Why won't my Doc give me Valium?

[sinwonderland]

Hey hey, I'm new here. I signed up mainly to ask this question but I'm gonna look around more because this board seems pretty damn helpful for a lot of things.

Anyway, I've been taking Klonopin for about 6 years. I'm prescribed 1mg/3 times a day. I've never had any addiction problems with it or anything like that, even after taking it for so long (I stopped about 2 weeks ago) I didn't even have withdrawal symptoms from it. Anyway, for some reason I cannot convince my Doctor that the Klonopin is just not doing it anymore. For the past few months it almost seems pointless to take it.

I have tried Valium in the past and it helps a lot. My problem is, I'm almost scared as hell to ask for it because it's such a dirty word. Like Xanax. Maybe it's just Georgia but like nobody has heard of Klonopin around here. I've asked him about an alternative to Klonopin before but he never wants to change it. I'm going to see him in a few days and I'm thinking about just straight up telling him I want valium. Is there anything else I could possibly tell him to make him know I need it? Anybody know of a Klonopin vs Valium comparison chart I can check out?

Is Valium easier to OD on? I'm kinda wondering if this is one of the reasons he won't give it to me (I have major depression.... it is NOT my intention to OD on Valium BTW) Is that a valid thought? Or would Klonopin be just as easy to off myself with?

I almost believe he won't give it to me because I have a lot of tattoos O.o (Georgia, may I remind you.... people automatically think I'm a felon).

I've never had any drug addictions, I don't drink....

Why won't my doctor change my damn prescription?!

Nice to meet y'all, by the way.

[AirMarshall]

Hi, welcome!

It's not unusual to change anxiolytics. Just as with other meds, some work better for some people than others.

Klonopin probably has a somewhat better safety profile and probably has a lower addiction potential. I'm not sure it's possible to OD from toxicity from most anxiolytics, rather suppression of breathing is the danger (the reason to NOT drink on them).

There are other alternatives including Beta blockers (yes, blood pressure meds). I have some Xanax but hardly take it. Metoprolol a Beta blocker usually does the job. Of course these are all just bandaids since they do nothing to change your brain to control the anxiety. Ideally your doc would find the right mix or dosage of ADs' that would improve the situation. And, therapy might help too.

I don't know why you doc won't change meds. Rather than ask for a specific med, I recommend going to your next session and very calmly review your anxiety issues, then turn and ask "What can we do?" (use gaze as if he was Moses descending from the mountain).

p.s. The target dosage of Klonopin is 1mg/day, up to a maximum of 4mg for anxiety and panic.

[sinwonderland]

I appreciate your response! I was worried to bring up the Valium because I'm scared to say "Well, I tried Valium and it was good" because well, that sounds like a drug addict. My grandmother actually gave me a valium when I was freaking the hell out and the klonopin wasn't helping but I doubt that's a believable story to a doctor who is probably used to folks just trying to get pills.

Obviously, I'm also Paranoid I'm on other medications as well but to be honest it almost seems pointless so I don't even take them. It's so odd to me because they've put me on dozens of different "knock me the fffff out" meds like Respiridol and Mirtazapine and Trazadone and Seroquel (supposedly mainly to help me sleep but only zombified me for days) and I've tried more anti depressants than I can count but no matter what I say, the Klonopin stays the same.

(The only anti depressant that ever helped was Effexor XR and I can't get my insurance to cover the name brand. I know the generic is supposed to be the same but for some reason it was like taking nothing.... definitely a difference in there somewhere, I don't care what they say)

I think that's for another board. Damn I'm gonna love this place.... y'all have all the info.

[AirMarshall]

WAIT...Don't trust me. I'm just some schmuck on the internet after midnight.

[Velvet Elvis]

Valium has a higher abuse potential than klon, and a higher street value. Of the benzodiazapines it is probably the one most commonly seen as a drug of abuse.

It's easy to develop a tolerance to all benzos. If the klon quit working, the most likely thing that happened is that you developed a tolerance to it, or that is what your pdoc is most likely to assume.

Valium is most likely to set off red flags in DEA computers too, which might be part of the reluctance. You might have better luck asking for ativan.

If you don't want to take a benzo daily and would rather just take one prn (as needed) xanax or ativan might be better suited to the task.

Do you have panic attacks?

[dedoubt]

WAIT...Don't trust me. I'm just some schmuck on the internet after midnight.

Well, technically, it was just before midnight. Oh, and AFAIK, you aren't a schmuck.

I agree with A.M.-- much as it sucks, if the doctor has been unwilling to change the med, framing your request as a broad question while deferring to his incredibly superior knowledge (har har-- yah, he knows meds better, but you know YOURSELF better) may work. He might just assume that the Klonopin is working, since he thinks it has for six years. When did it stop being effective? Did you have another med change at the point when you think the Klon. stopped working? Those are important things for your doctor to know.

I feel so lucky-- my pdoc is a wonderfully compassionate man that treats me as an equal and asks me what I want to try (because nothing fucking works, so we're constantly trying some new tactic). We have very frank discussions about meds & my responses to them. If your rapport with your doctor isn't the best, maybe you need a second opinion?

One thing I was just speaking to my partner about-- Klonopin acts more slowly & lasts longer, so it doesn't have quite the "kick" that some of the shorter acting benzos have. He prefers the shorter acting benzos because he "feels something"-- not necessarily to feel high, but to get a more definitive feeling that it is working. I like Klonopin better because I don't want to feel different, I just don't want to be scared to go in the grocery store. [some of my anxiety/fears are due to being delusional- so it might be that I am scared to go into the grocery store because I am scared that everyone will be infected with a zombie virus- I'm actually serious- anyway, maybe that's why the Klon. works better for me, because my anxiety is related to something that isn't transitory?]

ETA: VE- aren't Xanax & Ativan really similar to Valium in terms of abuse potential?

[Velvet Elvis]

ETA: VE- aren't Xanax & Ativan really similar to Valium in terms of abuse potential?

Yeah, that really came out wrong. It has the greatest stigma as a drug of abuse in part due to multiple pop culture references and is the most "known" benzo in general.

[sinwonderland]

There are only like 2 psychiatrists that take my insurance within 30 miles of here and I saw the first one for about 4 years and finally changed because he just threw me on like 20 meds without paying attention to what I was saying.

The Klonopin stopped working after the 'manufacturer changed'..... they even look different. My being paranoid makes me think the pharmacy switched me to placebos and is trying to play it off HAHAHA

I just know the Valium helps me more. I don't know why.....

I don't have panic attacks often, but I'm ALWAYS on edge and have an asston of anxiety. This is mixed with social anxiety, paranoia, and constant worrying. Valium helps all that for me. Klonopin has never done shit for my paranoia or social anxiety.

I understand the street value thing but the 'pill to buy' around here is xanax. Trazadone and Seroquel seem to be a bigger problem here than Valium...

I'm fed up about it all to the point where I almost wanna tell him now I don't want bullshit, listen to what I'm telling you and help me or I'll just say fuck it and not come back. (Of course I'd word it differently O.o)

I'm so tired of the freakin' medication merry go round, especially when the one damn thing I'm trying to actually get changed to help is staying the same and everything else is changing!

In addition to the Klonopin, I'm (supposed) to be taking Mirtazapine, Risperidone, and Lamictal. It's just not doing it

[sinwonderland]

WAIT...Don't trust me. I'm just some schmuck on the internet after midnight.

You mean there's another way to get information?!

[ginger_flybaby]

My doctor won't prescribe Xanax or Valium for me either. I have never been addicted to anything except my X husband or shopping . She stated that they both have a higher addiction rate. She prescribed Klonopin 0.5mgs instead. Not sure why she would do that being I only needed it PRN and used it when I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack. I still have Xanax left over from 2003 that I won't throw away. Heck, a Flexeril does the same thing for me that the benzos do..

I hope there is a resolution to your medication when you meet up with your doctor.

[Velvet Elvis]

In addition to the Klonopin, I'm (supposed) to be taking Mirtazapine, Risperidone, and Lamictal. It's just not doing it

Well, if you're not medication compliant your doc won't give you a lolly-pop. Mirtazapine and Risperidone both have the potential to help with anxiety a great deal and you're not taking them. There is absolutely no reason to expect your pdoc to give you specific meds you ask for if you won't try the ones he gives you.

[dedoubt]

ETA: VE- aren't Xanax & Ativan really similar to Valium in terms of abuse potential?

Yeah, that really came out wrong. It has the greatest stigma as a drug of abuse in part due to multiple pop culture references and is the most "known" benzo in general.

Ah yes, got it.Thanks for clarifying, as I had a moment of concern that everything I thought I knew about those meds might be totally wrong.

[Random Rabbit]

Valium and Librium are older drugs and they tend to be thought of as "dirtier" drugs, I think.

Both are prodrugs for longer acting metabolites. Diazepam actually has three major active metabolites, temazepam and nor-diazepam which are metabolized into oxazepam prior to excretion. Diazepam is a fairly complex cocktail unto itself and can cause pharmacokinetic complications. Diazepam undergoes significant first pass metabolism into temazepam. Both the diazepam and nor-diazepam metabolite load in extensive metabolizers with roughly 20 and 36 hour half lives IIRC.

[Anna]

yes, I do think that valium is harder to get in most places, for one, it's old, and like di says "dirtier' than some of the other benzos and also does carry a high tendency to abuse.

That being said, I know people who are on it, and it may be worth flat out asking about. The worst the doctor can do is say no, right?

I agree that not taking the rest of your meds and just the benzos is not doing you any favors in the long run. if the meds you are supposedly taking right now aren't helping you, you need a frank discussion on the subject and to be looking at different alternatives.

especially since the tattoo comments, yes, do make you sound a little paranoid.

Most Aaps zonk you out a bit at start up, but a lot of these side effects go away with time. TBH it kind of sounds like me based on the limited info you've given in the post, that you really haven't given many of your meds much of a chance. Benzos, which are fast acting seem more to your liking. But with a lot of the other stuff you may have to battle through a few months of feeling shitty and/or managing side effects to really get benefit. but, it 's worth it in the long term.

Anna

[Random Rabbit]

Valium and Librium are older drugs and they tend to be thought of as "dirtier" drugs, I think.

Both are prodrugs for longer acting metabolites. Diazepam actually has three major active metabolites, temazepam and nor-diazepam which are metabolized into oxazepam prior to excretion. Diazepam is a fairly complex cocktail unto itself and can cause pharmacokinetic complications. Diazepam undergoes significant first pass metabolism into temazepam. Both the diazepam and nor-diazepam metabolite load in extensive metabolizers with roughly 20 and 36 hour half lives IIRC.

Yeah, "dirtier" is sort of a shorthand way of saying that-- as well, diazepam seems to have more than just anxiolytic effects (and more potential side effects) than the newer benzos which is also what I meant by "dirtier."

I would not call diazepam dirty solely because its active metabolites are well studied unto themselves. And after many months of therapy, diazepam is pretty much just an anxiolytic and mild muscle relaxer. The sedative and hypnotic effects rapidly develop tolerance and go away. The muscle relaxant effect develops moderate tolerance. The anxiolytic effect tends to not develop tolerance rapidly. Sadly most people mistake the sedative effects for the anxiolytic effects leading to perceived loss of efficacy at a specific dosage even though the helpful sedative effect is really a side effect.

In terms of side effects, I got the hypersalivation side effect from clonazepam and was constantly drooling after a few months of therapy. Imagine drooling on yourself regularly and not caring. Even over a year after discontinuation I still salivate more than I did prior to clonazepam therapy. I have had less side effects from diazepam, YMMV.

Also, as far as I understand, neither chlordiazepoxide nor diazepam are prodrugs-- they are active in the brain along with its metabolites. Prodrugs themselves are not biologically active, just their metabolites.

I stand corrected. I have often seen carisprodol referenced as a prodrug of meprobamate even though subjectively carisprodol is way more potent (it knocks me out) compared to the calm hangover the meprobamate yields.

Chlordiazepoxide and diazepam are metabolic precursors of nor-diazepam alongside the prodrug Tranxene.

[AirMarshall]

Chlordiazepoxide and diazepam are metabolic precursors of nor-diazepam alongside the prodrug Tranxene.

Except that Tranxene isn't a prodrug either.

[Random Rabbit]

Chlordiazepoxide and diazepam are metabolic precursors of nor-diazepam alongside the prodrug Tranxene.

Except that Tranxene isn't a prodrug either.

To quote:

Clorazepate is a prodrug and exerts its effects through its active metabolite, desmethyldiazepam. Clorazepate undergoes complete transformation (100%) to desmethyldiazepam.²⁹ Desmethyldiazepam is also the main metabolite of diazepam.

-

Epilepsy: A Comprehensive Textbook, Volume 1

By Jerome Engel, Timothy A. Pedley, Jean Aicardi, page 1533

Clorazepate, a prodrug of the main metabolite of diazepam, desmethyldiazepam, regards further interest for anticonvulsant therapy because of a relatively slow onset of tolerance.

-http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/2895924

[sinwonderland]

I haven't been lying to my doc about my meds.... I go every 3 months and I haven't been back yet to let him know I've stopped. I actually called Friday to get the next cancelled appointment to go back early to talk to him about my other medications as well as the klonopin. I've talked to my insurance company so I'll hopefully be able to get back on the brand name Effexor XR.

The doc gave me mirtazapine and respiridone to help with the anxiety and my sleep issues but the problem with those medications (along with others ive tried like seroquel and trazadone) is that they completely knock me the fuck out... like for days I feel like absolute hell.... even taking a QUARTER of the smallest dose. I give them ample time to get in my system and not make me feel like shit but it just doesn't happen. My body takes pills kinda differently anyway.

I'm going to let him know we've got to take a completely different approach. I don't want any of this shit I'm taking.... it's completely discouraging when you take a drug forever and don't feel shit. I feel like I'm putting unnecessary shit into my body because it isn't helping.

If I could get on the Effexor XR a lot of my shit would get better. Effexor XR can do for me in one pill what I'm taking 3 for now. But I NEED something that will work immediately for the anxiety and irritability. The doc already knows that I don't take 3 Klonopin a day, I take them when I need them, which may be twice a day for 3 days a week, or whatever. The point is they aren't helping me anymore. He doesn't show any interest in giving me a higher mg either. I don't want to take 5 pills at a time when I need it.... and I'd be scared to do that anyway.... being a control freak I don't like to not have control of my body or what I'm doing, which is probably why I don't drink.

Getting a lot of info from you guys though.... awesome, I appreciate it! I'm going through it all to decide what would be some good points to tell the doc.

However, I'm not one to hide shit from the doc. Even seeing him once every 3 months is a pain in the ass to me. I'm just desperate for something that'll help. When I know this will, it sucks that I can't get it through to him. Especially when there are so many folks around here who are ridiculously addicted to Xanax and seem to just get it handed to them.

[sinwonderland]

I guess I just want more say in my treatment.... after so many years of nothing working (and when I did find Effexor XR - my personal 'miracle' drug my insurance decided to stop covering the brand name) I'd like to be heard more when I make a suggestion. I know he's the doctor but he's also not researching medications that are for my specific symptoms all the time and reading about this and that... I'm always trying to find something to suggest to help me, and he should know I'm not throwing random shit out there.

We'll see though! Hopefully I can get in Tuesday and we'll see how it goes! Maybe he'll at least try it my way for maybe a month. I'm totally willing to admit if I'm wrong or add anything he suggests but I figure it's worth a try when I've tried everything else!

[Anna]

I'm a bit of a mega bitch when it comes to my docs, actually. I have found, in 100% of cases, when my doc has talked me into doing something that my gut tells me is "wrong" I have been correct, not the doctor. It's really annoying because when I say "ooh, it's a partnership, I need to "work" with my doc and his opinions" then I wind up doing something really fucking dumb, like a retrial of abilify or a retrial of SSRIs. Heh. And then I get screwed.....

I find my approach works best is when I find a doc who is willing to understand, 100% that it's MY body, MY illness, and what I put in it is MY decision, and he's there to provide info and suggestions, but ultimately do whatever the hell I WANT. And that I am PAYING him for this service. So he better be at my beck and call, man, and have his shit straight.

Granted, I try to do this.... um, nicely? But I find the longer I am diagnosed, the more expert I am on MY illness and what works FOR ME. So the longer I have been diagnosed, the more I tend to weight my own opinions over my pdocs, even though I try to be respectful. Srsly, I so should never have started zoloft, and I did it because my doc talked me into it. I wanted to try MAOIs, because they have the lowest risk of mania. Doc didn't want to do that because of all the associated risks that go along with MAOIs, but you better believe that if I ever hit another patch like the on I hit, it's straight to the emsam, nothing else.

That being said, it took a really tricky, talented pdoc to FINALLY get me to bow to the depakote for long term treatment, after fighting it for YEARS, but he was really canny and clever and could work around my, um, patient limitations (control-freakyness, in other words).

I've done my share of dumb shit, trust me, but I always prefer when it's MY dumb shit, not my doctor's dumb shit, that lands me in the foxhole. At least then, I'm like "well, it's my own damn fault."

My very first psychiatrist out of dx had a 2 hour talk with me about BP illness when I wanted to change my meds and he wasn't into it. He stated it had "fundamentally changed his experience of how he views his patients forever" because I was advocating for MY body and MY rights, including my right to make a change that was potentially risky and had fallout, but since it was MY illness, it was MY choice. The change worked out fine..... in the drugs I mean.

I'm a firm believer in patient rights. I don't hold anything back from my doc (except the ultram thing, but that was a once off) but I do better with partnership doctors, for the most part, who remember that I am truly in charge, not them.....

Anna

[Catnapper]

Maybe a daily chart of your anxiety will help explain things to your doctor, similar to a mood chart. You can find one online, they're usually done for mood, but it seems like they would be helpful during any med changes. I just do a homemade version with the date along the bottom and a scale of one to ten up the side, and then I put an 'x' for wherever my mood happens to be that day. It gives a quick visual of how you're doing for both you and your doctor.

[sinwonderland]

Great idea! Thank you!

Maybe a daily chart of your anxiety will help explain things to your doctor, similar to a mood chart. You can find one online, they're usually done for mood, but it seems like they would be helpful during any med changes. I just do a homemade version with the date along the bottom and a scale of one to ten up the side, and then I put an 'x' for wherever my mood happens to be that day. It gives a quick visual of how you're doing for both you and your doctor.

[sinwonderland]

Well, my doctor straight up said he didn't think the Effexor would help me (my own experience apparently has no matter in this)... and apparently he no longer prescribes Valium because it 'gets you high' and it's 'addictive'.....

So he thinks I should stay on Klonopin 3 times a day... because that can't get you high or be addictive. /sarcasm

He even later said "Even though you don't feel the klonopin working make sure you take it because your body can get addicted to it and have withdrawals".......... I'm searching for a new doc, even if it's a longer drive.

Even if he has a thing against any benzo other than Klonopin, he could have listened to me about the Effexor XR.

[saveyoursanity]

That's a pretty shitty pdoc if he won't listen to your own experience. What a jackass.

[chimpmaster]

Funnily enough, diazepam (valium) is much more popular here in Australia than Clonazepam (Klonopin).

Some p-docs seem to be taking a full turn. for example I am on fluoxetine (prozac), diazepam (valium) and clozapine (clopine), which are the three earliest meds in their categories. A lot of doctors (in Australia) seem to be going back to some of the tried and tested meds over the newer drugs.

Ive talked to my p-doc about diazepam vs clonazepam and he feels diazepam is better in my case at least. When we compared the two drugs they are very similar in many ways although clonazepam is a little stronger at an equivalent dose and has a slightly longer half life.

[Random Rabbit]

Ive talked to my p-doc about diazepam vs clonazepam and he feels diazepam is better in my case at least. When we compared the two drugs they are very similar in many ways although clonazepam is a little stronger at an equivalent dose and has a slightly longer half life.

Diazepam has slightly longer half life which is probably due to its extensive distribution in the body. This same character generated by diazepam's highly lipophilic nature apparently creates a shorter effective half life for its anticonvulsant and sedative effects. The muscle relaxant and anxiolytic effects seem to require low serum concentrations and have a longer half life.

When you factor in the loading of nor-diazepam you can miss a day when taking diazepam and make it through without excessive anxiety in my experience. I find that once loaded on diazepam and nor-diazepam that a mere 2.5 mg is enough to get through a day with no notable loss in anxiolytic effect.

Clonazepam is a bit stronger than diazepam ( 1mg : 10 mg respectively) at an equivalent dosage.

What I like is the weaker effect of diazepam lets me feel more while still having a solid anxiolytic effect.

[chimpmaster]

Out of interest, here in Australia Valium is far more popular than Klonopin amongst p-docs and even gps. Ive tried to get a script for klonopin so that I could compare the efficacy with valium, but to no avail. My p-doc just said that there are no therapeutic benefits of klonopin over valium, and that klonopin has an even longer half life and is more likely to cause next day drowsiness.

Now in my time here at the boards, I see that klonopin and atvian are the most popular benzo choices in the US, by a long shot. Here its valium, and then probably xanax. My own experience with xanax has been that whilst it works like no other benzo, with repeated dosing the half life gets shorter and shorter and you can end up with mini-withdrawals between doses. We are tallking about a 2-3 hr therapeutic effect with daily dosing. Scary. Also when I tried to quit xanax following a around 12-18 months of 1mg/day I had severe withdrawal effects. Really nasty.

For me, valium has been much better. I take it for agitation, anxiety and panic attacks. I take 10mg around 3-4 times per week. It works for me very well, and my p-doc and gp are both happy with me to be on it, so long as I dont become a daily doser, so to speak.

I think the reason diazpeam or valium has become a dirty work in the US might be due to its history - in the 60's and 70's it was prescribed like crazy for anxiety and many people ended up being hooked on it, after taking large doses on a daily basis for years.

[mcjimjam]

There's not much difference between the two. You won't sound like a drug-seeker because you're already on another drug of the same class with the same potential for abuse. My guess is Valium was the first benzo to become really successful and be prescribed to many people. Because of it's popularity it became a household name, and when more of the risks came to light, it became infamous. It's probably the least addictive because it has such a long-half life (majorly guessing here). Unless your doc is stupid, he won't be bothered by you asking for it. It's like saying I'm on Prozac and it's not working anymore and I want to go back on Zoloft because that has been helpful in the past. It's basically the same thing.

[mcjimjam]

Out of interest, here in Australia Valium is far more popular than Klonopin amongst p-docs and even gps. Ive tried to get a script for klonopin so that I could compare the efficacy with valium, but to no avail. My p-doc just said that there are no therapeutic benefits of klonopin over valium, and that klonopin has an even longer half life and is more likely to cause next day drowsiness.

Now in my time here at the boards, I see that klonopin and atvian are the most popular benzo choices in the US, by a long shot. Here its valium, and then probably xanax. My own experience with xanax has been that whilst it works like no other benzo, with repeated dosing the half life gets shorter and shorter and you can end up with mini-withdrawals between doses. We are tallking about a 2-3 hr therapeutic effect with daily dosing. Scary. Also when I tried to quit xanax following a around 12-18 months of 1mg/day I had severe withdrawal effects. Really nasty.

For me, valium has been much better. I take it for agitation, anxiety and panic attacks. I take 10mg around 3-4 times per week. It works for me very well, and my p-doc and gp are both happy with me to be on it, so long as I dont become a daily doser, so to speak.

I think the reason diazpeam or valium has become a dirty work in the US might be due to its history - in the 60's and 70's it was prescribed like crazy for anxiety and many people ended up being hooked on it, after taking large doses on a daily basis for years.

It's weird isn't it. I'm from Aus too. I was once given Ativan in hospital but no ones ever suggested I take another benzo rather than Valium. I think Xanax is a controlled drug here, needing an authority script. I'm pretty sure Klonopin is mainly used for epilepsy and isn't officially indicated for psychiatric use. When I was IP they did seem to favor Ativan. But generally, I've met so many people who take Valium, and so few who take one of the others.

Sleeping pills are different too. Docs aren't keen on Ambien (Stilnox here) because of the bad press. I don't think it's subsidised by the government either. They nearly always give Restoril/temazepam, Mogadon/nitrazapam or Serax/oxazapam to help you sleep. I don't here a lot of Americans mention taking those.

[mrzarf]

I'm fairly new at all this but dealing with Anxiety has been a problem for a while. I got a DX for that and Depression at the same time but Valium (Diazepam) is the new thing I'm taking. I started with Celexa (citalipram) but it gave me anorgasmia so... I went to Wellbruten SR at 300, 450 and even 600mg but the high dose was making me stutter and it was actually difficult to "think" about anything even slightly complex. Hard to describe but probably some kind of micro seizure. So, back to 450 and I'm trying Celexa 20mg to deal with the anxiety. Heres the problem. The anxiety is happening when I start mulling over my personal life. My wife had been (is?) in an emotional affair for quite a while and its a topic that makes me just spaz out. We are doing couples therapy and working things out. The issue is that we are both being "hyper" normal with each other. Like "Laa dee dah - nothing is weird between us" which is sort of insane but? Not sure screaming at each other or getting divorced is a good choice either. So - long story short I asked my doctor for some kind of pill to dial down from the heart pounding out of my chest and purple veins sticking out on my head etc. So, I was offered a couple of chill pills which I associated with being zombified or in one case a co worker was taking and totally lost it. The doc asked me (believe it or not) if I had one in mind and I said Valium which I'm familiar with from a neighbor who took it and it seemed to be a good choice. She said that the only thing against it was that the doc felt it was a little bit more addictive then some other choices. However since I was averse to Atavan and Xanax the doc oked it. I guess I would suggest you just ask and if you have experience with the others or have a bad vibe (As I did) speak up and see what happens.

[Epictetus]

Hey hey, I'm new here. I signed up mainly to ask this question but I'm gonna look around more because this board seems pretty damn helpful for a lot of things.

Anyway, I've been taking Klonopin for about 6 years. I'm prescribed 1mg/3 times a day. I've never had any addiction problems with it or anything like that, even after taking it for so long (I stopped about 2 weeks ago) I didn't even have withdrawal symptoms from it. Anyway, for some reason I cannot convince my Doctor that the Klonopin is just not doing it anymore. For the past few months it almost seems pointless to take it.

I have tried Valium in the past and it helps a lot. My problem is, I'm almost scared as hell to ask for it because it's such a dirty word. Like Xanax. Maybe it's just Georgia but like nobody has heard of Klonopin around here. I've asked him about an alternative to Klonopin before but he never wants to change it. I'm going to see him in a few days and I'm thinking about just straight up telling him I want valium. Is there anything else I could possibly tell him to make him know I need it? Anybody know of a Klonopin vs Valium comparison chart I can check out?

Is Valium easier to OD on? I'm kinda wondering if this is one of the reasons he won't give it to me (I have major depression.... it is NOT my intention to OD on Valium BTW) Is that a valid thought? Or would Klonopin be just as easy to off myself with?

I almost believe he won't give it to me because I have a lot of tattoos O.o (Georgia, may I remind you.... people automatically think I'm a felon).

I've never had any drug addictions, I don't drink....

Why won't my doctor change my damn prescription?!

Nice to meet y'all, by the way.

Had similiar experience as you-several months ago after having switched from Ativan PRN to 1 mg daily i asked the doc if I could just go with klonopin because it stays in the system longer. I did not ask for more just the equivalent dose. I clearly made the point to him about how ativan was short acting and it was like a roller coaster taking it whereas the klon would be smoother-less up and down. He just dismissed what I said by mumbling something and wrote out another scrip fro ativan.

So I ended up splitting it into 1/4's and taking it every 6 hours or so.

Anyway your symptoms sound very similiar to mine and I also have not responded well to Ad's for anxiety-never tried effexor though.

Also Loved that post by Anna-so refreshing to hear. Patients rights and all. These doctors are just people too and don't have crystal balls-they need to listen and work with the patients.