Posted by yxibow on March 25, 2007, at 17:36:49
In reply to Re: Guess It's Over No Meds It's Me, posted by valene on March 24, 2007, at 18:04:41
> Phillipa, you went from 15-20 mg valium to 6mg xanax xr, to 8mg ativan. The xanax and ativan doseages were way up there, higher than your valium. Puzzled as to why they did not work.
>
> Xanax 6mg is equal to 120MG of valium (according to Ashton). that's a heck of a lot of benzo. Ativan 8mg would be about 80mg. of valium, a substantial difference. I don't get why this doc changed your benzo equivalency's to that extent.6mg of Xanax is equal to 60mg of Valium. The 2nd chart on Dr Bob's site is considerably off in places. I have been through medication tapers and I know the relation to Klonopin and Valium and that is pretty much right on, the first list at
http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/bzd.html
8mg of Ativan is about 40mg of Valium. It may feel more powerful as Valium is a weaker agent due to benzodiazepine lipid issues, the same goes for Xanax.
There are probably people out there who are on even more high dose Valium than I am, somewhat less than the largest upper range of Klonopin generally given, for specific cases which is 8mg. Normally 4mg.
The Xanax only feels more powerful because I dont take it very often. Otherwise, its just equal to another half pill (10) of Valium.
> And *wrong* about "old age"!!!! People didn't used to live afer menopause? Well that was in the dark ages; this is NOW.(Some people did live to ripe old ages in the far past but that was if they survived childhood ilnesses and adult diseases like plague.)
You are still middle aged! Old age has been redefined as over 70 or 75 at least!
Most definately. People are living longer lives these days provided they take care of themselves. Exercise your mind and your body.
You are not old! So yes that is weird. if 50 is the new 40, then 60 is the new 50!
I hope 30 is still the new 20 because I'm feeling detached from my youth, like where was that 18 year old...But its all in the mind. I volunteer a few hours at the moment at a cyber cafe for seniors (defined as 60) in a multiuse senior complex run by the city, helping people who came from different backgrounds and never had access to technology to get on the Internet.
And I see a wide variety of people in different states but it actually the social action when it happens I think is the best thing.
>
> Do you mean they don't cover your anxiety? Even with that amount of an increase? Maybe you would be better to go back on the valium at a higher dose than 15-20mg? Just a thought. In the meantime you will have to withdraw slowly from your benzo use, no cold turkey, right?
>
> Love ya,
> Val
>
>
> > Well since none of the benzos in high doses even work for me and none of the pdocs I see want me on an antipsychotic cause of the side effects.
Well, its all about informed consent, I don't particularly like to be on an AP but it is an important part of my treatment and one that isnt without trouble at the moment.I'm not suggesting that it is something right for you, but sometimes adding a small dose of Seroquel which is in the noise level of effects to an SSRI can make a difference. It's not the same as saying, oh here, take the latest neuroleptic, you have anxiety, etc. There are specific reasons for them and there should only be specific reasons.
And they also tooke me off the AD's as they don't work and I have been on them for longer than six weeks luvox the last for years.Have you tried any TCAs ? And as I recall the dose you mentioned of Luvox was very low -- it needs to be a higher amount to be effective.
Weight aside, the tetracyclic Remeron is an excellent antidepressant for those who have treatment resistant depression.
And two mood stabalizers but my mood is stable.
How long did you try the mood stabilizers? Which ones did you try?
And no MAOI's for me I would have tried the EMSAM but the pdoc said it was too stimulating.
I have heard its stimulating. There is the lowest dose patch.
So I think since I'm getting older and people didn't used to live even into menopause that the brain is dead. Wierd thought or maybe true?
Not necessarily. We are learning more that the brain is not necessary frozen in amber. Some things can regenerate. And as I said activity, using your mind to its fullest, is the surest way to keep it. Its a simple concept but there are truths to it.
I know you're going through issues with your thyroid -- I think that should be stabilized as much as it can and then you can see where you are, medication or not, therapy or not, etc.Mixing experiments all at the same time will never prove anything
I wish you luck and try not to say never. My psychiatrist tries to get me to phrase statements in the positive as much as possible. If you believe in it, whatever it is for you, positivity is the most important. Its one of those do as I say not as I do, because I know how hard it is to deal with a tough condition.
-- much wishesJay
poster:yxibow
thread:743655
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070320/msgs/744182.html