meds

[cathycooley]

hi everyone,ive been on diazepam now for over a yr and a half now and i was wondering can these do any harm to me ?there only 2mg 1 a day i take for my anxiety and panic as i wont take antidepressants.please could anyone relieve my worrying so much about these but im just worried they will make me die or something.thanks in advance.

[surfergirl10]

an I have to get an eval from a psych. I did find the depression forum helpful too. There is one area where a person brings up the effects of different anti D's. It really set home with me.

[barfer]

You might consider asking Dr. Gould in the Mental Health Expert forum.  Having said that, if I were you, I'd stick with what works.  Some of us are just better NOT taking antidepressants.  Those people who have both depression and anxiety/panic probably are better on antidepressants or both but, not everyone is the same and some people swear by antidepressants even if they aren't depressed but have panic/anxiety.  I am on a benzo although it isn't the same one as you are on, it is similar in that it is long acting and is less addictive than some of the others.  The issue here is, does this medication help your quality of life because no matter which way you slice it, if you are going to be on an antidepressant or a benzo, coming off any of these medication has to be done very slowly.  That being the case, who cares if one is a benzo and the other an antidepressant, either way, those of use who require these types of medications do for a very good reason just like a heart patient needs heart meds or an epileptic needs anti-seizure meds.  We have to get away from the stigma that is still out there about these types of meds.  You wouldn't even be asking this question if you were an epileptic.  If this medication works for you, then it is good no matter how long you take it.  If for some reason you have to go off it, then your doctor, if he is worth his salt, will set up a schedule to reduce it appropriately.  This is just my opinion, I am not a doctor and that is how I see it.  Going back to my first statement, go to the Expert forum and ask the question to a real doctor (Dr. Gould) and get his opinion on this subject.

Cheers!

[nursegirl6572]

Hi barfer, btw...good to see ya!

I agree that if the Ativan is working for you....stick with it...and no, it won't harm you physically.  Just keep in mind that it (along with ANY med really) shouldn't be stopped abruptly.  But, especially this kind of med.  So, if you ever get to the point where you choose not to take it anymore, talk with your doc about tapering off of it gradually.

The only other possible issue with Ativan is tolerance...which is basically when you have to increase the dose in order to maintain the same therapeutic effect.  If you haven't had an issue with that in a year and a half...then you're doing well.  IF that ever happens, you have options.  There are other benzos that stay in the system longer and don't have the tolerance issues that some of the other ones do.  But, don't worry about that unless you have to.

I say...if it aint broke...don't fix it.  Something different works for everyone.  For myself, a combo of a benzo (for a brief while) until an antidepressant starts doing it's thing for me, along with talk therpay has been the most successful.  EVERYONE is unique and different.  It sounds like the Ativan thus far is working for you, and that's what matters.

But, to reiterate your main concern...no it will not hurt you, certainly will not kill you.  Hopefully that helps a bit.

Best of luck to you!

[barfer]

I just want to clarify something for both of you.  Diazepam is not the same as ativan.  In actual fact diazepam is commonly known as Valium.  Ativan is lorazepam and is short acting.  Diazepam is more like clonazepam (klonapin) which is long acting and stays in the system for a longer time frame and you have less problems with tolerance.  I just wanted to clarify this because it is the shorter acting benzos that can be problematic for long time use.  Yes, they are all benzos but just like SSRIs there are some different characteristics.  So, Cathy, don't get too concerned about the diazepam but, again, I urge you to check out the Expert Forum for mental health and ask Dr. Gould this question.

P.S.  Nursegirl, I was away for a while but have been lurking somewhat.  I'm only answering postings that have to do with strictly anxiety/panic and some of the phobias that go along with that.  ie:  Agoraphobia, social phobia, claustrophobia, etc.  I don't tend to answer questions on depression as I don't have it and therefore don't feel qualified to respond.  I only have panic and anxiety from a mental health perspective, that is. lol  So those are the only posts I feel comfortable answering.

[nursegirl6572]

My bad completely...I thought I read lorazepam.

Guess I'm overtired...lol.

barfer is 100% right...scrap what I said.....about the ativam...because you're not ON ativan!  ;)

Nite nite now.

[nursegirl6572]

Well...I enjoy your posts...and hope you come around more frequently.

REALLY goodnight now.....before I fall asleep right here.  LOL

[RCA7591]

"ive been on diazepam now for over a yr and a half now and i was wondering can these do any harm to me ?"

^quote

In your case, absolutely NONE. 2 milligrams of Diazepam is an exceptionally low dosage - comparable to the amount found organically in (10) average-sized potatoes (no joke)!

There is no issue here, and no taper would even be required at this dosage. Your daily dosage is lower than comparable dosages of  0.125 mg of Klonopin or Xanax - just to use those two as a comparison.

~Ryan