Switching From Xanax To Valium (Page 4) (Top voted first)

PLEASE HELP! For the past 7yrs I've been on 1mg Xanax (3x) per day for anxiety and panic attacks. I take my dosage of Xanax as prescribed by my Dr unless I have a severe panic attack, then I may take an additional (1-2) 1mg xanax when I'm actually having a severe full blown panic attack to stop it. I've been on other Benzos before but Xanax seems to be the only thing that stops the panic attacks when I'm having them.
Recently my Dr decided to switch me from 1mg Xanax (3x) per day to 10mg of Valium (2x) per day because he says Valium is "stronger" and has a longer half life than Xanax. He says the Xanax isn't working for my anxiety anymore. From what I've read on the Internet about Xanax vs Valium is that Xanax works better than Valium for panic attacks. I like to mention I have a phobia of taking new medications. I stressed my concerns to my Dr that my anxiety isn't as much of issue for me as my Panic Attacks. He said not to worry cause the Valium is stronger. Then I asked him what if while I'm taking the Valium I suffer a sever panic attack? What do I do to stop the panic attack? His responce was that I could take a 1/2 of a 10mg Valium tablet to stop the panic attack. I wanted to tell him that from what I knew, Valium is slower acting and that I didn't agree 1/2 of a 10mg is going to stop my panic attacks but I didn't want to question his professional expertise over my Internet findings. I know he's the Dr and the Dr knows best right? So I guess to finally get to my point is I'm terrified to start the Valium because im afraid that when I have a panic attack and I say WHEN and not IF cause it's only a matter of when I will have a full blown sever panic attack what would I do to stop it? From reading up on Valium I know it wont help stop my panic attack like the Xanax will. I asked my Dr before I left his office that while I'm on the Valium and I have an attack could I take a Xanax to stop the attack? He said absolutely not! He said if I have a panic attack while on valium I can take a 1/2 of my 10mg Valium. I didnt say this to my Dr but I know from what I read about Valium is that it won't stop an attack as fast as Xanax will. I dont know what to do? Im so scared and I feel helpless cause I feel like my Dr isn't getting what im saying. My panic attacks can last as long as 2 hours or more. I know because my longest panic attack was while I was driving through the desert and realized I forgot to pack my Xanax. 2 hours in to my attack after trying breathing techniques and what not I had to taken to a hospital by ambulance cause my heart rate went up way to high and so did my blood pressure. My panic attacks can lead to an ambulance ride to the hospital. I feel like my Dr is focusing on treating my anxiety more than my panic attacks which are of greater concern to me at this time. I read on line that other people have been prescribed both Xanax and Valium to be taken as needed. Valium for anxiety and Xanax for panic attacked. I spoken to 3 pharmacists who tell me that I can take the Valium and if I should have a major panic attack I could take a Xanax no problem because they're both Benzos but only on the occassions when I'm having a bad panic attack. Why couldn't my Dr just say that? I know some of you may read this and say that I just have an addiction to Xanax. Honestly that would be further from the truth. If I knew that Valium would stop my sever panic attacks I would switch in a heart beat but from what I'm reading I know Valium won't help with an attack as fast as Xanax will. I'm not looking for the Xanax "kick" some people love to feel or to have a feeling of Ephoria. I just want a reliable medication to treat my disorder. I want to trust that my Dr knows what's best for me but only I know what my body and mind is going through and I somehow can't get him to understand! If anyone has had the same problem as me or can offer any support or advise I'd love to hear what you have to say. Has anyone ever taken both medications in the same manner im suggesting or together at the Sametime? How did it make you feel? We're you able to cope and how? Please anything will help. I know there has to be other people out there experiencing or have experienced the same thing. Thanks.

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Kind of hard to read your post but it sounds like the Doctor made fun of you. Telling them you were popping Xanax like Tic Tacs would get you cut off if our Country.

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Switching to Ativan from Xanax will not cause strokes.

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Suing your doctor sounds like a great idea if you don't care about seeing another doctor. Many docs in this day of retarded litigation, won't see patient's who sue doctors for reasons such as this. Sounds to me like you got yourself in this fix when you got addicted to the Xanax. No one twisted your arm to prevent your tapering and quitting. People do this all time time. If you sued anyone, it should be the idiot who started you on the Xanax. However, it would not surprise me if you had something to do with encouraging this first doctor to start you on it because it helps you survive through your day. I am tired of you folks who try and blame your doctors. You are big people. Start taking responsibilities. I don't think you can blame anyone but yourself.

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Gunther, and what a stupid name that must be in your Country, like our version of Gomer. In any case why would you call us stupid Americans, when this forum is truly an international forum. Secondly Ativan is the worst, almost caused a stroke and DEATH for me!

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U people are nuts xanax Is as addictive as H and valium works perfectly fine. was on xaniez for yrs and valium is soooo much better!

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I've been reading this thread with great interest. A few contributors are right on .. others not so much. Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin - or any benzodiazepine for that matter - aren't "cures" for panic or anxiety. At best, they're band-aids. The benzos cover up symptoms. However, like almost all use of addictive drugs, using a benzo becomes a mal-adaptive coping method, not a treatment. Maybe most here are truly disinterested in alternatives to medications. That's a shame - coping techniques, CBT skills, relaxation exercises, and plain practice are treatments (and sometimes eventually cures) for anxiety disorders. Pills work - for a while ...

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Rick said: " If someone is one a fairly high dose of a potent benzo or GABA medicaton, there is always the real fear of running out. That in itself must produce some real anxiety. I would bet that anyone who has taken them for any length of time has run up against running out. Again, that would be very worrisome!


Rick very interesting comment. I found after many years of use, Xanax and the quest for Xanax can be overwhelming. I was just trying to explain this recently to my Doctor who has never taken a pill yet gives them out like pez. Of course now I have a few thousand pez, the 2 mg kind and I'm not worried about running out. Plus I actually take less now, its poison which I do know.

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About your Xanax addiction I thought I'd ask for advice. I'm currently on 3mg alprazolam daily reduces from 10mg since September 2013, I can cope on 2mg a day but should I reduce my dose next script from 2mg tab 1.5 daily to 1mg alprazolam twice daily, as I live in Australia am on suboxen smoke and smoke pot. I've only been taking them full on since April 2013, can you recommend suggest what I do. Much appreciated

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I feel weird all the time, I have anxiety. I have not had a full on attack but have had some of the symptoms that lead up to it, but with me what works is one pill in the morning and one pill around two or three. By the time I go to bed I am okay. Unless I stay up late then I may our may not need another. If you can manage to go to bed at a decent hour you will likely be sleeping which means your won't know your symptoms are weird. I try to only take them as needed outside the two times a day. Don't know if that will help you but it's with a try.

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You do not get messed up from valium . I took zanex foe years , but I switched to valium . I feel so much better , I can actually sit down for hours now and be still. It is a much better drug for general anxiety .

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Thank You Adam because no offense to Syrus but reading that post was a trigger whoa! I also have been told I have a rare extreme case of panic disorder. I have a minimum of 6 attacks a day, I even have them in my sleep. I have been on xanax for about 15 years xanax has damaged my liver and does a number on your brain as well. My choice is to get off xanax anyway it no longer works for me. My doctor has switched me from 1 MG of xanax 4 times a day to 5 MG of valium 4 times a day (at one time I was on 2 MG 4 x day) my dream is to get off all meds. I have heard stories from people that xanax withdrawal is awful, but like you say it depends on the person I have a friend who stopped cold turkey when she found out she was pregnant she slept it out for about 2 weeks. she also told me she still has attacks but they are not as bad as they were while she was on xanax (by the way she took xanax for almost 20 years and very high doses sometimes 4 MG at a time.

I also have noticed my attacks got worse through the years on xanax. With xanax causing me liver damage I want off of them, I hate the doctor who put me on xanax years ago but than again don't think doctors knew what a dangerous drug xanax is back then.

I see this is such a old post and I hope to hear from you. I would love to have someone help me with this. My plan is switching from xanax to valium then weaning off valium as soon as I can. I want to get off these pills and yes I am aware i will probably still have attacks but I will just have to deal with it if it is true like my friend told me that once she was off xanax her attacks were not as intense and not as frequent.

Thank You for you post.

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Priv8guy
Did you take xanax and valium at the same time? or just switched over to valium, because that's what my psychiatrist wanted me to do makes me very nervous because of xanax withdrawals ..
Ugh hate this.
I still haven't switched over because I'm scared but I want off xanax so bad.

Now my panic attacks are getting worse after they found a lump in my breast and need surgery.. this is triggering me bad

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I'm so sorry what you are going through Xanax works better than Valium it did not help pain attacks for me ! So my doctor switched me to Xanax.

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You get a higher dose of Valium 10mg is like 1mg Xanax so 20mg is more than your 1mg zanax

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So I have been on xanax .5mg 3x a day for many years but just lately my anxiety has been extremely bad so my doctor switched me to clonazepam .5mg 2x a day and it's been awful. I don't feel it works well for my anxiety and it also makes me very drowsy. No way I would be able to work after taking one. My doctor had me see a psychologist today and she switched me to valium .5mg at night and then a half a pill 2x a day if needed and also put me on Zoloft which she said helps with anxiety disorders. Has anybody gone through the same thing? I'm wondering what to expect. From what I have read it sounds like the dose of valium she has me on is a lot less than what I have been taking with the clonazepam and xanax?

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Thank you so much for sharing your story. You have helped me immensely. My panic attacks felt like I was going to pass out. I know people who feel as if they are having a heart attack. That must be awful! I mean what if the person was having a heart attack and assumed it was panic. Thank you again, Dee

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I have perscribedvalium 5mg twice a day,for years I,v been on 1mg 3 times a day I,m afraid to change ,I suffer from anxitity and panic attacts plus vertigo,dr says valium is best,plz help

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Hi im FIona and i have suffered with anxiety since i was in my early teens im now 55 i have been on zanax since in my early 20s but only took them when i really needed them i tend to avoid a lot of places anyway i found they really helped me my doctor has told me zanax is not being discriped anymore so i have just been given paroxtine 20mg which i have to take every morning and also diazepam 5mg i must admit im a bit worried about taking both so i hope the diazepam works i see some of the posts i have read are quite old im from australia so is zanax also not being discriped where you live

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What state are you located in? I have generalized anxiety and panic disorder. My 1.5mg a day helps a little. The Zoloft has helped but I still have the attacks! And I only take them as prescribed.

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Wasn't it Xanax withdrawal that put you in the hospital? Valium might have saved your life.

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