[Crazy Hitch]

I've been on a high dose of benzos prescribed by my old pdoc for over a year now.

Slowly tritating down but I can feel it.

I think I'm addicted.

What works in the long term that my new pdoc might be willing to prescribe that I could suggest?

Seroquel and lamatrogine noooooooooooooooooooot working!

[simplydivine1030]

I'm on lamictal and abilify and it seems to be helping

[loophole]

How much benzos were your prescribed daily? I was on a pretty high daily dose and was not mentally addicted.. I was however physically dependent big time... Google benzo with drawl good luck.. unfortunately anti anxiety meds there is some out there to my knowledge but none that come close to benzos.. my opinion benzos are very evil meds though.. i'd advise to get off them and most docs do too as of recently.

[Crazy Hitch]

Valium 7-10mg 3x daily

[BlackSheep79]

I'm on propranolol, 10 mg both morning and night.

[~Christina]

Vistaril or Buspar or Inderal ........ are not benzios

[Angelique67]

Nothing will work the same, unfortunately. I've been off them over a year and have been seriously considering trying hard drugs.

ETA: Sorry, didn't mean to think aloud. I've been using Kava and Valerian root, but kava is very hard on the organs and may not be legal in your country. You mustn't drink alcohol with it. They have a very subtle effect but they're better than nothing.

[BipolaRNurse]

Zyprexa has been surprisingly effective for me. Klonopin also helps, but I still had a fair amount of anxiety until I'd been on the Z for awhile. Now I'm hardly ever anxious, although I am to a degree right now because of life circumstances that probably would've driven me straight into a psych unit in the past. I'm still functional though, and that's saying quite a bit for someone who's always been a Nervous Nellie.

[Love&Toil]

I have GAD and a history of panic attacks and anxiety attacks. Prozac helps my anxiety in a big way. Just putting that out there in case it helps.

[Lady Lindsey]

Fioricet has a barbiturate in it.... I use it for headaches, but it reduces my anxiety greatly... I like it better than the Klonopin for anxiety... plus it has caffine in it so it doesn't make you drowsy.....

[Angelique67]

Originally Posted by Love&Toil

I have GAD and a history of panic attacks and anxiety attacks. Prozac helps my anxiety in a big way. Just putting that out there in case it helps.

Just a question, in the beginning did it make you feel nervous and speedy? I've been prescribed Cymbalta which I also want to take for pain, but last time I tried a low dose (hoping to get back on it) I felt so much anxiety I couldn't wait for it to wear off. Previously when I took it, it made me feel maybe better so I don't understand why it had this effect the last time. I'm wondering if I should try it again and tough it out? Even if my anxiety is worse?

[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by Angelique67

Just a question, in the beginning did it make you feel nervous and speedy? I've been prescribed Cymbalta which I also want to take for pain, but last time I tried a low dose (hoping to get back on it) I felt so much anxiety I couldn't wait for it to wear off. Previously when I took it, it made me feel maybe better so I don't understand why it had this effect the last time. I'm wondering if I should try it again and tough it out? Even if my anxiety is worse?

In the beginning a few years ago I was on Cymbalta as an AD but didn't have anxiety then. On 10mg of Cypramil as an AD - a low dose and I don't think it has any anti anxiety effects. Well not for me anyway.

[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

Zyprexa has been surprisingly effective for me. Klonopin also helps, but I still had a fair amount of anxiety until I'd been on the Z for awhile. Now I'm hardly ever anxious, although I am to a degree right now because of life circumstances that probably would've driven me straight into a psych unit in the past. I'm still functional though, and that's saying quite a bit for someone who's always been a Nervous Nellie.

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I'm not actually familiar with most of the suggestions but I want to write them all down and take them to my pdoc next week as a list of suggestions. Some of them may not be available here in Aus but I'm sure some of them will be. Thanks so much. I hope my new pdoc has an open mind because my old one certainly didn't and kept upping my prescription on Valium. Really awful coming off it.

[Tucson]

Buspirone. 30mg per day.

[Snoopysmom]

I was on 90 mg cymbalta daily and had very little need for a benzo

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[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by Snoopysmom

I was on 90 mg cymbalta daily and had very little need for a benzo

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My max dose on Cymbalta was 120mg. Don't know with me being this unstable it would be prescribed at that dose for me but it has certainly helped me in the past with depression. will put that one on my bucket list of options I want to take to my pdoc.

[Angelique67]

At first I was doing well on Cymbalta, after the first few days, but now when I tried it, I got so much more anxious. I'm afraid to try it again but I think it could help if I could get through the first few days. : /

[HALLIEBETH87]

I take gabapentin 300mg twice a day, 600mg at night

[LastQuestion]

I've been experiencing a difficult withdrawal from Temazepam the last five months. I've found Ashwagandha root extract (Sensoril) and L-Theanine (Suntheanine) quite helpful in allowing me to cope. I take 200mg of Sensoril with each meal and space out 100-200mg dosages of Suntheanine throughout the day in about three hour intervals relative to the times my withdrawal is the most severe.

I found that neither of these supplements will directly alter mood the way a Benzo does, but rather attenuate the severity of how stressful an event is. It takes awhile for the Sensoril to start working, so it's effect is subtle, however the Theanine provided both immediate and extended benefits.

The upper limit of dosages for Theanine is ~800-1000mg, best to start small and not rely on it like a crutch imo. For Sensoril the guidelines are more flexible, but it takes weeks for it to start providing significant benefit, so again, start small (I used 200mg twice daily for over three months before increasing).