Posted by detroitpistons on January 6, 2006, at 16:06:15
In reply to Re: When are benzos justified?, posted by valene on January 6, 2006, at 15:30:08
> I don't want to scare you but I have been going through HELL trying to get off xanax 3mg. - I am down to 1.5mg. after one whole year.
>
> It worries me that you are already on effexor and consider adding a benzo to make a cocktail - I know someone on another forum who is losing her mind trying to get off both effexor and valium.
>
> I am not an alarmist, just stating the fact. Try going to the benzo@yahoogroups and reading some of the posts over there and you will see these people are really suffering big time trying to get off benzos.
>
> Please think it over carefully before trying a benzo for any length of time! They can be very scary, ugly drugs to get off and the recovery can take many many months. In my case I was left on them for several years before I realized how much my body was addicted to them (I say addicted because it is a true physical addiction). I hate them with a passion but still need them for now. My hair has thinned way out (a benzo withdrawal symptom) and that's the least of it.
>
> Best of luckHi,
I appreciate your concern...I knew how hard it is to get off of Effexor because I was already on it once. I've also gone through Paxil withdrawal, and it was complete hell. Yet, I still went back to Effexor because I felt so badly that I felt the benefit of the med outweighed the withdrawal.
I'm going to wait and see what my doctor says, but at this point I don't see any alternative to augmenting the Effexor. It only works on my depression, and my anxiety is still going strong. If I don't relieve the anxiety, the Effexor WILL poop out and I will slide into another depression. In fact, I'm thinking now that if I can control the anxiety, I may not even need an antidepressant in the future, because my depression is largely anxiety driven. Theoretically, if I could treat myself with Klonopin alone, I would be ecstatic. In my opinion (as well as others on this board), Klonopin is much safer and benign than the AD's.
There are lots of people who don't find relief from one drug and find the need to augment. Believe me, I am weighing the benefits and risks. I resisted taking meds for a long time, but it's time for me to enjoy life.
poster:detroitpistons
thread:594786
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051231/msgs/595852.html