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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by adamie on December 9, 2001, at 12:07:36
hi. my pdoc gave me a limited supply of ativan which i feel I really need to take at least 3 times a day or else i feel worse. ativan helps limit negavite thoughts, gives more confidence, and also creates LESS mind torture! it makes it less painful to be alive.
so I am going to my family doctor tomorrow to get more hopefully. But if the doctor is not familiar with Ativan then he may give me something else.
If he gives me something else will it work just like the Ativan? Do these benzo's work pretty much the same for anxiety and such?
I really need Ativan or something like it. The mind torture is CONSTANT without it. I need something to work for me constantly.
Are there benzo's which work longer than Ativan? Please give me some info on these benzos.
Posted by adamie on December 9, 2001, at 12:22:53
In reply to Ativan helps, will other benzo's help? info please, posted by adamie on December 9, 2001, at 12:07:36
hi. would there be any problems temporarly switching benzos? or would there be a withdrawl effect from the last benzo? or would the new benzo make up for any such effect?
Posted by Alan on December 9, 2001, at 13:43:06
In reply to any problems to switch benzo's?, posted by adamie on December 9, 2001, at 12:22:53
> hi. would there be any problems temporarly switching benzos? or would there be a withdrawl effect from the last benzo? or would the new benzo make up for any such effect?
**********************************************
All good questions. Please take the link that i gave to you (above) into your doc if they give you any hassle. They should listen to you. If you feel better on this med they should not take it away from you. If they want to take this classification of drug away from you (benzodiazapines) run - don't walk - to a doctor that will listen to you and is better informed.You deserve better treatment than that if you get this kind of run around. The main BZD's are ativan, xanax, valium, and klonopin. The first two have the same shorter half life but are extremely effective.
The last two are longer acting and may or may not work as well for you. You have to be alowed to experiment!!! The doctor should listen to what you have to say and trust you. Some respond better to one BZD than to others. Ativan sounds as if you resond well to. Try xanax if you want to try something similar. You have to take these 3 - 4 times a day.
One can easily go from one BZD to another immediately if you match the dose from one BZD to another BZD. If you feel anxiety from tapering off one drug to another, increase the dose of the new drug because you will not be getting enough of it to take away the withdrawl of the old drug.
It is not true that any of the BZD's are more "addictive" than other BZD's. Half-life does not determine a drug's "addictiveness".
The word "addictive" is misleading. The proper term is "medical dependence". Please use this term with your doctor because addictive is not the correct word if you need this med but do not "crave" it like one would crave cocaine or heroin.
Please keep us informed!!!
Alan
Posted by Twain on December 9, 2001, at 23:44:53
In reply to Ativan helps, will other benzo's help? info please, posted by adamie on December 9, 2001, at 12:07:36
> Are there benzo's which work longer than Ativan? Please give me some info on these benzos.Hi,
I once had a family doctor prescribe librium with the thought (however misguided) that it was the least addictive of the benzos.
Librium is very long acting. I found it more effective than ativan. Ativan was like a roller coaster - I felt like I was either getting high or coming down - with little inbetween.
Might also note that the 2 years I took ativan, I abused alcohol something fierce. But when I took librium -everything being equal- I had little desire to drink and went over a year without alcohol.
Now I'm taking the poor man's equivalent - neurotin. Ugh. Seems to work with wellbutrin. My pdoc won't prescribe a benzo.
Hope you get something long-acting. I see my pdoc on the 19th with the hope I can talk him into a very low dose of a long-acting benzo. I would be interested in knowing how you make out with the family doc.
bw
Posted by adamie on December 10, 2001, at 10:58:03
In reply to Re: Ativan helps, will other benzo's help? info please » adamie, posted by Twain on December 9, 2001, at 23:44:53
convinced doctor to give me 30 half mg ativan tablets. sublingual. with a refill.i should ask about a longer acting benzo though during my next pdoc apointment.
> > Are there benzo's which work longer than Ativan? Please give me some info on these benzos.
>
> Hi,
>
> I once had a family doctor prescribe librium with the thought (however misguided) that it was the least addictive of the benzos.
>
> Librium is very long acting. I found it more effective than ativan. Ativan was like a roller coaster - I felt like I was either getting high or coming down - with little inbetween.
>
> Might also note that the 2 years I took ativan, I abused alcohol something fierce. But when I took librium -everything being equal- I had little desire to drink and went over a year without alcohol.
>
> Now I'm taking the poor man's equivalent - neurotin. Ugh. Seems to work with wellbutrin. My pdoc won't prescribe a benzo.
>
> Hope you get something long-acting. I see my pdoc on the 19th with the hope I can talk him into a very low dose of a long-acting benzo. I would be interested in knowing how you make out with the family doc.
>
> bw
Posted by manowar on December 12, 2001, at 16:54:44
In reply to Re: any problems to switch benzo's? » adamie, posted by Alan on December 9, 2001, at 13:43:06
What link?
> > hi. would there be any problems temporarly switching benzos? or would there be a withdrawl effect from the last benzo? or would the new benzo make up for any such effect?
> **********************************************
> All good questions. Please take the link that i gave to you (above) into your doc if they give you any hassle. They should listen to you. If you feel better on this med they should not take it away from you. If they want to take this classification of drug away from you (benzodiazapines) run - don't walk - to a doctor that will listen to you and is better informed.
>
> You deserve better treatment than that if you get this kind of run around. The main BZD's are ativan, xanax, valium, and klonopin. The first two have the same shorter half life but are extremely effective.
>
> The last two are longer acting and may or may not work as well for you. You have to be alowed to experiment!!! The doctor should listen to what you have to say and trust you. Some respond better to one BZD than to others. Ativan sounds as if you resond well to. Try xanax if you want to try something similar. You have to take these 3 - 4 times a day.
>
> One can easily go from one BZD to another immediately if you match the dose from one BZD to another BZD. If you feel anxiety from tapering off one drug to another, increase the dose of the new drug because you will not be getting enough of it to take away the withdrawl of the old drug.
>
> It is not true that any of the BZD's are more "addictive" than other BZD's. Half-life does not determine a drug's "addictiveness".
>
> The word "addictive" is misleading. The proper term is "medical dependence". Please use this term with your doctor because addictive is not the correct word if you need this med but do not "crave" it like one would crave cocaine or heroin.
>
> Please keep us informed!!!
>
> Alan
Posted by manowar on December 12, 2001, at 17:36:34
In reply to Re: any problems to switch benzo's? » adamie, posted by Alan on December 9, 2001, at 13:43:06
Alan,
Forget about my last post, I figured out your cryptic message and found the link.Amazing! I've always wondered why the benzos have always been helpful to me in the past. I didn't know I had panic disorder in the past, but I do now.
Thank you Alan for that link; that info is exactly what the doctor ordered. My pdoc has been bustin' my balls when I ask about going back on Klonipin. What's funny is my pdoc is an ADD specialist. He has no problem at all prescribing pstims.
I have a question:
Which benzos do you have experience with, and which one has been the most helpful, and why?Thanks,
Tim
Posted by Alan on December 13, 2001, at 14:29:07
In reply to Re: any problems to switch benzo's? » Alan, posted by manowar on December 12, 2001, at 17:36:34
> Alan,
> Forget about my last post, I figured out your cryptic message and found the link.
>
> Amazing! I've always wondered why the benzos have always been helpful to me in the past. I didn't know I had panic disorder in the past, but I do now.
>
> Thank you Alan for that link; that info is exactly what the doctor ordered. My pdoc has been bustin' my balls when I ask about going back on Klonipin. What's funny is my pdoc is an ADD specialist. He has no problem at all prescribing pstims.
>
> I have a question:
> Which benzos do you have experience with, and which one has been the most helpful, and why?
>
> Thanks,
>
>
*******************************************BZD's are also just as appropriate for GAD, SAD and a host of other disorcders, not just PD overall. I use a maintainence dose of Klonopin (2MG's) and add Ativan PRN (up to 4 -5 MG if needed)for social situations.
The klon stabilises the GAD and the ativan (or xanax) is used for the social situations and anticipatory anxiety. BUT BZD's work as differently within the class as AD's do in their class for treatment of depression. A very misunderstood drug. You should be busting your doctors balls. YOU are the boss. If he doesn't think you're interested in how YOU feel, ask him why he thinks you'd be telling them you feel better on this medicine. If he doesn't listen, WALK, don't run to someone that understands these medications and specialises in the treatment of anxiety disorders and isn't a benzophobe. They're out there if you look for them.
Alan
This is the end of the thread.
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