Crossed from Klonopin to Valium

[fd11]

    I have crosssed over to the valium 3 1/2 weeks ago and I was feeling great at home, but now I went back to work Monday and I am starting to get extreme panic all day.  I take 10MG at night.  I have forced myself to stayed at work the last two days for 5 hours and went home, but on the way home I almost got into a car accident because i started to freeze up.  Should I ask my doctor to increase the valium or should I give it more time?  I feel like this valium isn't doing what it is supposed to do.  I don't even feel like it is taking the edge off when it starts.  Can anyone give me some advice.  I need to be at work and I can't deal with this anymore.  Thanks

[melmarv]

Why did you get off klonapin?   If it has been almost a month and you still are not noticing a big difference, then yes I would advise you to go back to the doctor soon.   What I think you should do if you can, is continue to try to goto work.  Sometimes when the brain is programed in a certain way, it freaks out when something happens differently.  So for example if you have not gone to work in 3 1/2 weeks or so, you are only staying within your comfort zone.  The first few days when you return are not going to not be great but I think if you continue to try to go even if it is for only a few hours, you will once again become comfortable with your work environment. This will hopefully help decrease your anxiety once you get comfortable again. This is not to say though that you also need to be on the right medication.  Are you taking anything else besides Valium?   My theory is that if Klonapin once worked for you then you should maybe go back to that.   I am not a doctor but if you have been on Valium for 3 1/2 weeks, I would think that you would notice a difference and since you are not noticing that big of one,  it might not be the medication for you.    The only reason why you might want to wait, is to see if you feel better in a few days after continuing going to work and taking the Valium.  By Friday if you do not feel at all better, I would go back to the doctor and just explain how you are feeling and your symptoms.  Everything will workout though.  

[fd11]

Thanks, I crossed to the Valium because as I was weaning off the Klonopin I started to get the panic back.  I was taking .5MG of the Klonopin once at night and never really felt great on it.  Even when the panic started I jumped back up on the klonopin.   So everyone had said that the valium acts longer and is easier to wean off of.  I was on Paxil for 9 months and hated it, then the next doctor weaned me off the Paxil in 10 days by putting me on the Klonopin which I was on for 6 months.  Never really liked that as well.  The only medication I am on is 10MG of valium at night.  Also, thanks for the advice.  The examples are great and I am trying to push myself.  Thanks again.  

[level]

I took klonopin for years and also valium for the last 5 years. I recently switched over to klonopin about a month and a half ago for 2 weeks and didn't like so went back to valium and have been having a hard time adjusting back to the valium even though I took it for 5 years. I think it might just take time and all the flip-flopping has got me all mixed up. However, if your having panic attacks, the ssri's should stop them almost completely. Maybe you should try lexapro 5mg and see if that stops the panic attacks and if not go up to 10mg. Lexapro is very selective and very potent and tends to have less side effects.

[fd11]

I was on Paxil for 9 months and I would rather die then take that stuff again.  I heard that SSRI's are more for severe depression and that Benzos are for more panic and anxiety.  I have only crossed to the valium 3 1/2 weeks ago from the Klonopin.  At one point when I was weaning off the Klonopin I was starting to feel great, then one day had a horrible day and stressful day and had a Panic attack so bad I got nervous and went back up on the Klonopin.  Then I found out that valium is a smoother taper so I decided to go that route.  I don't know anymore I ask a million questions and get a million different answers.  Thanks and I hope all is ok with you.    

[level]

Actually the first line of treatment against panic disorder is an ssri. Benzo's are usually given for the first 4 weeks until it kicks in. Take my uncle, for example-bad panic attacks. Doctor put him on Zoloft, gave him klonopin to take for the first few weeks and he has been on Zoloft for 2 years with no panic attacks and stopped klonopin after the first few weeks. Now, if you have an occasional panic attack and don't want to take an ssri, then a benzo like xanax or ativan, valium, or klonopin can be taken at the onset of one to lessen the intensity and duration of the attack but an ssri is what is prescribed to "cure" you of them. Everyone's different though and you should definitely talk to a doctor or do some research on google for panic disorder and figure out what would work best for you.

[level]

P.S.

If you go to pretty much any doctor and tell them you have panic attacks, the ssri is the preferred treatment and a benzo as needed until the ssri kicks in. Again, everyone's different and some need benzo's everyday if they have chronic anxiety or if the ssri is too stimulating. Everyone is a little different.

[fd11]

Ok, thank you and I appreciate it.  

[melmarv]

Hang in there.  I know how tough it is to find the right medication.  It can get really frustrating.   The thing about Klonapin is that the life span i hear is only 12 hrs. So if you were taking it at night, it probably was not in you much throughout the day.   I think Valium is different but I could be totally wrong.   I think right now though, what could be good is try another medication as well.  Maybe not an SSRI.  I am not a fan of them at ALL, personally, but therer are many other kinds.  Something is not right though, I do think you need to go back to the doctor.  It is hard when  everyone is giving you different advise, you know yourself, you have to use your best judgement.  From what it sounds like though both Klonapin and Valium are not the best for you.  See what else is out there.  There is going to be a right medication for your body chemistry.  You are in my thoughts.  

[fd11]

Thank you, I just want to get better.  Like everyone else.  Thanks again.