![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by desolationrower on January 9, 2009, at 2:03:53
I've tried .5mg of alprazolam and .5mg of klonopin (not at same time)...could not notice any difference. Not just that the anxiety reduction was small, or insufficient. I couldn't tell i had taken anything. Is that normal. I don't want to ask my pdoc, last time (with different doc) with the alprazolam when i said this she said 'this must not be the drug for you' but she was really wanting to get me on an antipsychotic.
-d/r
Posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on January 9, 2009, at 2:40:42
In reply to Minimum starting dose of a benzo?, posted by desolationrower on January 9, 2009, at 2:03:53
If this is your first time trying a benzo, first make sure you are near bedtime or have a few hours to rest, stay at home, and nap if needed. Then start at possibly 1.5-2.0 mg's of clonazepam or Xanax, and you will feel quite 'nice'. (Likely better with the Xanax.) Then you can 'dial down' your dose to find the one that works for you on a regular basis. I've been taking benzos at the same dose for over 10 years, and 2 mg's of Xanax can *still* do that, easily, to me. It's not abuse...it just resets my whole nervous system for the day. Of course this is set aside for REALLY bad days.
Benzos are likely the best, most effective meds out there. You won't feel like taking them if you feel sad or depressed, so they really 'regulate' themselves. I've gone through antidepressant withdrawl, but never benzo withdrawl.
Jay
Posted by Sigismund on January 9, 2009, at 5:06:03
In reply to Minimum starting dose of a benzo?, posted by desolationrower on January 9, 2009, at 2:03:53
As little as possible, as you know.
Of course the anxiety reduction will be insufficient. That is how things are or will be :)
I like Xanax, and not only because it is not available to such as me here.
Posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2009, at 10:41:54
In reply to Re: Minimum starting dose of a benzo?, posted by Sigismund on January 9, 2009, at 5:06:03
After now 38 years on benzos have switched from valium to ativan to xanax to klonopin and now back to xanax and valium. Doses have gone to nothing when stress down. More with thyroid different issue and doesn't answer your question. If it's panic then xanax and the dose is low, if gad could be valium, ativan, xanax, klonopin and then then doses vary. I feel that is a very low dose for a start. What other meds you on? Love Phillipa
Posted by desolationrower on January 11, 2009, at 4:31:35
In reply to Re: Minimum starting dose of a benzo?, posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2009, at 10:41:54
> After now 38 years on benzos have switched from valium to ativan to xanax to klonopin and now back to xanax and valium. Doses have gone to nothing when stress down. More with thyroid different issue and doesn't answer your question. If it's panic then xanax and the dose is low, if gad could be valium, ativan, xanax, klonopin and then then doses vary. I feel that is a very low dose for a start. What other meds you on? Love Phillipa
social anxiety, very little physical, although a little bit of nausea if its bad. mostly avoidance and inability to think when around people making it hard to talk so i come off as aloof hard to make friends. i think 'fear' describes it better than 'anxiety.' otherwise i'm very relaxed person i don't look nervous or get anxiety about tests or anything.
do you notice the different benzos feel different? i also tried gabapentin once and didn't notice anything from that either.
also taking
80mg parnate
50mg trazodone for sleep
20mg memantine
some supplements-d/r
Posted by JadeKelly on January 11, 2009, at 11:15:16
In reply to Re: Minimum starting dose of a benzo?, posted by desolationrower on January 11, 2009, at 4:31:35
>
> social anxiety, very little physical, although a little bit of nausea if its bad. mostly avoidance and inability to think when around people making it hard to talk so i come off as aloof hard to make friends. i think 'fear' describes it better than 'anxiety.' otherwise i'm very relaxed person i don't look nervous or get anxiety about tests or anything.
>
> do you notice the different benzos feel different? i also tried gabapentin once and didn't notice anything from that either.
>
> also taking
> 80mg parnate
> 50mg trazodone for sleep
> 20mg memantine
> some supplements
>
> -d/r
>You? Aloof? No way.
The first time I took .5 Klonopin it knocked me out. Now I take 1mg 3xday. Its been years. It did wonders for nerve pain. Didn't have anxiety but recall feeling a little mellow when I took a dose. I haven't felt anything from them for a long time. However if I forget to take them for a day, I have withdrawal.
I think the trick for anxiety or social anxiety is take them only as needed. If you don't build that tolerance, they will keep working. I tried Ativan once, I forgot my Klon, it wasn't as strong. I'd go with Klonopin as needed. And I know how much you care what I think :)
~Jade
Posted by Phillipa on January 11, 2009, at 19:20:15
In reply to Re: Minimum starting dose of a benzo?, posted by desolationrower on January 11, 2009, at 4:31:35
d/r only certain places you have anxiety? I found that xanax definitely had an antidepressant effect for me at doses of the highest ever 2mg divided throughout day. Didn't do well on klonopin as had suicidal thoughts and immediately the pdoc pulled me off it. Ativan was fine, valium is the weakest with longest half-life. Sounds like prn would be best for you as you state you're a relaxed person. Or even a beta blocker? Inderal? Love Phillipa
Posted by desolationrower on January 12, 2009, at 11:36:12
In reply to Re: Minimum starting dose of a benzo? » desolationrower, posted by Phillipa on January 11, 2009, at 19:20:15
yeah only particular situations. don't see a beta-blocker helping as its all mental not physical. i took yohimbe once its supposed to cause panic attacks and that helped slightly. I was just wondering if its normal to not feel anything, it seems like that means i might need a huge dose to make anxiety go away enough.
-d/r
Posted by Sigismund on January 14, 2009, at 15:15:20
In reply to Re: Minimum starting dose of a benzo?, posted by desolationrower on January 11, 2009, at 4:31:35
>mostly avoidance and inability to think when around people making it hard to talk so i come off as aloof hard to make friends. i think 'fear' describes it better than 'anxiety.
Inability to think when around people?
Fear?
Yes, I know what you mean.
Benzos can make one a little befuddled and can be less than helpful for interpreting social cues, so getting the right doseage is important.
Posted by Sigismund on January 14, 2009, at 15:20:31
In reply to Re: Minimum starting dose of a benzo?, posted by desolationrower on January 12, 2009, at 11:36:12
>i might need a huge dose to make anxiety go away enough.
It's like that for some people.
If you took a huge dose it might make communication difficult, as in, for example, remembering people's names and the thread of the conversation.Benzos (IMO, of course) are just opiate substitutes, and poor ones at that.
Not that I'm suggesting opiates (the usual problems pertaining), but at least they bloody well work.
Posted by Phillipa on January 14, 2009, at 20:01:13
In reply to Re: Minimum starting dose of a benzo?, posted by Sigismund on January 14, 2009, at 15:20:31
So I found after surgery. Love PJ
Posted by anne-sophie on January 22, 2009, at 13:27:11
In reply to Minimum starting dose of a benzo?, posted by desolationrower on January 9, 2009, at 2:03:53
I didn't get much relief from benzo's. Actually my (social) anxiety became worse. I believed that I could not function without them and started doubting myself even more. I have to keep telling myself that I am ok; that helps to feel less anxious and accept myself for the (anxious and nervous) person I am.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.