Posted by sukarno on March 28, 2010, at 5:21:33
I recently switched from Xanax to Valium and successfully tapered down to only 5mg diazepam 4x/day. Thank God! :-) yay..
Anyway, I was using a brand called "Valisanbe 5" in the original foil blister packs with an expiration date of 2013. They worked well!
Then I reached for my plastic baggy and old prescription bottle (3 years old) that contained diazepam from a bottle opened 3 years ago. Expiration date on it would have been 5 years too (so, perhaps 2012).
However, I noticed when I ran out of Valisanbe brand and had to take the loose pills instead that it is not taking effect quickly like Valisanbe and less effect overall, but nothing serious. In other words, no withdrawal.
Valisanbe made me feel pretty comfortable and for a long time too. I know that's not necessarily a good thing as it could lead to psychological dependence.
I do remember that when I opened the generic diazepam in 2007 that it was potent. Now it doesn't seem like that. I did put moisture absorbent packets in some of the plastic baggies, but forgot to put it in my prescription bottle. The pills aren't degraded in appearance.
Did the pills lose potency? I don't want to waste old, but still good medication if at all possible.
1000 tablets for only $60. (No, I don't and never did abuse it.. was only trying to save money as my psychiatrist wanted me on diazepam and kept me on it for the long term. He told me it was better to taper Stablon and he would rather have me off Stablon than diazepam). That's like an 8 month supply @ 5mg QID and really saves me big on my budget.
That said, Valisanbe is the same price, but I have to see the pdoc to get it as my pharmacist buddy can't get that.
Can it lose potency in just 3 years? Kept in plastic baggies (usually prescriptions are dispensed in plastic baggies here unlike in the West) with air conditioning (low humidity) running all the time. Average temperature of 82-84F in the house but low humidity.
diazepam (Valium) 5mg QID
tianeptine (Stablon) 12.5mg QID
famotidine (Pepcid) 20mg BID
GNC Ultra Mega Gold vitamin supplement, BIDDx: panic disorder, MDD (unipolar, melancholia), perfectionist
poster:sukarno
thread:941165
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100328/msgs/941165.html