Do Benzo's help with Obsessive Worrying?

[JebDog]

My question is the one in the topic title: -

Do Benzo's help with Obsessive Worrying?

I know they can help with panic attacks, but really I have these mostly under (a certain level of) control. What bothers me more and aggravates my depression is when I get in worrying cycles for a week or two about certain things (like keeping my job if I can't stop worrying) and this obviously pours fuel on the anxiety and depression symptons (restless, tired, etc.)

So does anyone have experience of the benzo's helping here?

[kst7488]

My question is the one in the topic title: -

Do Benzo's help with Obsessive Worrying?

I know they can help with panic attacks, but really I have these mostly under (a certain level of) control. What bothers me more and aggravates my depression is when I get in worrying cycles for a week or two about certain things (like keeping my job if I can't stop worrying) and this obviously pours fuel on the anxiety and depression symptons (restless, tired, etc.)

So does anyone have experience of the benzo's helping here?

they do to an extent for me, but not totally. ive been on them 4 years now, and they help at first for sure.

[goldfinch]

I find they help me a little, but I don't take them every day. It definitely helps me sleep because I tend to wake up in the middle of the night ruminating on bad thoughts.

One of the best things for my obsessive worrying was CBT. I learned ways to stop my mind from obsessing and it was so helpful.

Are you taking anything else besides the benzos for your anxiety? Zoloft helped me immensely - it was the other best thing.

[Velvet Elvis]

I've found APs best for ruminations and SSRIs best for obsessions and benzos best for when I really need to just chill the fuck out.

\

[SUEzie]

I am obsessive. I know my P-doc was planning to put me on Buspar (and still might) if my LexaPro hadn't kicked in when it did. He specifically said the Buspar might help with my OCD (the presumed cause of my obsessiveness.)

So, my guess is, it could be worth a try. My P-doc is very good. But of course, everyone's different, so I'd consult your own P-doc, too.

Good luck,

- Susan

[celestia]

I took benzos for many years. I'm inclined to agree with VE on this one. Seroquel has helped my racing, negative thoughts more than any previous med. I am not dx'ed bipolar, but it does work--and that's what matters.

I think, in hindsight, klonopin helped me to stay in the rut of a negative thought. The accompanying lethargy of body and mind that comes with benzos (at least in high doses) is more a factor in not being able to break the thought pattern. IMO.

Be Careful,

S9

[AirMarshall]

Benzos are very good bandaids. They work right now, but do nothing once they wear off. The concern is that they have addictive potential.

Cymbalta an MRI has been extremely helpful for me, combined with Lithium.

Long term I think most people get better relief from other meds that improve brain function.

a.m.

[Phoenix_Rising]

I tend to agree with S9 and VE. I have both OCD and GAD. I've taken benzos for a long time (12 years). While they are great at keeping me relatively calm, they do next to nothing to stop the obsessing.

I just took this subject up with my pdoc earlier this week. She would like to try Luvox (SSRI) for the OCD as part of a "combo tune-up" I'm undergoing.

I feel for you. Obsessing sucks. As much as I appreciate what benzos do for me, they do not decrease unwanted thoughts very well.

My primary solution, at this time, is to use CBT and talk with my tdoc. I'm hopeful about Luvox, or whatever SSRI my pdoc wants to throw at me

Peaceful thoughts,

Phoenix

[JebDog]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Guess I was just trying to get some feedback into the what benzo's really do in terms of worrying, etc. I have been on Prozac for 9 months or so with some success but just recently it hasn't been as effective in terms of stopping the excessive worrying and (consequently, methinks) the depression.

I haven't really taken benzos all that much apart the odd 2mg diazepam (valuim) once in a while. Can't say it's really had that much on an impact but then again I gather 2mg is a fairly low dose and I wasn't taking it at any stretch of time. Just PRN which was pretty much every other week.

I guess all I'm hoping is that there is something out there that will knock you stuffing out of obsessive worrying.

[mel1]

This is the only time I would say with certainty that therapy worked better for me than benzos/aap's. I did CBT and it slapped me in the face with a reality I could not defy. For example: OMG! Hurricane Ike is coming for me! What am I going to do? Where am I gonna go? What about my 3 large dogs, 3 cats, 2 snakes and 2 children? HALT!! I am not psychic. Well, maybe a little. Okay, maybe this was not a good example because I live on the sw coast of fl. and ike is one bad mf. Okay. OMG! My kids are outside riding their bikes! What if they get hit by a car? Or snatched? Or...fuck. Another bad example. Did I mention I quit CBT? I know that it worked in some ways by telling myself to stop worrying about what may happen because I am not psychic. It is not all or nothing. I forget the rest. The one that really sticks out to me was the part of me not being psychic so what the hell do I know to worry so much over something that probably won't happen. I dunno. Then again, I have been on an AAP and benzo for years. Sorry. Stupid post.

[xtryptaminex]

-

[CrazyBeautiful]

I am obsessive. I know my P-doc was planning to put me on Buspar (and still might) if my LexaPro hadn't kicked in when it did. He specifically said the Buspar might help with my OCD (the presumed cause of my obsessiveness.)

So, my guess is, it could be worth a try. My P-doc is very good. But of course, everyone's different, so I'd consult your own P-doc, too.

Good luck,

- Susan

Not to be a know it all, but buspar actually isn't a benzo.

[CrazyBeautiful]

I've found that SSRIs given in the right dose have helped me the most. I actually feel normal when I am taking the right med and the right dose. For now it is Paxil 30mg once daily and effexor xr 150mg once daily. When I began taking medication it took like 6 meds (literally) to find one that worked and I had to go up to 70mg of paxil which is 10mg higher than the max dose recommended. It took that much to get my OCD symptoms under control. Years later I worked on more adjustments and eventually adding the effexor xr for panic.

When I took benzos for panic attacks I felt very mellow, but tired and totally out of it. When I slowly came off of them it sucked horribly and prior I was taking a very low dose for only 5 months. They helped me get through the initial period when we were working out the dosage of effexor xr and waiting for it to kick in. Benzos are not meant to be taken over long periods of time unless taken as needed and not very frequently. Unless nothing else works, it drives me nuts that doctors keep prescribing them for years at a time to people who are totally addicted to them.

So anyhow, even though your Prozac isn't doing the trick alone, you may need a different dose, or another similar medication. I really don't recommend using benzos for other than an emergency or really bad day. They are so incredibly addictive and miserable to come off of. I'm not a doctor, just pretty well versed in meds and of course I've tried a ton of them.

Also of course I"m going to advocate therapy because CBT has worked for a lot of people and it helped me alot. Some people use it alone without medications for anxiety with good results.

[Amy10]

My friend found Seroxat and Prozac really helped for his OCD and he is now taking 50mg of Seroquel to combat stress and it really helps him sleep and feel chilled out.

I get such obsessive thoughts when I am wired (even though I am on 550mg Seroquel and 400mg Lamictal), but I feel a lot of these are psychological and may well be helped by CBT. I.e. if someone betrays me I cannot stop thinking about them for months/even years! I am a psycho in some ways... I can, however, recognise the patterns of my obsessions and why they are there, sometimes.

I take 2mg Valium every other day and have done for 8 months due to HPPD from Seroquel and it helps with the obsessive thoughts...just brings me back to the now. Obviously, benzos should not be used regularly long-term but they are such a help to so many so I would say occasional PRN is good if it hits the spot in ways other meds can't.

IMHO, I would go for CBT first as I can't see it having the side effects of adding another psychiatric drug...Clearly, this is not always going to work but I think therapy should be used as a first - line treatment - only in conjunction with drugs if absolutely necessary.

Best of luck!

[Penny Century]

I've found APs best for ruminations and SSRIs best for obsessions and benzos best for when I really need to just chill the fuck out.

that's a pretty good summation of what i was going to say.

i'll add that, for me, my worrying halted the most when i finally treated my bipolar. so... basically, whatever is the underlying cause of the worrying, that's what you need to treat (be it OCD or depression or bipolar or whathaveyou). benzos can help, but they really only mellow the worry out, they won't stop it.

[mcochs]

Hi

I have been taking Klonopin 0.5 mg.3 x a day and it has helped my worrying.I know how you feel,it's terrible to worry like that. I really like the Klonopin too,but may have to change to Ativan because it bothers my stomach,but that's because I had a rare coloitis that has really affected my whole digestive system.Ativan doesn't bother my stomach as much but I think all in all,Klonopin is a better,longer lasting Benzo.I think Klonopin is better for constant worrying, social phobias,and depersonalization.

Just my opinion,hope it helps and I wish you peace,

mcochs