Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 6, 2004, at 15:22:02
In reply to Re: Xanax vs. Valium...., posted by Violet4EVR on August 6, 2004, at 11:03:00
Is Xanax more powerful than Valium? Depends on whom you ask... Xanax tends to have more of an upbeat, "happy" feel to it for most; Valium seems to be more "mellowing"... a sort of "melt-into-your-chair" kind of relaxation. Obviously, these two drugs are better suited to different people in most cases.
As far as potency is concerned, however, Xanax certainly beats out Valium by a longshot. Milligram for milligram, Xanax is one of the most potent benzodiazepines available in the U.S. A 10mg dose of Valium generally possesses the anxiolytic properties of about 1mg Xanax. The other more well-known high-potency benzodiazepines would be Halcion, Klonopin and Rohypnol -- all about twenty times as potent as Valium (though Rohypnol is illegal in the U.S.).
Violet4EVR mentioned the addition of an SSRI to potentiate the effects of your Xanax, and it's not a bad idea, but let me suggest that you speak with your doctor about augmenting with nefazodone (the recently discontinued Serzone) or even grapefruit juice. Either of these can about double the peak plasma concentration of Xanax by inhibiting CYPIIIA4, the enzyme responsible for its degradation. My psychiatrist back in 2001 prescribed Serzone to me solely for this purpose (to avoid having to increase my Xanax dose of course, lol).
Best of luck!
~Michael
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:374589
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040805/msgs/374774.html