Switching From Xanax To Valium (Page 5)

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

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I have been treated for Anxiety Issues for 35 years. I've had both Xannax & Valium. I choose to use Valium becuz they last longer. And THEY DO stop Panic Attacks. I take them regularly & have better results than I do with Xannax. Don't be so sure that Valium won't work. Give it, and Your Dr a chance. All the Best

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I agree. I have a lot of experience in the past w panic attacks (which i now know my spikes of Low BP mimic) & meds. You toootttaaallyy had xanax wd not reaction to valium. And you mention generalized anxiety disorder & medication phobias /fear of new strategies/fear of what it may feel like/bad reaction etc. Xanax for as needed is stupid--you develop tolerance & its shortness causes rebound anxiety. Klopin really is best of both worlds. Valium "would" work if you weren't tolerant and if you took scheduled dose 3 times per day etc. ativan is worthless. but as the other poster said you are going to have to beef up the self talk & coping skills. I was a basket case fear of driving on bridges all kinds of crazy shoot when i was young--the real prob is i was married to a closet homo/closet psychopathic attorney & emotionally neglected/isolated. I got a dog, a "race car", a lover, a job, & a life because after years of the panic attack bs (they are very real I mean the BS of dealing with the others not wanting to hear about it and then realizing I was self isolating to avoid panic attacks as much as being emotionally isolated by my ex) YOU must decide that pan attcks etc are bs way to live. Find new coping skills, push yourself to beeee uncomfortable & for me i "decided" im only going to allow "one thing" & would self talk & pray myself through the rest . For example, i would say "i have panic attacks or am having a panic attack" that is what i am taking medication for (1 allowed thing) but i will not have panic attacks, take medication AND avoid whatever it was! If that makes sense or if i didnt (phobia or panic attack fear) want to go somewhere or do something i would again use the self talk of ok going to take this & go to office party...this amount " works " for others & if it doesnt "control" my panic then that is Just the BS anxiety & lack of coping taking control of my body & my very real physical symptoms are creating mental panic attacks--any navy seal /fighter pilot whatever -- and you can read the techniques they use to control it -- essentially have anxiety attacks but they don't call it by that name they call it an adrenaline dump ! And it triggers the same fighter flight they talk and breathe their way through it!

It will work!!! I cant believe the bs life i lived in fear of pa & gad! I was not depressed btw. Praying helped --i still get what feels like pa because of my low bp (real prob) & i will do the fighter pilot "gag" thing & pray myself "home" if out on walk or whatever. I am also hypothyroid and extremely fit because i also use the gym to release anxiety. If you focus on yourself and rely on medication it will not solve your prob & your tolerance will grow ( and some biological so it will happen) & xanax is absolutely preferred by addicts ( i'm not saying you) but i am saying you may paint yourself into a corner / find yourself "blacklisted" or cut off at some point if you demand Only Xanax & will eventually need outrageous doses! Then what? Btw telling a doctor "only xanax" and only certain doses "translates" to drug seeking behavior. What happens if dr says No more xanax? Only other benzos! ...are you going to change to a dr willing to prescribe xanax?

You'll find that attachments to certain drugs or fear of new ones is identical to the ritual portion of other addictions & also part of gad, pa, & phobias. Use more coping skills, more self talk & call yourself out ie "check yourself" if you chAnge meds and have a pa ...so what? Are you performing a life saving operation on a child today? Chances are you just dont want to feel the panic. Also, so what if your worst or most embarrassing fears come true w/ pa attack--no one gives a dang! Or oh, someone may have to call emt ---guess what you already are taking yourself to the ER! Same thing--pa are like learned helplessness --you start doing to yourself the same thing at one time the pa caused!

Im not being judgmental, im saying I've been there, done that & i know how real pa are! I also know once you decide they are bs and if today is the day you are going to die --maybe death by panic attack is preferred to death by stabbing etc--once you take the bs power away of pa (panic attacks) you will get better ---but now you are benzo dependent & that qualified under my bs plan of only allowing myself one prob! Because now you have 2 --pa & benzo dependence! And wd (3 probs) when you tried switching Then more probs when you went to hospital (like bills, anxiety, annoyance to others or fear in others etc) and you still have the main prob of whatever caused the first panic attack (Bad marriage? Overweight? Unmarried? Whatever!). Pa is a Natural result of Not dealing with something that is emotionally upsetting. Its the body trying to discharge the stress some way (as opposed to psychiatric break) so sooommmeeething is bothering you & if you dont Practice & use coping skills u will always have pa & many more problems! And intellectually knowing what coping skills are or breathing or other adrenaline dump techniques and knowing them is not the same thing as practicing them which builds new neural pathways in your brain!!

Im sorry for the length but I feel like you really need help and panic attacks are really a normal reaction to emotionally not dealing with something.

Good luck & start with reframing the idea that pa is nothing more than an adrenaline dump (at a perceivably incorrect time) & if navy seals & fighter pilots learn to control with practice these dumps & same physical & mental symptoms without drugs in the most critical situations & under extreme pressure!!! So can you!

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I've been thru a very similar situation. I was on the same amount of xanax u were and switched to valium but my Dr. says 3/1mg xanax 3/10mg valium. I made the choice to switch myself, and it wasn't an easy decision for me to make, but I did it bc I have severe anxiety and I too would have to take an extra here and there and there were a couple times I ran out a few days early...which u don't want to do so take the valium bc xanax is very strong and leaves ur body the quickest. valium and xanax have differ greatly in their half life. that's probably part of why he switched you. that and the good old DEA breathing down their necks. things are getting stricter. what stands out the most to me is u didn't mention.."Does he have u on any other medication for ur panic attacks??? If not I question whether he's really hearing/or believing you or not. I'm sorry for that,truly. I very much know exactly where ur coming from and I know it's awful, and I find it insulting. take the valium for now before u start feeling the xanax wearing off. its not fun but valium will definitely help.I had a little headache or felt at ad bit anxious until the xanax loses ur system which won't take long. research meds that have been proven to help w panic attacks!

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I can hear you are in an anxiety state worrying about the meds..I was the same way a few yrs. Ago. Try the Valium. After so long of being on a med they don't work as well. I was on .05 mil. Of Larazapan which helped me get over my panic & anxiety.It took only 6 months to get better. It took a long time to get into this state so cure doesn't com quickly. There is an end to this state you are in. First of you have to get pisitive, positive thoughts, talk to yourself in positive thoughts. Increase your self as teem and self worth. I found writing my feelings out helped and then saw how my negative thinking got me where I was.loose all fear and take the so what attitude.panic & anxiety is telling you that you need change..I quarentee you will be a much stronger person in the end and you can handle anything.Give yourself a hug!

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Hi, I am so sorry to hear what happened to you. I have suffered from panic attacks for 21 years now. I do understand how terrifying a attack is. I have been transported to the hospital on many occasions. But, when I was taking Xanax my attacks were so bad. I couldn't control them at all. It occurred often. Always calling the ambulance. It took doctors about 6 years to diagnose me with severe panic disorder, anxiety, & depression. Before that, I was a mess. But, sadly the Xanax didn't help much. I went to another doctor many years ago, and he prescribed me klonopin.I have not once went to the hospital since. Klonopin are time released, so your brain is constantly receiving medication throughout the day. I take 3 per day. I am so grateful to this doctor. He helped save my sanity & life. Maybe, you could ask your doctor to let you try this medication, if you haven't tried it before. If he doesn't help you, maybe it is time to look for another doctor. I would of been making appointments already. Panic attacks are to terrifying for me to live with without proper medication. I feel for you & I will pray for you to get the best help you can.

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You are entirely correct. When my doctor switched my medication I felt much better. Xanax did nothing for me. I would have panic attacks almost every day. Once I got off Xanax I was much better. I rarely have attacks any more.

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You can't have both.wouldn't we all love to have both for panic attacks, however from someone who takes valuim for panic attacks ,asked if I could try xanex and I did,and I went back to valuim.you asked 3pharmacists?wouldn't one be acceptable? You can't have both.

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Well there you go. Your education in mental health field you say? Those other meds help seratonins in your brain with panic attacks. Be careful filling a script u confidently have. Your med Dr. just tried helping. People do abuse Xanax! Not good to change a med Dr. My opinion, your upset with the antidepressants assuming it's for Bi polar. I agree with mirtazapine, and Dr.s usually listen to concerns. Remember seeing a new Med Dr. in psychiatry, kinda looks bad, but you must know they went to school for 15yrs and will let you know one of his concerns, your concern's, and what you've taken. I suffer from panic attacks, and I need my paxil, buspar, and valuim. help! Not cure, help with therapy.

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True colors came out after poor syrus poored his compassion to you Tiffany! As needed ?six times maybe a day?I read your last post crystal clear! Your abusing Xanax! Its not fun suffering panic attacks! I am greatful for valuim 3x daily.your going to be out and really have withdrals.

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OK - firstly, let me admit I have NOT read any ptevious answers, as I am replying directly from a daily Medschat newsletter link.
I live in the UK where Xanax prescriptions are quite rare for two reasons; the 1 & 2mg strengths have been unavailable for over 15 years, and the cost of 500mcg tabs is about the highest I know of. Also there are no generic alprazolams whatsoever, so it's expensive original brand or nothing. The cost to me every month (2mg tds) was so much I had to change, not to Valium (which was withdrawn here in 1994 - only a few generic diazepams are dispensed, notably Actavis, but none of which are of the quality of Valium - which incidentally I am VERY surprised you get as Roche's US prices are ridiculously and criminally - in a price-fixing way - high...) but to lorazepam 2.5mg qds, a little weaker over 24 hrs. I tend to often get original ex-Wyeth Temesta/Ativan/Tavor (country-dependent brand name) as there are so few top class original patent brands left on our NHS due to a policy of dispensing the cheapest generic. More of which to follow in my advice.

Xanax is even worse in cost than here & one thing I DO know is that, should you ever go for generic alprazolam there is really only ONE SINGLE MAKE in America which even comes close to European (or Xanax) quality, which is that by Greenstone. US-made generic diazepam is similarly poor, Watson's DAN tabs having the best reputation and Mylan's green 10mg the very worst - you would be better off with the cheapest crap Indian brand than touching anything by Mylan USA - though here the old Merck Generics are now under Mylan name and retain the excellent quality of that German company.

To the facts. Diazepam is a LOT weaker than alprazolam so your doc is either ignorant or lying to you. 5mg for an acute panic attack Don't make me laugh. Diazepam is more useful as a sedative than an anxiolytic and 5mg is equivalent to only a white oval Xanax 'UPJOHN 29' 250mcg tablet - one quarter the strength of a 1mg! I find Xanax much better for anxiety and most certainly as yourself in higher than usual dosage (5mg in my case) for acute attacks. I then use Lysanxia or Lexotan to chill afyer the shock of an attack. However the information you should get over to your ptesumably undereducated or benzophobic doctor is that the anticonvulsant benzo CLONAZEPAM also acts not just as a prophylactic for seizure, but for panic; and it is VERY effective. Since starting (was on 2mg qds now reduced to tds) I have gone from two or three panic episodes per month to only one or two ANNUALLY over the past 8 years. I saud I would say more about generics - Roche withdrew the superb RIVOTRIL (except in one country where it is branded 'Klonopin' & also made in the very strange 1mg strength, whereas worldwide Rivotril is in only 500mcg & 2mg) last year because of that lowest price policy of the NHS - previously I was prescribed by brand - so when able to afford it I get the Roche Switzerland product, which of course is Roche's very best, or the top class Roche-licenced (& far cheaper) Rivotril by Galenika of Serbia rather than the now-ubiauitous Auden McKenzie generic, which has serious bioavailability issues probably caused by excipients used, & the characteristic minty taste can not even be tasted. I need back to 8mg or even 10mg daily when using those.

Personally I would go back to your doctor and explain just how wrong s/he is, how alprazolam & diazepam differ subjectively, and give him/her absolute PELTERS for suggesting a fully blown panic attack can possibly be tackled by such a puny dose of such a puny benzo comparatively. Your daily dosage of benzodiazepine is now precisely one third of what it was when using the Pfizer drug. Stronger my bony ass. Demand a return to Xanax 1mg tds but also an off-label usage of clonazepam (Roche - I know of only one decent generic & that is dispersible CLONOTRIL only found (Torrent Labs) in India) original Rivotril brand, as its efficacy as a preventative for panic attack is wonderful. Use diazepam ONLY as a sedative, dosage required being 20-30mg, not that idiotic 5mg; and for acute panic episodes, which I guarantee will be rare once clonazepam is part of your regimen, consider LORAZEPAM (I prefer Pfizer ex-Wyeth original brand TEMESTA) 2.5mg x 2 or x 3. It is faster acting than either alprazolam or diazepam. I also know of a friend who keeps flunitrazepam (1mg Roche ROHYPNOL & 2mg HYPNOCALM) and finds 3mg sorts out panic attacks very fast indeed - onset twice as quick as lorazepam, which is what hospitals give IV in 4/5mg dose when patients are in full panic mode. Rohypnol is licensed to be prescribed only for sleep so it may be difficult to get a doc to write up 3mg doses when 2mg is the maximum recommended in ANY country, but some decent doctors WILL prescribe on the basis of a patient's previous subjective experience.

The most important thing that comes out of your questioning post is that you are with a doctor who is either uneducated and ignorant, or is blatantly lying to you, & that is a situation demanding complaint to superiors. The wo/man is a fool and unfit to practice if issuing such nonsensical things and suggesting a completely ineffective solution to acute panic, which I have suffered now for 39 years so should know a little of what I'm talking about! Best of luck my friend.

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don't take it as an insult when someone suggests ur abusing it. Bc it's hard for a lot of people, non addicts/recovering addicts/and people that have nvr touched another drug in their life, to take that poison benzo and not have some issues w it. For those that can and do you're fortunate you don't. I had to switch after 6months of attempts to take it exactly as directed and every time I believed I could then finally I had to face that I can't and I told my doctor to switch me to valium and if I ever tell him I think it'd work better now and I wouldn't have any issues w it and to switch me no to xanax to tell me NO! Its too strong, that's the problem and it leaves it system quicker then any other benzo. So coming off of it w/out the valium u have now would be a nightmare! Your valium will work. He prescribed you valium bc it has the longest half life, it stays in ur body for abt 22 days. And it works. There's nvr going to be enough xanax that ur doctor can legally prescribe that's going to do u any better. Of course ur probably upset & offended now, many people have been there. You'll get over the xanax and you'll be happier w the valium in the near future. Btw valium is going to build up in ur body and stays there much longer so ur worry about needing that quick acting xanax in the middle of a panic attack won't be needed bc you'll have a build up if valium keeping the panic attacks at bay. that should help that problem. And u might ask ur Dr for an antidepressant that works great for panic attacks. A lot of them do. I find it odd that he didn't prescribe u one at that visit. Post updates on how ur doing! I will say the first few days will be just a little icky,maybe not, but that xanax will leave quick. once it does you'll figure out how the Valium is working for you...especially after a week-or 2 when it's really built up. Just don't give yourself a panic attack worrying abt the loss of ur xanax! You'll be okay.I have a feeling a month or two from now you'll be glad you were switched. Bc running out or low on xanax will give u a panic attack and can certainly land u in the ER desperate! That rollercoaster is over now. If you want to email personally just inquire abt my email and I'll give it to you.

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she's been prescribed 10mg Valium /3 daily. So she's not w/out proper medication. I just hope she is taking the valium bc it WILL work. I really believe that it will work much much better! I think her doctor made the right call. I know how she feels but I also know how much better she will feel when the xanax leaves her body and she gives the valium a chance.

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OK, Verwon, please read a little more carefully what the original poster (Syrus) actually said. He (or she) does take the Xanax regularly for anxiety as prescribed by the doctor. But when they feel a true panic attack coming, they take a little bit extra to stave off a full-blown attack. I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that they take the Xanax ONLY when they are getting a panic attack since the contributor never states this. They're NOT just "using Xanax to stop them." In fact, they state very specifically that they take 1 mg. of Xanax 3x per day to treat their anxiety. Also, according to the writer, the Xanax is still working just fine so they're wondering, legitimately so, why the doctor claims it's not working and is switching them to Valium. (Perhaps another case of deciding to "fix what ain't broke"? Who knows?!) I do agree that the patient should give the Valium a try. They may discover that it works as well or better than the Xanax. If they use it for a couple weeks and find that it's not as helpful as the Xanax, then they should return to their doctor and let them know that the Valium isn't working as well for them. In my own experience with pain medications, I've certainly learned that people can respond very differently to the same medication. Also, it's important to not assume from what's written on the internet that someone else's response will also be yours. Obviously, just the idea of changing meds is a difficult thing for this particular patient who says they have a "phobia for taking new medicines" so they need to push through that and remember that internet sources aren't always reliable! Unfortunately, doctors aren't always reliable either, particularly in their knowledge of medications. I've talked about this issue with my doc and he absolutely agrees that pharmacists are the true experts when it comes to medications and their use. That's their specialty! A doctor needs to know a lot of things and specific knowledge of specific medications and their interactions and usage is simply not an area of expertise for them. If the Valium doesn't work for this patient's panic attacks, it might be helpful to have their pharmacist communicate with their doctor about the co-use of Valium and Xanax. Since the original posting about this topic was over 3 years ago, I'd love to hear what happened and how the Valium vs. Xanax battle worked out!

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Let me first say this. Valium is by far the best. No, it will not make you feel as clear and lucid as quickly as xanax will, it actually is one of the older benzo's, and got the bad rap for benzos started many many years ago, and now we have the three most common ones, Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan, all of which are much MUCH more dangerous than valium. I was prescribed 1mg Xanax 3x daily for about 4 years, then switched to 1mg xanax 3-4x daily as needed for roughly five years. It helped me work, and hold jobs. It helped me be social. It also made me wake up with rage and fear, and about 6 months in, the medicine would only last a couple hours, then full fledge panic worse than before i started (and before i started it was so severe i would wait till night time to take the trash out or get the mail, and trust me, im not a lazy person.) I got into a legal issue, at a 'party', punched a car window out and ended up getting about 30 stitches and a LOT of glass pulled out of my arm. The hospital kept me, made me cold turkey. I convulsed one time, dont remember it, they just said i did, i have no recollection. They kept me until my arm was healed, and stitches were out. Then kept me longer because my vitals, ie bloodpressure and temp etc, were still not on track. I can tell you what benzo withdrawal feels like. But i wont, because you should never EVER have to experience the kind of hell it was. After x amount of time, i got out of hospital. My withdrawals lasted for many years. Yes, my body adjusted after about 5 months, possibly less, but the mind did not. It was like a one year + acid trip followed by another 2 years of anxiety so excrutiating and painful i would literally put my ear to bedroom door to listen if it was not busy outside bedroom, so i could use bathroom or get glass of water. Then finally, after being stubborn, got klonopin. the klonopin was much better, .5 mg 3x daily. it took a while to kick in however, about an hour to an hour and half, but i would still wake up with panic and aggitation, even though it helped me function in society. After doing that for a couple years, i did my research, Xanax cold turkey, literally froze the receptors into a numb state as far as GABA is concerened, they had no chance to re-adjust. Klonopin did last longer, and did make me feel functional, however i wanted to get off of benzos, which i am trying now. I have been on valium instead of klonopin for 1 month, 5mg 3x daily. The first 2 weeks were terrible. The equivilent dose of valium for a 1mg KLNPIN or 1MG XNX is roughly 20 MG. so i basically underwent a half-way detox, going from halfmg kpin to 5mg val. I have adjusted, and something i notice, this is not a medication for people looking to feel happy and silly. It does take time, you do adjust, i do not wake up in anxiety or aggitated states anymore, the half life is 200 hours instead of 50 (kpin) or 14 (xanax). It works, it helps you function, it maintains y our sobriety, and it will build in your system over time. But for a doctor to bring you from x amount of benzo to x amount of valium, it will NOT work unless they know, or you understand even if they dont, the equivilent dose. If they dont know, but you understand, that is what i did, and now have finally started feeling level, yes, i still have klonopin withdrawal, but its mostly physical. Gastrointestinal tbh. But i will say this. Valium is for adults, people who want to function, who have panic attacks or severe anxiety in general. And it is MUCH better of an option than the mainstream benzos docs are handing out at the drop of a hat these days. I will say, while i am sitting here with klonopin withdrawal, and have done severe xanax withdrawal, that Valium does work, and if you can switch, do it. It might save your life. In fact there is a very good chance it will. Also i reccomend looking up the Ashton Manual. .

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Exactly. This person was given about 1/7th the equivilent in valium on their switch from xanax to valium, they experienced withdrawal. Just like they would if they took literally half a pill of their original xanax RX and split it into smaller pieces through the day. Valium is better, lasts longer, builds in system, prevents panic/anxiety. Withdrawal is one thing, a medication that actually makes someone a functioning human being is another thing, their doctor failed at the dosage for the transition and i guess klonopin is okay, but i've been on all three and valium by far is the best, you can wake up and literally do something without having to pop a pill first thing in the morning, it does build it does last and it does work, the dosages are hugely misunderstood by many doctors though.

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I'm sorry U have so many panic attacks. Your Dr probably changed over to Valium due to U reporting still having panic attacks. If U have the amount of panic attacks U R saying then I think it is appropriate to try Valium. True Valium works slower but actually quite effective. It also works for much longer than Xannax. It will give U all the help U need. All the Best.. Solidmike

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I also was diagnosed for depression from the start when I first went to the Dr to address my issues that had been plaguing me since I was 13 years old. At 18 they started me on pail, tried it for a year or so, it gave me weird feelings but was better then my normal. When it quit working I was given every type of antidepressant there is. Eventually it hit me or more so them that I actually had some extreme anxiety that started around adolescence. It did so happen that my family has some major anxiety issues going bk to my great uncle whom couldn't leave his home for 3 yrs. He eventually got prescribed valium and he was able to go about life again normally. I think valium really can work for major anxiety. Perhaps adding an antidepressant could help. I have also been down the Xanax road and as it can work well it's cons seem to really outweigh its pros. I switched from xanax to valium about 5 months ago and my anxiety is gone. I do need to address some other issues, thinking about which antidepressant would work the best for me. You made a good point when you mentioned how it seemed once you became more knowledgeable about certain medications and what works best for you, your doctor seemed to be weary of you. I've experienced that and it stands in my way often from getting better. They don't understand that maybe what we're going thru is so overwhelming/& stands in the way of our lives that we are desperate to find an answer so we do the responsible thing and we eeducate ourselves in hopes of helping the Dr find the right treatment for us. And yet so often all they see is a drug seeker. Its hard to find a good doctor that will listen and not write you off. Best of Luck to you.

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Here goes honest answer. I was prescribes Xanax when it first came out early 1980s for panic attacks. I had been addicted for Valium and didn't want to go near another Benzo. Once again not enough research had been done to safely give me or anyone that drug with a history of addiction m. It worked for about a yr. it gradually creeps up on you because it's fast and short term acting. I think your doc sees a need at in crease as. Bad sign you are building up a tolerance not good.

It was hell detoxing from Xanax. Valium has a much longer shelf life almost 24 hrs if I recall. You don't get the pop like Xanax but it's working.they are both bad but I think Valium is a lesser of evils our bodies chew through Xanax like candy in 4-6 hrs it's gone, huge rate of addiction. Hope this helped good luck.

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It seems U worry about full blown Panic Attacks worse than every day Anxiety. By taking the Valium U will receive good consistent treatment. And Valium WILL stop Panic Attacks. I was rescued 25 years ago from Xannax transferred over to Valium & have been on them ever since then. Panic Attacks will not occur as often when on Valium. Try it out with good intentions & U may find it works out. All the Best.

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