Well IMO clonazepam is a very effective one. If you can just take it sparingly I don't see a problem. I think it's just as or more effective than Xanax. Easier to w/d or taper from also. -ck

Circle K,

Is this a relative of valium?

All benzos are more oor less. i sugest you research it..

I suggest going to your doctors, if you have not already, and speaking with him. I don't know how old you are, I could take an uneducated guess of early 30's. Sometimes "heat flashes, sweats and hives" are something completely different. I get these every day I have to go into my bosses office, maybe not the hives. This is situational, like in when you do this or that, then I get this. Is it a short duration attack or does it last for days. Perhaps taking a speaking course would resolve this problem rather than resouring to Benzo usage a bigger problem. As I said I use to get like that but it didn't put me on Benzo use. My grandmother just said to me "pretend I am behind pushing you through these meeting, trips and engagements" and you know what, it worked. Try anything but a pill for this experience. Consult your doctor. He might suggest somethng but I doubt it will be diaz or xanax, or any benzo. I know you are uncomfortable, but if you think you are uncomfortable now, when it comes time to get off Xanax or any of the benzo's you will wish you never took the stuff. Now I can see our guys/gals coming home from war with terrible post-tramatic stress syndrome and their hopefully being able to get the medications they need but eventually they are going to have to talk about it with their military shrinks and go from there. Xanax on most occassions is used for ptss, you are light-years form that. Please don't order off the net, if you are stressed now, I don't want you to even think about getting mixed up in that. Will it come, maybe tomorrow, need another pills cause I am worried it won't come, nothing in the mailbox, another pill, next day same thing. A real mess. Talk to your doctor. Do read about the people who order from iop's and the stresses they go through every day when they get LL's, no order, no response from the vendor, lose tons of money, and most important they do not get the meds they need and are completely out. It is w/d time for them and they know it which puts more fear into them and and they are cutting pills into 8 pieces which rarely works because it is not enough and worse yet they have to place another order to get them something soon which is mighty pricey and has no guarantee. Your better taking a course in public speaking or having a pep rally before hand. Talk it out with your friends, they have the same problems. I know a doctor who every time he gets upset, his face blows up, looks rather bad. But he survives with it and so can you with your speaking and job hunting experiences. Don't jump from the frying pan into the fire, it just ain't worth it.
Good Luck!

Whatever you do, do not go cold turkey off of xanax. Get medical help.

I appreciate your sincerity NJ it is really nice of you to reply to my post. I am actually a really great public speaker. It is just 1 one out of 30 times I will all of a sudden get an attack. I go on job interviews and I am fine, but sometimes (1:20) I will also just get an attack. It snowballs. One trickle of sweat just one droplet engulfs me into a panic, which multiplies the severity, and all hell breaks loose. I have tried various methods to control these attacks. Many of you may say hey that's no big deal, but it is. This is really embarrassing. It's even embarrassing to admit, but hey I find freedom in discussing my faults. The stakes are really high. These job interviews are for some pretty good jobs and I have given speeches in front of hundreds at certain times. If I take 2 klonopins (4mgs) I am guaranteed one less issue to deal with. I have gone to public speaking courses and I can honestly say that most of you would be blown away at how shiny that piece of dirty coal (me) can get. When I am on and the leash is taken off I would put myself up against some decent orators. I see people on television and in person and they are outright horrible. "You only have 30 seconds to make a first impression" and I cannot afford to be off even once. I have a checkered past though and I am just worried that old habits die-hard. I have gone to the doctor and psychiatrists. I have been prescribed Paxil (did not work). I have tried hypnosis and various homeopathic remedies. None have worked. I know many of you probably think that I am blowing things out of proportion, but I have to be 100% 100% of the time. There are no mulligans. I have many concerns (turning to benzos), because I always rise to cliché status and I can just foresee an issue. I guess I have to give it a shot and hope that I have enough common sense to not repeat my past stupidity. Thank you NJ I really do appreciate your post.

Note to self: keep an eye on jl767

You might want to consider beta blockers. They do the job for panic attacks (especially public speaking) and aren't addictive. You stay in control and that's a good feeling.

jl767, you welcome. I've said my peace. I understand 100% 100% of the time. I wish you luck. You are a type "A" personality (absolutely nothing wrong with that). But please remember what you could lose. I am just being straight with you. Do try and control your intake and i am pushing for you, remember that.

I guess when I get in front of people I care too much what they “think” especially when there is a job on the line or a sale to be made. I usually could care less, but others are dependent on the outcome and I hate letting them down. Whether it is other company employees or my family I feel guilty for not being the best I can be and I have to admit it is (attacks) embarrassing. I guess I should let it all go and realize that 3% or 5% is not too bad. I really mean it when I say "thank you NJ". It means more than you know.

I am laughing out loud and my dog is trying to hump me. Thanks Dennit. Thank you Que Serra

Nothing like a dog trying to hump you to take your mind off of things---LMAO

lol, I suppose he is horney.

backpain2007: From what you posted, I think that you're in for a rough ride. Over time our bodies build a tolerance to diazepam. It sounds like you are there, or close to it. 30mg/da now will not work for you in a few months, and you'll need more 6 months later, and on, and on.... So now is the time to start a plan of SLOW taper. Quick taper with Vals can be very, very dangerous. Needless to say, each person's circumstances differ, but slow tapers are the only way to go, and it takes a long time to do it properly. There's no way around it. It's embarrassing, but you need to come clean with your doc and set up a plan to SLOW taper and stick with it. Do not give in or give up. It takes lots of self control and determination, but in the long run, you will really be glad you did. However, if you abuse benzos, I promise you, life will only get harder. Thats a fact. I am no expert, but I know this because I've been there. Please realize, that you are messing with your brain's circuits and need to be really careful. Brain damage is a forever thing. Hope this helps some.

backpain2007: re: what redbug posted, I couldn't say it better myself! I have been taking Zanax for about 20 years, and have tried repeately to get off them, the last dr. I saw wanted me off them in 2 weeks!!! I thought I would freak out, that is IMPOSSIBLE ! That was my last visit to him, I used to take (8) 2mg. a day, now down to .25mg. 4 times a day. You cannot go cold turkey, I've tried it and you only feel worse by the day, you don't keel better. So take it slow like redbug says.

God Bless......

There is definitely a chemical connection between Xanax and Valium, or any other benzo for that matter. Both drugs are benzodiazpines. Xanax is just a benzo with a triazolo ring attached to it.

Merk originally marketed the drug as having special properties other anxiolytic drugs did not have. In reality the drug is simply substantially more potent than the original equivalency suggested. Merck claimed that 1mg of Xanax was the equivalent of 10mg of Valium, a figure which is off by a minimum of 50%.

A .5mg cut of Xanax won't land you in the ER. It probably won't be very pleasant either.

I would (note I am not a physician) crush the one .5mg tablet and mix with 60ml (1/4 cup) of water, and reduce either 5ml (1 tsp) every 5 days, or 1ml a day using a dropper or syringe. You should be able to avoid pretty much any withdrawals with that schedule.

Jeez mate, you've already tapered. What's the problem? Just stop taking the 1 pill and you're home free. Don't mean to be a smart [censored], probably missing something. But, your usage does not sound out of hand to start with. I don't think you have a problem to begin with. Good news!

For good information on kicking benzos, go to benzowithdrawal dot com. I have been tapering off of valium for a little over a year now. It sucks, but it's not terrible as long as I keep it slow. I'm down to 2.9 mg. from 25mg.

Interestingly, that site has a list of 'Benzo-friendly Doctors' (as they call them) who support the Ashton Manual.

You are right a .5 cut won't land you in the ER, but that's too much to start tapering. At least in my opinion. I started tapering in Oct which I failed and ended up back on 1 mg.

I tapered half of .25 for 15 days. Then I tapered the whole .25 so I was down to .75 mg a day. Burning in my arms, legs. My appetite was virtually nothing. It was not unbearable. You can get through it. I just wouldn't recommend anyone immediately cutting HALF of their dose unless they had to.

Unfortunately, their is not one in my area. And I don't see my Dr prescribing Valium. I wish I actually could find one. As I would like to be back to where I could have a day or two Holiday from the med no problem.

This is another reason why diazepam is easier to withdraw from, especially if the 2mg tablets are used.

If only Drs saw it that way. What NeatJeans described, I don't think I could endure. I'm sorry the OP or anyone has to go through w/d like that.

Some (2) people tell me that their dentist prescribe them Valium. I am not sure if it is a special oral surgeon or what, but I saw one friend walk in to the pharmacy and get a refill. I have no idea the mgs or the #, but I did notice they were blue with the v cut out in the center. You may find your dentist may offer you some relief.

A dentist could prescribe them to be taken before dental surgery.

Anyone I know that has ever been prescribed a benzo receives Xanax, Klonopin or Ativan. I'm not sure why Drs think those are safer than Valium.

I can't imagine going to a Dr saying I'm possibly benzo dependent. Can you prescribe me Valium to get off Xanax?

Yes, it's another Benzo. Klonopin.

Tapering off of Xanax is the way to go, and yes, there is some discomfort, but it's bearable. Personally, I feel the discomfort is important. It makes you think twice about starting the whole benzo thing all over again at a later date.

It's like getting sick on a certain kind of liquor--you can't ever even smell it again without getting queasy.

I had an appointment today, with my new (now old) PA......He was an [censored]....plain and simple.....

My original appt. was tomorrow and I rescheduled for today, as I have a meeting tomorrow.....anyways, he saw that the other PA (at the same facility) was prescribing me 60ct Xanax and he told me "30 YEARS OLD IS TOO YOUNG TO BE TAKING XANAX AND YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TAKE IT FOR YOUR ANXIETY, YOU NEED TO SEE A COUNSELOR".....WTF!!!!!!!!

He REFUSED to write me the script and I asked him "Will it not hurt me to go CT off th Xanax, since I have been taking 2 .5 for a couple of years" and he told me that it would not matter because thar was such a low dose???????

Needless to say, by the end of our "meeting", I told him I wanted to see my old PA and he agreed that it would be best because he would not prescribe me Xanax for my anxiety.....

I was SUPER pissed....luckily my old PA (THANK GOD) was able to schedule me a few hours after that appt. and everything is fine

I just can't believe what he told me about me being too young to have to take Xanax......this guy knew me for maybe 3 minutes, and was able to make a decision like that??????

Sorry if I am off topic, but I am really ticked over that visit....he was such an A**. I felt so belittled after that "visit"