how do you switch from clonazepam to valium

[mimimimi]

saw new psychiatrist today..........she said to stop clonazepam and take diazepam instead just for two weeks til i see her
didnt ask any other questions............im such a dope!

[RCA7591]

How long have you been taking the Clonazepam? And how were you taking it? (ie: twice daily). Provide the dosage as well.

Also, do you suffer from panic attacks, or a more generalized form of anxiety? If you suffer from panic attacks, how often do you get them?

Ryan

[mimimimi]

i was only takin clonazepam for 3 days
3 days i took 0.5mg 3 times a day
and today i took it twice

its mainly general anxiety but sometimes i feel a panic attack coming on but it never gets really bad

[RCA7591]

There wouldn't be an issue switching from Clonazepam to Valium in your case. You simply didn't take the Clonazepam long enough for it to have any type of effect on you - let alone any type of withdrawal effect.

I concur with your doctor. Valium is better for generalized anxiety states. In short, you won't have a problem.

What is the Valium dosage, and how many times/day were you instructed to take it?

Ryan

[mimimimi]

5mg up to 3 times a day but she said i could cut the pills in half or just take one if i needed it.  does that sound ok

[RCA7591]

Take it three times a day. Valium is most effective when it is dosed three times daily.

This dosage, by the way, is 1/2 the potency of the Clonazepam, but Valium is a far better choice for generalized anxiety. You should have a very favorable response to it.

The dosage (5 mg, t.i.d.) is exceptionally low, so no worries. Take it every 8 hours.

The benefit is immediate, but maximal efficacy may take up to one month. A single oral dose acts within 30 minutes, and the duration of the effect is 8 hours (which is why it is dosed every 8 hours).

Let us know how the Valium works out for you.

Ryan

[mimimimi]

is it ok to cut the pills in half

[RCA7591]

Yes

[mimimimi]

why are there so many types of diazepam
mine are rima.......ive seen ratiopharm and roche
are they all the same?

[RCA7591]

Roche Valium is the model drug. Its patent ran out, which gives other pharmaceutical companies the right to manufacture a comparable (generic) version of the drug. The generic drug must exibit the same properties as that of the original, within a +/- 20% tolerance range for potency and bioavailability. Since Diazepam is easy to manufacture, there is little deviation between Roche Valium and the generic Diazepam.

In short, they are all the same. Typically, when a generic drug is available, you will be dispensed the generic due to cost savings.

Ryan

[mimimimi]

thank you for your help
im in a bit of a mess at the moment
i hope i can get out of this

[mimimimi]

my psychiatrist has given me the valium to help the anxiety ive already got and she said i might get some anxiety with the start up of the venlafaxine.  will i be able to get off the valium ok when i need to ?