Ok here's the question. I've been on valium before and don't like the way it makes me stupid, and forgetful(30mg/day). I've heard Xanax may be different as far as the forgetful thing maybe. I also don't like the way Valium hangs around up to 48 hours later. How does XAnax make you feel? And in regards to AAAmedworldwide.com goes do/can they prescribe less than is quoted in there price list. Right now they have #90@$130. I dont want to pay this much to try something different. I dont want suggestions on other OP's, just how Xanax compares to Valium for you. Thanks for yer input, it's greatly appreciated.....

Shawn

Have you tried or considered Ativan (Lorzepam)? That's just to throw another alternative out there. It is in the same family of drugs.

Yes I have, Ativan just makes me forgetful, no real anxiety relief as does Diazepam.........

For me, for generalized anxiety-Xanax.
Diazepam doesn't hold a candle to it.

And it takes alot less of a dose of xanax(alprazolam) to help as compared to diazepam. So if you are comparing how many tablets and prices of alprazolam vs diazepam, keep that in mind.
For me, 1 mg of xanax works much better than 20 mgs of diazepam.
Also, do some research on the board on what brands , regarding alprazolam. Some are much better than others.

I had terrible memory gaps when I was taking Xanax regularly a couple of years ago. I would just forget everything, conversations, appointments, plots of books. I would meet somebody socially, have a five minute converstion, and the next day they would be a stranger. (And this was taking at most maybe 2 or 2.5mg a day). I got really worried and I started to think I had early-onset dementia or Alzheimers. Then it cleared up when i cut back on the benzos.

I can't compare xanax to valium, I've never used V's except occasionally.

FWIW, xanax affected my memory worse than valium, and ativan was the worst i've ever had from a benzo other than the pure sleepers like triazolam and midazolam. I've never found one that didn't screw with my memory to some degree or another and I must have tried almost all of them over the past 2 decades....

My prefered OP is aaamedsworldwide, they quote a price of #90 for 130 or so. I dont want to go and get 90 and find out they help isn't there. Anyone know what brand AAA uses, and can tyhe doc write for a lesser amount, say #30? Thanks.............

IMHO Xanax is way powerful...I took a 0.25mg tablet once and it knocked me on my rear!!!

Personally, for panic, I like Klonopin - it lasts way longer and you don't have to take it more than once or maybe twice per day.

Valium doesn't do much for my anxiety. I rarely use it, if ever, anymore.

Good luck!!

Skylark

In my years of taking every different kind of Benzodiazapine, Diazepam (which is valium) works best for my anxiety, panic, anxiety attacks, and my once in a while very severe panic attacks that happen in the middle of a mall or somewhere horrible!!!
I did not even know I took anything, when I took Ativan, it was so weak. Clonazepam , for me, is more affective for sleeping as is Temazepam.
The only Benzo I do not have very much experience with is Xanax ( alprazolam), although, I have a script of it right now, I have not used it yet. When I do, I will let you know how it affects me. but, I have heard that Xanax is much more addicting than other benzos, which I find very strange???? Why would it be?
I have also heard that Xanax is much harder to come off of.
Hope some of this helps you.
Good Luck,
k8kat

I've been on 2 to 2.5 mg. of Xanax per day for over a year...I haven't experienced loss of memory...but maybe I don't remember forgetting something. LOL! No seriously, I'm a litigation paralegal, and if I was having major memory issues, it would be very apparent in my work.

I've taken Valium in place of Xanax, but as you already pointed out, I don't like the peak effects. Valium stays in your system for at least 12 hrs., Xanax is in and out in 4 to 5 hrs. This is why I prefer Xanax, since I keep late hours, I don't have to worry about being too sleepy in the morning if I take it after 12:00 or 1:00 a.m. Alternatively, after only one 10 mg. valium, on some mornings, it was SO HARD to get outta bed.

Plus, I can get by taking small doses of Xanax during the day without nodding out in my office (or over sleeping on a lunch break in my car...).

Another good benzo (previously mentioned) is Restoril (Temezepam). It's much easier to get from a doc, not as addictive, and is a good sleepy time pill. But, like it's cousin Valium, it lasts long in your system. Plus, it comes in capsules rather than scored pills--which is an issue with some folks. I prefer a pill...something about tasting it go down, but I'll take it anyway I can get it in a pinch!

I like all benzos. They all help me get to sleep, all help me stay calm, and all feel really, really good. If I had an order of preference it would be:

1. Valium
2. Xanax
3. Ativan (grrreat for sleep).
4. Klonopin (because I've tried it much fewer times than the others).

Man, I looooove benzos.

This has been discussed on many other threads but the supposed reason that Xanax is more addicting is that it has such a short duration of effect. This means that your blood level of the drug will drop rapidly, resulting in a possible craving for the drug and even rebound anxiety. That is, you end up feeling more anxious after the drug wears off than if you'd never taken it in the first place!

A doctor can always prescribe less than the amount quoted, although he *might* try to push you to order more.

I have not experiences alprazolam cravings.

Although diazepam does stay in your system longer than any other benxo (including klonopin- up to 200 hours), if you are feeling hungover from it 48 hours later you are probably especially senstive to it and taking too much. The concentration of the does compounds the length of the hangover.

In that case, alprazolam might not be the best drug for you because it is much stronger than valium and will likely not be "out of your system in 4-5 hours."

I'm assuming the ad is for 2mg alprazolam, which can be broken down easily into pieces no smaller than .5 mg, which has the bioequivalence of 10mg valium.

And I am NOT making any suggestions here, but the quoted prices is approximately 2 times more than you pay at any other consultation pharmacy I've ever heard of.

Well, once again, we're talking about different people and the way these medications react with their brain chemistry. For me, Xanax is most effective in treating anxiety & panic. I take a quarter of a bar a half hour before bedtime and another quarter right before. Puts me right to sleep and I wake up all refreshed and calm the next day.

For those of us who suffer with anxiety & panic during the day, Xanax might not be the way to go. I'm not sure Valium would be, either, as they hit me like a ton of bricks and I feel hung over the next day from them. IMO, if you stay on a schedule with your meds and take them responsibly and consistently, you might wind up being able to control your anxiety & panic effectively. But the downside is that they are addictive, and going cold turkey is not pretty.

I guess we're stuck with benzo's til that miracle drug comes along...which would be right after Satan books his ski trip...

Eeyore

Holy cow, what an old thread brought back to life! Still a salient topic no doubt. Just my quick 2Ē: All benzos are wickedly addictive if not taken with great care. IME the ones with the quickest onset and peak, such as xanax and ativan (triazolam, midazolam etc I believe act much faster but aren't used or abused much) are much more easily addictive. I need benzos in life, not always, but more often than not, and I hate this fact. But, after years of trying them, then quitting them for a length, I always find myself drawn back for the positives they give, despite the negatives that I know they come with. IMO Xanax and Ativan were the worst to cause cravings, although valium does have it's siren-call on some stressful days too. I have recently switched over from Clonazepam to Diazepam due to recent bargain prices, but I think i'm going to switch back because I seem to find myself looking forward to my next valium dose which is never a good sign, while I didn't find this to be true with clonazepam. The LAST thing in the world I need is a benzo problem. I've been down that road enough times to draw a map from memory and I never plan to visit that place again, even if it means tapering for 2 years!

Thanks for bringing up old memories and old names of friends on posts...

L

Listvoer,

Whoops...that would be so like me to bring a dead horse back to life. I was just browsing around not paying attention to dates...I think it's time for bed!!! LOL

Eeyore

Holy Molie, what a well written, and so true, body of work. I find Clonzo makes me clonish, Xanax zombieish, and ativan, well it makes me asleep no matter where, or what I'm doing.

Valium reminds me of my "Mother's Little Helper", which leaves me, for the mose part, panicky, and paranoid, and feeling like my parents.

Valium is working good for me right now, but I have never tried anyhting else for anxiety/panic/sleep which are what plagues me