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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by hildi on August 19, 2002, at 13:24:01
I FINALLY 'started' benzos yesterday for my severe anxiety d/o. I took 2mg valium-was so excited for I thought that relief was finally in sight.
Well, it made me More nervious and anxious. i felt wierd, wired, kept having anxiety attacks last night and felt stoned and sedated, but still couldn't sleep. Today I feel like hell and my anxiety is through the roof! I am shaky, sweaty, fumbling with everything. I feel so strange, spaced out and nervious I hate it!!!!!
Does anyone have similar reactions to valium? I hate to "up" the dose because I already am a zombie. A nervious and anxious zombie. I am on my way to a job interview right now and I hope I don't blow it cause of this!
AnYone have advice or similar experience here ?
Thanks
Hildi
Posted by janejj on August 19, 2002, at 14:04:25
In reply to Valium induced anxiety??Help me benzo users!, posted by hildi on August 19, 2002, at 13:24:01
Hi Hildi,
Hmmm, i'm sorry to hear that you have had this reaction to valium.The first time I took the benzo Lorazepam I felt really weird, like I was trapped in a body with no feelings, very bizarre, made me feel uneasy. I tried to fight the feeling, but then decided just to relax and let it do its thing. I think it may be a case of feeling 'out of control', i think you have to just flow with the sedation, rather than think about it too much.
Valium is a comparatively weak benzo ( Lorazepam is roughly ten times stronger), I am just guessing here, but maybe the dosage just wasn't enough to quell your anxiety, especially with the extra anxiety associated with taking a new drug.
Good luck hildi,
regards,
Janejj
Posted by Arthur Gibson on August 19, 2002, at 14:20:33
In reply to Valium induced anxiety??Help me benzo users!, posted by hildi on August 19, 2002, at 13:24:01
What else are you taking? It may have interacted.
Posted by hildi on August 19, 2002, at 16:01:26
In reply to Re: Valium induced anxiety??Help me benzo users!, posted by Arthur Gibson on August 19, 2002, at 14:20:33
> What else are you taking? It may have interacted.
>
>Hi. I'm taking a small dose of prozac, which I just started about two weeks ago after stopping zoloft after 8 years, then trying various other meds like effexor, celexa. I had a physically sick reaction to the zoloft, and it really wasn't working anymore except making me more depressed, irritable, and apathetic. I couldn't stand it any more and have been trying other things, but nothing is working, especially for my anxiety-which is out of control.
I went back on prozac, low dose, because I had 'some' luck with it before- but the anxiety with the prozac is only little better.
So, thats it-just prozac. That shouldn't interact with a benzo, should it?
Hildi
Posted by hildi on August 19, 2002, at 16:10:54
In reply to Re: Valium induced anxiety??Help me benzo users!, posted by janejj on August 19, 2002, at 14:04:25
> Hi Hildi,
> Hmmm, i'm sorry to hear that you have had this reaction to valium.
>
> The first time I took the benzo Lorazepam I felt really weird, like I was trapped in a body with no feelings, very bizarre, made me feel uneasy. I tried to fight the feeling, but then decided just to relax and let it do its thing. I think it may be a case of feeling 'out of control', i think you have to just flow with the sedation, rather than think about it too much.
>
> Valium is a comparatively weak benzo ( Lorazepam is roughly ten times stronger), I am just guessing here, but maybe the dosage just wasn't enough to quell your anxiety, especially with the extra anxiety associated with taking a new drug.
>
> Good luck hildi,
> regards,
> JanejjHi Jane. Thanks for the response. Yes, those feelings you had when starting lorazepam sound similar to what I felt from the valium. Maybe you are right. I definately did not like the 'out of control' feeling. I couldn't just let go and flow with it, but thats because I was feeling more agitated, not relaxed. I really didn't think I made myself agitated because I was expecting a good result, not a negative one.
Hmm. I thought valium was a rather stong benzo. Ativan/lorazepam is stronger? I ordered some Ativan by mail, but couldn't stand the wait any longer, and got some valium for the waiting period.
Maybe I will try a higher dose.
Thank you so much- your response really helps!
Hildi
Posted by alan on August 20, 2002, at 15:55:54
In reply to Valium induced anxiety??Help me benzo users!, posted by hildi on August 19, 2002, at 13:24:01
There are different reactions to the different bzds. There is xanax, ativan, valium, klonopin, and tranxene. Since you know their effect almost immediately (except for a little sedation which wears off after the first week or so) they're easy to try and see which works best for you.
I'm taking 1mg daily klonopin and ativan PRN for breakthrough anxiety or panic. Bzd monotherapy for anxiety is the only way to go for me...and seems to be regaining it's popularity after the fad of prescribing AD's for anxiety disorders is proving to be only partially effective at best.
Alan
Posted by hildi on August 21, 2002, at 11:54:35
In reply to Re: Valium induced anxiety??Help me benzo users! » hildi, posted by alan on August 20, 2002, at 15:55:54
> There are different reactions to the different bzds. There is xanax, ativan, valium, klonopin, and tranxene. Since you know their effect almost immediately (except for a little sedation which wears off after the first week or so) they're easy to try and see which works best for you.
>
> I'm taking 1mg daily klonopin and ativan PRN for breakthrough anxiety or panic. Bzd monotherapy for anxiety is the only way to go for me...and seems to be regaining it's popularity after the fad of prescribing AD's for anxiety disorders is proving to be only partially effective at best.
>
> AlanHi Alan, thanks for the reply. I've read some of your previous posts, and yours-along with some other posts from benzo users have given me the 'courage' to go this route. I say courage because I'm an alcoholic with eight years sobriety who was always told that benzos were equivilent of drinking again. But then, there are also some in AA who would 'scold' me on the use of AD's, too.
Well, all I know is that I cannot stay sober without meds. Dependence on a drug? So be it. A couple of The AD's I tried have made some improvement with my anxiety and my depression, but as you know they come with a whole set of other problems and side effects.
I am interested in trying benzo therapy alone, but I'm worried about my depression (which doesn't seem to me as bad as my severe anxiety).
I have read some posts that said some benzos can make you MORE depressed- Klonopin ws mentioned.
Also I read that xanaz was one benzo that seems to have AD effects, too. What do you think of this? Is xanax really a 'special' benzo for those with anxiety AND depression? The benzo monotherapy 'seems' to be working for you- Do you also have depression, or mostly anxiety? And further: this combo for you doesn't contribute to breakthrough depression?
I have ordered (by mail-long story why I did it this way rather than through my dr) some Klonopin and some Ativan, just as you take. I have been very excited to try this, but also a little nervious because of the disappointment I feel from the valium (I tried some again last night-took 5 mg. Didn't like it at all). Your post gives me some hope that the valium experience doesn't mean I won't respond to one, or both, of these other meds.
I'm sorry this post is so long, but you seem to have experience in this subject and I really am interested what you have to say about xanax for depression vs. the other benzos.
Thanks Alan,
Hildi
Posted by alan on August 22, 2002, at 12:29:02
In reply to Re: Valium induced anxiety?? » alan, posted by hildi on August 21, 2002, at 11:54:35
> > There are different reactions to the different bzds. There is xanax, ativan, valium, klonopin, and tranxene. Since you know their effect almost immediately (except for a little sedation which wears off after the first week or so) they're easy to try and see which works best for you.
> >
> > I'm taking 1mg daily klonopin and ativan PRN for breakthrough anxiety or panic. Bzd monotherapy for anxiety is the only way to go for me...and seems to be regaining it's popularity after the fad of prescribing AD's for anxiety disorders is proving to be only partially effective at best.
> >
> > Alan
>
> Hi Alan, thanks for the reply. I've read some of your previous posts, and yours-along with some other posts from benzo users have given me the 'courage' to go this route. I say courage because I'm an alcoholic with eight years sobriety who was always told that benzos were equivilent of drinking again. But then, there are also some in AA who would 'scold' me on the use of AD's, too.
> Well, all I know is that I cannot stay sober without meds. Dependence on a drug? So be it. A couple of The AD's I tried have made some improvement with my anxiety and my depression, but as you know they come with a whole set of other problems and side effects.
> I am interested in trying benzo therapy alone, but I'm worried about my depression (which doesn't seem to me as bad as my severe anxiety).
> I have read some posts that said some benzos can make you MORE depressed- Klonopin ws mentioned.
> Also I read that xanaz was one benzo that seems to have AD effects, too. What do you think of this? Is xanax really a 'special' benzo for those with anxiety AND depression? The benzo monotherapy 'seems' to be working for you- Do you also have depression, or mostly anxiety? And further: this combo for you doesn't contribute to breakthrough depression?
> I have ordered (by mail-long story why I did it this way rather than through my dr) some Klonopin and some Ativan, just as you take. I have been very excited to try this, but also a little nervious because of the disappointment I feel from the valium (I tried some again last night-took 5 mg. Didn't like it at all). Your post gives me some hope that the valium experience doesn't mean I won't respond to one, or both, of these other meds.
> I'm sorry this post is so long, but you seem to have experience in this subject and I really am interested what you have to say about xanax for depression vs. the other benzos.
> Thanks Alan,
> Hildi
------------------------------------------------
Xanax has, in studies, proven to have a mild AD effect. I suspect it is because it works so well for anxiety, the depression resulting from the anxiety lessens.I guess the question is whether you've been self medicating for an anxiety disorder as primary or depression as primary. Once you can decipher what is primary by seeing how you feel on eithr ssri's OR bzds (kind of using them as diagnostic tools - known in the profession as "listening to the drug"), then you can more properly treat your accurately diagnosed disorder. It may end up being a combo of both types of medicines or a drug like neurontin (mood stabiliser) in place of the ssri. One just doesn't know.
One thing is sure in your case. The doctor has to be highly skilled with these medications and working without the prejudice or misinformation that some Calvanistic members of AA you mention seem to do. They should be closely helping you manage your meds too. No going a month at a time without keeping in touch anyway.
If you in any way want the medication for a high or buzz, that should tell you and your doc that that particular med is not for you. The drug shoul help you feel as normal as possible without a desire to consume more except to alleviate symptoms.
Alan
Posted by hildi on August 22, 2002, at 19:20:04
In reply to Re: Valium induced anxiety?? » hildi, posted by alan on August 22, 2002, at 12:29:02
Thanks Alan. Yep, I am going to be very careful and I definately am trying to avoid any buzzed or high feeling.
With the valium, it knocks me out when I first take it (I have tried 2, 5, then 10mg of it) so bad that I can hardly stand, then I feel totally out of it, then sleep, then wake-up with a 'hangover feeling' the next day (that is when I can pry myself out of bed). I Don't like this feeling at all. Also, the anxiety is still there in addition to all the sedative and wacked-out feelings I get from it.
I am hoping it is only the valium that does this to me.
We'll see. . . .
Hildi
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