Posted by viridis on September 28, 2002, at 13:16:55
In reply to Valium? Will it help me?, posted by jefff on September 27, 2002, at 8:53:44
Valium is a benzodiazepine, a class of drugs that includes other well-known medications such as Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, etc. Valium is still used a fair bit, although it got a bad reputation in the 70s-80s for being overprescribed and sometimes abused. It seems that the others I mentioned are more popular these days, although Xanax especially also has a reputation with some doctors as being "addictive" (which it may be for a small proportion of patients, but not generally those who need it most). Benzos have been proven safe and effective for short and long-term use in numerous studies and have been around for decades.
These drugs really can calm you down, and are often prescribed "PRN" i.e., on an as-needed basis. As far as I know (but I'd check this with your doctor) they're perfectly safe to take with most ADs such as Paxil.
I take Klonopin (clonazepam) daily and it helps tremendously with anxiety and panic; I also take Xanax occasionally when I'm expecially stressed. I've never had a problem with either and have never needed to increase my dose, although it did take a couple of weeks to get over mild side effects of Klonopin such as sleepiness, clumsiness, and slight short-term memory loss. I have tried Valium, and it put me in a "stupor" (maybe not Anna Nicole level though!). So, some benzos are better than others for different individuals.
It sounds like you have a pretty bad rapport with your pdoc -- have you considered trying another one? It's really important that you feel comfortable with your doctor and can discuss options. You need someone who's willing to try different things and listen to what you say.
By the way, asking for Xanax or Valium is most likely to raise a red flag with a pdoc who's uncomfortable with benzos. Klonopin (clonazepam) can work extremely well (it does for me) and is generally perceived as less likely to be abused, partly because of its long half-life. So, if you bring up the benzo issue, I'd start by asking about this one.
By the way, your goal shouldn't be "stupor", just feeling normal without the extreme anxiety and mood swings. Maybe benzos are appropriate for you, or maybe some other treatment would be better. But you need a good pdoc who understands the situation and doesn't just push SSRIs if they don't work for you. It may take some effort to find one, but the result will be well worth it.
poster:viridis
thread:121204
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020922/msgs/121390.html