Posted by Chloe on December 9, 2001, at 17:20:56
In reply to Re: Mood Stabilizers good for anxiety? and Zoloft? » adamie, posted by jay on December 9, 2001, at 14:53:18
Jay,
I need a mood stabilizer for my mood dyregulation, depression, BP2. But of late all the MS have been causing me such bad side effects, mainly hair and skin problems, that I can't tolerate them. Even Lithium is giving me a hell of a time.
SO, My pdoc keeps saying just take more diazapam for the rage, anxiety or insomnia (It's sounding like a drug for everything for me!). I take about 10 mgs per day (and have for years and years), and she says there is plenty of room to go up on it, and I have very little side effects from it. BUT, I feel very uncomfortable taking diazapam so much. And now I am up to about 12.5 mgs, and if I don't remember to take it, I start to feel shaky, sweaty and edgy. So, then I feel I am forced to take the larger dose.
I do not feel "addicted" to benzos, but my body certainly is. And I am so scared that I am dependent on diazapam....And, god the stigma of "Valium" is amazing. I have had to change pharmacies recently, because the pharmacist made me uncomfortable when I have to refill my diazapam.
Benzos definitely work for anxiety, sleep, anger, but I am scared to "need" a med that has a high physical dependency problem and a horrible stigma...
Just had to vent that...
C
> Medline searches do show Zoloft is used for anxiety disorders, but the bet would seem to be on a smaller doseage of Zoloft and a good dose of Ativan. I really haven't experienced, or even seen much data that shows mood stabilizers are as effective as benzos for all types of anxiety. I think doctors, again, are prejudice to mood stabalizers because they feel they are less "addictive" than benzos, all though that is all questionable in terms of the subjective defenition of "addiction", and the safety and side-effect profile of benzos seem superior to mood stabilizers.
>
> Jay
poster:Chloe
thread:86380
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011202/msgs/86399.html