Posted by cactus on September 7, 2007, at 17:32:33
In reply to Re: average dosage of diazepam (Valium)?, posted by Fivefires on September 5, 2007, at 13:47:21
> There's a few things I'd like to say here.
>
> If you're 'addicted'(?) to Xanax, perhaps 2mg 3x a day, it is NOT easy to withdraw in my experience. Maybe if you're on .5mg 3x a day, you can titrate off on your own.
>
> I went inpatient at one time in my life 'to get off everything' and the pdoc I had was excellent. He put me in the detox unit and I was told there my withdrawal from Xanax would be similar to a withdrawal from heroin and managed the same way.
>
> I did leave off of it. Unfortunately, one of the persons I met there and 'trusted'(?) visited me later, and stole my identity and my car. It wasn't long b4 real life drug my heart way back down to that horrible anxiousness again. Think maybe I was put on Klonopin at that time. I was on an SNRI which did help somewhat w/ anxiety, so was able to stay away from Xanax, ... for a while, that is.
>
> Klonopin, after knowing what Xanax felt like, 'felt like nothing'. But, the thing w/ Klonopin is, ... 'it's sneaky'. Dejavu - I know I've said this before. Klonopin is doing more than you realize.
>
> A new pdoc (The cou*ty was changing them all the time.) cold-turkeyed me off it and I didn't object because 'it didn't feel like anything strong enough to cause me trouble', but ....... I'm positive it led to the most horrifying experience of my 'health' life, 3wks later, ... CNS breakdown. I've been left w/ a few reminders which will never go away. Apparently this pdoc resigned shortly afterwards. Coincidence? No $ to follow up.
>
> My daughter got me to a hospital asap. I was given Valium for loss of ability to function, as if I'd aged 50freakin'yrs! The drug saved my life. Like I said tho', it left a little damage. I've prob' been left w/ 90% of my former physical and mental self. And, I'm probably more susceptible to repetitions of this horrific event.
>
> After about a year on Valium and feeling home free, I realized I was too fatigued, and switched to Xanax which has been less fatiguing.
>
> But anyone young out there and reading this, and having your first experience w/ anxiety, the prior is after a culmination of many extremely stressful life events.
>
> I have one daughter who is doing fine on lorazepam (Ativan) .5 mg prn, probably because she has been 'my support person' awa lives a life w/ a lot of responsibilities. Other children on nothing.
>
> I wouldn't want anyone to start on a benzodiazepine like Xanax or Valium if they are young and having their first experience w/ anxiety. I think Ativan is prob' good for this.
>
> My experience w/ Klonopin is it's a med for a person w/ chronic generalized anxiety disorder, and not a good choice for one w/ first downs such as a divorce or death. This would depend on the person and the event of course. I just wanted to state if possible begin w/ Ativan.
>
> If a condition becomes chronic, I might think Klonopin then. I don't know if many pdocs will write this anymore, but used to write Klonopin beneath another benzo like a support benzo.
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> I'm saying the latter because I was never given a less addicting benzo like Ativan. I was first given Librium in my early 20s and quit it after a life issue resolved. But, then in my early 30s anxiety presented again in relation to nothing in particular and was even exacerbated alongside Prozac, so was given Xanax.
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> I just think sometimes I should have been started on Ativan instead.
>
> I know it's hard not to jump for complete relief, but, in reality, is there even such a thing? I've not found it. I hope we can be basically satisfied and that's enough. It's too bad I didn't hear someone say 'You don't have to be perfect', if they were saying it back then.(?)
>
> Reality is we're not perfect and 'to want to be perfect and expect perfection' can create anxiety, so try stay on less strong benzo or a low dose and don't kick yourself in the a*s for not being perfect. I learned this the hard way.
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> Sorry .. didn't mean 2 write a book.
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> 5f
>5f, I loved your post, It should be called BENZOS 101!!!!!!! For me you hit the nail on the head. I went through a similar experience and by the time I finally got to ativan, it didn't do a thing. I'm now on clonazepam 2mg daily and tapering down to 1.5mg. Xanax was terrible to come off for me but I was reasonable OK with the valium. I think that ativan or serax should be the first benzo prescribed. Thankyou for your post
poster:cactus
thread:642357
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070831/msgs/781453.html