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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CK1 on January 27, 2006, at 11:10:47
Hi all,
Haven't been here for awhile because I was doing good for a about two months. However, this past week has been awful for me. I'm going to school and have recently been working as a photographer for some magazines and my anxiety has skyrocketed.
I was wondering if any of you have taken benzos long term and whether they have helped. I have Social Anxiety and Paxil worked great for 3 years before it pooped out. Now, no SSRI's touch my anxiety and benzos are something I'm seriously considering. My doc is all for them long term when SSRI's fail, but I wanted to hear some stories.
I am now taking .25mg before photo shoots and I'm very much at ease, talkative, and calm. Without Xanax, my hands shake and I get extremely tense and fearful.
Need some advice guys...Im graduating in May and I'm TERRIFIED because I'll have to be meeting new people every day and I can't stand feeling so panicked and anxious. Depression doesn't hold a candle to anxiety!
Posted by willyee on January 27, 2006, at 13:35:06
In reply to Long Term Benzo Users, posted by CK1 on January 27, 2006, at 11:10:47
> Hi all,
>
> Haven't been here for awhile because I was doing good for a about two months. However, this past week has been awful for me. I'm going to school and have recently been working as a photographer for some magazines and my anxiety has skyrocketed.
>
> I was wondering if any of you have taken benzos long term and whether they have helped. I have Social Anxiety and Paxil worked great for 3 years before it pooped out. Now, no SSRI's touch my anxiety and benzos are something I'm seriously considering. My doc is all for them long term when SSRI's fail, but I wanted to hear some stories.
>
> I am now taking .25mg before photo shoots and I'm very much at ease, talkative, and calm. Without Xanax, my hands shake and I get extremely tense and fearful.
>
> Need some advice guys...Im graduating in May and I'm TERRIFIED because I'll have to be meeting new people every day and I can't stand feeling so panicked and anxious. Depression doesn't hold a candle to anxiety!
Id leave this group,and do some NUERTRAL research into benzos,if you believe there is any real long term harm.I believe ive done this and the answer i gathered was no.As for taking it,all i can say is there is a real chance you can become tolerant on it,NOT ADDICTED.
Judging from just simply your concern and that alone i dont foresee you taking more than needed,youll probuably take less.
BUT sounds like you have a terrific future comming up,if the benzos truly help,why would you be halted to not ensure this future but maybe eactualy enjoy it.
Maybe this last comment will help u,i did tech work in best buy,imagine my head spinning when i walked in there around xmas season everday.Many times id go to the bathroom,take a pieace and have a small snack and the differance was this......
No benzo,im quiet,confused,make a lot of mistakes,dread facing every person.With a benzo,total opposite,im agressive with my customers,i approach them,i look them in the eys,im able to handle numerous service situations at a single time.My work is above satisfactory,and overall i feel confident in doing my job well and the night goes along pretty well.
With the benzo i felt like myself,and my contribtuion at work was great,i felt my customers were MORE than HAPPY when they left.
Without it,i wonder what they were thinking of this jittery mess.So needless to say my own two cents,sounds like u would benifit from continuing the benzo use greatly.
Posted by CK1 on January 27, 2006, at 13:44:30
In reply to Re: Long Term Benzo Users, posted by willyee on January 27, 2006, at 13:35:06
Willyee, EXACTLY what I needed to hear. It's so strange how taking a benzo can turn me into a talkative, fun to be around, person and, without a benzo, I'm sooo concerned about what other people think.
I think I'm starting to get GAD too, which is worse than social anxiety. This board has too many horror stories for me, which is why I hardly ever come to it. When people say they haven't been able to work in 8-10 years, I become soooo afriad that I might turn into that too. I think remedyfind has much more POSITIVE experiences and these help me.Thanks willyee
Posted by Squiggles on January 27, 2006, at 16:07:24
In reply to Re: Long Term Benzo Users, posted by CK1 on January 27, 2006, at 13:44:30
..........
I think remedyfind has much more POSITIVE experiences and these help me.
>
> Thanks willyee
Check out Dr. Bob's QUALITY link for
reliability of health info. on the net, too.Squiggles
Posted by Colleen D. on January 27, 2006, at 18:58:40
In reply to Long Term Benzo Users, posted by CK1 on January 27, 2006, at 11:10:47
I have taken 1.5mg of clonazepam daily for about a year now and it has really been good for decreasing my level of anxiety. I find it works best in the recommended division into 3 daily doses vs one dose. I hadn't known this level of relief from anxiety until clonazepam was prescribed for me, and from what I understand, 1.5mg is a small daily dose. Talk to your doc to see what he or she thinks about clonazepam for you.
Colleen
MSS, OCD, GAD and SP
Posted by Squiggles on January 27, 2006, at 19:03:21
In reply to Re: Long Term Benzo Users » CK1, posted by Colleen D. on January 27, 2006, at 18:58:40
> Colleen
> MSS, OCD, GAD and SPAre those your medical degrees? Just kidding :-)
There must be a misunderstanding -- I don't
have anxiety and 1.5 was just recently raised
due to a failed withdrawal.I was just reporting what my dosage was to
a poster's question in this thread.Squiggles
Posted by RobertDavid on January 27, 2006, at 19:21:28
In reply to Re: Long Term Benzo Users, posted by Squiggles on January 27, 2006, at 19:03:21
I've been on klonopin for 12 years. I take 2mgs once a day at night. Nothing has workded even close for my SAD and GAD. Not even other benzos. I'm med sensitive, other anti depressants just made things worse. Seems the range most have success on with klonopin for true SAD is between 1 and 4mgs a day. Some like to split does, some (like me) only take it at night. It has a long half life so once it's been in you a while you probably don't have to split doses. All I can say is it changed my life. Good luck.
Posted by Phillipa on January 27, 2006, at 19:28:36
In reply to Re: Long Term Benzo Users, posted by CK1 on January 27, 2006, at 13:44:30
CK1, long time no see!!! Don't be afraid of benzos long term.They do not have the side effects of SSRI, SSNRI's, etc. And don't let people scare you about withdrawing from them. You can take them all your life. They have been arond so long that any bad effects would be known. Love Phillipa
Posted by Colleen D. on January 27, 2006, at 19:34:17
In reply to Re: Long Term Benzo Users, posted by Squiggles on January 27, 2006, at 19:03:21
>
> > Colleen
> > MSS, OCD, GAD and SP
>
> Are those your medical degrees? Just kidding :-)Ooooops...should have been MDDS - Major Dysfunction Doctorate. LOL!
> There must be a misunderstanding -- I don't
> have anxiety and 1.5 was just recently raised
> due to a failed withdrawal.
>
> I was just reporting what my dosage was to
> a poster's question in this thread.Okay, now I am confused about this part of your reply, or I just don't get it. I didn't see any dosages listed in your previous post.
??? Colleen
Posted by CK1 on January 27, 2006, at 19:39:26
In reply to Re: Long Term Benzo Users » CK1, posted by Phillipa on January 27, 2006, at 19:28:36
Thank you all! I think I'm finally going to bite the bullet and go to benzos as these SSRI's really only make me more panicky and xanax really really really helps my anxiety at .25 even.
You're right phillipa, all of these SSRI's have really bad side effects and I've come to the conclusion that they just don't help me anymore :( I'm getting a lot of calls for work now (which to most people would be GREAT) but it just adds more stress at the moment, which isn't normal. My next appt is wednesday and im asking for xanax like .25 twice a day or something. I want off this depakote crap too (makes me sleep too much) and KILLS my creativity, which is my most positive trait. I don't get those "aha" moments anymore....just sort of "blah". ahhhhhhh, gotta love having to live with panic disorder and anxiety disorder! It changes everything!!!!!Thanks again guys!
This is the end of the thread.
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