netsavy006 Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 I'm thinking of telling my pdoc that I'd like to convert over from Valium to Niravam because I feel the Valium is in a way "pooping out" on me. I'd like to see if I can have better relief with Niravam. What I'd like to know is how do you convert (safely) over from one benzo to another without having the risks that comes from stopping a benzo. Let me know what you have experienced when it comes to changing benzo's. Just so you know I've been on Valium for months so going off of it is not going to be simple / or can you just stop one benzo and start another without worry? Please let me know your experiences. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizmo Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 I may be the minority here, but I was able to switch benzo for benzo pretty much without problem. I've taken klonopin, valium, ativan. The exception being xanax. I've never swapped benzo's for xanax - I've only quit cold turkey off of it. I believe I read in another post that taking xanax increases your restlessness at .5 mg. Don't you expect that taking xanax again, even in orally disintegrating form, won't do the same? I had to laugh at your post (not you!!!) because I never knew they made xanax like this. I can't tell you how many times I've crushed a pill or chewed it and let it dissolve in my mouth. Tastes like metallic bitter shit from hell, but it sure works fast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted July 12, 2009 Author Share Posted July 12, 2009 I've taken Niravam before and have had some success with it. I was taking it prn (.5mg). Surprisingly it didn't increase my restlessness. But I think at this point I'd need to take it on a regular basis... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remedy48 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Have you tried clonazpam(klonopin) I find that it works very well in relieving anxiety. As for coming off a benzodiazepine. Talk to your doctor about that because they will know how to do it appropriatly. Usually it can be a bit of a slow process. I stopped ativan cold turkey and that was a big mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 What you're going to notice with the alprazolam (Xanax/Nirvam/etc.) is that you're going to have to take it quite a bit more frequently, to equal the efficacy of diazepam. For instance, if you're taking diazepam 10mg B.I.D., you may very well need a Q.I.D. schedule of 0.5mg alprazolam. Do you have lorazepam (ie: Ativan), or even oxazepam or temazepam (which are diazepam metabolites) available where you are? I'd try those out before settling on alprazolam. Alprazolam should be considered something of a last resort, IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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