valum or xanax

[freefallingsj]

what is the max dose you can take a day for severe anxiety?

[Pointman]

Hey , hope  yuor day is a good one, a lot depends on teh max dose, examle age, body weight and other emds yuo might be on. What does ar eyuo on now ? and doest it help?

wish yuo well

pointman

[abby10]

Research these benzodiazepine drugs before taking them. Google benzodiazepine and do the research. They are highly addictive and, in time, will make your anxiety worse. When you understand how they work on the brain you will understand how this can happen. Don't take xanax!  It's the 2nd to the most highly addictive benzo, second only to halcion. It has a short half life, it hits fast and leaves fast. Not so good for anxiety.  Why a doctor would prescribe them for sleep I will never know.

Valium is gentle and stays in the system a long time.  You shouldn't take more than 2mg a day. It is still highly addictive and has a bad reputation dating back to the 60's. Such a bad reputation that it's makers decided to make something with a different name. So they made Xanax and it's 20 times stronger. Its reputation hasn't caught up with it yet, but it will.

If you take valium or even klonopin, be very aware that you will become physically dependant and will need to taper off slowly. Do not drink alcohol with these drugs, becasue they slow down the rate of elimination of the alcohol from the blood stream.

Getting off these drugs once addicted is very difficult and takes incredibly long,

abby

[lyerhc]

I find xanax is the best for me, I have taken valium for back spasms not anxiety and it just gives me a headache, if I switch between ativan and xanax, only using ativan as a last resort it works the best for me, but remember everyones circumstances are different and everyones body is different, check with your doctor and see if he'll work with you, keep me posted. lyerhc

[Pointman]

Some ood pointers there, but each person ahs to deccides what works for the, many peopel have to take other meds avery day  for other reasons,  so if a certain amount of valium presdid daily i dont see much diff, umless one abuses this medication.
I and a 2 MG dose 1sint going to do much for cronic anaxity.
poinman

[Demi_Tasse]

I agree with Abby10.  If you do feel you need to take one of these, take Valium because it tapers out of your system more naturally.  I am currently tapering off Klonopin using the Ashton Method. (I suggest you google it)  My tolerance and withdrawal symptoms are THE MOST HORRIBLE THING I have ever experienced.  

Here is the SHORT list of what I am experiencing:  sleeplessness, waking several times a night  with vivd nighmares, chills or sweats, cold sweats, constantly going from hot to cold, more anxiety, shakiness, feelings of aggression, anger and rage for no reason,  hysterical crying jags , lonliness , obsesive thinking including images and songs keep repeating in mind,  feeling overwhelmed, having to constantly be occupied or distract myself or I feel like I am going crazy, avoiding people,  heart palpitations, blurry vision, exhaustion from lack of sleep, muscle pain, general body pain, agorophobia,  tightness in throat, confusion, reading comprehension problems, C an't do tasks like make food,  problems thinking, problems focusing, memory problems, stomach pain, shallow breathing, hair loss and very oily hair, can not listen to music, my tinnitus is more bothersome, p hysical and mental exhaustion, feeling 'frozen" unable to do things or make decisions, restlesssness.  Trust me... being housebound is HELL!

For more info visit www.thetrap.org.uk   and it will tell you why and how taking these will make your anxiety worse over time.

Good luck,

Demi

[abby10]

I know, 17 months and no end in sight. I do feel I am part of the human race now. Except I still don't get out much. I am thankful to be getting some sleep. Until two weeks ago I was still going 24 and 30 hours without sleep. Now, when I wake I realize I have been sleeping with my hands in white knucked fists.  Back in September, I would shut my eyes and see people from high school, I just knew they were faces from my high school yearbook, 35 years ago. I didn't feel in the present, I felt like the girl I was when I was 12 years old. I could remember vivid things that happened back then. It wasn't unpleasant, just strange.  I recalled smells, sounds and my hair style and the real "feelings" at that time.

I'm so tired of the constant body vibrations, it hurts and tickles, but never ends, except when it moves in my head and feels like a basket ball in my head and it really hurts. Then the muscles squeeze so thight It feels like my skull will break. Sometimes the light and sounds hurt so bad I get irritable and aggitated. I could just through the flickering candle across the room.  The body pain gets so bad it feels like my bones are shattering pieces of glass, then as quickly as it starts it stops.  Instead of climbing the walls, now I'm just totally exhusted. These are just some of the symptoms, but all a tremendous improvement from 6 months ago.

Who knew?

abby

[Believer1179]

DID NOT HAVE THE CHANCE TO READ ALL OF THE ABOVE RESPONSES.  SORRY.

BUT MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT BOTH ARE EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE IN ANY DOSE.

I WAS ADDICTED TO XANAX FROM HIGHSCHOOL (GETTING THEM OFF THE STREET) ALL THE WAY TO 60 DAYS AGO! (WHICH IS OVER 10 YEARS!!!)

I GUESS IF I HAD TO TELL YOU TO CHOSE ONE, I WOULD SAY VALIUM....BUT THEN AGAIN....DONT GET ME WRONG....ANYTIME I COULD GET MY HANDS ON A VALIUM (THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW, CALL IT THE "HAPPY PILL") I WOULD POP IT IN A HEARTBEAT. NEEDED OR NOT.

YOU ARE NOT BORN A PILL HEAD.....THERE ARE JUST CERTAIN PILLS, SUCH AS THESE, THAT ARE EXTREMLY, HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

SO.MY ADVICE IS THAT IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO START TAKING ONE OF THEM.....DO YOUR RESEARCH AND BE SURE THAT YOU FEEL YOU HAVE A GOOD DOCTOR.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DOCTORS OUT THERE THAT WILL GIVE YOU JUST ABOUT ANYTHING (FOR THE MONEY). BE CAREFUL.

HOPE I COULD HELP.
jEN~

[Ryan7591]

"what is the max dose you can take a day for severe anxiety?"

^quote

Since no one wants to answer your question, here it is below.

Absolute maximum daily dosages for popular Benzodiazepines:

- Ativan - 10 mg in divided doses (1mg = 5 mg Valium)

- Klonopin - 4 mg in divided doses (0.5 mg = 5 mg Valium)

- Librium - 300 mg in divided doses (12.5 mg = 5 mg Valium)

- Serax - 60 mg in divided doses (7.5 mg = 5 mg Valium)

- Tranxene - 60 mg in divided doses (7.5 mg = 5 mg Valium)

- Valium - 40 mg in divided doses

- Xanax - 6 mg in divided doses (0.5 mg = 5 mg Valium)

If your anxiety is "severe", Valium probably won't do much to help you, even at the higher end of the dosing range .That's not to say that you couldn't or shouldn't try it, however. The effects of a single dose last on average four-to- six hours, and it is typically dosed four times daily. Many will claim that Valium is "smooth", but it generally isn't. It peaks very rapidly, and troughs just as rapidly. It's like a "rollercoaster". And while it may very well have a long half-life, it only stays in your head for one-to-three hours. The remainder is distributed to and stored in adipose tissue (fat). So much for that long half-life.

For severe anxiety, Ativan and Klonopin are better choices, as these are far more potent and last much longer than Valium. Ativan has a half-life of roughly 12 hours, and the duration of action is eight hours. Klonopin has a half-life of 36 hours, and the duration of action is 8-18 hours (mean 12 hours). Either of these would likely be useful. If you experience panic attacks, the Klonopin is better. Klonopin also has less risk of tolerance over the long-term, and is somewhat easier to discontinue if the need should arise.

Xanax is also available, but it should only be used for the acute phase of treatment, as it loses its effect very rapidly when used over prolonged periods. The half-life is about 6 hours, and the duration of action 4-6 hours.

Having tried all of these, I find Ativan, Klonopin and Xanax to be the most effective. For me, Ativan is in the middle of the road between Klonopin and Xanax, and I find it to work the best, and with the least amount of side effects. Klonopin turns me into a lifeless zombie and screws with my liver, and Xanax is too potent. Valium makes me flushed, gives me migraines, and makes my heart race.

Your mileage may vary, and you may need to try several of these before finding the one that works best for YOU.

As for "addiction", every drug on the list above carries the risk of physical and psychological dependency, tolerance, the risk of habituation, and perhaps, permanent neurological damage. You should be well aware of that fact, and also of the fact that over the long-term, ANY of these drugs will actually induce the very symptoms they were designed to supress. Therefore, you may wish to explore alternative options while they are still on the table. If at all possible, do not take these drugs for any length of time, and use only minimal doses; should you elect to take them.

I can only relate my personal story to you in the hopes that you choose an alternatrive to these drugs.

Two years ago, my point-of-view was that Benzodiazepines were relatively safe drugs when used in therapeutic dosages. I have a very strong knowledge of medicine, and had intended to become a medical doctor. I never once thought that these drugs could be dangerous. I no longer hold that point-of-view. I have taken them for slightly more than two years for PD and PTSD, and they have severely complicated my life. Not only did my symptoms return by a factor of 100, I was misdiagnosed with a neurological condition known as Multiple System Atrophy/Shy-Drager Syndrome, when it was, in fact, Klonopin withdrawal.

Dramatic as it may sound, Klonopin has destroyed my life. I am unable to stand for greater than 1/2 hour without fainting. I am unable to stand still without sensations of the floor moving from beneath my feet. My blood pressure fluctuates dangerously, my intellect and cognitive skills have been compromised, my hair is falling out, perception of light/motion/sound are intensified, my limbs and face go numb, I have chills and shake like an epileptic. In short, my central nervous system is fried. I discontinued Klonopin in August of 2008, and it remains unclear as to whether or not these symptoms are permanent.

All of that from three little orange pills. Certainly, if I could turn back the clock, I would've flushed the Klonopin. But I can't. I can't do much of anything now. The only thing I can do now is reflect back on the past, and think of the good times. And frankly, there weren't too many of them. Any glimmer of hope that I had for my future is gone.

Ryan

[nursegirl6572]

~~Sorry to briefly hijack this thread~~

I'm so glad to see you around!  I'm sooo sorry to hear how your health has further deteriorated!  :0(  Your wisdom is priceless to this forum, and I only hope your health doesn't keep you from sharing your experiences.

Hang in there, buddy...you've been through a lifetime of he** in your young years...keep fighting the good fight...your life has promise, I'm sure it certainly doesn't feel that way.....but please don't stop searching for answers.

Heck...you've even survived your own death!  (LOL).  Hopefully, that made you laugh...it was supposed to.  ;0)

Shoot me a PM when you get a sec, okay????

Take Care!

[abby10]

The maximum dose of Xanax for panic disorder is10mg daily and for anxiety is 4mg daily. I have found the pfizer websites to be rather vague about this issue, only referring to doses of 2 to 6mg daily, but not committing to a firm dosage. After talking to a Pfizer representative I was told the above doses for Xanax but still no committment on how long to take it.

freefalling, I believe, is trying to get off of Vicodin and 2mg valium isn't much and could help, if used for a few days. Just my opinion.

This is an emotional thread for me and I have strong opinions about the benzodiazepine drugs. I am sorry for the pain these drugs have caused so many.

abby