I'm currently on Xanax 8mg per day.I also am prescribed Lora tab 5/500,Flexeral 5mg 4 times a day ,and my anti psychotics.I recently had a core decompression operation on my hip.i have also had 3 shoulder operations.I was given Norco 7.5/325 after my hip surgery.The Ortho surgeon recently referred me for a pain management clinic.My Question is will they try too take me off any of my current meds?(not including the Loratabs,they do not help anyways)Thanks!
Hi Brandy and welcome to the pain management community.
Many chronic pain patients take a benzodiazepine like Xanax or Valium to help manage chronic pain. Benzodiazepines are prescribed first line for anxiety/panic disorder. However, they are often prescribed off label as a muscle relaxer and/or sleep aid.
Xanax has a very short half life, and therefore, I don't think it is the best therapeutic choice. Valium or Klonopin have much longer half lives (50-72 hours) and thus, provide a therapeutic benefit much longer.
Combining Xanax, Klonopin, or Valium with an opioid pain reliever can be a dangerous combination, especially if you are taking methadone for pain. Despite this danger, myself and many others safely take a benzodiazepine with a strong opioid pain reliever with no ill effects. It is important to taper the dose down as the strength of the opioid goes up.
Valium is a very potent muscle relaxer, much more so than Flexeril, and in many cases, Soma as well. I have been taking Valium for about 7 years now for sleep, anxiety/panic, and pain.
Over time your body will become very dependant on benzodiazepines when taken over the long term. A very slow medically supervised taper is recommended if one wants to discontinue the medication. Going cold turkey on a benzodiazepine can cause seizures that are very dangerous and can cause death.
femmy
I have had it prescribed for back pain because it works with the nerves. I have nerve damage though. I also take pain meds. But the xanax was a little too strong for me so I now take valium to help control muscle spasms ect.
Xanax is used to treat anxiety and not pain. Research shows that if you use an opiate pain reliever with Xanax that it will cause the opiate to work better. Xanax will has always been known to make you sleepy so please do not drive while taking it... It knocks me out sometimes, I have have taken a pretty high dose for years and it is still working as well as it always has... helps me sleep.... in fact, nights when I hurt there is not way that I can sleep without it. Hope this info helps. Good Luck.
not pain,,but its also used as a musle relaxer..at low doses..1 mg every 8 hrs..if your use to it every 5!! hope i helped you friend.,.