What is the most addictive anxiety med?

Xanax by far is the most addictive and the most difficult drug to come off of. Then comes Ativan at a not so distant second.

I want to thank all DBers for posting about this issue, I have resolved to NEVER take xanax!

where does Valium rank?

XANAX!!!!!!

Xanax for sure

I would say Xanax.

I had a seizure recently from Valium.
Took three weeks of abstinence to occur, but it has really hurt my life.
Xanax has a comparatively short half-life, and therefore can cause negative reactions much sooner (IMHO).
I don't take any other benzo's
, but believe me, Valium can be very dangerous too!

I knew a man who would ave seizures from xanex withdrawel if for some reason he didn't have it. He forgot it on a trip overseas and once to his summer house. He was prescribed 2mg 5x a day and used to call it his sleeping medicine but we would chuckle because he took his sleeping medication all day! He was on it so long and was in his 60s that Dr's didn't even try to get him off it. Actually I think he functioned pretty well on it as long as he didn't drink. He passed on a few years ago unrelated to the xanex but I think it is a pretty scary med.

You're kidding me. Surely.

I wouldn't be surprised if he's not kidding. I have a friend who was prescribed 3 bars a day for anxiety by a rather irresponsible family doctor. She had no benzo tolerance at all. She ended up in rehab after having a series of seizures and has been in for 3 months so far with no real signs of recovering any time soon.

I am definitely not kidding. I would take a quarter of a 2mg and be face down. I used to pick up his prescriptions from CVS myself sometimes. It was unreal - and I am only talking about 3 years ago - and he was on them forever. I miss the man so much.

My uncle is prescribed 6MGS per day.... He functions normal also...

tolerance builds FAST... one can go from .5 to 2 milligrams a few months
and if feels the same. i personally know someone who was up to 18-20 milligrams/day...

he was eventually put in a psyche ward for other issues.

I guess I got lucky having 1-2mg a day work for me for 2 years. Then it got bumped to 2-3mg and now I'm on 2mg of klonopin.

It may be hard for you guys to believe, but there are people out there prescribed to even more Xanax.

Just go to a agoraphobia website and you will see people prescribed to 12 & 15mg a day on top of 2mg of Klonopin plus Lexapro.

It's those people that I wonder how function.

Like Funkybreakz says, tolerance. In these cases, the doctor is more dangerous than the medicine.

My mom back in the 80's when I was a kid... Told me that her doc had her on 12MGS a day for 2 years. She had to go to the hospital to safely reduce the intake back to 2-3MGS a day. That doctor almost lost his license, because he prescribed several other clients more of the same dosage...and most of them got sick trying to reduce themselves.... I don't remember any more since I was so young. As Funkybreakz say ," the doctor is more dangerous than the medicine..."

The doctor is usually more dangerous than the meds when it comes to pdocs and family doctors.

Pdocs tend to stick you on a cocktail of things until your mind is completely dead.

Family doctors stick you on [censored] that they know nothing about in hopes that it will work, rather than referring you to someone who is actually licensed to treat you (like a pdoc).

I've taken 2mg 3x a day, took it for half a year. All depends on your body chemistry.

Im suprised at how strong people seem to thing Xanax is.
I think its weak.
I bought some recently and after reading the conversion charts and peoples opinions, I though Xanax was twice as strong as Diazepam as per 1mg of Xanax = 20mg of Diazepam.

Well I took my first 1mg and expected to feel like Id had 2 10mg diazepams. Felt more like a 5mg or slightly less of diazepam. I ended up taking 6 1mg Xanax on my first time just to feel a little bit of relaxation and take some stress away and they hardly last at all, 2 hours of pleasure 2 more hours of "I think I might be able to feel it".

Allthough Diazepam is certainly stronger, and longer lasting - Xanax did have something Diazepam doesnt, and antidepressant effect - I felt cheery and happy and able to get on with life even though its pretty hard right now - whereas Diazepam although makes me relaxed, also makes me gloomy.

For me Diazepam is FAAAAR more dangerous because it makes me very unpredictable and forgetful (which again - I noticed Xanax didnt)

I'm starting to see why you are so confused about the relative strengths of these two drugs.
If you thought that Xanax was twice as strong as diazepam, wouldn't it then be true that 1mg of Xanax would equal 2mg of diazepam?
From most estimates, Xanax is TWENTY times the strength of diazepam mg vs. mg. That is why 1mg of Xanax=20mg of diazepam.
As for diazepam making you "very unpredictable and forgetful," it's not because it is stronger as you seem to believe.
Maybe you just need to brush up on your arithmetic.

There all addictive,( benzo's anyway) but the most addictive is the one that your taking at the time.

Amen Strawberry! You are my Golden Eagle!

Xan...wait what? ...oh yeah most addictive...XANAX!





*pops another bar*

The only one I had problems with is xanax time released, I didn't have any problems with regular xanax.

rophynol.

I'm back on Xanax XR now after a 3 month stint with Klonopin. It just stopped working one day.

Wasn't it xanax the Stones were referring to in their song, Mama's Little Helper? Xanax scares me but man when I have a panic attack it sure does help. I asked in another thread about Klonopin. Does anyone have any experiences to share about it? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I want off the xanax asap.

Back in the 60's and 70's, Mother's Little Helper was Valium. I didn't know any woman over 30 or 35 that didn't have Valium, usually with several refills. I don't think xanax was that big back in those days. Soma was also given too. I don't know how any woman raisihg kids, cooking frm scratch, washing clothes in a #2 tub and doing all the ohter chores could function on valium unless they truly had serious anxiety. It just puts me to sleep or makes ne not want to do anything all day.

Was on 2mgs Klonopin daily for 7 years!
I put the ! at the end because I didn't even KNOW it was a Benzo until I cold turkeyed it.
That was 9 years ago and I thought hell on earth was when I was taking it (because I didn't feel I was getting any relief which I WASN'T. I was just putting a bandaid on my emotions) but hell didn't even begin until I QUIT.
When my shrink quit practicing (I WONDER WHY(?) after going to him for 10 years, I had no desire to start over with someone new.
SO...I cold turkeyed it and I was SO afraid that I was "just" going unsane as that was the same time my 25 year marriage was ending, I never went for help as I own a business and didn't think anyone would hire someone that was "crazy."
Little did I know, I WAS going crazy, due to withdrawals and have no clue how I can still be here today.
I didn't post this to say Klonopin was GREAT or [censored], just to give your question an answer on "experience".

BENOZOS are here, IMO, to only show a person that hell on earth CAN get worse..........................
BENZO addiction is HELL!!
BENZO withdrawals are HELL in the WORST form.
Recreational use of BENZOS is the highest form of STUPIDITY.
SCRIPTED use of BENZOS is the 2nd but I take FULL responsibilty for NOT researching what a "licensed shrink" was putting into my body!

BUT, if you know you can stay at a certain dosage and know for a fact that it's working and that you can always have access, (NOT DEPENDING ON AN IOP THAT WILL GO UNDER AND/OR RIP YOU OFF)I wouldn't think TWICE about being on some sort of Benzo for the rest of your life, IMO!!

(Not even going to go into what I did a year ago and am living with today, because of MY stupidty as that wasn't asked but let's just say, I, on my OWN, am now living another personal hell.

PS~I can't believe the word C^*P is a censored word. LOL!!!!!

Thanks for sharing Shastais. Even though you didn't have a good experience, I still want to know about it. I hope that things turn around for you soon!

Not trying to give you a hard time, but I have done all of that AND finished college. I can tell you with most certainty that klonipin (or valium in this case) has been needed more than once!!

Yes, benzo addiction is extremely difficult. Taken correctly it can help people. I've been on klonopin since '95. 2mg. either 2 or 3 per day. prn. But I function fine and have no serious problems, hope not at least. But I am definitely addicted. It would be a task to detox me without going thru withdrawl sypmtoms.
Peace & Love.

I am on Klonopin 3mgs/day, have been for 5 years.

I know it would be a nightmare to stop, but I have a good psychiatrist.

But what if he quits practicing?
WOW it is scary you know you have a price to pay to get off.

I think all Benzos are dangerous, and if I knew I had to quit, no way on cold turkey.

I would do a Valium taper, since it has such a long half life, and active metabolites stay with you for a long time.

Might be a good idea to have a 90 day supply of diazapam 5mg just for insurance.

Why has no one mentioned Halcion? Everything I've read says that its the strongest benzo out there and is very addictive.

Is it because Halcion is quite rare that Xanax is more dangerous? I think this might be the case. Imagine if Halcion was as common as Xanax...

There is a theory that triazolam, taken once per day (at night) has completely gone before you take it again 24 hours later, due to the very short half-life, so you have effectively withdrawn from it between each dose. Not sure I believe it, but it may have something in common with the claims that zolpidem does not produce tolerance or dependence when taken only at night.

What is pretty certain is that if you took triazolam several times per day, you would be in very deep trouble if you suddenly stopped; far worse than Xanax perhaps. Marc Almond (Soft Cell) was apparently addicted to Halcion.

I'm back on klonopins now, but a while back I didnt like the idea of being addicted so I let myself run out. big mistake, a week later, I was staying awake for days at a time, hands to shakey to accomplish anything, socializing with ANYBODY was a joke, was really thinking about snuffing it, I finally caved and tapered off with valium, phenobarbitual, and melatonin. once the valium and pheno was administered, there were no more symptoms, and I went months without anything. But after a while I realized that I MUCH prefer life on kpins as apposed to life without.

I see. So basically, if taken as directed Halcion should be less dangerous than others because its out of your system by the next dose? So while it may be more dangerous than Xanax, that is only if you misuse/abuse it, whereas Xanax may be more dangerous when taken as directed?

I hope that made sense..am i at least partly in the ballpark? lol

Xanax did not come out until I believe the late '80's and anyone who was on valuim was put on this new drug called xanax. It was the miracle drug. Great for panic, anxiety, "the blues", alcohol withdraw, etc. It was a cure all.

Valuim to the back seat. Well all of a sudden we have everyone who was ever on valuim on xanax. Suddenly doctors realized they could not get people off of xanax and not only that their need to take another pill increased because first time xanax users realize a little & very nice "buzz". Well the "buzz" goes away whether or not you stick to the prescribed amount but the patient wants it back, hence take another. But it doesn't work that way. No first time "buzz" after the first few months no matter how many you take. So the doctors are now stuck with a bunch of patients whose habits they now have to support. Not a big problem back then because the DEA was not after the doctors then. They actually did what the DEA was supposed to do and did not get involved in what we injested if it was doctor prescribed.

Then along comes the newbie doctors who know better and do not prescribe xanax (which is the hell on earth withdraw drug imho). Now we have a whole generation (is it us) who are addicted to xanax. Then God forbid your doctor does die. I mean eventually doctors die too. So you go to the new doctor and you know what he says. He saids "I will give you a one month supply". You will then need to see a shrink and perhaps he will prescribe them for you.

Then it really gets messy for a lot of reasons. Xanax is one mean drug. Do yourself a favor, never, ever take this drug.

Stay safe.

Unless you want to get extremely relaxed and high. THEN take xanax.

I don't think you know what it is like to get "high" otherwise you would not have said that. Xanax does not get you "high" in the real sense of the word "high".

I take Diazepam daily but I do have a supply on Xanax I take on occasions, which I find very good for certain situations where I need a confidence boost. Its fine if you take 0.5mg once in a while as I do ... personally 60 1mg pills has lasted my at least 6 months and I am still not out of them with plenty left, although I have to admit I need my Valium daily (at least 10mg, mostly 20mg).

I was just joking man, take it easy. I think about everybody here knows its just foolish to use benzo's for recro-fun. I and everybody else that takes them surely know they are worth null for getting high on, compared to something as trivial as beer, or weed. but xanax's real magic is its ability to neutralize/normalize people who are nervous wrecks without it.

How true. Don't worry I am relaxed and I am a gal.

Yes, but remember it's only a theory and nobody has done any solid research to prove it, and individual experiences will vary as they do with zolpidem.

Even so, I would imagine that one would experience some insomnia after several nights on triazolam, simply because the body is expecting it.

the long benzos, like klonopin, are the way to go, if, in fact you suffer from anxiety disorder.

the short term benzos, including xanax, are more problematic.

You are quite right!

i always heard that barbituates were the most addictive...never tried them...i have to agree that valium/klonopin seem to be less addictive than the ativan/xanax stuff...on an of note, the sleeping meds sonata/ambien are just as addictive imo from past experience...the night eating/internet ordering amnesia sucks with these meds too. sorry to get off topic.

Barbiturates were certainly more dangerous in overdose (sometimes unwittingly) because they could accumulate, especially in those with renal or hepatic impairment. The therapeutic index is narrow, so doses needed to relieve anxiety are close to those which cause quite marked sedation.

I have heard this was the driving force for early investigations into benzodiazapines.

That is, benzodiazapines act on the same receptor as barbiturates (but at different binding sites), and BD's have fewer risky side effects.

Xanax is an awful drug. Withdrawling from that was the worst experience of my life...fevers, body aches, puking, not too mention reaching the brink of sanity trying to fall asleep without it. To anyone who takes it regularly, I'd say get off it. But don't do cold turkey like I did. It nearly killed me. My friend,who had been taking them like candy for a few years, ended up in a pysch ward and wasn't right for months when he went cold turkey. Lost his gourd completly, ran away and buried 500 cash on some beach then the authorities found him.Paranoid as [censored],thinking people were after him, but really no one was. They tapered him off with valium in the hospital but he still isn't back to normal. Benzos are a scary drug class, not well known as horribly addictive publicly, but talk to anyone whos taken them or seen the withdrawal and you'd know otherwise.

I think the news is out there that xanax is "dangerous." Doctors still prescribe it, and many are dependent. It's also the most desired benzo on the black market.

the devil is in the details

I take about 2 to 3 valium a day. I have been doing this for about 7 months now. Before Valium, I started on xanax, but read the horror stories about it, and switched to valium. The economy, and so many other things in my life have me so stressed out, I feel like I need something. So I have been on benzos for about seven months. Should I consider going off? I don't want to have seizures, or anything like that. I am just under a tremendous amount of stress. I also take Soma. The economy got me laid off from my job, and I have a mortgage, and am under a tremendous amount of stress. I usually take 2 to 3 10 MG valiums a day. Should I quit before I end up taking them for too long, and going off, and potentially having seizures? Is 20 to 30 MG of valium a day too much? I am just a nervous wreck. I am not taking them to get high or anything. Should I quit while I am ahead? Would valerian root help?

Thanks

anyone mention booze yet?

chemsynth

Booze is not an option for me. I am a recovering alcoholic. I used to drink so much, that I developed pancreatitis and nearly died two years ago. I was on life support, and they nearly unplugged me from the machine! I am told that I am a "walking miracle," but I don't think much about all of that. I just think that had it of been my time, I would have gone.

But anyway, when I was in the hospital for so long, I accumulated a huge amount of debt, hospital bills, and other stuff. I knew I couldn't drink the stress away, which is why I started taking benzos.

sorry--i was thinking of alcohol as a dangerous drug. i didn't mean to dredge up bad stuff.

chemsynth

I have friends who have gotten they're life into a terrible mess on valliums I would taper down the the min amount u need and maybe do 2 weeks or so sober and then if nothing better you will be able to get the same effect from less amounts

I have one friend who was taking over 50x10mg generic / day for months he reduced very quickly to 5 a day for 1 week then 1 day for 1 week and then quit, he was fine I think the sezures are a worst case senario , he did suffer mentally considerably. Im not saying try that quick but if you stop taking them close turkey the depression and irritability can make it almost impossible to function

I never did care too much for xanax,it just made me want to sleep.Valium on the other hand,I was just relxaed and could still function fine.

I think hmmmmmmm has it pretty much nailed. 20-30mg diazepam a day is on the high side if one disregards the high doses people on here take.

The aim is to take the smallest possible amount for the shortest possible time BUT in your case, recovering from alcoholism (well done, by the way), you have to balance a few more factors. A risk of seizures in an unacceptable risk (albeit a low one), but the danger of addiction is also undesirable.

You may wish to consider missing a dose here and there, or replacing the occasional dose with 5mg instead of 10mg. Diazepam allows you to do this, which is an advantage of the drug over alprazolam and lorazepam. It is better to withdraw slowly than too quickly.

I would avoid any other drugs, including valerian.

Hi Nephro,
Could you please explain the manifestations of these seizures?
I've experienced many w/d's from Xanax..
Grinding of the teeth resulting in fractured teeth,
Twitching eye,restless leg syndrome etc.
What I'm asking is what are these more serious
seizures like?
Is it like a stroke?
Do you pass out or roll on the ground gasping for breath.
Basically what might a w/d seizure from 6 mg per day
xanax for 30 years (figureatively of course) on a cold turkey
appear like? Would the victim be concious?Responsive?
Just wondering.
TIA

I had been taking on average 20mg of Valium a day for almost a year I think. I recently halved my dose to 10mg at night only and did not have any bad reactions or major withdrawl effects. I recommend you half your dose for a few days and see how you feel, its worth a try. if you do feel that you have come down too much then take an extra one occasionally (but not reverting to your previous dose daily) until you get used to the lower dose.

I have been on 10mg for about a month now (only taken in the evening an hour before bed) and plan on soon switching to 5mg (1/2 a pill) and see where that takes me.

Although I have noticed since reducing my Valium intake my alochol intake has increased a bit from 6 units a night to 8-10 units. I originally took Valium to reduce my alcohol consumption from 40 units a day. I was becoming a borderline alcoholic and drinking a litre of whiskey a day (40% alcohol by volume) before the benzo's. It worked very well in getting it down to 6 units a day in the evening only and 10mg Valium once in the morning and then another in the evening.

I never wanted to give up alcohol completely as its a major social part of my life but I am please I am not drinking anywhere near what I used to and do not crave it all day long for social anxiety. I used to go to the pub every lunch time at work and down 2-3 pints of beer (6-9 units) before getting lunch and heading back to the office. After work I would either go out drinking with whoever I could find and sometimes drink until 3 am. Now when I drink I mostly only do it at home to help sleep. I measure out each dose of whiskey so I know exactly how much I take (50ml of whiskey and 50ml of water in a glass filled up with ice which equals 2 units of alcohol and I make the drink last at least 1 hour).

Well I think Wikipedia seems to explain it in more depth than I can, and seems a decent article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seizure#Signs_and_symptoms

I was being rather specific to the poster I was responding to; where alcohol is involved one has to be especially careful. Seizures from cessation (or sudden drop in dosage) of benzos are very rare, but are probably more likely with the short-acting ones such as alprazolam.

Chlordiazepoxide is traditionally used to give alcoholics a 'soft landing' when coming off alcohol.

Hi NeatJeans!
Your comments made on 3/22/09 really "hit the nail on the head", and I think your explanation of the Xanax history
and the scenario that follows was the most precise, and best written response I have ever read on alprazolam!!!
Yes, I well remember when Upjohn's Xanax was the "miracle drug" of the late 1980's. For the year 1988, Xanax was the 3rd most prescribed brand name drug in the USA, only Beecham's "Amoxil" (antibiotic)@ #1, and Burrough's "Lanoxin" @#2 outsold the immensely popular Upjohn's "Xanax". In fact of all new & refill prescriptions of the top 200 brand name meds for the calender year 1988, the following Schedule IV meds fell far behind the blazing sales of "Xanax".....#17 Upjohn's "Halcion", #33 Roche's "Valium", #55 Wyeth's "Ativan", #73 Abbott's "Tranxene", and in #100 position was Sandoz's "Restoril". Source: Pharmaceutical Data Services Inc. Scottsdale, Arizona and "The Pill Book" 4th edition (Bantam Books February 1990).
Having been a daily user of Roche's "Valium" for 10 of 11 consecutive years in the 70's & early 80's I well remember when "Roche Valium" held the #1 position of the most prescribed "new & refill prescriptions" of drugs from the USA Physicians Desk Reference, for a record number of years that has never been surpassed (to my knowledge). I identify well with your storytelling, as I experienced first hand the same atttitude from "newer generation M.D.'s" when in the early to mid 1990's, I would get referred out from a GP's office, (after one script for either Xanax or Valium) to go to a "Psychiatrist" for follow up on either of those Benzo's!!! this happened to me in the Southwest, as well as the Southeastern USA, during the same time frame. My 24 month return to daily benzo use,
during 1994 thru 1996, resulted in the most severe withdrawal I have ever experienced.....going from 6 mg. per day of Xanax to zero took me ten (10 weeks), then a "slip" after eight weeks of abstinence, then another 60 days of Xanax use, chasing the "original buzz" but only to get immediately readdicted again, and another painful controlled gradual reduction of Xanax use until I reached zero use. Both times.....IMHO the worst was the final 2 weeks....going from 1 mg. to .5 mg per day, to "none".
I have lifelong GAD co-morbid with A.D.D., and after another ten (10 yrs) without Xanax or Valium, (only Ambien/Zolpidem for insomnia), I have returned to cautious use of Diazepam (Valium) the past 2 yrs, but never more than 20 mg. per day, and I always allow purposeful breaks, to interrupt my tendency to build tolerance. IMO I am too fearful to giving Xanax "another go"........Valium withdrawal was not easy, I struggled with a 40 to 60 mg. per day habit, along with alcoholism, but the "Xanax" dependency (for me was the worst withdrawal by far). Incidentally, I have been abstinent from alcohol since 1983.

Wow Ludes that's remarkable.
I recall those 500mg gel maroon placydl's
back in the 70's. I remember another abbott or squib
product that were yellow & black called "yellow jackets"
but forgot what they were nembutol or something?
I agree with you about the Xanax withdrawal.
It is so tough! I take 2mg a day and if I stop
my jaw gets so tight and I grind my teeth at night
that I have fractured 3 teeth. Got 7.5/350 Vicodin(Watson)
which was helpful for the pain but the buzz was
so euphoric. It would be scary to get hooked on those.
Anyway like you I'm trying to find a valium source
for W/D's. I withdrew from Valium a few times back in the 70's
and it wasn't too bad. Maybe Clonazepam which
seems less expensive per milligram might work.
BTW I was benzo free from 1978 to 1986 before
alprazolam was invented. Wish they had stuck wuth Valium.
Always appreciate your input and knowledge.
Thank you.

Thank you Nephro!
Your info is most informative.
You should be dubbed "Sir Nephro"
in my opinion.(once you pay that poll tax..LOL)
Just kidding.
Thanks so much for your objective,non-judgemental
info. Really helps and I always read it.
Thank you Sir!

You may be seated now.

In terms of Benzodiazepines, there are two qualities which make them dangerous:

-chemical/psychological dependence
-acute discontinuation syndrome / withdrawl

Benzos are addictive, if someone has the right (or wrong) wiring in thier head, they may prefer a particular benzo's effects and that may maybe it 'more addictive' for them. Also, some benzos such as chlorazepate (sp) have been linked with suicidal ideation, for example. This stuff cant be quantified, so I'll leave that at that.

Half life is the biggest factor when it comes to both dependence and withdrawl. Personally I'd say the most dangrous benzo is triazolam (halcion in the US, not on market now as far as i know). Basically, the half life of this pill is 2-4 hours and it achieves its peak plasma level quickly. In and out, fast. I have never really heard of this being prescribed in a TID/BID type of way, so the next shortest half life benzo that is common is Xanax.

Because of the short half life, you have to take frequent doses to maintain a stable blood/plasma level. So, unless you are an occasional prn/as needed user, theres going to be a quick dependency issue physiologically and psychologically.

Abrupt discontinuation of Xanax and any other benzo -can- result in seizures (not will, and not LIKELY to, but it is a significant risk). Xanax is out of your system fast so if lets say - you take 4 mg a day - and you lose your script, within 48 hours you're suffering significant withdrawal symptoms. A half life of 8 hours puts pretty much all of it out of your body very quickly.

Klonopin and Valium have longer half lives meaning that in the same situation, you have longer time to figure out the situation. In addition because the plasma/blood level drops more slowly with sudden discontinuation, ideally someone would notice if they were suffering from a serious and acute reaction.

I take 2mg of klonopin a day currently. There was a time i was on 5+mg of klonpin a day (before I knew about its addictive nature). While out of town in Boston, MA, my car was stolen and I spent 4 days wondering why I felt like i might die any moment until i finally called my doc.

A couple years later I had switched to Xanax, taking 3mg a day. People 'like xanax' -- its common to hear. I did, until I took it for awhile. Because it left the blood so quickly I knew it was time for my next dose every 7 hours and 45 minutes. If you wake up because your blood level gets to low, the only way to go back to sleep is to take the next dose (seriously)

The primary reason I take Klonopin is the long half life (I never gave valium a fair shot I'll admit). I also find that I get a tolerance to ativan quickly (could just be my perception, its been a long time). If i take 1 mg one day, i might have to take 2.5 the next to feel normal since i regularly take 2mg, but there is no urgency.

And that about does it. Benzos are terrific for what they do, and are tragically addictive. I really would like to get off them at some point but even after chemical withdrawl, long term use changes brain chemistry somewhat and it can take a year to feel normal again. There is a lady named Ashton that has written quite a bit about it. If you google her youll find her site.

So yes, Xanax is probably the most dangerous becuase its the shortest half life benzo youll take regularly if you are a genralized anxiety type patient.

Chris

I agree with the other poster who asked if anyone brought up alcohol/booze. I think alcohol is the most widespread, addictive, and "dangerous" anxiety medication people self treat themselves with. It probably has the quickest onset for relaxation and the best euphoric side effect; but also, the shortest half life, and worst withdrawals from chronic usage. IMO, a lot of people may unsuspectingly take benzo's to counter-act the hang-over anxiety, depression, and shakes they have during the day when not drinking.

It certainly takes a tole on society; however, I'm not for a return to prohibition.

It also chews your body to bits and pieces (in large/chronic amounts).

I don't think we even need to go into what alcohol and driving leads to...

Totally agree. Booze is VERY addictive b/c it's so seductive. It would be used in place of benzos except for the dead giveaway smell. And besides--it's "legal'--therefore, it's all right.

Notice that congressmen won't legalize pot (although they know their children have done it, at least in college--and more), but they'll suck up that booze at every gathering there is.

I wonder how many generations it will take before we quit putting up with the hypocrisy.....

Strawberry,

I'm going to steal this quote from you and use it claim made it up on my own!

It can be applied to so many things in life (not only benzo's or substances - but to so many routine things we do).

Hi nephro

One time I took Halcion to sleep, and I ended up having these seizure-like jaw clenches and muscle spasms that were very noticiable exactly 12 hours after I took it. I almost wrecked my car. I later found out that this is a rare side effect and that halcion is prescribed with another drug to prevent this. These spasms were bad, I could not talk, and I had to walk out of class and everything, people were staring at me.

I discontinued the med after 2 days and the seizure like effects never returned. Have you heard of this?

Bill

No I haven't! This is really surprising since, being a benzodiazepine, it would be thought to relieve a clenched jaw. I could believe a tight jaw as a withdrawal symptom (which seems quite a common benzo withdrawal symptom), but not after taking it just the once.

In fact, I've just looked at the manufacturer's Patient Information Leaflet, and they don't list anything like this.

I could imagine ANOTHER med being prescribed which causes jaw spasm, and the triazolam used to relieve it.

Very strange. If you have any more info, I would be very interested.

Lots of fun

"I don't think we even need to go into what alcohol and driving leads to..."



Well, If you live in Mayberry, Andy will take you home and let you sleep it off and Aunt Bee will fix you coffee and buckwheat pancakes next morning while Gomer fixes the dent in you car from running into that old elm tree.

Real world: you will do time

I believe that it would be women in their 50's or 60'S, It was typically prescribed to young women in the 70's. We just smoked pot in the 80's. (haha)

I think my whole problem with this question is that it really wants people to scream alprazloam (xanax) or another short acting benzo.

Well, it's not that simple. If you have a genetic predisposition to being addicted to downers or other substances (and I don't think this is true of every drug - especially something like methamphetamine which will make you insane), then you are going to have to hit bottom or realize you really want to quit. Otherwise, it's a wasted effort on all fronts.

Forcing someone to quit anything - accomplishes nothing....

Hey Nephro,

re: the jaw clenches and spasms

It was so odd, I do take a benzo, 2mg of clonopin, and Prozac. But the only change in my meds those 2 days was the halcion.

I remember I was installing a furnace and I had to talk to the customer and my jaw and lips got rigid and I had to excuse myself from the room and leave the jobsite. And I was drooling. At school, my face was violently stwitching and making funny faces that I could not control.

I was driving home that day and my legs froze on the floor of my car and my head was frozen to the left and I almost wrecked my vehicle.

I stupidly took it again the next night and I had to leave school and bite a pillow for hours because my jaw was going so crazy.

Now I know the muscle spasms associated with severe benzo withdrawal, they hurt and make you sore for days afterward and I have experienced mild seizures from unplanned c/t emergency benzo WD. I had to go to the ememgency room.

The reason I am telling you the above paragraph was because that is EXACTLY the kind of spasms the halcion gave me. I had my daily 2mg of clonopin so I know i wasn't having a w/d syndrome.

but i know it was the halcion because many years later I have never had another episode like i did the two days i took halcion for sleep.

That is so wierd.

Thanks for your input.

bill

Valium came out in the 60's and was bigger in the UK than here. But a good number of people had heavy V habits here. Oddly, Xanax was supposed to be a safer alternative.

Xanax is the most addictive of the Benzos; however, it is hard to really overdose on Benzos because they have a much higher tolerance level in the body than barbituates do. You would have to take massive amounts of Benzos in order to OD on them unless you are taking other CNS depressants with Benzos or drinking while on them other than they are pretty safe.

Well that explains why it took my doctors until 1993 to prescribe Xanax, it wasn't around when my problems with anxiety (now diagnosed as General Anxiety Disorder) first came about. Nice to know. As much as the drug has helped me I'm so glad they (didn't) advise me that it was the "miracle" drug of the late 80s. Sort of like Ritalin was the miracle drug of the 90s and it took several arguments and many fights with teachers and doctors to make sure my child was not prescribed it (Ritalin).

Xanax is a love/hate relationship. I hate it because I "have" to take it and I love it because it has worked wonders but I wish I were "normal" like everyone else and could function without it.

Wish I also knew why people took it for no reason. It only takes away my anxiety. If I had no anxiety my Dr. wouldn't prescribe it and I wouldn't take it. I wonder how it effects people with little to no anxiety? For me it makes me able to function in society.

The miracle drug huh. What a joke. More like the drug that makes you less anxious. It's also the drug that inhibits your ability to cope with anxious settings therefore you never learn how to deal with anxiety. It's also a pill that's highly addictive and one that you don't ever want to stop taking if you've ever been through withdrawals. I guess everything comes with a price.

Wish they would have warned me of the price so I could have decided for myself if I ever wanted to start taking it.

And when you have a fear of what it would be like to withdraw from Xanax what do you do? You take a Xanax to cure your anxiety. Neat little drug huh?

My answer to this question would be Xanax. If you don't have an anxiety disorder and if your doctor doesn't prescribe it do yourself a favor and stay away from it.

Barbiturates -much easier to overdose on these than benzos

Agreed.

Well in my opinion Xanax is the benzo that hits you hard! I have taken every benzo known to man and nothing works like the yellow bars that you get from walgreens. Those were the best. I used to get prescribed 180 X 2mg and the bottle said take as needed! And that was a 2 week supply. I used to take one bar a day or sometimes 4 bars depending on how I felt and I used to get like 5 refills!

Well anyways, Benzodiazapines are exremely addictive if you have an anxiety problem they sure help but its best to take them when needed and not overabuse them. Its easy to do but if you control yourself than the med will help alot.

take as needed---and heres 180 bars---LOL i cant even control 60 bars a month---so i run out early and never addicted

Speaking of anxiety meds, I was prescribed 1mg clonazapan before bed. It really does help me sleep better. Will I have a problem stopping it if necessary? I really would rather sleep naturally but now that I've been taking it have grown accustomed to the drowsyness effect, it's just easier.

It's very likely if you have been taking them regularly for a few days or weeks. You may wish to cut the dose down gradually to avoid rebound insomnia.

Thank you Nephro, I was hoping you would respond!

mamas little helpers were speed

requiem for a dream

That is up for debate. Some say they meant Ludes, others say Valium, or Nembutal. Valium was new back when the Beatles wrote this song and docs wrote scripts like crazy for Nembutal not Valium. In the lyrics there is "Outside the door, she took 4 more" which leads to some question on dosages so it could have been Valium unless you listen on. Lyrics also mention that "And goes running for the shelter of her mother's little helper. And forgets her through the night, helps to minimize her flight." So some say that means they were benzos in any case.

I have never heard anyone mention they were speed. What amphetamine was a "little yellow pill"? In any case the clue is "if you take more of those, you will get an overdose". Who ever heard of anyone ODing on Valium?

I always like to read why people like benzos so much. Those who need them to function, it is obvious why. I had many friends who like them and I could never figure it out. I cannot feel a thing from them but then everyone is different. I guess that is why they say drug of choice. I like that. As if you have a whole arsenal in front of you and you get to choose which you want.

The song was supposed to have been about ritlin.

I think the "Mothers little helpers" were mentioned in the Rolling Stones song were about Milltown or Meprobamate.

5mg valium= mothers little helper--cas outside the door you really couldnt take---4 more--nembutals which i think were also yellow---thats a heavy downer dose--thers another line about--you can tranquilize your mind---sounds like valium to me

Yes, valium was new and used quite a bit in the UK.

Meprobamate was the original anti anxiety med. The Stones song was written about Meprobamate as mentioned by Keith Richards himself. The song was written just before Valium was widely prescribed. Meprobamate was replaced by Valium as a "safe" alternative. It was a much heavier downer than Valium.

Thank You. I googled some stuff on it. Rock and Roll history mixed with UK health issues.

lol....... yes that seems to be my specialty. Obscure random knowledge.
cheers

meprobamate is available now and is weak---i stick to valiun and keith richards never said it was meprobamate---thats a white pill---lets agree to disagree cas no matter what u say its not changing my opiniom---peace

How about asking your doctor for sleep medicine? Stay away from benzos. They are really made for anxiety disorders not for sleeping problems.

Hi guys, i was hooked on benzos for 3 years, taking Clonopin, Valium, and Xanax. I got off them all with a pill, ----Phenobarbital. Saved my live i hope this helps some other people out

Please elaborate about how switching from benzodiazepines to phenobarbital "saved your live."
Are you still taking the phenobarbital and at what dosage?

I have heard phenobarbital can be very helpful in the last 3-4 weeks of a benzo taper at reducing withdrawal symptoms.

Please tell us you are off of the Phenobarbital. It may have saved your life tapering from benzos, but barbituates are more dangerous. Benzos were invented because barbituates were too dangerous, but then again xanax was invented because valium was too addicting..

Hottie

I use Xanax to sleep because the thought of going to sleep makes me really anxious! I have always had problems falling asleep, especially if I have a busy day the following day. I've been on Xanax for almost 10 years and I'm 33. I take 1mg a night and sometimes I take half a pill when I'm having an anxiety attack. I remember life before Xanax and not being able to control extreme anxiety is a bich. I didn't have a way out of my own mind and Xanax helps a lot. Now, the problem is that I have become dependent on it, physically and emotionally. If I'm running out, I panic. If I'm too far away without my meds, I panic. Ah, if I could only be normal.

Haha...hmmm a whole arsenal, that would be a delight. I am picturing it now.

I agree with the person who said alcohol. I don't have any statistics or research, but I'm sure you will find more yearly alcohol-related deaths than you will any benzo. Although I enjoy a glass of wine every now and then, I find alcohol repulsive and poisonous. Xanax comes in at a close second. Mix the two together? You're just asking to die. I can't believe the number of people I talk to that tell me they like to take their Xani bars with a few glasses of wine. *shakes head* and people wonder why it's hard to get their doctor to help them when they are in real trouble. Same thing with narcotic painkillers, eh? Stop abusing this [censored]] and let people who REALLY need it be able to get it! How SOME THINGS are illegal and alcohol so rampantly available is beyond my grasp of comprehension (yes I know all about alcohol lobbyists and so on and so on...so I don't need a reminder lol ) It's too bad so many people are so uptight about CERTAIN NATURAL THINGS that could be legalized and taxed to stimulate the economy, if there wasn't such stigma attached to it. Okay I'm done. *steps off soapbox*