Posted by jujube on November 3, 2004, at 16:45:54
In reply to Re: Valium vs. other benzos? » karaS, posted by Sad Panda on November 3, 2004, at 2:40:11
> > > > > > My mother has been having a lot of problems with her GAD lately. She usually deals with her high level of anxiety with a lot of action. Now she has broken her foot and has not been able to release anxiety in the way that she is used to. She was taking 75 mg. of Effexor and nothing else. She went to her doctor today (GP) asking for Klonopin or Xanax. Her doctor upped her Effexor to 150 mg. and gave her a few Valium pills but begged her to take them very infrequently. Why Valium I wonder? How does it stack up against some of the other benzos?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The doctor told her that he didn't think she really needed anything for anxiety. She is the most anxious person I've ever met in my entire life (and that's even without her broken leg). This doctor must be a total moron. Anyway, I'm concerned that she's not being adequately treated. Any feedback would be appreciated.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Kara
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi Kara,
> > > > >
> > > > > I think the bezos are pretty much a matter of personal preference. Valium works as well as anything. It is fastest across the blood brain barrier & has the longest half life. If you intend to use a benzo as a permanent solution I would probably try Ativan, Klonopin & Xanax.
> > > > >
> > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > Paul.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Panda,
> > > > Why would Ativan, Klonopin and Xanax be better for long-term use? If Valium is so long-acting, I would think that it would be the best for long-term use.
> > > >
> > > > K
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > Hi Kara,
> > >
> > > Sorry for my extreme tardiness in replying.
> > >
> > > Valium does the job, but it has more side effects. It is the most inebriating & it's extremely long half life can cause a gradually buildup in poor metabolizers & the elderly which makes them more accident prone.
> > >
> > > Xanax is the best & has modest activity as an antidepressant, but it's the hardest benzo to quit.
> > >
> > > Klonopin I have not tried, but it is said to have the least side effects. I haven't tried Ativan either, but it seems very popular & both it & Klonopin have the best half life for useage with GAD.
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > Paul.
> > >
> >
> > Thanks Paul,
> >
> > Now I'm convinced that my mother would be better off with Klonopin. The only one I've taken for any period of time is Ativan and I know that Klonopin has a longer half-life so I'd prefer that one for her. Klonopin has the potential to be somewhat of a depressant over time with consistent usage though, doesn't it?
> >
> > K
> >
>
> With the possible exception of Xanax I think that applies to all Benzos.
>
> Cheers,
> Paul.
>
>
> I don't want to scare anyone here, and this could well have been an isolated, rare case. A friend of mine was on Valium long-term (probably part of the problem), and she began experiencing this uncontrollable rolling of her eyes. They would literally roll back, and she couldn't do anything about it. This would sometimes last for a number of minutes. If she was out somewhere, she needed someone to help her walk because, obviously, she couldn't see a thing and was unsteady. As I said, that was probably a result of long-term use and a rare side effect.Tamara
poster:jujube
thread:408977
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041103/msgs/411230.html