Switching From Xanax To Valium (Page 7)

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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I just noticed TRESWICK's contribution, made before my last... Sorry, but you are VERY wrong in your estimation of equianxiolysis of alprazolam and diazepam. Alprazolam 1mg is equivalent in potency to 20mg diazepam, NOT 10mg at all. By weight, alprazolam is TWENTY times stronger; a 2mg 'bar' tri-scored into 4 x 0.5mg pieces is the same as 40mg (4 x 10mg tabs) of Valium, Apaurin, or other top class brand of diazepam. Therefore, the OP is receiving now only ONE THIRD of the daily dosage of benzodiazepine as when prescribed Xanax 1mg tds. To say that the onset of action of diazepam is quicker is indeed true, but as I noted, the time taken to reach peak plasma levels is faster in alprazolam, even if the first effect is not felt quite so quickly; I also agree strongly that diazepam is a much better drug for constant anxiety, but NOT for the sort of panic attacks both OP and I suffer. 5mg diazepam is only equal to a 0.25mg alprazolam - and virtually useless for stopping panic attacks. It's simply far too weak to make any difference. The doctor in question is not, in my opinion, fit to treat such a condition if the new Rx is as OP says; his entire daily dosage of diazepam is equivalent only to one single dose of Xanax as previously prescribed. It is a disgrace that so many doctors now are switching patients - here in the UK, they are trying to switch to SSRIs such as citalopram, which work as anxiolytics in only 50% of people and of those, it makes 50% feel MUCH worse, actually increasing anxiety disorders, and, by extension, any associated panic disorders.

My advice is to stick to your guns, tell the doc that 20mg diazepam daily is completely useless, that you are well aware that it only equates to a single dosage of your alprazolam, and that you wish your previous prescription restored as soon as possible as you, as the sufferer, know far better than the doctor what dose of which drug works for your condition best. I have the same problem; my lorazepam (2.5mg qds) was cut over a year to only 2.5mg bd - HALF of the previous dose - not quite as bad as one third as in the case under discussion, but bad enough for me to have to acquire extra benzo - alprazolam and/or bromazepam in my case - sometimes, when I am unable to find a doc willing to prescribe, I have a pocket containing the necessary opiates and benzodiazepines to cover any event which may take place whilst out of the house. I repeat that clonazepam (Rivotril) tabs 2mg tds has been the best thing that ever happened to me as it acts not only as indicated, for prophylaxix of seizures and epilepsy, but also as the finest preventative drug for panic that was ever made. From several panic episodes per WEEK I now suffer perhaps one attack per YEAR, and a bottle of 84 x alprazolam 2mg will now last me for many months, and not the single month it always did before I discovered the wonderful effect of clonazepam - but ensure you use Roche or the Roche-Licenced Rivotril by Galenika, since generic clonazepam is as a rule terrible - the Auden McKenzie generic which I am dispensed is so bad, bioavailability hindered by the binders used in their manufacture, that I need around 10mg daily, not the 6mg which the branded versions require. The generic versions simply do not do the job for which they are designed.

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I have been taking xanax for about 15 years. On and off. Started off low and eventually had to keep raising the dose. I get panic attacks randomly. Sometimes I can go days with one, sometimes they seem to be constant. For the past 2 years I have been prescribed 2 mg 3 times a day. I never really took the whole 2 mg. Usually 1.5mg maybe 4 times a day maybe twice. Sometimes I would take 1mg. I never exceeded the 6mg a day so I always had some leftover where I didn't have to see my GP monthly. I could go 5-6 weeks. Last month he told me he can't write xanax anymore and wanted me to see a psychiatrist or therapist. I made an appointment with one and saw the therapist. I still had some xanax left over so I was given an appt. to go back to see the psychiatrist Dr. a week later. That was yesterday. Friday. Well, after speaking with him he said Valium would be better. I explained to him how I took my xanax. Just when I needed it throughout the day. He explained that xanax was short lasting, which I knew all about benzos from playing dr. Google. He asked if I wanted my xanax or something that lasts longer and I can eventually get off them some day. I said yes to Valium. He looked on his computer to get the dose and came up with taking 2 10mg. (20 mg.) 3 times a day. He had to verify my insurance would pay it. So now here it is today. Sat. I usually wake up at 7:00 and take my synthroid (just had 2 surgeries 3 months ago for thyroid cancer) then go back to sleep. When I get up again I take my blood pressure pills and I always had to take a xanax 1-1.5 mg. That would last awhile.

Then whenever I needed a xanax for an attack coming on I would take more xanax. Anywhere from .5-1.5. I've googled all day today about Valium and from what I read a 10 mg Valium is the same as .5 xanax. So taking 2 10mg xanax is like 1 mg. Xanax. I took the 20 mg. Valium at 11:30 this morning. After 2 hours felt nothing. Maybe tired. But still anxious. And we all know trying not to feel anxious just makes it worse. So I took another half of a 10mg. Still nothing really. Now I'm banging myself over the head for saying yes to Valium and it's sat. I can't get to call the dr. Until Monday. I've been googling to figure out if my psychiatrist Dr. gave me the wrong dose or if Valium just doesn't work. I don't even know how long to wait to take another dose? Xanax I broke off pieces as needed. Can I do that with Valium? Should my dose be upped? Does it take time to build up? I'm all confused. Also it says don't drink on it. I did have a couple of glasses of wine some nights on xanax. Can I not do that on Valium? Please help. Thanks. Well I took my 2nd dose of Valium at like 5:15pm. It's now almost 8pm. I took 25 mg instead of 20. I feel a little calmer now but still on the fence of a panic attack. I don't know how or when to take the Valium being I was taking my xanax when I felt an attack coming. Valium doesn't work for this. And I know I'm just making it worse by being on these websites trying to read other people's experiences. I'm calling my dr. Monday and telling him to either put me back on xanax or maybe my Valium dose isn't high enough?? I wanna kick myself for saying I would try the Valium instead of my old xanax. Like I just want to feel normal again!! I want to have a glass of wine but I'm paranoid about even doing that!! Even though I used to have wine every now and then with friends or dinner.

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Re: HOW 2 get Off XANAX (# 59)

How many people have actually taken this advice?
I am curious because it seems to easy and fast. How do you not have withdrawls?

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Re: Syrus (# 8)

I went through 1 mg and a half of xanex to 10 1mg valium now I can't sleep at all please help me.

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Re: Eddie (# 118)

Valium and Xanax are a quick fix for panic attacks.once i was prescribed an antidepressant my panic attacks lessoned and only very rarely did I need to take a Valium.

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Valium sucks. My old shrink switched me from 3mg xanax to 40 mg valium and I got worse and like literally wanted to kill myself. I fired the lady and switched back to xanax and now I'm fine. I will never take anything but xanax for anxiety. The doctors lie cuz they just want to take you off and some don't like xanax (which is stupid since they're the same class of drug and are both just as habit forming). I don't trust doctors anymore because of this horrible experience. I'm literally allergic to valium. So f*** valium it's garbage.

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Re: Screech (# 126)

If I never saw another Valium again. Stay away from Ativan too (Lorazapam), I threw away 1 years worth deciding I wanted to be Benzo free, and almost died stopping from Xanax. I didn't need any of this crap anymore. I was partly right as I wound up in the E.R., and they asked me to stay a week. I was dying from my Xanax withdrawal. Under no circumstances is Xanax safe either, just works the best for many of us

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