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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Toothy on September 13, 2007, at 15:59:32
I have suffered from Panic and GAD for over 11 years. I went for about 19 months controlling it by taking 0.5 mgs of Xanax about 2 days per week and did very well until a very stressful time brought back constant panic disorder last summer 2006.
Previously until then I had no dependence and could easily skip several weeks. I now have had a reoccurence of Panic Attacks mostly during the 3 days I work each week but sometimes on off days too. This has been going on for one year and I have had to take Valium about 20 mgs per day but this does not always control my workday anxiety. I know that I am chemically dependent on the Valium for now.
Rather than increasing my Valium to give enough coverage to cover my 3 work days I am thinking about adding Xanax on the 3 work days only. I wondered if I only took Xanax 3 out of 7 days would I create a dependence or would it be out of my system quickly enough that I would not have increasing dependence issues.
I would sure like to be able to return to a PRN Xanax basis as I did before.
Toothy
Posted by Phillipa on September 13, 2007, at 20:22:48
In reply to Xanax/How often can it be taken without dependence, posted by Toothy on September 13, 2007, at 15:59:32
Toothy I know others may disagree but I've also done the same thing in the past with no further addiction or tolerance. Phillipa
Posted by Toothy on September 14, 2007, at 11:16:21
In reply to Re: Xanax/How often can it be taken without dependence » Toothy, posted by Phillipa on September 13, 2007, at 20:22:48
> Toothy I know others may disagree but I've also done the same thing in the past with no further addiction or tolerance. Phillipa
Phillipa,
I'm glad to hear it worked for you! Do you think that 3 out of 7 days would work with Xanax on a PRN basis since it should not build up in the system with a 6-12 hour half life. I just need it on Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays when I have the most stess. It worked really well for me a couple of time of the week in the past but right now I think I need about 3 days max.
I hate to try to take a high enough level of Valium 7 day per week to cover my 3 stressful days since I don't need so much dampening of my nervous system on the other 4 days.I'm hopin that doing this will allow me to start tapering the Valium (very slowly) about 1 milligram per month even if it takes me a year and a half to taper off completely.
How many days of the week have you taken it without developing dependence or tolerance now or in the past? Xanax seems to work so well on this PRN basis. The problem with Valium as a PRN med is that it's active metabolites have such a loooooong half life.
Toothy
Posted by Phillipa on September 14, 2007, at 19:11:47
In reply to Re: Xanax/How often can it be taken without dependence, posted by Toothy on September 14, 2007, at 11:16:21
I basically switched over from xanax to valium didn't really take it prn was throughout the day. I cut down my valium by 5mg last night and no problem. Phillipa
Posted by Toothy on September 15, 2007, at 9:51:11
In reply to Re: Xanax/How often can it be taken without dependence » Toothy, posted by Phillipa on September 14, 2007, at 19:11:47
> I basically switched over from xanax to valium didn't really take it prn was throughout the day. I cut down my valium by 5mg last night and no problem. Phillipa
Phillipa,
I think that is a good idea to switch to Valium. Try to get some 2mg pills. I think that if you are taking 20 mgs of Valium a 5 mg reduction is 25%. This may be too great a percentage reduction. I would recommend no more than a 10% reduction per month from experience. Your reduction may not hit you fully for a couple of weeks but you might suffer a lot more when it hits. It takes about 4 weeks to reach equilibrium from one cut.
Toothy
P.S. I did take 50 mgs of Lyrica yesterday at about 9:00 AM. I did have some slight wooziness but after I got over that I felt the best I have felt in a long time. In fact I did not feel the need to take most of my Valium until bedtime. I tried Lyrica 50 mgs once before at night but it gave me a lot of wierd dreams. I have a concern about poop-out that some have mentioned or escalating doses so I think I will not take it more than a few days per week right now. I think this could help with valium withdrawals some too.
I am encouraged by my experience yesterday.
Posted by Phillipa on September 15, 2007, at 20:21:03
In reply to Re: Xanax/How often can it be taken without dependence, posted by Toothy on September 15, 2007, at 9:51:11
Toothy since I've never done this before what will happen? I used to work in a detox place that used valium cut the dose each day by a lot and then let them leave.
So you liked the lyrica and took in the daytime? Think I should try and find a pdoc to prescribe it? Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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