Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1077818

Shown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

2 benzos?

Posted by Escapee on March 25, 2015, at 4:42:01

Occasionally, I've seen people (on here) who take 2 benzodiazepines. I had a panic attack yesterday at a self help group. Came on suddenly. Severe social anxiety. Had to walk out. I'm already taking 4mg/day of clonazepam but even an extra dose of that only works if I take it couple hrs before expected anxiety. But of course thats very hard to judge. I'm almost on an even keel 24/7. So I'm thinking of asking my doc for a few alprazolam. Say 10 per month. To take at the onset of unforeseen anxiety. It has the quickest onset of action I've found out of the whole class of drugs.
What do people think?
It's not available in my country but my pdoc can easily sign for and order it for me.
And is there a sub-lingual version?

Thanks for any comments.
Escapee

 

Re: 2 benzos?

Posted by Christ_empowered on March 25, 2015, at 6:03:00

In reply to 2 benzos?, posted by Escapee on March 25, 2015, at 4:42:01

Maybe? I'm not a doc, but...yeah, some people are on 2 Rx benzodiazepines. Considered Ativan? You can slip it under your tongue (even the normal tablet) for faster results. Klonopin, too.

 

Re: 2 benzos?

Posted by joe f on March 25, 2015, at 6:49:01

In reply to Re: 2 benzos?, posted by Christ_empowered on March 25, 2015, at 6:03:00

klonopin ttakes too long to work

 

Re: 2 benzos? » joe f

Posted by Escapee on March 25, 2015, at 9:19:00

In reply to Re: 2 benzos?, posted by joe f on March 25, 2015, at 6:49:01

> klonopin takes too long to work

You're not wrong! Like I said, if I take extra long enough before the anxiety provoking situation its ok. But its too far in the future to predict if I'm going to be extra nervous or not. Need something that kicks in 20-30 mins. The only one I'm aware of is alprazolam (Xanax). Also I looked up lorazepam (Ativan) and it's effects are inter-mediate.
From this chart Midazolam seems my best option and I know I can get it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_benzodiazepines

 

Re: 2 benzos? » Escapee

Posted by Phillipa on March 25, 2015, at 9:52:04

In reply to Re: 2 benzos? » joe f, posted by Escapee on March 25, 2015, at 9:19:00

I take 2. Only take at bedtime and getting nightmares nightly. I wonder if from the low dosed of benzos. 7.5mg of valium & .75 of xanax split to take second half when wake in 4 hours. Phillipa

 

Re: 2 benzos? » Phillipa

Posted by Escapee on March 25, 2015, at 10:22:39

In reply to Re: 2 benzos? » Escapee, posted by Phillipa on March 25, 2015, at 9:52:04

> I take 2. Only take at bedtime and getting nightmares nightly. I wonder if from the low dosed of benzos. 7.5mg of Valium & .75 of Xanax split to take second half when wake in 4 hours. Phillipa

Interesting, thanks! Have you looked at different benzos to carry you thru the night? If my memory is correct, you've been on Valium for quite some time now? Have you ever tried a long half-life benzo like Klonopin? Tho it is one of the worst to be on if you have depression too and do not take an antidepressant with it. What about temazepam at night & Valium during waking hrs?
I tried gabapentin (Neurontin) once. Last med trial before I hit the MAOIs. It did nothing for my social anxiety. But I wonder if, now that I've been on clonazepam for so long (8-9 yrs) would adding gabapentin (or gabatril) actually enhance the action of a benzodiazepine???
I must admit, I do not know exactly how benzos increase GABA activity. Anyone know? Is it simply an agonist, giving GABA a kick up the butt? I've never heard of them as 'GRIs' (GABA re-uptake inhibitors). Maybe I sound dumb, but I can't ever remember reading any explanation, apart from vague ones.
I (hopefully) will be put on lithium this coming Friday. Then off fishing for 2 weeks to let it do its thing without any 'modern life' pressures.
Once settled, if it helps but the anxiety is still bad I may try adding picamilon to help boost the clonazepam. Would that be safe? And could it work?

Escapee

 

Re: 2 benzos? » Escapee

Posted by Phillipa on March 25, 2015, at 19:43:27

In reply to Re: 2 benzos? » Phillipa, posted by Escapee on March 25, 2015, at 10:22:39

45 years now for valium. Although started and didn't take for years. Took nothing no problems just quitting. During the years as new benzos came out tried them also. Klonopin is way to strong for me. I don't take any meds throughout the day. As long as sleep at night that will do. But I have to wonder if could just stop them as used to? Phillipa

 

Re: 2 benzos?

Posted by Christ_empowered on March 27, 2015, at 17:22:23

In reply to Re: 2 benzos? » Phillipa, posted by Escapee on March 25, 2015, at 10:22:39

I don't know anything about Picamilon, but I take high dose niacinamide, vitamin c, and b-complex for anxiety...works nicely. Its old school Orthomolecular.

 

Re: 2 benzos? » Christ_empowered

Posted by Escapee on March 27, 2015, at 20:15:21

In reply to Re: 2 benzos?, posted by Christ_empowered on March 27, 2015, at 17:22:23

> I don't know anything about Picamilon, but I take high dose niacinamide, vitamin c, and b-complex for anxiety...works nicely. Its old school Orthomolecular.

Yes I've heard some people take high doses of niacinamide. How exactly is it supposed to help anxiety and mood? I take it every day but only 25mg as part of a multi.

 

Re: 2 benzos?

Posted by Christ_empowered on March 27, 2015, at 21:26:27

In reply to Re: 2 benzos? » Christ_empowered, posted by Escapee on March 27, 2015, at 20:15:21

something about GABA receptors and also serotonin...I'm not big into Biology and such, but if you google Dr.Abram Hoffer, you can read his theories on it.

Anyway, I take 3-6 grams/day, in the form of 1.5 gram time release tablets. The rules w/ old school Orthomolecular are: take a high potency b-complex and take at least as much C as you do Niacinamide.

Good luck!

 

Re: 2 benzos? » Christ_empowered

Posted by Escapee on March 28, 2015, at 8:19:48

In reply to Re: 2 benzos?, posted by Christ_empowered on March 27, 2015, at 21:26:27

> something about GABA receptors and also serotonin...I'm not big into Biology and such, but if you google Dr.Abram Hoffer, you can read his theories on it.
>
> Anyway, I take 3-6 grams/day, in the form of 1.5 gram time release tablets. The rules w/ old school Orthomolecular are: take a high potency b-complex and take at least as much C as you do Niacinamide.
>
> Good luck!

Yea thanks! You remended me of a book I read a long time ago. Co-written by Patrick Holford and Carl C. Pfeiffer called 'Mental Health & Illness'. One side of the book talked about mental health, and u had to turn the book around to read the mental illness part. like 50/50. It was all about Orthomolecular Psychiatry. Explained things like Histadelia & Histapenia. And how bad caffeine really is for our energy levels. Looked more at the causes rather than the symptoms.It mentioned Dr.Abram Hoffer alot. Also talked about a clinic which uses (almost) only nutrients to bring addicts of there addiction. I just found plenty of copies on Amazon.

Escapee

 

Re: 2 benzos? » Escapee

Posted by phidippus on April 12, 2015, at 7:47:48

In reply to 2 benzos?, posted by Escapee on March 25, 2015, at 4:42:01

Clonazepam has a half-life of about 18 hours. If you take enough of it twice a day it should be adequate prophylaxis against anxiety and panic all day. You shouldn't have to take it a couple hours prior to stressors. How much are you taking.

Alprazolam only works for 4-6 hours and you will have to take it 3-4 times a day to provide coverage. Also, alprazolam does not abort panic attacks...it works fast but not that fast.

Eric

 

Re: 2 benzos? » phidippus

Posted by tony p on May 9, 2015, at 19:23:49

In reply to Re: 2 benzos? » Escapee, posted by phidippus on April 12, 2015, at 7:47:48

> Clonazepam has a half-life of about 18 hours. If you take enough of it twice a day it should be adequate prophylaxis against anxiety and panic all day. You shouldn't have to take it a couple hours prior to stressors. How much are you taking.
>
> Alprazolam only works for 4-6 hours and you will have to take it 3-4 times a day to provide coverage. Also, alprazolam does not abort panic attacks...it works fast but not that fast.
>
> Eric

I am officially on 20 mg diazepam, but have often added a little under-the-counter clonazepam, most recently to help withdraw from an OTC. I find they make a good combination: It is not well known that diazepam ITSELF has a SHORT half-life (~6 hr), being metabolized mainly into nordiazepam, slightly less effective than diazepam, but with the very long half-life (see Wikipedia for details).

The Clon. seems to help balance out the 6-hour shoulder at which the diazepam SEEMS to stop working.

(As far as panic attacks go, I recommend Ativan sublingual; I've used it in the past successfully, but my pdoc won't prescribe it for me as it more addictive.

 

Re: 2 benzos? » tony p

Posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2015, at 19:31:39

In reply to Re: 2 benzos? » phidippus, posted by tony p on May 9, 2015, at 19:23:49

Why is it all over the internet that benzos can cause Alzheimer's disease. After 45 years making me 69 it doesn't make sense to stop them even though the valium 10mg and .75mg xanax which I only take at night for sleep. could even be stopped. Some time ago I heard a real doctor say after a certain amount of time you quit making gaba. What are my chance of getting this? Thanks P

 

Re: 2 benzos?

Posted by Escapee on May 12, 2015, at 10:04:56

In reply to Re: 2 benzos? » phidippus, posted by tony p on May 9, 2015, at 19:23:49

> > Clonazepam has a half-life of about 18 hours. If you take enough of it twice a day it should be adequate prophylaxis against anxiety and panic all day. You shouldn't have to take it a couple hours prior to stressors. How much are you taking.
> >
> > Alprazolam only works for 4-6 hours and you will have to take it 3-4 times a day to provide coverage. Also, alprazolam does not abort panic attacks...it works fast but not that fast.
> >
> > Eric
>
> I am officially on 20 mg diazepam, but have often added a little under-the-counter clonazepam, most recently to help withdraw from an OTC. I find they make a good combination: It is not well known that diazepam ITSELF has a SHORT half-life (~6 hr), being metabolized mainly into nordiazepam, slightly less effective than diazepam, but with the very long half-life (see Wikipedia for details).
>
> The Clon. seems to help balance out the 6-hour shoulder at which the diazepam SEEMS to stop working.
>
> (As far as panic attacks go, I recommend Ativan sublingual; I've used it in the past successfully, but my pdoc won't prescribe it for me as it more addictive.

NOT being able to make GABA? Just use picamilon, it's precursor. I have started using it to try to enhance clonazepam. I need a dose increase in dose. I did ask my pdoc for an increase but no go. Then I had the opportunity to try some gabapentin. My anxiety ruduced a lot.


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