My anxiety started kicking back up again real bad. Some call it Agoraphobia to best describe my symptoms. Along with the Chronic Lyme and Bart. this is really bad! I cant even drive 20 min away or Ill have a PANIC ATTACK! my doc is 40 min away and after much research he prescribed me 10mg of Valium to get to the appointment Thursday. Ive tried Xanax, and Klonopin both high doses which I still currently am taking.... Anyone have any thoughts??? Thanks
Posted by Geet3721 (Member # 15751) on :
I take .5 mg of valium and it works I don't know about 10 mg. but good luck to you.
Melissa
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Kreynolds,
You won't be driving the car? I have never taken valium. 10mg of klonopin or xanax would be a very large dose.
Don't know about the valium.
Good Luck!
Posted by eric555 (Member # 18343) on :
i cureently take xanax, throuht the day, a little here and a little there, in total perhaps 5 mgs per day, helps me get relaxed and not too anxious...
but 10 mgs may make you very very sleepy and tired, try not to drive.
best regards, eric
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I was given 10 mg of valium at the ER last year to treat my 'anxiety.' Idiots. It didn't do much for my muscle tightness, but it does have some impact. They basically shoved in in an IV w/o me knowing. Posted by Fordace (Member # 14874) on :
I take ativan, much safer than xanax in my opinion, (in the long run)
TEST it at home first, nothing to be afraid of....
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
safe dose for anxiety is .5 to 1 mg 5-10mg for sleep 10mg is enough for most people to put to sleep. i did not even know docs used valium still much better drugs. clonazepam ,xanax and ativan are best for anxiety.
docdave
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
No i wont be driving... I take Klonopin,Xanax,Seroquel everyday... I was just curious about the 10mg's of Valium 2x daily.... Basically i just need to get to the appointment and I was wondering if this would put me in "LA LA LAND" so that I can get there... What is the half-life of Valium???? anyone Know??? will i be so tired that i wont remember the appointment??
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
I would go by what you experience with klonopin and xanax. You could be someone who needs higher doses. Are your klono and xanax higher than 1mg?
Agoraphobia and severe anxiety often need higher doses.
No idea if you'll be so tired that you won't rmember the appt.
I'll bet you that the 10 mg will get you through th 40 minute ride and the appt.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Feelfit....
Yes Im taking 4mg klonopin a day and 4 mg of xanax a day... There were times when i took a couple extra pills when i was "panicking" and it did not help... Ive been on Benzo's for 2 years now... the anxiety is from the Lyme and Bart... never had it before the Lyme and Bart. It comes in spurts... 4 months it will be tolerable then the next 4 will be hell..... thanks again for responding!
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
I had panic and "more" anxiety from the Valium at that dose. I would recommend Ativan too. Short half-life, fast acting. You can use it for quite awhile until you have to start going up on dose to get the same effect. I'm at 2mg and it took 4 years to get here. Gradually it eeked it's way up as it lost effect, but that's a long time to be on an effective drug, so that makes me happy.
Posted by brit5467 (Member # 16680) on :
My "Lyme" mom takes 10 mg. Valium (not everyday) for what she calls 'feeling jittery inside' and she gets goofy (like a happy drunk) and slurry in speach.
In answer to you 'being too out of it' -- I can only speak for her, but her body is used to it (in the AM) and yet when she took one right before her LLMD appt. because she was feeling anxious, she left there not remembering that they took blood. She thought they gave her an injection.
Then we had an entire conversation in the hotel room about having seafood for dinner. Had the menu and had picked out her dinner selection.
Yet while walking to the car to leave for dinner, she thought we were going to eat Italian. She was pretty out of it.
Now I have to say -- Wow!! Klonopin, Xanax, Seroquel and now Valium? Take no offense, please!! Not passing judgement. Just concerned.
From my own experience - I currently take 1 mg. Klonopin for anxiety and have taken Xanax and Seroquel in the past, all for mental illness issues. But only one type at a time.
People used to want to BUY the Xanax and the Seroquel from me to get high from. So that tells you how strong they are. I could only take the Seroquel at night or else I'd be sleepy all day. And I have a high tolerance to drugs.
I'm just concerned that you are taking three of the same type meds in high dosage and now possibly Valium on top of that.
Each in itself is a fairly potent drug. And I don't know about the Seroquel, but the other three are highly addictive.
Not that you are or will become a drug addict. Please don't take me wrong. Just that the body itself becomes dependent and NEEDS the drug.
That was my experience with Xanax (it was prescribed as an anti-anxiety/anti-depressant in my case).
If I missed my mid-day dose, my body would TELL me I'd missed it. I'd feel MORE anxious and nervous than I ever had before it was prescribed for me.
So I knew my body was 'addicted' or dependent on it. Ultimately I was detoxed off of it.
Which is another concern. I did not stay in the hospital the full 30 days as advised and checked out after 7 (due to a job opportunity).
But some 30 days later (at that job!!!) I had a terrible withdrawal experience (which was why I should have stayed the full 30 days). Felt like an acid trip must feel. Very, VERY scary.
Only telling you this so you don't ever stop those type meds cold-turkey. Your MD must wean you off.
I'm wondering (and no need to answer, just giving you something to consider) if you have a qualified psychiatrist doing the prescribing or just your LLMD or MD?
I say this because the shrink is highly trained in working with those sorts of powerful meds whereas other MD's aren't really that knowledgeable.
It just seems like overkill, whereas maybe they could find just one or two meds that were more well-suited for your condition.
I don't mean to sound so opinionated. I've just been taking these type drugs all my life so I have experience with them and am just very concerned for your health and well-being, that's all. Hope you don't misinterpret my concern.
And I am not in your shoes, either. I don't know how it feels to have a panic attack. Maybe that condition DOES require high doses of several meds. Just be careful.
And good luck with the doc visit!
Posted by Fordace (Member # 14874) on :
good answer Brit.....I've only had to take
ativan alone, maybe once or twice a day.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I take 10 mg of Valium and it barely touches me. I take it sometimes in the evening if I am achey, and it really helps me with that. Sometimes I think it's better to take that than all the Ibuprophen I ingest.
It also makes me feel a tad bit calmer, but doesn't do much for me.....Ativan works better but I rarely use it.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
brit5467:
I understand what you are saying with all the meds im on but to be honest with you im not dependent on them at all.... some days when my anxiety is not bad i forget to take them..... Yea when you have agorophobia it calls for meds along with strong mind meditation.... Thanks for your help and advice... as far as the meds are concerned... Im on top of them! Just wasnt sure about the Valium thats all... Thanks again!
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
anyone????
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I take Xanax for anxiety and it takes the edge off. I tried Valium and it had an opposite effect on me. So you might want to try it at home before taking it to go somewhere.
Posted by Rianna (Member # 11038) on :
Diazapam 10mg is the same as 0.5mg of xanax, so 1mg of xanax = 20mg of valium
Normally 5mg of diazapam would be a high enough dosage and some people may need to dose every 4 hours, but try and keep below 20mg a day to stop benzo dependency.
Many of us need to take a benzo as a band aid to get us through treatment.
Here is a banzo convertion chart so you know equivalant dosages
Thanks Rianna!!! Anyone Else???
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
yes: dose is strictly person dependent period. it must be titrated to the correct dose in increments of 2.5 mg if valium. no two people react the same even if all the other meds are the same. there are also cross reactions. i used to sedated people and remove wisdom teeth with 5o mg demerol and 10mg valium and they didn't remember anything
docdave
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
1/2 life of valium is about 3-4 hours docdave
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
thanks for the info....3/4 hours??? well thats good... I thought it lasted longer!!! Thanks again!!!
Posted by eric555 (Member # 18343) on :
question,
but how can one get valium or xanax prescribed if the llmd will not give it ???
what is the magic way of getting them ?
thank you.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
eric555:
You doc has to trust you, at least thats my case..... My doc has prescribed me all of my Xanax in mass quantities along with Klonopin and Serequel...I just took a Valium for the first time and was expecting more of an impact although it did help..... Basically if you have any anxiety problems and you have a good relationship with your llmd or whoever the most likely will prescribe you the medication. If not go and see a pscyhiatrist.....
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Most will not because many people abuse these drugs so they are hesitant to prescribe them.....just be honest and upfront with your doc and ask him if he wont prescribe them....who should you go and see...maybe he will help you out that way...
Posted by eric555 (Member # 18343) on :
Any therapist can prescribe these ???
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Eric555...
No.... I see a therapist to "talk"....They do not write prescriptions... you have to see a pscyhiatrist..... someone who has the ability to write prescriptions. What are your main complaints????? I am assuming you have anxiety based on what you are asking? Has anyone helped you with this matter?
Posted by Rambler (Member # 18794) on :
I don't know about you folks, but I already have to suck down way too many pills- I don't want to take any more.
I pretty much stick to the herbal approach for anxiety, in all its forms. Sometimes I can't beat it, but used along with positive thinking and diversionary tactics, herbs have served me well.
Chamomile Skull Cap Valerian (natural Valium) Hops Poppy Kava Kava
BE CAREFUL! These ARE drugs and will knock you on your butt if you misuse them.
Educate yourself before you try them.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Thanks Rambler... will look into them!!!
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Anyone else????
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Valerian is good stuff. My husband relies on it.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Where can i get these "Herbal Remedies" for anxiety from... Will this really help because im talkin BAD anxiety???? And are they expensive??? Thanks again to all that have responded.... on my way to the doc tomorrow...in the car.....far from home....well im not going to dwell on that or ill start freakin out...lol thanks again!!!
Roy from "Jersey"
Posted by Rambler (Member # 18794) on :
Kreynolds,
What a drag that the anxiety is troubling you so! It's the worst.
Any heathfood store will have an herb section. There, you will find tinctures and capsules of various concoctions.
Talk to the clerk and tell them what you are experiencing. They should be able to direct you to a product.
I use something called Muscle Relax and another one called Stress Free Mix. They are both blends of the herbs I mentioned previously.
These products can pack a punch and should be used with respect and caution. Same as with the pharmaceuticals.
I don't like not being able to function- the Lyme makes it hard enough. But, at a certain point, I can't function with the anxiety, irritabilty or migraine pain anyway, so...
What the hell... I might as well feel better and not be able to function, than feel awful too.
Does that make sense?
Fresh air and exercise help me too.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Thanks Rambler... Will be going to a health food store this weekend... Ill see what they say..Then before buying it Ill post on here to see if anyone has heard good or bad things about it. Thanks again!
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