From Xanax to Valium

[Guest Nova]

Hi all,

My Psychiatrist got me addicted to Xanax this past summer. Before that, I only took a Xanax everyo once in a while whenever I had an anxiety attack. However, this past summer I began having hormonal issues likely being brought on by a pituitary tumor. anyways, these issues began giving me INSANE fits of sheer panic on an everyday basis.

That's when my Psychiatrist told me to take 1 mg Xanax / 2x a day.

Well, my body has become quite tolerant of it and, I'm just taking it cause I'm addicted to it - its calming effects only last about an hour an my nerves are fried 24/7.

So he said, since the Xanax isn't doing its job anymore, he's switching me to Valium, 5mg 2x/day.

I called him up the other day and told him I'm rather insecure about this because I'm afraid of Xanax withdrawal. He told me I wouldn't withdraw because they're both benzos. And that makes sense, but... I asked him about the equivilency. He INSISTED 5mg Valium is equivilent to 1mg Xanax. I told him that doesn't sound right to me, and he lost his patience. He totally flipped on me, told me never to call that number again unless it's an emergency, and that he had to go. He became very, very rude with me and this isn't the first time he's done so.

I tried to reason with him; asking if he could please, PLEASE taper me off the Xanax while I crosstaper and adjust to the Valium. A month ago he said that would be ok. but when he was wiggin' out on me over the phone, he said absolutely not. That would be malpractice and that I have to take either one or the other, not both under any circumstances. Then he hung up on me.

I'm running out of Xanax fast and all I have in front of me is this damn Valium which I am scared to death of.

I've called several pharmacies and they all tell me I should have a problem. But I'm paranoid as all hell because I've lost trust in my Psychiatrist.

[Guest Nova]

Oops, typo:

What I MEANT TO SAY was "The pharmacists said I shouldn't have a problem." SHOULDN'T, not should. UGUGHGHGHGHHHHH.

[resonance]

Are you concerned it will be too high or too low? What do you think will happen if you take it?

Is getting a second opinion an option for you?

[nOVA]

It's me, the Original Poster (OP).

I've been considering a second opinion because my Psych's behavior is what makes me not trust him. But...who the hell knows when I'll get an appointment? And my Psych refuses to refill my Xanax.

I am afraid of experiencing withdrawal from not getting my "fix" of Xanax despite the availability of my Valium prescription. I'm afraid the dosage isn't equaivilent.

I keep reading about dosage equivilancies and they all say 0.5 mg Xanax = 10 mg Valium.

I'm on 1mg Xanax 2x/day, and my Psych wants me to switch from that to 5 mg Valium 2x/day! That's a significant difference. When I told him I read dosage equivilancies on the Internet, he told me to stop taking advice from the Internet and that 5mg Valium IS equal to 1mg Xanax.

I'm afraid that he may be wrong, so I called pharmacies. They all say it's like comparing apples to oranges and that I "shouldn't have a problem."

I keep getting interdosage withdrawals. It's HORRIFIC! My God...Every 3 hours I go through withdrawal but I refuuuuse to take more than 2 a day. It would only perpetuate the problem.

I'd really like to crosstaper...but my Psych won't have it.

[AirMarshall]

I can understand your fears.

First, lets take a look at things from your pdoc's perspective:

- He has prescribed meds to achieve the goal of getting you off xanax

- You have questioned him on the dosage, he told you that it's ok, and you argued with him, making him feel you don't trust him.

- He sees that you are creating a problem that doesn't exist yet by overly worrying about withdrawals.

- He can't fix problems that don't exist yet.

- If you don't follow his directions, then he is powerless to help you.

- (it was a really long frickin' Friday and he was worn to a frazzle and snapped at you, which he shouldn't do with patients).

Now about other things,

- Your statements about your Xanax usage and withdrawals don't add up. If you are taking 1mg twice daily, you can't be having withdrawals every 3 hours, since your doses are 12 hours apart.

- I'm surprised that your pdoc didn't put you on Xanax XR (Extended Release) since it smooths out the peaks and valleys of blood concentration specifically to avoid that crash 3 hours after taking the pill. I personally don't like the regular release for those reasons. I like the extended release. My pdoc looks at me oddly when I tell her that, but it seems to make sense. Wouldn't everyone like that?

- According to the equivalency chart we have pinned above, yes 1mg Xanax = 20mg Valium. However remember that is only a rough approximation, and everyone is different. Also, you have never taken Valium, so you likely may get a lot more effect initially.

Give the valium a try. Don't wait until you have run out of Xanax and and its 2 am on a Sunday morning with no help available. If it doesn't work THEN you can call your pdoc so he adjust your dosage or come up with another strategy. Think positive! If you are bound and determined to have failure, then it will happen, whether its building houses or taking meds.

Regarding the panic attacks, I do know how unnerving they are. Have you had any counseling on how deal with them, from either your pdoc or your therapist? They can be aborted once you learn the right technic of breathing and concentration AND once you understand that they are not going to kill you, and that you have control of them.

So, lets get you down the street to Calmsville.

a.m.

[nOVA]

Thanks for the response.

Honestly, I really wish you were right about my pdoc. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time he's snapped at me, he's also snapped at my mother, and about 5 years ago he had a sign posted in his office saying "If you're rude, ignorant or just plain mean you will be charged an extra $10.00."

The whole pdoc thing is moot though because he was a hell of a lot easier to communicate than the other Psychiatrists in this area - generally staunch guys who speak broken english and believe in overdosing you on antipsychotics while taking away any and all sedatives.

The major concern is the dosage equivilency and the fact that at FIRST he was willing to crosstaper me to Valium, but then after he flipped shit on me he said absolutely not. I dunno, it just made me really nervous.

Especially when I decided to research this and found out that he gave me what is believed to be a fraction of the equivalency of a Xanax.

And as for the withdrawals every 3 hours....they're not full blown. I just get shaky, nervous, my palms get sweaty and I get goosebumps until I wait the extra three hours and take my second dose. Then, six hours after that, I take my Remeron and go to bed.

Tonight I'll be starting ZyPrexa (2.5 mg) for the 5th time in 7 years. The first time I was on it it seemed to have helped. The following few times I'd taken it, it was like I was eating candy. So we shall see....

[AirMarshall]

"If you're rude, ignorant or just plain mean you will be charged an extra $10.00."

* Jaw hits the floor *

Hmm. I think that a pdoc who sees so many rude, ignorant and mean patients is really just looking at a reflection of himself.

Ahem.

You always wanted to learn a second language, right? :0

I think you should consider changing pdocs. Not because you arent' getting the pills you want, but because you need a pdoc who is first, in control of himself, and second has the skills to guide to better deal with your panic problems. There are many fine doctors who have come to this country from overseas. Your withdrawal description makes sense.

best, a.m.

[Rabbit37]

1. You're pdoc's a jackass. Find someone else.

2. BULLSHIT. Xanax is hard to withdraw from. Been there done that, and it hurts. I can't believe that he, and the pharmacists, can't see that. It's *OBVIOUS* they'e never been in the same situation.

3. well.... that goes back to number 1. I can't believe this guy. Maybe you should start taking money away from your copay, based on his attitude and behavior. I do that with restaurant tips.... they give me lousy, unforgivable service, and I let my tip, or lack thereof, speak for itself. how about just walking out of an appt, and say you weren't helped, so you shouldn't pay?

God, pdocs ought to have an additional 2 or 3 years of bedside manners. They must be sleeping through the first course.

[nOVA]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate you talking to me. I just can't seem to get anyone else to just....talk to me about this. I'm scared!

I wouldn't be so scared if it weren't for my pdoc being such a jackass on and off. I think he might have a dissociative/bipolar issue going on.

Rabbit, it's funny you mention the deduction of my bill over his asshole-ness, lol. When I left my most recent appoint I walked out and didn't pay.

I pay him out-of-pocket, which is even worse. No copays. No help. Moot.

Anyways, this Monday I'm going to set up an appointment with a new Psychiatrist to get a second opinion, and, hopefully begin a cross-taper regimen from the Xanax to the Valium. The whole cold-turkey switch thing is giving me more anxiety than I had before the tolerance was even an issue.

I'll let you guys know how that all pans out!

ps - took the Zyprexa last night. Only 2.5 mgs and I woke up feeling like there was a 100lb sack of potatoes on my head, I had tingling tremors, and my brain felt like it was outside of my body. I'm wondering if I should discontinue it, or put up with it in hopes to maybe get some relief in the *longterm.*

[melli]

ps - took the Zyprexa last night. Only 2.5 mgs and I woke up feeling like there was a 100lb sack of potatoes on my head, I had tingling tremors, and my brain felt like it was outside of my body. I'm wondering if I should discontinue it, or put up with it in hopes to maybe get some relief in the *longterm.*

Darn, keep losing my posts....

Anyway, see chart for equivilancy...not sure how accurate it is, but it seems fairly reasonable. From my experience, benzos are very different. Even ones in the same class. Crosstapering is the only way to go IMHO.

At least if you get on Valium, the half life is much longer, which may help. *deleted portion - half asleeep*....Good luck.

I agree with others, get a new pdoc.

Benzodiazepine_20comparison_20chart.pdf

[Guest Mspharmacy]

ps - took the Zyprexa last night. Only 2.5 mgs and I woke up feeling like there was a 100lb sack of potatoes on my head, I had tingling tremors, and my brain felt like it was outside of my body. I'm wondering if I should discontinue it, or put up with it in hopes to maybe get some relief in the *longterm.*

Darn, keep losing my posts....

Anyway, see chart for equivilancy...not sure how accurate it is, but it seems fairly reasonable. From my experience, benzos are very different. Even ones in the same class. Crosstapering is the only way to go IMHO.

At least if you get on Valium, the half life is much longer, which may help. *deleted portion - half asleeep*....Good luck.

I agree with others, get a new pdoc.

[Guest karen]

Hi all,

My Psychiatrist got me addicted to Xanax this past summer. Before that, I only took a Xanax everyo once in a while whenever I had an anxiety attack. However, this past summer I began having hormonal issues likely being brought on by a pituitary tumor. anyways, these issues began giving me INSANE fits of sheer panic on an everyday basis.

That's when my Psychiatrist told me to take 1 mg Xanax / 2x a day.

Well, my body has become quite tolerant of it and, I'm just taking it cause I'm addicted to it - its calming effects only last about an hour an my nerves are fried 24/7.

So he said, since the Xanax isn't doing its job anymore, he's switching me to Valium, 5mg 2x/day.

I called him up the other day and told him I'm rather insecure about this because I'm afraid of Xanax withdrawal. He told me I wouldn't withdraw because they're both benzos. And that makes sense, but... I asked him about the equivilency. He INSISTED 5mg Valium is equivilent to 1mg Xanax. I told him that doesn't sound right to me, and he lost his patience. He totally flipped on me, told me never to call that number again unless it's an emergency, and that he had to go. He became very, very rude with me and this isn't the first time he's done so.

I tried to reason with him; asking if he could please, PLEASE taper me off the Xanax while I crosstaper and adjust to the Valium. A month ago he said that would be ok. but when he was wiggin' out on me over the phone, he said absolutely not. That would be malpractice and that I have to take either one or the other, not both under any circumstances. Then he hung up on me.

I'm running out of Xanax fast and all I have in front of me is this damn Valium which I am scared to death of.

I've called several pharmacies and they all tell me I should have a problem. But I'm paranoid as all hell because I've lost trust in my Psychiatrist.

[dancesintherain]

Karen, do you have a question? I can't tell from the way that it's raised whether you have the same question as the first person, who seems to be in a pretty individual situation, or whether it's some variation.