My Support Forums - View Single Post

Ygrec23 · Sep 26, 2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calista+12

For me, it is worth the possibility of being dependent on benzos (xanax) and being able to function. I do not abuse this but have been on it (same dose) for 6 years. I have withdrawn from both Valium (in the late '70's) and atavan. The atavan withdrawal was sheer hell. I was inpatient at the time, and I was watched carefully but that didn't help the insomnia, tactile hallucinations, panic, shaking etc.... Back in the 70's my p doc gave me valium. He said it was perfectly safe and continued to prescribe it when my maintenance dose was 100 mg a day. I was fully functioning , held a full time job and felt it wasn't an issue because the doctor said it wasn't. In my defense, I was young, didn't question doctors, and thought they knew best. Only after taking an overdose of over 1000mg of valium with wine, ending up in ICU, then a state hospital, did someone catch on that I had a serious addiction to it. Never touched valium again...never will but the xanax in moderation keeps me functional. I guess it's a toss up whether one wants relief with dependence, or fullbolown symptoms and being benzo free.

Hi, Calista!

More power to you! If xanax is working for you, great! Drug reaction is a very personal thing. All of us have to figure out on our own, with our p-docs, whether a particular med is good for us at a particular time or has outlived its usefulness. I've been on and off benzos for forty years, including some really hairy tapers. For me, I'd be happy just to use them when I have an acute problem. I've tapered off xanax, valium, ativan and others, and doing it again would really, for me, be a significant nuisance. So if I can, I'd just prefer not to take them in the first place, or to keep it short if I do have to take them. Yes, I have no question about their being effective anxiety treatments. They do work as promised. I just could do without the months of tapering needed by me to get off them. It's a personal choice that everyone is free to make in their own way for their own situation. Take care!