Today is a bad day because my doc switched me from xanax to valium. I'd been on the xanax for almost 3 years and I was fine with it, but for some reason he wants me off of it. I don't take any other prescrips and I've never had to switch before, so it's a bit rough on me.
Has anyone else experienced this?
anyone switched from xanax to valium?
I went the other way. Was on valium, then went to xanax. I was much happier on xanax. You should ask him why he switched. Its your body and you're entitled to an explination of what hes giving you.
Shif.
If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
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Guest
Sandina-
Hi, I am actually talking with a doctor about switching to valium to get off of Xanax and then to taper off of Valium. I have been on Xanax too long and want off but it is so short acting that I am having interdose withdrawals. I am now on Xanax XR and I will see my doctor in early January. Maybe you doctor wanted you to have something with a longer half life; which valium does. Xanax is in/out so fast that user's may be dosing too often or experiencing interdose anxiety. I may just try to dry cut Xanax and get off w/o the use of Valium. Of course with my doctor's knowledge and also I will be using herbal supplements to help with the withdrawals.
Hi, I am actually talking with a doctor about switching to valium to get off of Xanax and then to taper off of Valium. I have been on Xanax too long and want off but it is so short acting that I am having interdose withdrawals. I am now on Xanax XR and I will see my doctor in early January. Maybe you doctor wanted you to have something with a longer half life; which valium does. Xanax is in/out so fast that user's may be dosing too often or experiencing interdose anxiety. I may just try to dry cut Xanax and get off w/o the use of Valium. Of course with my doctor's knowledge and also I will be using herbal supplements to help with the withdrawals.
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Guest
I had never been prescribed an anti-anxiety med.
I finally got the courage to ask for one...the Drs around here don't seem to do anything about an anxious patient. When I was diagnosed first with High Blood Pressure, then a while later with Fibromyalgia, then with ulcerative colitis.... (I guess these were all triggered by my stress turned anxiety), I reached out for help with a therapist.
Of course they can not prescribe, but I feel they recognize body symptoms, and when your personal Dr. sees that you are seeing a therapist, they are much more willing to work with you.
Back to the subject of meds now; Has anyone been prescribed the med Buspirone? It does not work for me. This is the med she suggested. I have to
go back to her and inform her that I need something else...do not know how she will respond to that. Do you just come right out and tell them what you want to try? Do you just let them try all kinds of stuff on you? I feel like a guinea pig.... I went through all kinds of meds for the HBP, for depression, (those meds for depression you MUST use for a month before you can even tell if they are working...), now I have been prescribed yet another med which is not working for me......it does get old. I am trying for patience.
I finally got the courage to ask for one...the Drs around here don't seem to do anything about an anxious patient. When I was diagnosed first with High Blood Pressure, then a while later with Fibromyalgia, then with ulcerative colitis.... (I guess these were all triggered by my stress turned anxiety), I reached out for help with a therapist.
Of course they can not prescribe, but I feel they recognize body symptoms, and when your personal Dr. sees that you are seeing a therapist, they are much more willing to work with you.
Back to the subject of meds now; Has anyone been prescribed the med Buspirone? It does not work for me. This is the med she suggested. I have to
go back to her and inform her that I need something else...do not know how she will respond to that. Do you just come right out and tell them what you want to try? Do you just let them try all kinds of stuff on you? I feel like a guinea pig.... I went through all kinds of meds for the HBP, for depression, (those meds for depression you MUST use for a month before you can even tell if they are working...), now I have been prescribed yet another med which is not working for me......it does get old. I am trying for patience.
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Guest
I've been taking Xanax since Nov. .50mg just at bed time to sleep. It helps with sleep short lived though. (about 4-5 hours) I thing that because I take it just at night I have a rebound effect every day. I didn't take one last night, I wanted to see if I could sleep without it, I slept a little bit. I will take it tonight because I need some sleep.
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Guest
Okay so I did it! I took my last xanax Thurs. night, and Fri. morning I took my first valium. Wow, no one told me I would experience withdrawals from the xanax even though I was taking valium. It wasn't a fun ride, but I'm feeling much better. The first night I was really, really dizzy and I was swearing that I was going to chew my doc out first chance I got. By Saturday I was at about 65% and now I'm doing just about as good as I was before I switched. I will say that now that the xanax is out of my system, I feel like I have better clarity in a way, and I can tell that I've had a few heart palpatations, but I can't feel them as much as I did on the xanax.
So for all of you out there who are on xanax and who want off, I am here to say it can be done. It isn't easy, but the bad part doesn't last long and then it's over
So for all of you out there who are on xanax and who want off, I am here to say it can be done. It isn't easy, but the bad part doesn't last long and then it's over
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The doctor I'm going to now is my new family (regular) doc. I switched to him from my previous doc because my other doc wasn't very informed about panic disorder. My previous doc was the one who had prescribed the xanax to me almost 3 years ago.
When my new doc found out how long I'd been on it, he said he would have never let me be on it that long, and that it is only supposed to be used as a temporary "patch" to get you through until you can take other medication or get through initial therapy. He said his primary concern for taking me off of it is because of how dangerously addictive it is and how people can easily self-medicate with it to extremes.
Of course, he doesn't realize that most people with anxiety are CONTROL FREAKS and that some of us are actually scared to take medication. When I started on the xanax, I was taking 1mg per day (2 pills). At one point I was taking 4 pills a day, then I began to wean myself down. I was down to 1 pill per day (just .5mg!) when I had a bad panic attack and I've been dizzy/off balance ever since. Even after that episode, however, I only took 1.5 pills per day, so I wasn't even back up to my full dosage.
Anyway, I am glad that I'm off of it, but he had to double my valium prescription just to equal the tranquilizing effect of the xanax. Now if I can just get rid of this off balance feeling, I'll be doing much better!
When my new doc found out how long I'd been on it, he said he would have never let me be on it that long, and that it is only supposed to be used as a temporary "patch" to get you through until you can take other medication or get through initial therapy. He said his primary concern for taking me off of it is because of how dangerously addictive it is and how people can easily self-medicate with it to extremes.
Of course, he doesn't realize that most people with anxiety are CONTROL FREAKS and that some of us are actually scared to take medication. When I started on the xanax, I was taking 1mg per day (2 pills). At one point I was taking 4 pills a day, then I began to wean myself down. I was down to 1 pill per day (just .5mg!) when I had a bad panic attack and I've been dizzy/off balance ever since. Even after that episode, however, I only took 1.5 pills per day, so I wasn't even back up to my full dosage.
Anyway, I am glad that I'm off of it, but he had to double my valium prescription just to equal the tranquilizing effect of the xanax. Now if I can just get rid of this off balance feeling, I'll be doing much better!
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nicegirl1965
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- Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:00 am
Sandina- I am glad that you are feeling better. I am surprised that you were able to switch that easily. Normally, it should be a gradual change over; replacing one dose at a time over a period of time until you are converted fully. I think the off balanace feeling will eventually go away, just give it time. JFYI, .5mg Xanax is = to 10 mg Valium and 1 mg Xanax is equal to 20 mg Vaium. All benzo's have a different ratio.
MB
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Wandarose- Yes, Buspar is given to treat anxiety but I do not know anyone who it has worked for. And yes, if you need an anti-anxiety, you will probably have to ask for one. Most dr's will not prescribe them because of their addicitiveness. If you do get a script, my advice, use it sparingly. Try to get through the mild to moderate anxiety with using breathing techniques and only use the anti anxiety when you fee like you cannot control the anxiety. They do not take long to take effect and Xanax and Ativan can be used sublingually(under the tongue) and will act faster. I wish I would have known what I know not; I may not have ever taken an anti-anxiety medication and tried herbal remedies.