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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jealibeanz on March 18, 2007, at 6:11:35
Is your doctor comfortabl with this? Is there a long term plan to get you off?
Posted by valene on March 18, 2007, at 8:03:22
In reply to Who just a takes benzo's, posted by jealibeanz on March 18, 2007, at 6:11:35
I do Jealibeanz. For 20+ years been on xanax IR and never increase the dosage. In fact went down from 3mg. to 1.75mg now. I can go 7-8 hours between doses, always have. In fact when first on it only took it at bedtime.
My doctor is so fine with it she had to convince me that it was not bad for me! She (a pdoc at university hospital setting) sent me to a very well-known psychopharmacologist in Boston who recommended that I stay on xanax, in low dose, as I hardly drink alcohol, don't seek out drugs, and don't raise the dose.
He said they are one of if not safest psychiatric drug out there today. I have his letter to my pdoc. I paid $300 cash to see him as he does not take insurance. I am about to add in an antidepressant for a trial, but yes IR xanax for many years has worked fine for me.
Good luck,
Val> Is your doctor comfortabl with this? Is there a long term plan to get you off?
Posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2007, at 10:51:28
In reply to Re: Who just a takes benzo's, posted by valene on March 18, 2007, at 8:03:22
Me now the long acting xanax and I am getting tired. It seems to me that is kind of works like an ad feeling it more each day and now off the other meds. This had always been my meds except the synthroid. And I plan to keep it this way. Love Phipppa
Posted by yxibow on March 19, 2007, at 2:49:52
In reply to Who just a takes benzo's, posted by jealibeanz on March 18, 2007, at 6:11:35
> Is your doctor comfortabl with this? Is there a long term plan to get you off?
Yes-No, and Yes-No. (and the same can be said for my own views)
I take Valium, in high doses for a particular reason in combination with Seroquel which is in limbo at this moment due to side effects. As an aside, this is a hard time and depression and other things have increased because of Seroquel reduction.
I don't have a psychotic disorder; however high doses of Valium have been noted in literature for psychosis and that was conceivably one impetus for switching to Valium from Klonopin. It was partly my asking because I didn't feel Klonopin was doing enough anxiolytic relief. And if you really didn't understand the condition one could say its pseudopsychotic. But it isn't at all, my feet are firmly on the ground. It is a Somatiform disorder, anxiety translated into real bodily effects and feelings.
It would take a lot to explain the particular trainwreck Somatiform disorder that sprung upon me but basically my brain isn't filtering out what everyone else does visually -- so traffic lights are brighter, etc.
I don't like taking high levels of a benzodiazepine because I have to be more careful with heavy machinery, etc. However I have taken it for an extended period of time and have acclimated to it. Has there been some habituation, conceivably yes. Will it be easy to moderate it, no, not at all, and that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with habituation, although that could be so.It has definately been proven that the level of benzodiazepine dulls the visual stimuli just as the Seroquel acts in concerto (plus a host of other auxilliary agents).
So to sum up, yes, I have taken at least seven benzodiazepines before in history and know their effects personally -- Tranxene, Restoril, Dalmane, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, and Xanax.Benzodiazepines are probably the safest psychoactive substances out there. They have been in the lab since 1958, and we know an extensive safety history of them. Their side effects are probably also among the lowest, primarily cognitive and reaction time, depending on dose and acclimation in part. These should though be paid attention to, definately. They have high LD50 (toxicity), but for reasons of the board I will not post examples. They can cause respiratory depression, but usually only in combination with alcohol, depending on the strength of the alcohol and the agent in question. Thus, they are safer and were a replacement for barbiturates. Still, massive doses can cause comatose states, so please don't go there.
Some agents are lipophilic (fat storing), some aren't as much. There is chemistry surrounding this and why some agents are more powerful.Generally long acting agents like Valium are best for long term use rather than Xanax, yet still some people do take Xanax long term because it helps them more. Personally, I believe Xanax should be saved for PRN (pro re ne, as needed) for bad anxiety.
That about sums benzodiazepines for me.
Posted by Tom Twilight on March 19, 2007, at 5:44:42
In reply to Re: Who just a takes benzo's » jealibeanz, posted by yxibow on March 19, 2007, at 2:49:52
There was a very knowlegable poster
Called "Darkhorse", who I believe just took Benzo's-He knew about lots of foreighn obscure ones!
Posted by valene on March 19, 2007, at 9:50:48
In reply to Re: Who just a takes benzo's » jealibeanz, posted by yxibow on March 19, 2007, at 2:49:52
I am one who has been helped by long term xanax. I tried the valium and found it too sedating and somewhat depressing (maybe, though to be fair, it was because I was tapering the dose). Xanax works quite well for me over the past 25 years. It does seem to have more of an antidepressant effect, although I have been experiencing depression lately. Don't know which AD to add in if any as most of them are stimulants to begin with. Maybe up the xanax dose a bit to 2 or 2.25mg. still fairly low dose.
> Generally long acting agents like Valium are best for long term use rather than Xanax, yet still some people do take Xanax long term because it helps them more. Personally, I believe Xanax should be saved for PRN (pro re ne, as needed) for bad anxiety.
Posted by jealibeanz on March 19, 2007, at 10:05:05
In reply to Re: Who just a takes benzo's » yxibow, posted by valene on March 19, 2007, at 9:50:48
I thiiiink I'm gonna hold off a week and call my doc next Monday, when I need a refill for another med. Unless the anxiety gets tooooo bad, I'll give him the benefit of having me give the Xanax XR a decent trial. I had my whole plan and script written out, asking to D/C the XR... hoping he'd call with a suggestion. But I don't know, I'd like to be back on the med that work right now, rather than getting used to living in hell....
Posted by Phillipa on March 19, 2007, at 19:59:48
In reply to Re: Who just a takes benzo's, posted by jealibeanz on March 19, 2007, at 10:05:05
Jelly it's creeping up on me as I forgot lunesta last night and still slept. The mind is powerful. Give it a try and try not to think about it okay? Love Phillipa
Posted by Cynthia_Greene on March 21, 2007, at 18:27:01
In reply to Re: Who just a takes benzo's » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on March 19, 2007, at 19:59:48
I used to take Valium, now Xanax XR but I'm switching back because of a bad experience with Xanax. I feel like the withdrawel after only a few days or so is not even worth the good it does in some cases.
They're completely safe if used as needed and not combined with alcohol or potentiates, but they can be the most dangerous drugs out there to get off of if you're addicted for a long time.
This is the end of the thread.
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