Does this mean I'm not "benzo-compatible"?

[Ella]

Xanax helps, but if I take it for longer than two days in a row I get paradoxically increased anxiety.  (Same thing happened to my grandmother.  Go figure.) Klonopin is a different story.  .25 mg. of Klonopin exacerbates depression and makes me sort of "catatonic"--my mind completely empties and I feel numb, unable to move around or do anything. 

Dealing with major anxiety/panic attacks at the mo' and just downed .50 mg. of Xanax...which will do the trick for now, but am wondering if there's another benzo out there that would serve me better (i.e. not turn me into a weepy zombie or cause increased anxiety).  Or does this mean benzos and my body weren't meant to go together? 

[StrungOutOnLife]

Xanax helps, but if I take it for longer than two days in a row I get paradoxically increased anxiety.  (Same thing happened to my grandmother.  Go figure.) Klonopin is a different story.  .25 mg. of Klonopin exacerbates depression and makes me sort of "catatonic"--my mind completely empties and I feel numb, unable to move around or do anything. 

Dealing with major anxiety/panic attacks at the mo' and just downed .50 mg. of Xanax...which will do the trick for now, but am wondering if there's another benzo out there that would serve me better (i.e. not turn me into a weepy zombie or cause increased anxiety).  Or does this mean benzos and my body weren't meant to go together?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What other benzos have you tried?

[flydamsel]

If your meds aren't working for you the way you want them to, you should totally work with your doc to find what does work.  I have found that Seroquel, which is an atypical antipsychotic med at a really low dose (12-25mg) when I'm freaking with anxiety or panic calms me down completely without turning me into a zombie or knocking me out like benzos often do.  The only way I would have known to try this med (which I actually take now every night before bed to help me get to sleep and kill those anxious thoughts that used to keep me up at night) is through my psychiatrist who actually knows what he is doing, thank god.  I have found that actually taking it everynight has prevented my anxiety attacks.  So good luck!  Benzos sound like maybe they aren't for you, but surely you will find something that works.

[groovyone]

There are still other benzos out there.  Have you tried Ativan? Valium? Those are two of the more common options that also might work.

Karen

[Ella]

Have you tried Ativan? Valium?

What I neglected to mention earlier is how very tranked I get on Xanax and Klonopin...can't drive a car, can barely get down a flight of stairs.  Valium, I have a feeling, would do the same.  Ativan...I've heard of it, but I'm not familiar with it.  So anyone else have problems with benzos and sedation but found Ativan non-sedating?  Or mildly sedating?

I have found that Seroquel, which is an atypical antipsychotic med at a really low dose (12-25mg) when I'm freaking with anxiety or panic calms me down completely without turning me into a zombie or knocking me out like benzos often do.  The only way I would have known to try this med (which I actually take now every night before bed to help me get to sleep and kill those anxious thoughts that used to keep me up at night) is through my psychiatrist who actually knows what he is doing, thank god.

I'm wondering if Risperdal might do the trick for me...but I'm worried about the AP/weight gain issue  Might be worth a try though, eh?  I'll have to run it by my pdoc (whenever I get myself a new one).