, though these are often unrelated to anxiety.
Motherwort
Motherwort's primary medicinal use is for treating menstrual discomfort. But it is also favored by pregnant women as a way to manage stress and pregnancy tension and anxiety. It's not recommended for those in the first two trimesters, but it is believed to be effective at stimulating circulation without an increase in pulse rate, lowering blood pressure, fighting heart palpitations, and inducing calmness without any associated fatigue.
Passionflower
Passionflower is a lot like Kava, except without the side effects. Passionflower is considered best for mild to moderate anxiety, although it may still be valuable for severe anxiety. It works by reducing muscle tension and insomnia, calming the nerves to prevent agitation, mood swings, headaches, and hot flashes from anxiety. It's not recommended to take passionflower if you are using any MAOIs.
Skullcap
Skullcap has sedative, tonic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Skullcap may be used to sooth overly twitching muscles, and may help manage both epilepsy and restless leg syndrome (RLS). Many people use the natural sedative properties of skullcap to fight insomnia, restlessness, rapid heartbeat, and even depression. It should be taken as directed, and should not be used by pregnant women.
St. John's Wort
St. John's Wort is not designed for anxiety specifically, but it is very effective for fighting depression, which is often comorbid with anxiety symptoms. St. John's Wort is also an effective mood lifter. It has also been used for diarrhea, gastroenteritis, viral infections of the chest, lungs, and genitals, and many other valuable medicinal uses.
Valerian Root
Valerian Root is an incredible effective sedative. It's used primarily as a sleep aid, but the sedative qualities of valerian are effective at soothing muscles and reducing mental and physical tension so that you can easily relax. It may also be used to relieve uterine cramps, persistent coughs, and bronchial spasms. It is not recommended for children under 12, pregnant women, or anyone taking other antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs.
Ive heard this line of writing so fucking often and have seen a great many berate and get hooked on valium, xanax and other benzos - but for those with a serious social / anxiety disorder it's the first line of defence. It was massively overprescribed in the 70s/80s etc, mothers little helper. Only now, if you've had any illicit drug history you aint gettin any benzos from your Doctor - they'll flood you with anti-depressants and beta-blockers but they dont even hit the sides when dealing with panic attacks and tic-related OCD as with me. The line about being more addictive than Heroin is a complete generalisation to. These drugs, and they're drugs the majority of Dr's Ive had have accepted and are cool me buying on the net, are for use purely as and when needed. Many dumb-ass Doctors say take one a day, but if you're having a chilled day at home why bother? It'll only increase you're tolerance, only when needed and I still say in some peoples hands they're a God-send. The only type of drug that keeps me in work. And really? More addictive than heroin? Well that just totally negates how and where you get you're heroin from - if its from your mate downstairs or on the next block I'm sorry but heroin, if readily available just pwns any benzo (when needed) application. And if you're smart but want to try heroin,, well, don't but if you were why not promise yourself only to smoke/snort in a place where you're not likely to revisit or be able to try it due to distance ever again etc. Just my 2 cents. Stay safe, and I aint totally bashing this rather sensationalistic journo, yup seen a few messy cases of peeps getting hooked on it, gooses, ganders, but from my own heads experience, man valium saved me from the only time my tics/OCD got to tourettes which was scary as fuck and it and xanax (less half-life, more sedating to non-anxious jittery types be warned) I maintain are for me great meds.
Tara
Natural & Herbal Anxiety Remedies
Catnip is a unique herbal anxiety remedy. Part of the mint family, catnip is designed to treat many of the various symptoms of anxiety. It may be used to alleviate stomach cramps, spams, and irritations (which often occur in those with anxiety). It may also reduce some of the headaches caused by insomnia, improve appetite, and – perhaps most importantly – ease muscle tension and stress in those with severe anxiety.
Chamomile is a natural sedative that is best for mild anxiety.
Chamomile is used to calm nervousness, both in the mind and in the stomach. It can reduce digestive discomforts and improve appetite in those with a great deal of stress.
It has also been linked to reducing headaches and improving liver and lung health. Most experts recommend that chamomile only be used as a temporary treatment, not a long term solution. Chamomile is also popular for anxiety in children.
Fennel isn't for anxiety specifically, but it is linked to treating some of the most common symptoms of anxiety, including digestion, coughing (many with anxiety have a nervous cough), and asthma (anxiety can exacerbate asthma symptoms). It may also act as an analgesic, diuretic, and antispasmodic – the latter being useful for some types of anxiety.
Kava (also known as Kava Kava) is possibly the most effective herbal supplement for moderate and severe anxiety. The Kava root has been extensively researched for its effects on stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Unlike other herbal anxiety supplements, kava is not only effective for anxiety symptoms – it's effective for anxious thoughts as well. However, kava has been linked to a few health scares, so it's advised to talk to your doctor before taking kava, especially if you drink alcohol, take any other medicines, or have any liver problems.
Hops is useful for more than just beer. Hops has a long history of medicinal applications. It's used to fight insomnia, stress, and headaches. It's also beneficial for indigestion, general nervousness, and may help reduce fever.
Hops has also been used for lowering uric acid levels in the body, treating infections and skin disorders, and provide some relief from rheumatism, though these are often unrelated to anxiety.
Motherwort's primary medicinal use is for treating menstrual discomfort. But it is also favored by pregnant women as a way to manage stress and pregnancy tension and anxiety. It's not recommended for those in the first two trimesters, but it is believed to be effective at stimulating circulation without an increase in pulse rate, lowering blood pressure, fighting heart palpitations, and inducing calmness without any associated fatigue.
Passionflower is a lot like Kava, except without the side effects. Passionflower is considered best for mild to moderate anxiety, although it may still be valuable for severe anxiety. It works by reducing muscle tension and insomnia, calming the nerves to prevent agitation, mood swings, headaches, and hot flashes from anxiety. It's not recommended to take passionflower if you are using any MAOIs.
Skullcap has sedative, tonic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Skullcap may be used to sooth overly twitching muscles, and may help manage both epilepsy and restless leg syndrome (RLS). Many people use the natural sedative properties of skullcap to fight insomnia, restlessness, rapid heartbeat, and even depression. It should be taken as directed, and should not be used by pregnant women.
St. John's Wort is not designed for anxiety specifically, but it is very effective for fighting depression, which is often comorbid with anxiety symptoms. St. John's Wort is also an effective mood lifter. It has also been used for diarrhea, gastroenteritis, viral infections of the chest, lungs, and genitals, and many other valuable medicinal uses.
Valerian Root is an incredible effective sedative. It's used primarily as a sleep aid, but the sedative qualities of valerian are effective at soothing muscles and reducing mental and physical tension so that you can easily relax. It may also be used to relieve uterine cramps, persistent coughs, and bronchial spasms. It is not recommended for children under 12, pregnant women, or anyone taking other antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs.
Jan 17, 2014
Central Scrutinizer
Jan 18, 2014
sockironer
Ive heard this line of writing so fucking often and have seen a great many berate and get hooked on valium, xanax and other benzos - but for those with a serious social / anxiety disorder it's the first line of defence. It was massively overprescribed in the 70s/80s etc, mothers little helper. Only now, if you've had any illicit drug history you aint gettin any benzos from your Doctor - they'll flood you with anti-depressants and beta-blockers but they dont even hit the sides when dealing with panic attacks and tic-related OCD as with me. The line about being more addictive than Heroin is a complete generalisation to. These drugs, and they're drugs the majority of Dr's Ive had have accepted and are cool me buying on the net, are for use purely as and when needed. Many dumb-ass Doctors say take one a day, but if you're having a chilled day at home why bother? It'll only increase you're tolerance, only when needed and I still say in some peoples hands they're a God-send. The only type of drug that keeps me in work. And really? More addictive than heroin? Well that just totally negates how and where you get you're heroin from - if its from your mate downstairs or on the next block I'm sorry but heroin, if readily available just pwns any benzo (when needed) application. And if you're smart but want to try heroin,, well, don't but if you were why not promise yourself only to smoke/snort in a place where you're not likely to revisit or be able to try it due to distance ever again etc. Just my 2 cents. Stay safe, and I aint totally bashing this rather sensationalistic journo, yup seen a few messy cases of peeps getting hooked on it, gooses, ganders, but from my own heads experience, man valium saved me from the only time my tics/OCD got to tourettes which was scary as fuck and it and xanax (less half-life, more sedating to non-anxious jittery types be warned) I maintain are for me great meds.
Jan 19, 2014