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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jack Smith on April 21, 2006, at 18:09:00
I am an old timer here who hasn't posted in some time. I use Effexor 300 mg, and am doing fairly well --- always fighting off a little depression, but very functional and able to get through life OK. Recently, I have been working my *ss off (I am a lawyer), and I am also getting married soon. I am seeing my pdoc on Monday, and am going to ask to be put on a benzo for as needed basis to deal with anxiety I have been having. Anxiety has always been a prelude to depression for me, and I am hoping that I can combat my anxiety now before it turns into depression.
I have used Xanax and Klonopin in the past with success with both. I am also considering Valium. What do people think? I want something not on a daily basis but something that lasts long. What do people think of Valium??
Posted by bassman on April 21, 2006, at 18:20:46
In reply to Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety, posted by Jack Smith on April 21, 2006, at 18:09:00
For me, Valium is useless and Xanax works very well for anxiety and depression. But I hear in the distance some completely opposite views:>}-is Ed out there?
Posted by tizza on April 21, 2006, at 19:28:36
In reply to Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety, posted by Jack Smith on April 21, 2006, at 18:09:00
Valium works wonders for my anxiety, I find it to be the best benzo on the market. It's long acting and not as heavy as xanax or klonopin can be sometimes. I would choose valium over any other benzo and it worked well with effexor when I was on it. Paul
Posted by blueberry on April 21, 2006, at 19:42:33
In reply to Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety, posted by Jack Smith on April 21, 2006, at 18:09:00
I've never tried valium. For overall consistent anxiety, klonopin with its long half life works good. But for situational anxiety, I like xanax better. Sure, I have to take a new dose every 4 hours, but that's ok, and it has a mood enhancing effect that klonopin doesn't have much of. Right now I have consistent non-sitational anxiety, so klonopin it is.
Since the effexor isn't quite doing it for you, I might be more inclined to go with xanax. Or maybe valium, except I don't know about it. I mention xanax simply because it seems to have significant mood elevating effects when used in combination with an ongoing antidepressant.
Posted by Glydin on April 21, 2006, at 22:32:05
In reply to Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety, posted by Jack Smith on April 21, 2006, at 18:09:00
I remember you!!
I have another posting name and therefore, you wouldn't know me from this ID but we emailed one another for a while. Welcome back.
I like Klonopin but I had GAD and panic and it was excellent for that. Something shorter and faster acting might be a better choice for situational purposes or Inderal if physical anxiety symptoms are the problematic findings.
Didn't you trial the magnesium idea years ago?
Posted by Phillipa on April 21, 2006, at 22:38:20
In reply to Re: Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety » Jack Smith, posted by Glydin on April 21, 2006, at 22:32:05
It must be reunion night. I think for a panic attack xanax is great and it wasnt hard for me to stop. But my preference is valium. Love Phillipa ps I posted a link earlier not knowing it was an old poster hence the reunion night comment. Not meant in any way to be sarcastic. I think it is great you met someone you knew before a lot of catching up to do.
Posted by yxibow on April 22, 2006, at 5:52:29
In reply to Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety, posted by Jack Smith on April 21, 2006, at 18:09:00
> I am an old timer here who hasn't posted in some time. I use Effexor 300 mg, and am doing fairly well --- always fighting off a little depression, but very functional and able to get through life OK. Recently, I have been working my *ss off (I am a lawyer), and I am also getting married soon. I am seeing my pdoc on Monday, and am going to ask to be put on a benzo for as needed basis to deal with anxiety I have been having. Anxiety has always been a prelude to depression for me, and I am hoping that I can combat my anxiety now before it turns into depression.
>
> I have used Xanax and Klonopin in the past with success with both. I am also considering Valium. What do people think? I want something not on a daily basis but something that lasts long. What do people think of Valium??
Valium has more than a 24 hour half life and if you've been off of it for a while wouldn't probably serve you best for situational anxiety, it would make you rather drowsy.Xanax is best as a benzodiazepine for PRN usage, 4-6 hour half life at best
Ativan would be my second choice for PRN coming in at about 12 hours or so +
Klonopin is very subtle unless you've never taken it, 16 hours+, some depression can happen to some people, and I think the previous two are better probably, but its really an individual result.
Posted by ed_uk on April 22, 2006, at 16:53:49
In reply to Re: Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety, posted by bassman on April 21, 2006, at 18:20:46
>Ed out there?
Hello, yes I'm here :)
Ed
Posted by bassman on April 22, 2006, at 17:27:46
In reply to Re: Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety » bassman, posted by ed_uk on April 22, 2006, at 16:53:49
We're not going to do our, "Xanax is better-no, Valium is better", two man act? I was getting to enjoy that...:>} And you know I wasn't kidding about 2 mg of Valium is a dose for cats...my 15 lb cat needs more than that to go to the vet-and some shy cats in the US are prescribed daily Valium until they get used to humans. Sometimes I have trouble getting used to humans, too, so maybe you're right, maybe I do need Valium.:}
Posted by jack smith on April 22, 2006, at 19:13:54
In reply to Re: Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety » Jack Smith, posted by Glydin on April 21, 2006, at 22:32:05
> I remember you!!
>
> I have another posting name and therefore, you wouldn't know me from this ID but we emailed one another for a while. Welcome back.What name did you post under?
> Didn't you trial the magnesium idea years ago?
Yup. Completely, utterly useless.
Posted by Glydin on April 22, 2006, at 20:14:01
In reply to Re: Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety, posted by jack smith on April 22, 2006, at 19:13:54
> What name did you post under?
~~~ I don't disclose that publically. Not because I did anything bad here, I didn't caused a ruckus and I'm not "not telling" to be deceptive. I experienced a situation here with another poster. I don't think the poster involved posts or is a part of the boards any longer but I feel safer being the new ID. If you decide to turn your babblemail option on and babblemail me, I'll be glad to let you know who I "was".
>
> > Didn't you trial the magnesium idea years ago?
>
> Yup. Completely, utterly useless.
>~~~ I tried it also. I ended up with an ER visit for some pesky heart tracing problems and serum electrolyte imbalances due to the "laxative" (purging) effect that wasn't suppose to happen with the form I was using. I was stupid and let that effect go on too long - although, it was only about four days. I was not a pleasant experience.
Posted by ed_uk on April 23, 2006, at 9:35:24
In reply to Re: Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety, posted by bassman on April 22, 2006, at 17:27:46
Hi Bass
>We're not going to do our, "Xanax is better-no, Valium is better", two man act?
Nah! :) I wasn't really saying that Valium was better overall, just that it's a good choice for some people......not for you though :)
Ed
Posted by Crazy Horse on April 24, 2006, at 7:56:00
In reply to Re: Best Benzo For Situational Anxiety » Jack Smith, posted by tizza on April 21, 2006, at 19:28:36
> Valium works wonders for my anxiety, I find it to be the best benzo on the market. It's long acting and not as heavy as xanax or klonopin can be sometimes. I would choose valium over any other benzo and it worked well with effexor when I was on it. Paul
I'm an Ativan Man myself. Has helped me thru some hellacious times!
-Crazy Horse
This is the end of the thread.
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