Posted by c ubbybear on February 18, 2004, at 2:43:27
In reply to Valium Question, posted by jlo820 on February 17, 2004, at 8:38:17
> Why is Valium (Diazepam) the only benzo that is used as a muscle relaxer? How is it diferent from the others - Klonopin, Xanax, Ativan, etc.
I'm not an expert on what makes Valium a muscle relaxer but it differs from the other benzos in having a much longer half-life (stays in body cells longer) than the other meds commonly prescribed for anxiety and panic. Perhaps it's the half-life that makes it a better bet for muscle relaxation. It's also used as a substitute benzo for people who are weaning off Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan or the benzos with shorter half life. (This is exactly what I've been doing, i.e. I recently substituted Valium when I got to the tail-end of my Klonopin taper.)
If tense muscles are your sole problem, keep in mind that there are many alternative methods you can try other than (or in conjunction with) Valium: warm Jacuzzi, massage, acupuncture, etc.
poster:c ubbybear
thread:314552
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040215/msgs/315002.html