[TicTacGo]

I researched and posted a thread on benzos and their properties. I still am not 100% certain as to which benzos are more often used for which type of cases.

Here are a list of some I am curious about. Any input as to whether it is more for general anxiety, panic or sleep would be appreciated.
-Alprazolam (Xanax)
-Bromazepam (Lexotan)
-Clonazepam (Klonopin/Rivotril)
-Diazepam (Valium)
-Lorazepam (Ativan)
-Nitrazepam (Alodorm)
-Oxazepam (Serax)

[xxenigmaxx]

aren't they anticonvulsants. Use generally to help sleep and decrease mania

[TicTacGo]

Originally Posted by xxenigmaxx

aren't they anticonvulsants. Use generally to help sleep and decrease mania

Some of them may be used for sleep, yes. From what I can tell from a quick search, some of them are used as anticonvulsants.

[Guiness187055]

xanax and ativan are the most common for panic. Klonopin and Valuim are used primarily for anxiety. YMMV

[stuartslaugh2]

They only difference among them is how long acting they are. Valium is short acting, Klonopin & Xanax last in your system the longest, the rest call somewhere in the middle. And if you use too many too long they stop working altogether or you become addicted. Use with caution!

[stuartslaugh2]

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

xanax and ativan are the most common for panic. Klonopin and Valuim are used primarily for anxiety. YMMV

Panic & anxiety are the same thing.

[Guiness187055]

Originally Posted by stuartslaugh2

Panic & anxiety are the same thing.

No they are not and xanax is the shortest acting benzo. klonopin and valium are the longest acting. They are also used to taper one off of other benzo's

http://www.benzo.org.uk/bzequiv.htm

[Sunflower123]

I use Xanax ER for my GAD and I use 2 mg of Klonopin for panic attacks.

I have a PRN for 1mg of Ativan as needed. I take it when I am having really bad anxiety, usually triggered by my emetophobia (fear of vomiting). It helps a lot to ease the anxiety, even at a low dose.

[stuartslaugh2]

Sorry but you are misinformed

[still_crazy]

hi. the benzodiazepines are basically sedatives. some are more potent than others. klonopin, for instance, is 20x as potent as valium. so, back in the 70s, when valium reigned supreme, 40mgs/day was fairly common. that's 2mgs/klonopin, which is common today.

before the benzodiazepines, the barbiturates were big for anxiety and sleep. problem there is barbiturates are toxic in overdose. benzodiazepine tapers are no fun, but barbitruate detoxes were/are sometimes fatal. the --big-- reason benzodiazepines remain so popular is because they do everything the barbiturates did--treat anxiety, induce sleep, help agitation and some psychiatric conditions, can be used in anaesthesia cocktails, etc.--far more safely.

of course, long term use can be a problem, especially with high doses. even regular use at low(ish) doses can cause some problems, such as cognitive impairment and depression (I hear Klonopin is especially likely to cause drug-induced depression).

[stuartslaugh2]

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

No they are not and xanax is the shortest acting benzo. klonopin and valium are the longest acting. They are also used to taper one off of other benzo's

http://www.benzo.org.uk/bzequiv.htm

Well, my psychiatrist disagrees with you also. Again, these different brand names(Caravan, Klonopin, Valium etc. do NOT mean that they are designed for different purposes. Yes, Tomazapam will help you sleep. So will all the other Benzodiazepines. I know from personal experience(I was abusing them) that they all have the same effect. Some, like Klonopin, remain effective for a longer time.

[stuartslaugh2]

Originally Posted by TicTacGo

I researched and posted a thread on benzos and their properties. I still am not 100% certain as to which benzos are more often used for which type of cases.

Here are a list of some I am curious about. Any input as to whether it is more for general anxiety, panic or sleep would be appreciated.
-Alprazolam (Xanax)
-Bromazepam (Lexotan)
-Clonazepam (Klonopin/Rivotril)
-Diazepam (Valium)
-Lorazepam (Ativan)
-Nitrazepam (Alodorm)
-Oxazepam (Serax)

See my post below. No matter what folks in this thread are saying, the Benzodiazepines are practically int
erchangeable
. They ALL wil
address anxiety, they ALL will

[stuartslaugh2]

Sorry, my phone crashed. Bottom line, all Benzodiazepines have the same effects. Anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, ALL these symptoms can be addressed with ANY of the Benzodiazepines with the same effectiveness

[Guiness187055]

Originally Posted by stuartslaugh2

Sorry, my phone crashed. Bottom line, all Benzodiazepines have the same effects. Anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, ALL these symptoms can be addressed with ANY of the Benzodiazepines with the same effectiveness

Thats the beauty of the internet look up half lives and equivalincy's of benzo's tons of info.

[stuartslaugh2]

The information on the net, No matter how credentialed the source may be, is not always accurate. My knowledge of Benzodiazepines is based on personal experience, which is as accurate as it gets. In other words there's no substitute fo
r actually experiencing the duration of a medication in your system and personally having taken all the varieties of Benzodiazepines that there are. End of story.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by stuartslaugh2

The information on the net, No matter how credentialed the source may be, is not always accurate. My knowledge of Benzodiazepines is based on personal experience, which is as accurate as it gets. In other words there's no substitute fo
r actually experiencing the duration of a medication in your system and personally having taken all the varieties of Benzodiazepines that there are. End of story.

I've been on benzos for over twenty years, and I agree with this ^^^.

[wonderouswonder]

Benzodiazepines are a family of medications called tranquilizers. When used to treat psychopathology, their use is short, and generally it's recommended that you only take one every few days, as they are incredibly addictive, your body becomes dependent on them quickly. I'm sure you're aware that they're used for anxiety, among other things. Lastly, I understand that you have valid reasons for being interested in this type of medication, however, it's likely that your doctor will veer toward prescribing an antidepressant, if anything at all.

If you have issues with anxiety, I'd suggest therapy. Behavioural therapy has shown to be substantially beneficial.

[healinginprogress]

I was prescribed Klonopin for anxiety. It's the only benzo I've been prescribed/tried, but it works wonders. I take it PRN. My understanding is that the benzos do generally treat the same symptoms, but may work faster or shorter and last shorter or longer.

My PCP initially prescribed the Klonopin, and even though it was for acute onset symptoms, she wanted me to try that vs something faster acting. My pdoc said as long as it was working for me, it was fine by her.

[stuartslaugh2]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

I've been on benzos for over twenty years, and I agree with this ^^^.

Yeah, they were great for awhile, but one day you realize you can't function without them.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by stuartslaugh2

Yeah, they were great for awhile, but one day you realize you can't function without them.

I'm not saying benzos are 'great.' When I was initially given a prescription for Klonopin - 30 years ago - it was thought to be a fantastic medication to treat anxiety. No one knew, back then, how addictive the stuff is.

While it has helped my anxiety, I am sure that Klonopin has damaged my cognitive abilities. It has definitely done damage to my ability to remember things. I am currently coming off Klonopin, but very slowly, so as to (hopefully) avoid the terrible withdrawal syndrome benzos often cause.

[stuartslaugh2]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

I'm not saying benzos are 'great.' When I was initially given a prescription for Klonopin - 30 years ago - it was thought to be a fantastic medication to treat anxiety. No one knew, back then, how addictive the stuff is.

While it has helped my anxiety, I am sure that Klonopin has damaged my cognitive abilities. It has definitely done damage to my ability to remember things. I am currently coming off Klonopin, but very slowly, so as to (hopefully) avoid the terrible withdrawal syndrome benzos often cause.

I wish you all the best.

[BiPolarJoe]

My pdoc and I just removed an antidepressant (Cymbalta 60mg) and that is after being on an antidepressant for about 12 years. As new research is always coming out, my pdoc stated that there is a growing sense that antidepressants can cause more harm than good for people diagnosed bipolar. I had some strong anxiety creep in when the Cymbalta was removed so I am currently taking 0.5mg Klonopin 2Xday. This is my first time on a benzo and all the difficult withdrawal symptom stories are causing me to question getting on Klonopin in the first place. This is my 3rd day on it and all it does is make me sleepy

[Guiness187055]

That side effect usually goes away for most people. For me it always made me tired I like xanax a lot more its just shorter acting.

[kecanoe]

I have been taking Xanax prn for 8 years. I use it for anxiety and to help me fall asleep, either when I first go to bed or after a nightmare. Pdoc had me take .5/4x a day to begin with, now I take it when needed. Despite my fears of addiction (I have been sober 30 years now) that has not been a problem. I don't crave it, do not need larger doses, do not need to take it more often. I typically only take it during the day when suicide seems like a good option, or when I have had more than 3 nights of poor sleep. Pdoc has told me to take 4 and go to bed as an alternative to the ER; he doesn't think a psych ward would be good for me (and I happen to agree, based on my IP experience).

July was a really bad month for me; intense agitation, feeling like I was burning up inside, unable to settle, unable to think straight, unable to sleep. I took Xanax when I couldn't stand it. Recently I read that the can be a late-onset reaction like this to coming off anti-depressants. And my last dose of AD was in that time frame. I wish I had known this last month! The article said that benzos are the only thing he has found that helps. I'd have taken more when I was in the midst of that misery. Now that I am past it, I guess I am grateful that I didn't take more b/c of addiction/withdrawal.