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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Fred Potter on August 29, 2001, at 22:53:34
My psychiatrist has removed benzodiazepines so I just take Effexor. She says the continual anxiety I feel is part of detox and I can't start therapy until it's over. Anybody agree? I don't
Posted by Tony P on August 29, 2001, at 23:24:51
In reply to Xanax and the war on drugs, posted by Fred Potter on August 29, 2001, at 22:53:34
I went through a similar experience some years back. I had been on a high dose of Xanax or one of the similar bezodiazepines for several months and was having trouble withdrawing. I had not yet been officially diagnosed as depressed so I wasn't on an AD - but a clinic doctor switched me to Buspar, which was relatively new at the time.
Result was not pleasant. I went from anxious to anxious, angry and agressive. I found out subsequently the drug co. specifically recommended against overlapping Buspar with bezodiazepine withdrawal/replacement.
My experience was with Buspar not Effexor of course, but your Dr. may be wise to insist on a full wash-out of the Xanax. If you don't do that, it may be hard to know which you're dealing with - side-effects of Effexor, after-effects of Xanax or a bad combination of both.
Withdrawing from bezodiazepine use of any long duration is going to make anyone experience anxiety. I can sympathize - it's not a pleasnt detox and it does take a while.
Over the longer term, there have been a number of posts here re various combinations of meds (e.g. Serzone) that reduce the unwanted anxiety from some AD's without bezodiazepines. Oddly enough, my MD has permitted me (while I'm stabilizing on Wellbutrin) to use small doses of Clonazepam, which is a bezodiazepine but quite a bit different from the Xanax/Valium branch (I believe). Ultimately it's up to you and your Dr.
Good luck, though, I know it's a tough road - been there more than once.
Tony P
> My psychiatrist has removed benzodiazepines so I just take Effexor. She says the continual anxiety I feel is part of detox and I can't start therapy until it's over. Anybody agree? I don't
Posted by Janelle on August 29, 2001, at 23:39:14
In reply to Re: Xanax and the war on drugs, posted by Tony P on August 29, 2001, at 23:24:51
Yes, Tony, you are right - Clonazepman (Klonopin) is indeed a bezodiazepine but quite a bit different from the Xanax/Valium branch. Xanax and Valium are fast acting (and with short half-lives if I'm not mistaken) and are highly addictive; Clonazepam is much slower acting and is less addictive. I've been taking a low dose of Clonazepam for years and up it occasionally during a bad bout of anxiety.
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 30, 2001, at 1:41:15
In reply to Xanax and the war on drugs, posted by Fred Potter on August 29, 2001, at 22:53:34
Posted by Greg A. on August 30, 2001, at 11:06:16
In reply to Xanax and the war on drugs, posted by Fred Potter on August 29, 2001, at 22:53:34
I hope your doc didn't remove the Xanax cold turkey. You certainly will experience anxiety among other unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if that's the case. I withdrew from xanax over a one year period and at the same time started on ADs. It worked for me.
Posted by JAMMER on August 30, 2001, at 13:35:23
In reply to Xanax and the war on drugs, posted by Fred Potter on August 29, 2001, at 22:53:34
> My psychiatrist has removed benzodiazepines so I just take Effexor. She says the continual anxiety I feel is part of detox and I can't start therapy until it's over. Anybody agree? I don't
Try Klonopin, 1-2 mg works well for me. talk to your doc.
-James
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