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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cindylou on August 30, 2002, at 13:31:18
Hi,
My pdoc just prescribed Librium for me in place of Klonapin (I posted on an earlier thread about this, but thought I'd also start a new thread on it -- sorry for repitition.)Anyway, I hear very little about Librium. Even in the archives there was basically nothing discussed. My pdoc says it's an "old" drug that isn't used much anymore ... why??? He said it can calm anxiety without causing sedation ... so what's the drawback? What's the catch, here? It obviously isn't being used much anymore for a reason ...
Please help me shed some light on this, before I start ingesting it!
(BTW, I'm also taking 20 mg. Geodon which is causing extra agitation, so I had to increase the Klonapin, but it made me too sleepy. That's the reason for the switch to Librium.)
Thanks!
Cindy
Posted by BarbaraCat on September 3, 2002, at 2:03:45
In reply to Librium -- need info, experiences, etc., posted by Cindylou on August 30, 2002, at 13:31:18
I was taking Librium for a few months about 30 years ago and regard it with great fondness. I was experiencing panic attacks for the first time. Librium worked very well and I should have continued taking it longer than I did, but felt that I shouldn't be so 'weak' or risk addiction and should tough it out, blah, blah. It's a benzo, in a similar class to valium, but more in depth details I don't know. I believe that it fell out of favor because of the negative hype surrounding valium in the 70 and 80's, you know, every movie star was on valium, mother's little helpers, stuff like that. Dr's also shy away from getting patients 'hooked' on benzos and prefer doling out the newer brands, like Klonopin, which for some reason aren't felt to be as prone to developing tolerance. This isn't true. They're all in the same ballpark chemically. Addiction is also not the inevitable end of the road either, and switching between different classes of benzos (like Klonopin, lorezapam) is said to prevent tolerance, but how true this is I can't really say. The true test is how this drug makes you feel. For me, it zoned me out thoroughly and made me sleepy, but this was exactly what my fried nerves needed at the time (and still do come to think of it). We're all so different in our response to meds - I get hyper on Klonopin! All you can do is give Lib a try and don't be overly concerned about it's safety - also, please report back here. We all need a new drug, even if it's an old one.
Posted by Cindylou on September 3, 2002, at 13:21:08
In reply to Re: Librium -- need info, experiences, etc. » Cindylou, posted by BarbaraCat on September 3, 2002, at 2:03:45
Hi Barbara Cat,
Thanks so much for responding, and for the information.Since I started this thread, I did try the Librium, at only 5 mg. It KNOCKED ME OUT. I was exhausted, sedated, and depressed. A horrible day for me -- and it lasted the whole day. I took it in the morning, and expected no side effects (since my pdoc said it doesn't cause sedation), so I was surprised and horrified at how awful I felt. I started to "wake up" around 9:00 that night.
I guess it's not the drug for me!
I am also taking Geodon, about 20 mg. I am very med-sensitive, so perhaps the two drugs didn't mingle well. Also, because I had been taking Klonapin, I may still have had some of that in my system, and everything just went haywire. Who knows?
So, I'm back to Klonapin again. It makes me sleepy, but not a konked out zombie like the Librium. Guess we just have to try things to find out, but it's no fun!
Thanks again for your post! I really appreciated hearing from you.
Take care,
Cindy
> I was taking Librium for a few months about 30 years ago and regard it with great fondness. I was experiencing panic attacks for the first time. Librium worked very well and I should have continued taking it longer than I did, but felt that I shouldn't be so 'weak' or risk addiction and should tough it out, blah, blah. It's a benzo, in a similar class to valium, but more in depth details I don't know. I believe that it fell out of favor because of the negative hype surrounding valium in the 70 and 80's, you know, every movie star was on valium, mother's little helpers, stuff like that. Dr's also shy away from getting patients 'hooked' on benzos and prefer doling out the newer brands, like Klonopin, which for some reason aren't felt to be as prone to developing tolerance. This isn't true. They're all in the same ballpark chemically. Addiction is also not the inevitable end of the road either, and switching between different classes of benzos (like Klonopin, lorezapam) is said to prevent tolerance, but how true this is I can't really say. The true test is how this drug makes you feel. For me, it zoned me out thoroughly and made me sleepy, but this was exactly what my fried nerves needed at the time (and still do come to think of it). We're all so different in our response to meds - I get hyper on Klonopin! All you can do is give Lib a try and don't be overly concerned about it's safety - also, please report back here. We all need a new drug, even if it's an old one.
This is the end of the thread.
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