120mg of Valium, a day ? For four months ? Jesus christ, that is a staggering amount. 120mg would knock me off my feet. I thought I was bad taking max 30mg a day, every couple of days or so, for three months.
I'm not anti-benzo at all, although I am benzo-cautious. I've recently gone cold turkey on Cipramil 40mg (Celexa), although I am still taking 15mg of Valium when needed (last drop three days ago), and I 'think' I'm starting to suffer from kind of withdrawal, despite the first week of initially no problems. Whether it's the Celexa or Valium, I'm not sure. I took valium at a very lost dose (2mg - 10mg) for six months, and went cold turkey with that no problems whatsoever, so I'm inclinded to say it might be the Cipramil.
I've never heard of a doctor in the UK prescribing more than 30mg of Valium a day....never. Although they aren't exactly reluctant to dish it out, all the doctors I've spoken to are fully aware of the addiction potential and the dose equivalence between the different types, (except one idiot, who told me to take 10mg of Lorazepam a day - a short acting benzo the equivalent of 100mg of valium - go figure that one out !!). Saying that, in my experience they tend to be very pragmatic about it...thinking along the lines that if it qives you some quality of life in the short-term and helps you while you get back on your feet, then what the hell. That's the attitude I agree with, except in cases where certain people seem to 'need' the drug long-term.....que sera sera.