![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by special_k on March 25, 2006, at 21:58:15
i get anxiety sometimes.
i think i have a kind of fairly low / mid level anxiety mostly... to do with socialising etc.
but sometimes it gets real bad... and i need to shut myself away. get paranoid and really very emotional etc.
had one of those episodes last night. have been given diazepam / valium 5mg and doc said to take half a tablet then wait half an hour then take other half if needed for those kind of episodes.
i was pretty upset so i'll admit i just took one tablet. felt a lot calmer in half an hour. drank a couple cuppa soups and had nice hot shower then felt nicely sleepy and slept... for ages (which i needed). still feel pretty relaxed today. feel quite good actually. not high or anything. but normal. though maybe alittle more relaxed than normal. not sure...
so i'll admit i don't know much about appropriate use of benzo's for anxiety.
i know some people take a small dosage everyday. is that useful? or do you tend to get tolerant so it isn't so helpful... and you might need more or something... or would it be better to save them for my episodes? about how much seems reasonable to take (i used to have high tolerance for meds but my tolerance is much lower now). About how often would be okay to take it without getting tolerance / withdrawal. this is the first time i've resorted to it in a couple months (just got the script a couple months ago)
just wondering...
thanks.
Posted by special_k on March 25, 2006, at 22:00:46
In reply to benzo's for anxiety (which one?), posted by special_k on March 25, 2006, at 21:58:15
'cause i probably get about one bad night per week... or maybe two. where i really don't feel good. feel all panicky and stuff. and i guess it is manageable... though i do shut myself away. but last night i was getting urges to hurt myself (which i haven't had in maybe a year or at least three months or six months or something). i'm just wondering whether i would be better to take... quarter to a half for those times (and don't be afraid of taking it like that that often) and should really have taken a half for last nights episodes as doc suggested and waited to see...
tahnks.
Posted by Bobby on March 25, 2006, at 22:48:14
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?), posted by special_k on March 25, 2006, at 22:00:46
I'd do as the Dr. ordered. But, tell him/her the truth if you trust him/her. I take 30mg of Serax
Posted by tizza on March 25, 2006, at 23:06:44
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » special_k, posted by Bobby on March 25, 2006, at 22:48:14
I take 5 to 10mg of diazepam when needed for anxiety. It works the best for me out of all the benzo's I have tried. Paul
Posted by Phillipa on March 25, 2006, at 23:26:46
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?), posted by tizza on March 25, 2006, at 23:06:44
If you feel an episode coming on take the medication. And ask about taking a low does everyday. Don't worry about addiction I've taken them for over 30years and haven't increased the dosesages. I taken all of them too at different times and never ever wanted to increase the dose. They don't make you high some people think they do but they don't. Love Phillipa
Posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 0:28:09
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » special_k, posted by Bobby on March 25, 2006, at 22:48:14
> I'd do as the Dr. ordered. But, tell him/her the truth if you trust him/her. I take 30mg of Serax
I can't see that doctor anymore (have moved countries). But yeah, I should have taken half a tablet then waited half an hour like she said.
I'll talk to a Doctor tomorrow. I'll look up Serax too. Is that everyday or just when you feel an episode coming on? If the latter than around how many times per week or month would that be?
Thanks.
Posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 0:29:24
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?), posted by tizza on March 25, 2006, at 23:06:44
> I take 5 to 10mg of diazepam when needed for anxiety. It works the best for me out of all the benzo's I have tried. Paul
Thanks for your response.
I think the 5mg worked well for me. But half that amount might have worked about as well. But then I'll admit I wasn't as wound up as I have been in the past...About how often do you do that?
Posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 0:31:46
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?), posted by Phillipa on March 25, 2006, at 23:26:46
> Don't worry about addiction...
I have a history of recreational drug use and addiction. Also have a history of taking temazepam for fun (and yes I felt high) and so I do worry about addiction.
I'm glad yours are working out for you though :-)
What dosage of what are you on (do you take it once or twice per day)?
thanks.
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2006, at 0:39:46
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » Phillipa, posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 0:31:46
Temapapam for fun? Does it make you high? Just puts me to sleep. And I take valium once a day at night for sleep too. Love Phillipa Nothing for recreationa fun. It's not a part of my generation Well at least no one I know of
Posted by yxibow on March 26, 2006, at 1:45:30
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » special_k, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2006, at 0:39:46
> Temapapam for fun? Does it make you high? Just puts me to sleep. And I take valium once a day at night for sleep too. Love Phillipa Nothing for recreationa fun. It's not a part of my generation Well at least no one I know of
Not that I am suggesting it at all, but yes, if you push through the sleepy part, as it has a short half life although longer metabolites persist, it has made me giggly before despite it being related to the Valium I take. But that is if one is temazepam naive I would say for most people -- repeated use would probably lower this effect. The next day though is a major depressive hangover not all that different from benadryl, at least in my once or twice try.
Anyhow, this isn't the place for recreational discussions though it'd be nice if psychiatric medicines were allowed to make you feel good. That's a strange comment, but if you "feel good" as in really good, its automatically assumed by psychiatrists and doctors that one is abusing something or is getting a high. The only three, four medications that I could say made me "feel good" were Soma (back/scalp spasms), temazepam, Percocet (for wisdom teeth surgery), and Ambien (once only -- it sucked me into this vortex that literally almost said, its okay, go sleep. Never again had that experience. I sometimes think that the "feel good" transmitters only operate once or after a long period of disuse)
As for myself, I've taken large dose diazepam (Valium) for an extended period of time with some slight escalation of dosage but I don't believe the escalation is because I crave more, but the illness shifts directions at times. Who knows, its hard to say.- J
Posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 1:46:33
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » special_k, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2006, at 0:39:46
How much valium do you take once per day?
Do you take it at night?
Do you feel the effects during the next day too (in terms of helping you feel less anxious)?
Posted by yxibow on March 26, 2006, at 1:55:04
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?), posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 1:46:33
> How much valium do you take once per day?
>
> Do you take it at night?
>
> Do you feel the effects during the next day too (in terms of helping you feel less anxious)?
>
>I'll jump in too -- diazepam exceeds a 24 hour half life and is probably actually one of the best benzodiazepines for long term use and lack of dependency because of that despite its 1960's/1970's lore of "mother's little helper" and the Valley of the Dolls (clonazepam is about 16+). I take it twice daily, only for splitting the heavy dose in the evening for an extra spike in controlling my complex disorder. It probably overall has no intrinsic value since it is in the system for many hours, as it has three metabolites -- nordiazepam, temazepam (Restoril), and oxazepam (Serax.)
Posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 1:59:29
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on March 26, 2006, at 1:45:30
> Not that I am suggesting it at all, but yes, if you push through the sleepy part...
Yeah that is the one. And you can do something or other to make it stronger (though don't try this at home because it can be quite dangerous. And you are right... The come down isn't much fun at all).
> repeated use would probably lower this effect.
Yes. That is what tolerance is. You need to take more... and more... to have the same effect. Some people (who take lowish dosages) don't find that a tolerance develops. But if you quite like a feeling of deep relaxation or general wellbeing or something and you find that n dosage does it for you... Then over time you typically need n+1 and then n+2 etc just to achieve the same effect. I'm not sure how long tolerance typically takes... In the new ethicals (doctors medication manual) I think it says to not prescribe benzo's for more that 5-7 days (typically) so I figure that longer than that would mean you get withdrawals... But tolerance... I think you might get a little bit of a lesser effect the second night. But I guess everybodies body is different and people metabolise things differently etc etc.
> it'd be nice if psychiatric medicines were allowed to make you feel good.
Yeah I know what you mean. I think that the reason why they aren't 'allowed' to make you feel good / high is that anything that tends to get you feeling high you tend to need more of it to achieve the same effect then more then more then more. And then when you stop taking it you have a worse problem than you had before you ever started taking the darned stuff.
I found that with imovane / zopiclone / zotab. used to take it for sleep... then i was up to 2 per day over maybe 4 years... and i had the same trouble sleeping as i had before i started taking the damned stuff. i managed to kick it but really struggled for maybe two weeks. was starting to get major hallucinations and having crying fits etc because i couldn't sleep for 4 nights and then only in fits and bursts. don't ever want to go through anything like that again.
> I sometimes think that the "feel good" transmitters only operate once or after a long period of disuse)
Yeah. I think the neurotransmitter is produced in a certain amount every day. When you take something your body throws out a couple days supply all in the space of 8 hours or something like that. Taking the drug doesn't mean you have more transmitter - it is just that your body releases its supply that it has made itself. That is why you feel all flat afterwards. Because you don't have any left. And it takes a few days for your body to build up a supply again.
That is very very crude. But that is how I think of it...
> As for myself, I've taken large dose diazepam (Valium) for an extended period of time with some slight escalation of dosage but I don't believe the escalation is because I crave more, but the illness shifts directions at times. Who knows, its hard to say.
yep. how much of a dosage did you start with? every day? did you take it in the morning or the evening or both?
Posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 2:08:25
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » special_k, posted by yxibow on March 26, 2006, at 1:55:04
Ah. thanks for jumping in. we crossed posts just then.
> diazepam exceeds a 24 hour half life...
that means that half of it goes away (or is metabolised or whatever) in 24 hours (or longer) but the rest of it is still hanging on in there?
geez. that is a long time. i was checking out the equivalence charts last night (though I was falling asleep rather...) and i noticed it had a very long half life...
> I take it twice daily...
So given the long half life and your taking it 2x daily... you would have a bit of a cumulative effect... Because your morning dosage is still in effect when you take your evening dosage. and because half of your morning dosage is still in effect when you take the next mornings dosage
morning----evening----morning.. (and then half is gone)
................evening----morning.. (and still going strong)
...........................morning.. (and still going strong)or am i misunderstanding the notion of 'half life'?
>as it has three metabolites -- nordiazepam, temazepam (Restoril), and oxazepam (Serax.)sorry i lost you with that bit
but what did you start out on?
what sort?
how often?
how much?
Posted by yxibow on March 26, 2006, at 3:49:53
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » yxibow, posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 1:59:29
> > Not that I am suggesting it at all, but yes, if you push through the sleepy part...
>
> Yeah that is the one. And you can do something or other to make it stronger (though don't try this at home because it can be quite dangerous. And you are right... The come down isn't much fun at all).Splitting capsules ? Doesn't really make too much of a difference. But as I say:
--------------------
..and not to mention annoy Dr. Bob, so we shall not discuss it here -- I do not want to get the board into trouble with recreational use stories, plenty of which is available elsewhere
---------------------
>
> > repeated use would probably lower this effect.
>
> Yes. That is what tolerance is. You need to take more... and more... to have the same effect. Some people (who take lowish dosages) don't find that a tolerance develops. But if you quite like a feeling of deep relaxation or general wellbeing or something and you find that n dosage does it for you... Then over time you typically need n+1 and then n+2 etc just to achieve the same effect. I'm not sure how long tolerance typically takes... In the new ethicals (doctors medication manual) I think it says to not prescribe benzo's for more that 5-7 days (typically) so I figure that longer than that would mean you get withdrawalsTypically that was the prescription for pseudobenzodiazepines (they act indirectly at the hypnotic part of BZ/GABA) such as Ambien and Sonata, but it is now generally felt that Ambien can be long term used (hence the patent extender Ambien CR) -- Sonata, I dunno, it was sort of useless for me... and Lunesta was created for long term use as well.
... But tolerance... I think you might get a little bit of a lesser effect the second night. But I guess everybodies body is different and people metabolise things differently etc etc.
We've beaten a dead horse, unicorn, and I keep inventing new phrases.... on the board about tolerance and withdrawal and habituation and addictiveness...
For me, tolerance is the body's idiosyncratic buildup for a medication that requires increased doses in some individuals.
Withdrawal is an unnecessary symptom of removing a medication that could be avoided by tapering it off more slowly, though that can't always be done for a variety of reasons (such as X medicine becomes toxic and needs to be dropped immediately)
Habituation is basically another way of describing tolerance, it is the progression of tolerance
Addictiveness and addiction are another world entirely; there is no practical medical reason for taking substance X or substance X at dose Y, and some individuals unfortunately perhaps due to genetics or other factors are subject to this.
Other people will naturally have other arguments to these definitions as I have said, we could start beating a dead.. oh I dunno.. rhinoceros.
Very much different -- a large majority of people can take a specified quantity of benzodiazepines for years -- in fact there are people who have taken Valium since it came out in 1960 -- with no sequelae and no progression/regression. Some people may be genetically disposed to dependence, e.g. alcoholism, or other related factors that unfortunately can result in dose escalation. Some doctors don't monitor things properly. It all depends. Certain benzodiazepines shouldn't really be prescribed for long periods of time (e.g. Dalmane, Restoril, Halcion) although some people are perfectly fine with such a regimen. And Xanax is another problem case for some people because it can have a half life as little as 4-6 hours. It is best used as a PRN (as needed for anxiety, etc.) medication.>
> > it'd be nice if psychiatric medicines were allowed to make you feel good.
>
> Yeah I know what you mean. I think that the reason why they aren't 'allowed' to make you feel good / high is that anything that tends to get you feeling high you tend to need more of it to achieve the same effect then more then more then more. And then when you stop taking it you have a worse problem than you had before you ever started taking the darned stuff.
>
> I found that with imovane / zopiclone / zotab. used to take it for sleep... then i was up to 2 per day over maybe 4 years... and i had the same trouble sleeping as i had before i started taking the damned stuff. i managed to kick it but really struggled for maybe two weeks. was starting to get major hallucinations and having crying fits etc because i couldn't sleep for 4 nights and then only in fits and bursts. don't ever want to go through anything like that again.
Imovane... so I gather you're Canadian or European. We now have the metally tasty eszopiclone (Lunesta) that is practically advertised on every major station. I'm a lifelong insomniac, and I can use it at 3mg but it does have that metal taste until you go to sleep. Some say it persists into morning. I never had that experience personally. I currently take 20mg Ambien, I have taken 15-20mg Ambien for a long time. It probably doesnt work completely these days by itself, but in concerto with Seroquel to insure proper REM sleep.>
> > I sometimes think that the "feel good" transmitters only operate once or after a long period of disuse)
>
> Yeah. I think the neurotransmitter is produced in a certain amount every day. When you take something your body throws out a couple days supply all in the space of 8 hours or something like that. Taking the drug doesn't mean you have more transmitter - it is just that your body releases its supply that it has made itself. That is why you feel all flat afterwards. Because you don't have any left. And it takes a few days for your body to build up a supply again.
>
> That is very very crude. But that is how I think of it...Yeah, that's one explanation... the near psychedelic experience (and I don't do drugs recreationally, not that I have anything against pot, but that's about as far as I believe in recreational things -- anyhow I've never taken any of the above) with Ambien once, I can't explain. Who knows, maybe it was the combination of Effexor and Ambien at the time, I'll never know but I literally felt like I was being coerced into a womb or something, it was very peaceful. And a one time deal. Maybe also having to do with taking a midterm on one hour of sleep. I think that was the discontinuation of Effexor.
>
> > As for myself, I've taken large dose diazepam (Valium) for an extended period of time with some slight escalation of dosage but I don't believe the escalation is because I crave more, but the illness shifts directions at times. Who knows, its hard to say.
>
> yep. how much of a dosage did you start with? every day? did you take it in the morning or the evening or both?
I started out actually with around 8mg of Klonopin (this is a very complicated and nasty visual + other somatiform disorder which would take quite a while to explain -- the border of Klonopin is normally around 4mg or so for panic and the like although it can be dosed to 20mg for epilepsy), and did the "great Valium experiment" of crosstaper. Eventually the crosstaper was made better by adding the Valium before the Klonopin.
I take approximately the same equivalency in the morning as the evening of Valium now. About 30% in the early afternoon and 70% in the mid evening. I think it is slightly better than the Klonopin era; its hard to say, maybe that's just placebo effect, but Valium provides slightly more of an immediacy effect, its onset is earlier than Klonopin and it may have more profound effect on certain anxiety attributes for me in particular.
Posted by yxibow on March 26, 2006, at 4:11:19
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » yxibow, posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 2:08:25
> Ah. thanks for jumping in. we crossed posts just then.
>
> > diazepam exceeds a 24 hour half life...
>
> that means that half of it goes away (or is metabolised or whatever) in 24 hours (or longer) but the rest of it is still hanging on in there?Correct. In medicine, it is generally assumed that a medication is "flushed" from the body after 5 half lives -- I believe averaged from mathematical curves, I don't remember where that figure came from. Which means that Prozac will not leave your body for more than one month.
>
> geez. that is a long time. i was checking out the equivalence charts last night (though I was falling asleep rather...) and i noticed it had a very long half life...Yes -- the equivalence charts vary slightly but dr-bob's one that is listed first on this site is mostly accurate.
>
> > I take it twice daily...
>
> So given the long half life and your taking it 2x daily... you would have a bit of a cumulative effect... Because your morning dosage is still in effect when you take your evening dosage. and because half of your morning dosage is still in effect when you take the next mornings dosage
>
> morning----evening----morning.. (and then half is gone)
> ................evening----morning.. (and still going strong)
> ...........................morning.. (and still going strong)
>
> or am i misunderstanding the notion of 'half life'?No, you're building a table, you could draw a bell curve, and eventually all the bell curves start to flatten out, but you might get a spike here and there due to some idosyncratic reasons.
>
>
> >as it has three metabolites -- nordiazepam, temazepam (Restoril), and oxazepam (Serax.)A medication typically has metabolites, the breakdown of the medication in your bloodstream. Valium happens to break down into nordiazepam (main and most prevalent metabolite, I forget if it is marketed anywhere), and smaller quantities of temazepam (Restoril), and oxazepam (Serax.)
>
> sorry i lost you with that bit
>
> but what did you start out on?
> what sort?
> how often?
> how much?
Oh, that would have to date back 4 years, but the disorder reared is ugly head (I take a polypharmacy of other medications) and it was gradually uptapered to 4+ mg (Klonopin), eventually close to 8, when we decided to switch to Valium. But there were a lot of complicated reasons why the medication was increased, and other medications were added as well, including Neurontin and various antipsychotic trials leading to Seroquel and a whole host of things which leave my life under guarded control shall we say (I'm not pyschotic btw, I just take neuroleptics for the D2 antagonist -- visual pathways), but make for some disconnection from life as I knew it before this all came to pass more than 4 years ago. Of course a lot of the disassociation is from the main disorder too.I don't feel anxiety any more -- not mostly, though there are breakthrough periods. Things are at a semi-manageable but not cured situation so far. A lot of things are also psychological in nature too, though I have a lifelong history of OCD (this is not anything like OCD).
So, what do I take for breakthrough periods -- Xanax, and I try to take it as little as possible.Otherwise, the Valium and indirectly the Neurontin manage GABA. The Seroquel of course has some roles in this too, but they're more complicated pathways.
If I ever have to go down on Valium because something else has worked, it will take quite a while... there's always time, its usually about 10% a week or less.
I believe benzodiazepines are the safest psychiatric medicines prescribed, with a caveat that each persons metabolism is different, and though they're not barbiturates, large quantities of them for people not used to that especially, can cause respiratory (lung) depression (after all, they relax... everything).
So that's not a good situation. I would say that if you were asking a psychiatrist for a long term benzodiazepine and you explained your reasons and the long half life and made some promise because of your prior history of abuse that there would be a limit, something like Valium would probably be a good maintenance drug at a small reasonable dose, with something like Ativan or Xanax for uncontrollable panic episodes. I've never taken Serax though I've been told it would be somewhat disappointing compared to Xanax for emergency use. But all the above is just my opinion and my experience. You could say, a case report. In fact most postings on here are, which are valuable, but you have to take in account your own body and brain.
Tidings and Cheers
-- J
Posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 4:19:28
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » special_k, posted by yxibow on March 26, 2006, at 3:49:53
> Splitting capsules ?
Nope, something else...
> we shall not discuss it here -- I do not want to get the board into trouble with recreational use stories, plenty of which is available elsewhere
Yeah. Also... I like to think of that as all in my past now. Pays for me not to 'revel in past glories', instead I try and muster up an ashamed feeling. Doesn't always work. But revelling... Gets me craving.
> it is now generally felt that Ambien can be long term used... and Lunesta was created for long term use as well.
Okay. Thanks. I shall have a bit of a look around and maybe suggest some things to the doc. Can only get to a GP...
> We've beaten a dead horse, unicorn, and I keep inventing new phrases.... on the board about tolerance and withdrawal and habituation and addictiveness...
Heh heh. Probably good to stick to standard terminology (makes communication with others a little easier) ;-)
I think you are... It is just that you have a theory of those terms as well :-)
> Imovane... so I gather you're Canadian or European.I'm from Australasia.
> We now have the metally tasty eszopiclone (Lunesta) that is practically advertised on every major station.
Ah so Lunesta is similar... I found a metallic taste in my mouth the next morning that was worse with zo-tab and better (or nonexistent) with imovane. but zo-tab was generic at $3 per three months whereas imovane was under patient at $12.50 per week so i put up with the metallic taste.
> I literally felt like I was being coerced into a womb or something, it was very peaceful.
Mmm. I had something similar with Temazepam. Wonderful wonderful dreams...
Okay... Thanks for that. I guess I'm still trying to figure whether I really need something daily... Or just for episodes... And also whether I should reserve it for *bad* episodes or whether I should make use of it for *moderate* episodes (maybe once or twice a week).
I guess optimal... Might be maybe quarter of a tablet for a *moderate* episode... I guess optimal would be that I'd feel a bit better and be able to do some study or socialising (minus the alchohol! or something)
Thanks very much.
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2006, at 18:48:09
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » special_k, posted by yxibow on March 26, 2006, at 4:11:19
You can take a very low dose of valium daily and as your anxiety slips away as it did for me in the 70's I gradually lowered the dose slowly. I never crave more. I was only looking for we term as normal with three kids to take care of I took at first 5mg three times a day. But was later able to take nothing a all for a few years. Now I take or am prescribed 20mg of valium but I onlly take l5mg. I don't need any more and I plan to go lower. I am a fighter emotionally . And I plan to leave this world getting older now medication free. That is my goal and I'm one subborn person. Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2006, at 19:06:33
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on March 26, 2006, at 1:45:30
Special_K above was meant for you. But I also wanted to say that I too am a life long insomniac. I've had pdocs think they could make me sleep through the night without waking up at all. Last time I was in the hospital the pdoc was very young and quite ignoranat. He put me on chloral hydrate(used to put kids to sleep for surgery been around since the l800's) 20mg a lot!!!!! along with 50mg of seroquel which I had never taken before, with klonopin l mg, with xanax lmg. Quite a cocktail. Well as usual 4 hours later I was up they repeated 50mg of seroquel and four hours later when they tried to get me up my Blood pressure was so low I alsmost fainted they put me to bed gave me strong coffee not allowed on the unit and immediately discontinued the seroquel. I then got a new doc recomenneded by a neurologist when I got out a couple of days later he referred me to a pdoc quite elderly who wasn't afraid of benzos he said I had been on them too many years to go off of them . She used to have a website don't think it's there anymore She is wonderful she goes by how you fell listens to you has written numerous articles and reviewed for the Jornal of psyciatry. Last time I look she was gone But is you want name is Judith S. Yongue, MD PA. She put me back on l5mg of valium. We moved new pdos don't like him at all. Love Phillipa
Posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 19:26:29
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » yxibow, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2006, at 19:06:33
THanks. I think... My tolerance is quite low these days... And... I'd like to keep it that way.
I'm feelign back to normal today...
I think I'll save it for episodes... 2.5mg and I think I'll be right.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone :-)
Posted by tizza on March 26, 2006, at 21:22:59
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?), posted by special_k on March 26, 2006, at 19:26:29
Imovane is foul, that metallic taste is rotten the next day and it made my anxiety worse. I have found that 5 to 10mg of valium every 2 or 3 days keeps my anxiety under control but starting at 2.5mg is fine because it stays in your system so long. I think it's the best benzo I have ever tried. Paul
Posted by Sobriquet Style on March 28, 2006, at 8:18:29
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » yxibow, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2006, at 19:06:33
>who wasn't afraid of benzos he said I had been on them too many years to go off of them .
What was his reasons why you couldn't go off them? eg. because you'd lose the anxiety effect, or something more serious might happen?
~
Posted by Phillipa on March 28, 2006, at 19:43:44
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » Phillipa, posted by Sobriquet Style on March 28, 2006, at 8:18:29
I guess my brain has adapted to benzos more then half of my life. But I'm cutting down on my own. You just don't stop a benzo. Love Phippipa
Posted by Sobriquet Style on March 29, 2006, at 9:25:17
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » Sobriquet Style, posted by Phillipa on March 28, 2006, at 19:43:44
>I guess my brain has adapted to benzos more then half of my life.
I would imagine over time then it could possibly put quite a strain on how you feel if you was to come off them quite quickly. I don't know how you feel about remaining on them indefinitely, but I think that with a very slow taper you would be able to become benzo free if you wanted to.. Onthe other hand though if you benefit from them for your mood with taking them - then why stop?
>But I'm cutting down on my own.
Do you plan on stopping altogether, or just reducing the dosage?
>You just don't stop a benzo.
I know, the withdrawal and seizure aspect is quite a turn off!
~
Posted by yxibow on March 30, 2006, at 0:41:13
In reply to Re: benzo's for anxiety (which one?) » Phillipa, posted by Sobriquet Style on March 29, 2006, at 9:25:17
> >I guess my brain has adapted to benzos more then half of my life.
But its a testament that you have remained on the same small dose -- that really indicates that you are not of an unknown percentage of people who habituate to benzodiazepines.
Onthe other hand though if you benefit from them for your mood with taking them - then why stop?
My question also... but its your choice... I'm not urging you either way
>
> >But I'm cutting down on my own.
>
> Do you plan on stopping altogether, or just reducing the dosage?
>
> >You just don't stop a benzo.
>
> I know, the withdrawal and seizure aspect is quite a turn off!At the dose I last recall you were on, the seizure threshold is minimal, but certainly stay the course if you wish to discontinue.
This is the end of the thread.
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