![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sobriquet Style on April 12, 2006, at 10:09:21
For the help you provided with information and studies about bendiazepines.
:-)
~
Posted by ed_uk on April 12, 2006, at 10:54:59
In reply to Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.., posted by Sobriquet Style on April 12, 2006, at 10:09:21
Hi!
So you'll be taking diazepam PRN?
What dose have you been prescribed?
Regards
Ed
Posted by ed_uk on April 12, 2006, at 11:00:18
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.. » Sobriquet Style, posted by ed_uk on April 12, 2006, at 10:54:59
Most people take 2-10mg per dose. I always needed a minimum of 10mg myself.
Ed
Posted by Sobriquet Style on April 12, 2006, at 11:46:15
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.. » Sobriquet Style, posted by ed_uk on April 12, 2006, at 10:54:59
>So you'll be taking diazepam PRN?
Correct :-)
>What dose have you been prescribed?
I'm actually not too sure?! I was so relieved that he agreed to try it, he mentioned mg's but I can't remember what he said. My short-term memory has been like a gold fish recently, I think due to anxiety. I'll let you know how it goes when I begin taking it and the dosage etc. Fortunately, it appears I'll be taking this longterm, if I want to, as long as its PRN and I don't start to 'abuse' it. I think my doctor trusts me however, and I trust myself not to take too much. I just want the anxiety relief, if anything, diazepam has to be a good thing to sort this out, at least its a start! :-)
~
Posted by Sobriquet Style on April 12, 2006, at 11:50:23
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.., posted by ed_uk on April 12, 2006, at 11:00:18
>Most people take 2-10mg per dose. I always needed a minimum of 10mg myself.
I think my starting dosage will be closer to the 2mg scale of things. I'm happy with that, as my thinking and plan, is that a low dosage, used as when needed for the anxiety symtoms I suffer from will be ample.
Is diazepam usually prescribed to take once a day or 3? I think I read its 3 times a day?
~
Posted by ed_uk on April 12, 2006, at 12:46:38
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.., posted by Sobriquet Style on April 12, 2006, at 11:50:23
Hi SS
>Is diazepam usually prescribed to take once a day or 3? I think I read its 3 times a day?
When it's used on a PRN basis, it's normally taken three times a day. Once daily dosing is more suitable for people who take it every day. Single isolated doses of diazepam normally have a short duration of action. Diazepam only has a long duration of action after taking regular daily doses for a few days or more.
Regards
Ed
Posted by Sobriquet Style on April 12, 2006, at 13:07:41
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.. » Sobriquet Style, posted by ed_uk on April 12, 2006, at 12:46:38
>When it's used on a PRN basis, it's normally taken three times a day. Once daily dosing is more suitable for people who take it every day. Single isolated doses of diazepam normally have a short duration of action. Diazepam only has a long duration of action after taking regular daily doses for a few days or more.
Thanks Ed :-)
Are you currently on a benzodiazepine, you mentioned diazepam - is it going well, or have you discontinued taking it?
~
Posted by ed_uk on April 12, 2006, at 13:37:58
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.., posted by Sobriquet Style on April 12, 2006, at 13:07:41
Hi
No, I'm not currently on a benzodiazepine. I used to take diazepam PRN. I was never allowed to take it regularly (this is the UK).
Regards
Ed
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 12, 2006, at 15:02:55
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.. » Sobriquet Style, posted by ed_uk on April 12, 2006, at 13:37:58
> I was never allowed to take it regularly (this is the UK). :o(
:o(
Sigh. I hate the UK.
Just what exactly is it with the UK and prescribing patterns?? I mean, heaven forbid that we actually take anything that works (and isn't a SSRI). Its ridiculous and pathetic.
Meri
Posted by ed_uk on April 12, 2006, at 16:09:25
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.., posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 12, 2006, at 15:02:55
Hi Meri
I'm afraid to say, SSRIs are the only widely accepted medications for anxiety disorders in the UK.
Benzodiazepines are usually prescribed at ridiculously low doses. I always needed a minimum of 10mg diazepam per dose to relieve anxiety. In spite of this, my doctor insisted on prescribing 2mg three times a day. WTF! It appears that doctors have been advised to only prescribe the 2mg tablets. They have been told to prescribe the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time - which would be good if they actually understood it. Unfortunately, it appears to have been interpreted as meaning that ALL patients should recieve the minimum dose, regardless of whether or not it is actually effective. If someone put 2mg diazepam in my drink I would have no idea that I'd been given anything. It just doesn't do anything. When diazepam was first introduced, it was recommended for all grades of anxiety. 2mg three times a day was recommended for mild anxiety. Up to 30mg/day was recommended for severe anxiety. Now that diazepam is only prescribed for severe anxiety, why are doctors giving everyone 2mg three times a day? This was the dose for mild/trivial anxiety. The concept of finding the minimum EFFECTIVE dose seems to be beyond most doctors in the UK. Instead, most people get a sub-therapeutic dose. IMO, if you're going to take a benzo at all, you really do need to take a dose which actually works. Otherwise, you'd be a lot better off taking a placebo :)
2mg two or three times a day IS adequate for some people, but probably not most, at least not in the short term - which is exactly what benzos are used for in the UK - short term relief.
So yeah anyway, my doc told me that he would only prescribe the 2mg tabs and write 'one tds' on the prescription so as not to 'upset' the pharmacy. He told me I could take 5 tabs per dose but not to tell the pharmacy. Some pharmacists are a pain in the *rse.
>Just what exactly is it with the UK and prescribing patterns??
What doctors prescribe on the NHS is controlled by various 'prescribing advisors' who write guidelines telling doctors what constitutes 'good prescribing'. In general, such guidelines are very restrictive.........very and unimaginative.
Ed x
Posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2006, at 21:55:50
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.. » Meri-Tuuli, posted by ed_uk on April 12, 2006, at 16:09:25
Ed thought you might be interested the Social worker I'm seeing gave me a form to fill out for drug abuse. Msaning coke, amphetamine, crack, opiods, narcotics , heroin, alchohol. And I have never ever abused a med and the ER docs said my anxiety is causing the chest pain at night. So now they want me to go into detox to get off a med I've been on for over 30years and I take less now than I ever have. When 24 first panic attack valium, mephrobomate 450mg and alchohol. I weaned myself off the mephrobomate with no problem and reduced the valium too. So now what? Love PJ O
Posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2006, at 21:57:14
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.. » ed_uk, posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2006, at 21:55:50
Forgot to add haven't even had a beer in l0years. No alchohol at all just quit. Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on April 13, 2006, at 1:18:32
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.. » ed_uk, posted by Phillipa on April 12, 2006, at 21:55:50
> Ed thought you might be interested the Social worker I'm seeing gave me a form to fill out for drug abuse. Msaning coke, amphetamine, crack, opiods, narcotics , heroin, alchohol. And I have never ever abused a med and the ER docs said my anxiety is causing the chest pain at night. So now they want me to go into detox to get off a med I've been on for over 30years and I take less now than I ever have. When 24 first panic attack valium, mephrobomate 450mg and alchohol. I weaned myself off the mephrobomate with no problem and reduced the valium too. So now what? Love PJ O
I hate to say this but going to the emergency room can cause more problems than its worth (i.e., getting injected with Compazine, being among patients with god knows what infection...). Still, its always better safe than sorry.
Yes, your anxiety is causing the chest pain at night, most likely, if they did a full workup. Its the easiest explanation if they did what they should do for all heart complaints, and your mention of an anxiety disorder. I don't think you should go down on a medicine that has worked for you for 30 years, personally... but that's just my opinion. You should really contact your own p-doc and explain it all. If anything, I would think he would add a pinch to reduce the chest pain. But I'm not your doctor.
Miltown... that's one you won't see much anymore...although its still listed at Costco. I recall you were taking 10mg of Valium which is so low a dose (0.5mg Klonopin, 1mg Xanax -- and that is more immediacy anyway).... I can't believe that there are even 2mg of Valium made in the first place, that's like less than 1/4mg of Klonopin.
I know, Ed... I have a special situation with high dose Valium at the moment.. but good heavens.. yep, I see it here, 2, 5, and 10. I couldn't even feel 2... and I don't and my doctor doesn't either think its totally habituation, but that's another story entirely.
Tidings
-- Jay
Posted by ed_uk on April 13, 2006, at 15:26:26
In reply to Re: Ps Thank you - yxibow, ed and bassman.. » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on April 13, 2006, at 1:18:32
Hi J
2mg diazepam is like a sugar pill to me. I can 'feel' 5mg diazepam a bit but it doesn't help my anxiety at all. 10mg PRN was somewhat helpful. 15mg PRN seemed appropriate for me - I would often need to repeat the dose after ~ 2 hours though.
>can't believe that there are even 2mg of Valium made in the first place
The 2mg tablets are useful for....
1. People who are very sensitive to benzos
2. Elderly/debilitated patients
3. Tapering off benzosEddy x
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.