Xanax Or Valium?

[William05]

I have cirhossis due to Alpha-1 Antitripsin Defincieny. I am currently taking .5 mgs of Xanax once or twice daily for anxiety. Would Valium be a safer choice considering the condition of my liver?

[stlawrence54]

I have chronic Hep C with cirrhosis and lesions . My specialist tries to keep all my pill-taking to a minimum , as he says that most pills (tablets especially) can do more harm to my liver. My primary care doctor , however is quicker on the draw than an old west gunslinger when it comes to her prescription pad. Xanax and Valium were both ruled out , so she put me on Wellbutrin for anxiety and depression. I hated the way it made me feel kind of spacy and "out of sorts" all the time , so I stoppped taking it and became more depressed and anxious . Now , I take one 100mg pill a day instead of the two a day she recommmends , and I feel much better. My specialist also recommends Benadryl as a sleep aid . He says it's basically the same thing in Tylenol PM without the Tylenol. Tylenol also markets the sleep aid only (without the Tylenol) as a product called Simply Sleep. Lots of people recommend Melatonin , but that doesn't work for me.

[sfbaygirl]

Unfortunate things?  Dare I ask what Ambien does?  I take ambien once in a while. It does help me sleep for 4 hrs at least.  I know the Lyrica didn't work for you, sure wish it did for your sake. Pain is hell and I know you know that!  My Dr. tried to put me on seroquel, I took something similar, forget the name now for sleep and to calm me down. Zanax did nothing!  Yes, I wish I could remember that name of what I took...I've seen it on TV as something lawyers are suing for. It worked to help me get some sleep and help with thought disorder, PTSD and nightmares.  

[alagirl]

it does seem like most of the docs prescribe xanax because hell, half of us seem to have been on it at one time or another.  The more pain I began to have though, I switched to seroquel (note that I don't have liver damage issues) so it would put me to sleep at night.  thats what i had the xanax for anyway and when I hurt so bad it doesnt work, so whats the point.  I decided to just take the thing that would at least let me get some rest for a while.  I can't take ambien, I do unfortunate things on ambien...

[sfbaygirl]

I have taken all stated above.  Neurontin drove me nutz. I was ready to jump outta my skin. I am now on Lyrica, which has sx, but is for nerve pain. It helps me immensely with my Fibromyalgia.  I have tried Zanaz and had NO help whatsoever. I could take 6 and had no help. It doesn't help nerve pain BTW.  The Neurontin and Lyrica do and have no  similar dx compared to Valium or Zanax.  Years ago Valium helped my anxiety, Zanzx helps anxiety as well.....Nothing to do with nerve pain.  They are two different animals in my opinion.  There is no way Zanax could help my nerve pain, nor Valium....Just my take and I have severe nerve pain from Fibromyalgia.  

[drlabash]

It would be a gross misstatement to call Neurontin a dangerous drug.  Neurontin rarely has serious side effects, does not interact with other drugs and is not addicting.  Side effects from Neurontin will go away when you stop the drug.  If you had problems with it, that is unfortunate, but that can happen to anyone with any drug.  The problems you describe are actually just as likely to have resulted from your disease, not from the drug. Your bad experience should not be considered a reason for others not to join the millions who have benefited from this medicine.  Benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax are over all much more dangerous than Neurontin.  

Neurontin does not "do the same thing" as benzodiazepines, though both can be sedating.  Neurontin is a mood stabilizer and treats nerve damage symptoms.  Benzodiazepines are sedatives and muscle relaxers.  Neurontin (even though generic as gabapentin) is way more expensive than benzodiazepines.  Anxiety can be a result of depression, bipolar disorder, or even a result of hepatitis treatment drugs.  Which medicine will work best is highly individual.

[Forseegood]

sounds like you know youre stuff...what do you think about Ativan? that's the only one I can take, though I take it once in a great while cause I'm afraid of dependence to sleep...I can't take sedatives or sleeping pills...though I guess I'll have Ativan  more on treatment...thanks!